February 28, 2010 Philippians 3:17 – 4:1
Text (NIV)
Phil. 3:17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Phil. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Paul is writing the letter to the church he founded in Philippi from a prison in Rome. The main purpose of the letter is to thank the Philippians for the gift they has sent to him in prison. Of course Paul also wants to strengthen the believers, and he does so by explaining that true joy comes only from Christ.
He also attempts to strengthen them by encouraging who they should follow or imitate. In the beginning of Chapter 3 he warns against those “dogs … who mutilate the flesh”. In this pericope Paul turns his attention towards another group, those whose “god is their stomach” and whose “mind is on earthly things”.
Sunday’s Sermon: “The Power to Change”, Rev. Scott Wipperman
