Introducing PhilippiansHaving the Mind of Christ

Presented by:Mark Stortvedt Ph.D.Christ is King Community ChurchMay 3, 2015

Having the Mind of ChristTesting the mind of Christ finds it excels in all areas

Problem: Putting confidence in the mind of man and never testing and tasting the excellence of the mind of Christ

The Context:The letter was from: Phil. 1:1 The Apostle Paul

and Timothy(a young man Paul was training) bondservants-doulos-[voluntarily devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests] of Jesus Christ

The letter was written to: all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. Written to the Christians as a whole including the leaders of the group.

The Context Continued Date of establishment of the church in

Philippi: 51 AD Date of letter to the Philippian Church:

61 AD The City of Philippi: Founded in 361 BC by

Greek settlers and named Krenides (springs). Philip II of Macedon the Father of Alexander the Great, annexed the whole region in 356 BC and named the city after himself. It was fortified by an extensive city wall and soldiers were stationed there to guard gold from nearby mines. The Romans conquered Macedonia in 168-167 BC.

The Aegean Sea

Context Continued Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC 2

months after declaring himself Dictator for life. There were also some concerns that he was beginning to see himself like a God. This began a civic war between those who assassinated Caesar and those who remained loyal to him. In 42 BC Augustus and Marc Anthony who had remained loyal to Caesar defeated the Roman Republican forces of Brutus and Cassius who were remembered as the Assassins of Caesar.

Context Continued The victors settled many of their veteran

soldiers in Philippi and established it as a Roman Colony, which grew still more when additional former soldiers were given land there. Philippi was given the honor of the “law of Italy” which meant that it was governed by Roman law, it’s citizens were Roman citizens, it’s constitution and architecture were modeled after Roman style, coins had Roman inscriptions, Latin was spoke and they wore Roman dress.

Context ContinuedAlthough the city had a strong Roman influence their religious life was quite diverse. It included:Monuments reflecting emperor worshipStatues of Greek Gods and their Roman counterparts. Jupitor – Roman known as Zeus in the Greek world, local Thracians worshipped the goddess Artemis, Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis and the Phrygian Cybele known as the great Mother-goddess.

The Goddess Artemis

Context Continued The Philippian Church: The Gospel came

to Philippi around 51 BC on Paul’s Second Missionary Journey when he was accompanied by Silas. They were kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the gospel in the province of Asia and so they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them. They finally reached the coast at Troas where Paul had a vision of a Macedonian begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul took this as God’s call.

Context Continued There was only a small Jewish community that did

not have the required 10 men to start a synagogue. The following were significant events for the Philippian church:

Lydia a dealer in purple cloth and her family become the first convert from Europe. Acts 16:14

Evil spirit cast from slave girl. Owners of slave girl had Paul and Silas flogged and thrown in prison.

Earthquake opens prison doors and results in the conversion the Jailer was converted and baptized with his family in the middle of the night. At day break Paul and Silas were thrown out of town but between Lydia and the Jailer the church had been planted.

Observations: Paul Uniquely loved the Philippian Church

Chapter 1 The deep intimacy of common partnership in care for one another (friendship) and mission (sharing of finances)

Phil. 1:7 I have you in my heart because you all are partakers of grace with me. Vs.8 he longs for the Philippians with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Clarke paraphrase: I call God to witness that I have the strongest affection for you, and that I love you with the same tender concern with which Christ loved the world when He gave himself for it.

God’s love is more higher and deeper at the same time. Bible Illustration –Joseph Andreas - Day Off

Observations Continued Approve the things that are excellent Phil. 1:10 …love may abound in knowledge and

discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent

Approve – dokimazō – to test, recognize as genuine after examination

Excellent – diapherō – endure, carry through, to distinguish between good and evil, to approve things that excel

Results: Internal sincerity – eilikrinēs - In first century Jerusalem people of discernment would inspect earthenware outside the booths in the open streets by holding pots up to the sun and inspecting for flaws such as holes, cracks or any evidence of wax used to plug leaks. Vulnerability – Crack

Deception-Wax External Blameless Actions

Outline of the Book of Philippians

1. Approve What Is Excellent (1:1-11)2. Struggles that Advance the Gospel (1:12-30)3. He Emptied Himself (2:1-11)4. God Is at Work in You (2:12-18)5. Christian Character: Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19-30)

6. That I May Know Him (3:1-11)7. Pressing Toward the Goal (3:12-4:1)8. Rejoice in the Lord Always (4:1-9)

9. A Partnership in Giving and Receiving (4:10-23)

Application Core Question: On a scale of 1-10 where

are you at in having your full confidence in the mind of Christ?

What would it take to move your answer to one number higher”

What area is it easier for you to have confidence in your own mind? Why?

Application Who is it hardest for you to have the

mind of Christ toward? spouse, your child, a boss or co-worker, someone from church…etc. What is Christ’s mind toward them? What can you do to help His mind become yours regarding this person?