Heartbreaking Division of Two Sisters in Christ
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Textual Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermon Outlines on the Heart, Sermons on the HeartINTRODUCTION: Philippians 4:1-3
A. I hope I will not shock you when I tell you that Christians – even good Christians – do not always get along.
1. Where is light there will be bugs. Where there are dogs there will be fleas.
2. Where there are humans, there will be misunderstandings and differences of opinion – even if those humans are Christians, even if they are good Christians
3. Acts 15:36-40
4. The question is not “If Christians disagree, what should we do?” but “When Christians disagree, what should we do?”
B. The study of this hour revolves around two sisters in Christ at Philippi who were not getting along
1. Earlier, Paul emphasized the importance of being united
a. Philippians 1:27
b. Philippians 2:2
2. Some think these general admonitions were leading up to this specific case of disunity
a. Whether this is true or not, the first three verses of chapter four highlight the importance of living in harmony with fellow Christians
b. The way Paul handled this situation can help us know what to do when brothers and sisters in Christ are at odds
DISCUSSION:
A. SINCERE COMMENDATION PREPARES THE WAY FOR RECONCILIATION
1. Paul first establishes a positive atmosphere
a. He assured all the Christians at Philippi, including the two troubled sisters, of his love.
b. Before he commanded he commended
c. Philippians 4:1
2. No verse in the Bible is filled with more warmth and affection
a. “Brethren” – they were family
b. “Beloved” – AGAPH … used it twice for emphasis
c. “Longed for” – homesick to see his friends
d. “My joy and crown” – he thought of them as his crowning [STEPHANOS] achievement
3. Do you want to help two Christians to be reconciled?
a. Do not start by pointing out their short comings
b. First, affirm your care for them – before you influence their wills, you must touch their hearts
B. SENSITIVE CONFRONTATION PROGRESSES TOWARD RECONCILIATION
1. The Philippians church was Paul’s crown – the laurel wreath of victory – but there was a “thorn” in the crown: two sisters who had a serious disagreement
a. In direct fashion, Paul said… => Philippians 4:2
b. “Syntyche” can mean “pleasant” and “Euodia” can mean “sweet fragrance”
c. At the time, however, they were anything but pleasant – and they were spreading the unpleasant aroma of discord
d. The second thing Paul did was confront the problem
1) Generally, it is not enough just to put your arm around them
2) You must encourage them to resolve their differences
e. Who were these women?
2. On The Positive Side
a. “for they labored with me in the gospel,”
1) “Labored” means to struggle along with
2) This is not means that they preached (1 Tim. 2:8-12), but they shared in Paul’s struggle in some way
3) Women can spread the Gospel in many ways: teaching women and children, giving…
b. “whose names are in the book of life”
1) Revelation 21:27
2) When Paul spoke of these two ladies, it reminded him of others who has struggled along side of him – Clement” and “the rest of my fellow-workers”
3) These ladies knowing that their name was written in God’s Book of Life should have been motivation for them to resolve their differences
3. On The Negative Side
a. The friction among them threatened to cancel all the good the have done
1) How do you think they would have felt to see their names written in a public letter to Philippi? Embarrassed? Ashamed? … still be read to this day!
2) If one line were to be written about your life what would it be? … “he did not get along with others” etc.
b. Why was Paul so specific regarding the two women and their disagreement?
1) Surely is was not to embarrass – but there was the danger of it spreading…
2) It almost certainly was not a doctrinal issue…Paul would have dealt with it
C. SATISFYING RECONCILIATION
1. How did Paul handle this explosive situation?
2. He Did Something – Immediately
a. He did something – he did not ignore it, hoping it would go away
b. Apparently, he did something as soon as he knew the problem existed
c. He did not wait so long that the entire congregation had taken sides
3. He Remained Neutral – But Concerned
a. He did not side with either woman – he urged the same for each
b. When two Christians clash, the Bible teaches that each is to take the first step in being reconciled
1) Matthew 18:15
2) Matthew 5:23-24
4. He Urged Unity – Strongly
a. Sometimes Christians think that their misunderstandings are “nobody else’s business” – but trouble in the congregation is everyone’s business
1) Disagreements not only harm those who disagree, but they also give others a bad impression of the church => 1 Corinthians 1:13
2) It can also drive away unbelievers => John 17:21
3) The Lord wants us to live at peace with each other => Mark 9:50
b. Psalm 133:1
c. One of the things the Lord hates is “he that soweth discord among brethren” (Pro. 6:19)
5. He Reminded Them – Appropriately
a. Paul reminded the two women that they were both “in the Lord”
1) This was a favorite expression of Paul
2) They were baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27), all spiritual blessing are in Christ (Eph. 1:3), they were children of God in Christ (Gal. 6:26), etc.
b. They were therefore to one in Christ
c. Being “in Christ” gave them common ground on which to meet
d. Standing, as it were, at the foot of the cross and looking up into the face of the One who had died for them, they should have joined hands in praise for the Lord instead of looking with animosity at each other!
6. He Helped Them – Competent Help
a. Christians should try to work out their differences on their own – but sometimes they need help
b. Paul asked help of a “true yokefellow” – or comrade to help these ladies
c. Fewer task are more difficult than trying to mind fences among brethren, but fewer tasks are more important
CONCLUSION
A. Remember, the Lord wants His people to live together in harmony
B. Remember also, to have true unity we must be in Christ…