Earth-Based, but Heaven Bound
Categories: Expository Sermon Outlines, Sermon OutlinesINTRODUCTION: Philippians 3:17 – 4:1
A. Where are you right now?
1. Look around – what do you see? Touch something with your hand.
2. This is the world that we experience with our five senses – this is the world with which we are familiar
3. This is the world that holds the attention of the majority of its inhabitants
B. One of the greatest challenges we face is to be, at the same time, earth-based but heaven bound
1. We are “in the world” – but we do not want to be “of the world”
2. We are in a constant struggle between the “here-and-now” and the “there-and-then”
C. In this lesson a contrast will be made between those “who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:19) and those who “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 2:20)
D. A question that each must face is this: “Is my mind set on earthly things or heavenly thing?”
DISCUSSION:
A. A PATTERN TO ACKNOWLEDGE
1. Philippians 3:17
a. They were to be “imitators together” – this was something there were to do together
b. The NKJ and ESV have the phrase “join in”
c. There were to join together in following”¦
2. The Example of Paul
a. 1 Corinthians 11:1
b. Paul has already said that nothing was as important to him as Christ (3:4-11)
c. Paul wants them to imitate his attitude toward Christ
3. The Example of Fellow Christians
a. To imitate something we must see it “…keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (ESV) > MARK THEM
b. The word “walk” in our current context has reference to how one lives > 1 John 1:7
c. Philippians 3:17 highlights the importance of having good examples – and being good examples
B. A PEOPLE TO AVOID
1. Philippians 3:18-19
a. For every good example there are many bad examples
b. Paul having just exhorted his readers to follow good examples, now warns them not to follow bad examples
2. Specific Application
a. Who were they to avoid? > “The enemies of the cross”
1) The Judaizing teachers and/or false teachers
2) Why were they enemies of the cross? > Galatians 2:21
b. Their end was destruction because > Galatians 5:4
c. They minded “earthly things” – “whose god is their belly”
d. How concerned was Paul with this – he wept about it
3. General Application
a. Sadly, there are any “enemies of the cross” today
b. One is an enemy of the cross who:
1) Teaches false doctrine”¦
2) Are worldly”¦
3) Are not dedicated Christians”¦
C. A PURPOSE TO ACHIEVE
1. Philippians 3:20-4:1
a. Paul’s desire for them might be summed up in the words he wrote to the Christians in Rome
b. Romans 12:2a
c. And to the Christians in Colossae > Colossians 3:2
d. Paul desired that they have a”¦
2. A Heavenly Place
a. “For your citizenship is in heaven” (v. 20)
b. As such we are “resident aliens” – citizens of one country residing in another
1) Hebrews 11:13
2) 1 Peter 2:11
c. Song: “This world is not my home”¦”
d. Paul also wanted them to set their minds on”¦
3. A Heavenly Person
a. “whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 20)
b. We need to focus our hearts of Jesus and eagerly look for His coming
c. John 14:1-4
4. A Heavenly Purpose
a. When the Lord returns amazing things will occur ““ one of which is described in our present context
b. “the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation [or, lowly body], that it may be conformed to the body of his glory” (vs. 20b-21a)
c. At the Lord’s coming our earthly bodies will be transformed into a spiritual body like our Lord’s
d. 1 John 3:2
e. The point is, why center your attention on the flesh when the flesh is going to be changed?
f. Our hearts must be set on the heavenly purpose ““ the transformation of our lowly bodies
5. A Heavenly Power
a. Is Christ capable of the dramatic change just discussed?
b. “according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself” (v. 21b)
c. “Working” comes from the Greek word energeia and literally means “power in action”
d. How much power does Jesus have?
1) Matthew 28:18
2) Ephesians 1:22
3) Hebrews 1:3
4) “…subdue all things unto himself” (Phil. 3:21)
e. This is to be another focus of ours – His heavenly power
6. A Heavenly Precept
a. Philippians 4:1
b. “Stand fast” in the path he has just described
c. What will enable us to do this? We must stand fast in Christ
1) Not in error
2) Not in our own personal wants
3) But in the strength of the Lord
d. Ephesians 6:10
e. One way we are able to stand in the strength of the Lord is to set our minds on things above
CONCLUSION:
A. All things are destined to perish (Col. 2:22)
B. 2 Corinthians 4:18
C. Matthew 6:19-20
D. Where then should we set our minds?
E. We may be earth-based, but let us determine to be heaven bound!