Philippians 1:12-18 / Matt Nelson

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Fourteen months after I preached my most recent sermon from the book of Philippians we are beginning to unpack the body of Paul’s letter to the church. His imprisonment was discouraging to the Philippians and seemed like a significant defeat for the gospel. But Paul’s circumstances have had results they did not expect.

The main idea in this passage is that Paul wants the Philippians to know that Caesar’s chains have released the power of the gospel. The main takeaway is that God has stationed you where you are in the interests of Christ.

Service Order

Memory Verse

John 10:10 – "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Service Times

Prayer
8:30-8:45am
Sunday School
9:00am-10:00am
Worship Service
10:30am-Noon