Do you share your fries?
There's a story, here!
Our lesson's point this week is this:
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
My friend Joel led a church-planting program in Kiev, Ukraine, for over ten years. He used to have a map hanging in his office that was dotted with pictures of church planters leading churches all across the former Soviet Union.
My friend Joel led a church-planting program in Kiev, Ukraine, for over ten years. He used to have a map hanging in his office that was dotted with pictures of church planters leading churches all across the former Soviet Union.
On a visit to Kiev, I showed a friend this map on Joel’s wall. I pointed to Immanuel from Lithuania, a massive guy with tattoos on every finger. Immanuel once described how, while in prison, he would rip out pages of the Bible, fill the paper with marijuana, and proceed to puff away. But now, Immanuel is no longer in prison, and he no longer “smokes the Bible.” Now, he preaches the Bible.
How in the world does a person go from smoking the Bible and living in opposition to the gospel to preaching the Bible and telling others about the good news of Jesus Christ? The answer is simple: Jesus changes lives. Immanuel found a far greater joy in knowing and sharing Jesus.
In the same way, Paul, once a terrorist against the church, became a joyful evangelist within the church.
Two Questions to Think About
Can good things come from bad situations?
Can we have a sense of joy in the midst of difficulty?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly.
Paul was in prison because of his ministry. But as he wrote to the Philippians, he didn’t focus on his incarceration. He didn’t whine about his luck. Instead, he took a divine perspective on the whole situation, reminding the church that—even while he was in prison—God’s mission was being accomplished. People were being positively impacted by his imprisonment, and Christians were being emboldened.
We can learn from Paul, because this divine perspective isn’t always easy to adopt. Circumstances can drain the joy right out of us. And frankly, ministry can also use up our joy. The key to maintaining joy in life and ministry is to hold onto the source of our joy. Stay focused on Jesus.
The best news for Paul was that his trials had served to advance the gospel, particularly in the political center of the world: Rome. Not only were the guards and Roman officials hearing the good news, but Paul also had been placed in the great city where his witness was impacting many others. Because he cared about the gospel more than his own comfort or his personal ambitions, he could rejoice.
Let’s pray for great courage as we joyfully make the gospel known to people. If you find yourself in a great trial, you certainly should pray and seek the support of others. But also be encouraged to see hardship as an opportunity. In adversity, we get to advertise the Savior’s grace. We get to testify to the gospel of Jesus!
Philippians 1:15-19
15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. 16 These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Paul mentioned two different motives driving two different types of evangelists:
- Envious evangelists preached out of “strife” and “envy,” driven by selfish ambition. They looked at Paul’s imprisonment as an occasion to tear him down, to stir up trouble, and elevate their ministry over Paul’s.
- Empathetic evangelists preached out of “good will,” driven by love. They cared about Paul and understood he was in prison by God’s sovereign will, and not as a result of Paul’s disobedience or unfaithfulness.
In verse 18, we see the message mattered more to Paul than the messengers or their motives. Paul never tolerated those who preached a false gospel; in fact, he wrote his Letter to the Galatians to oppose any attempts at a false gospel. But if the true gospel was preached, then Paul could rejoice. Certainly, Paul would have preferred to have the right message for the right motives, but he placed the highest importance on the message itself.
Such a strategy still works today—proclaiming the good news to people even as we live attractive and joyful lives before them. Let’s care about Jesus’ glory more than our own, and let’s rejoice continually until we see Him face to face.
Anyone who follows Christ should prepare for criticism. We should be ready to follow Paul’s example. He didn’t try to defend himself. He simply stayed focused on living his life for Christ and proclaiming the truth. He put the gospel first. You can’t control what others think of you; all you can do is finish your race with faithfulness.
In verse 19, Paul revealed two things he relied on in his ministry—even while in prison. Those were the prayers of the church and the help of the Holy Spirit. May we rely on these each day!
Like Paul, we can share the gospel with joy no matter our circumstances. To do that, we need to keep it simple and focus on Jesus. We need to put the gospel first. We need to care about other people and the glory of Christ more than our own glory. And we must persist when the haters hate.
Philippians 1:20-21
20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
Whatever you set out to do in life, in work, or in your family, make this your plan for the future: “Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by.” Talk about a mission statement!
But Paul didn’t stop there. He added in verse 21, “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” Three things stand out about that declaration:
- The public nature of the statement. Paul was public about his ambition to live for Christ. He gladly let others see it. We show what’s most important to us by how we live. Paul knew that if he continued to live, it would translate into “fruitful work” (v. 22). You can’t say you’re living for Christ if you’re not working for Him. So if you’re going to represent Him, go public!
- The grace in this statement. Paul’s goal was to know Christ fully and live for Him. But as he stated in Philippians 3:12-15, he had not yet attained this goal. Paul didn’t achieve perfection, but God’s grace was with him. His life for Christ still resulted in “fruitful work.” As with Paul, our lives flow from our union with Christ. We need His grace to represent Him. Each day, we must saturate ourselves in His grace and then resolve to live faithfully for Him before a watching world.
- The steadfast attitude in this statement. When we’re living in the grace of Jesus, empowered by His Spirit, we can share Paul’s unstoppable, joyful mentality. We can live courageously for Christ knowing that if we die, we will be with Him. We can’t lose!
Do you see the power of this perspective? Kill me? I’ll be with Christ. Let me live? I’ll live for Christ. Make me suffer? I’ll experience joy and get rewarded by Christ. This is the unstoppable mentality of the apostle Paul. This can be our mentality, as well, but only when we treasure Christ above all things.
How would you fill in this blank: “For to me to live is ________”? If you said “Christ,” then death is gain to you. If you put money, sex, power, or anything else in the blank, then it’s time to repent and make some serious changes. Nothing else satisfies, and nothing else will last.
In Christ, we can have irrepressible joy in a life worth living and courage in a death worth dying. But in Christ alone.
LIVE IT OUT
We can experience great joy as we share Christ. Consider these suggestions for putting that truth into action this week:
- Treasure Jesus above all. Take a few moments to repent of desiring other things more than your Savior. Ask the Father to wean you off the pleasures of sin and this world.
- Pray for people you don’t ordinarily pray for. Think about your critics, attackers, or enemies. Think about people you envy. Think about people in other churches. Pray for each of them to know Christ and to make Christ known.
- Reach out to people who need the gospel. Intentionally initiate a conversation with someone who needs Christ. Ask the Father to fill you with joy and confidence as you share the truth this week and beyond.
There are lots of people in today’s world who would rather smoke the Bible than read it. That shouldn’t surprise us, nor should it take away our joy. Instead, it should motivate us to get to work.
Think about a time when the Lord used a difficult circumstance in your life as an opportunity to advance the gospel in your life or in the life of another person who observed you.
Share it with Joy
Oh, and you can share your fries too!
Have a blessed week and we'll look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Teacher Notes
What do you like so much that it's hard to share?
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What are you going to do when life doesn’t work out like you planned or wanted?
Even though God doesn’t owe you anything, He has given you everything.
What does this mean to you?
2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit” (TLB).
Some people are good at the immediate. They can jump right into anything, but they are not good at “keeping on keeping on.” And other people are good at lasting, but it takes them a long time to get there. To live a thriving, joyful life of faith that God has planned for you, you need to be good at both the immediate and the lasting. And both require that you keep on trusting.
Let’s see how Paul today, sees the good of God from the bad of life and shares his joy.
Sharing with Joy
Philippians 1:12-21
I can share Christ with joy no matter what.
Paul tells us today, that yes, we can share Christ with joy even in the midst of hardship.
I. Joy Despite Hardships – Unexpected Results Philippians 1:12-14
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. 14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly.
Why was Paul was in prison?
- Because of his ministry. What happened to him, what’s going on with him now, and how he sees the future.
How was Paul’s ministry affected by being in prison?
- It served to advance the gospel, people throughout the whole palace guard knew about Christ. A new evangelistic effort sprang up in Rome as a result of Paul’s presence, witness, and pending case. They all knew his imprisonment had to do with what he preached. Fellow believers in Rome also preached more courageously and fearlessly.
- God was using what had happened to Paul for His purposes.
- Paul didn’t focus on his circumstance. He took a divine perspective, reminding the church that—even while he was in prison—God’s mission was being accomplished. People were being positively impacted by his imprisonment, and Christians were gaining confidence.
- The main thing Paul wanted them to know was that everything he had faced had advanced the gospel, and that gave him great joy.
When we are going through a great hardship, we certainly should pray and seek the support of others. But we should also see our hardship as an opportunity. What opportunity? To share Christ.
Why do we sometimes see our circumstances as a hindrance rather than an opportunity?
- We focus on the bad - all we can think of is the misery of the bad circumstance.
- When we think, we have things figured out as to how events in our lives should happen.
- When we are not willing to believe what the Scriptures tell us about God working out all things for good for those who love Him.
- When we have too small a concept of God…thinking, things are out of control even for Him.
How does God sometimes work bad for good in our lives (despite our doubts and confusion)?
- When we lose one job to be able to find a better one.
- Through tough times we learn better how to trust in God's provision and guidance in our lives.
- Events in our lives provide experiences by which we are better able to minister to others going through similar situations.
- Bad times teach us not to depend on ourselves, they draw us closer to Christ.
The greatest joy anyone can experience is an eternal relationship with Christ.
- The presence of hardship or critics does not alter our relationship with Christ. And it shouldn’t alter our joy in Him. Joy in the midst of problems is a great testimony to Christ.
Point: God works in any, and all circumstances. Adversity advances the gospel. We get to testify to the Savior’s grace. The divine perspective is not always easy to adopt or to see. The advance of the gospel is more important than any personal achievement.
Paul tells us today, that yes, we can share Christ with joy in spite of critics.
II. Joy Despite Critics – Motives: Sincere & Mixed Philippians 1:15-19
15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. 16 These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Paul mentioned two different motives driving two different types of evangelists:
1. Envious evangelists preached out of “strife” and “envy,” or selfish ambition. They looked at Paul’s imprisonment as an occasion to elevate themselves.
2. Empathetic evangelists preached out of “good will,” driven by love. They cared about Paul and understood he was in prison by God’s sovereign will, and not for any other reason.
What was Paul’s response to these motives?
- When Paul said, “What does it matter?” We see that the message mattered more to Paul than the messengers or their motives.
- Such a strategy still works today—proclaiming the good news to people even as we live attractive and joyful lives before them. Let’s care about Jesus’ glory more than our own, and let’s rejoice continually until we see Him face to face.
- Anyone who follows Christ should prepare for criticism. We should be ready to follow Paul’s example. He didn’t try to defend himself. He simply stayed focused on living his life for Christ and proclaiming the truth. He put the gospel first. You can’t control what others think of you; all you can do is finish your race with faithfulness. In verse 19, Paul revealed two things he relied on in his ministry—even while in prison. Those were the prayers of the church and the help of the Holy Spirit. May we rely on these each day!
What do these verses teach us about sharing Christ?
- Share the Gospel, even though your motives may not be entirely right.
- Proud to speak or afraid to speak … keep sharing Jesus.
- We can be imperfect communicators, but God will still use the message.
- It is God that convicts/convinces people of their need for a Savior, not us.
- Like Paul, we can share the gospel with joy no matter our circumstances. To do that, we need to keep it simple and focus on Jesus. We need to put the gospel first. We need to care about other people and the glory of Christ more than our own glory. And we must persist when the haters hate.
What are the basic elements of the gospel message?
- God loves every person (John 3:16).
- Every person is a sinner (Romans 3:23), so we are separated from a relationship with God.
- Jesus has taken the judgment for our sinfulness (Romans 5:8, 6:23).
- We must confess our sinfulness, repent (turn away) from our sinful acts and attitudes.
- We must receive by faith (believe what God promises) that Jesus took upon Himself the judgment we deserve, leaving us forgiven and justified.
What two things did Paul rely on while in prison?
- The prayers of the church, and the Holy Spirit.
Point: ”It could be that one of the great hindrances to evangelism today is the poverty of our own experience.” – Billy Graham The joy of the Lord is greater than the criticism of any of our opponents. We are to be more concerned about the advancement of the gospel than uniformity of methodology, inconsequential elements of ideology, or complete harmony of individual personalities. Even people who appear strong and able need love, prayer support, and spiritual encouragement in times of need. God is greater than our problems and able to deliver us from evil to joyous victory.
Paul tells us today, that our joy in Christ can be experienced and made known both in life and in death.
III. Joy in Life or in Death – Paul’s Dilemma & Confidence Philippians 1:20-21
20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
Whatever you set out to do in life, in work, or in your family, make this your plan for the future:
“Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”
Talk about a mission statement!
But Paul didn’t stop there. He added in verse 21, “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” What does that mean?
Three things stand out about that declaration:
- The public nature of the statement. Paul was public about his ambition to live for Christ. He gladly let others see it. We show what’s most important to us by how we live. Paul knew that if he continued to live, it would translate into “fruitful work” (v. 22). You can’t say you’re living for Christ if you’re not working for Him. So if you’re going to represent Him, go public!
- The grace in this statement. Paul’s goal was to know Christ fully and live for Him. But as he stated in Philippians 3:12-15, he had not yet attained this goal. Paul didn’t achieve perfection, but God’s grace was with him. His life for Christ still resulted in “fruitful work.” As with Paul, our lives flow from our union with Christ. We need His grace to represent Him. Each day, we must saturate ourselves in His grace and then resolve to live faithfully for Him before a watching world.
- The steadfast attitude in this statement. When we’re living in the grace of Jesus, empowered by His Spirit, we can share Paul’s unstoppable, joyful mentality. We can live courageously for Christ knowing that if we die, we will be with Him. We can’t lose!
Why do we sometimes reverse this attitude … “to live is to achieve gain, to die is to see Christ”? What is wrong with this?
- Our goal is to accumulate material things as long as we are alive and able.
- We seek after fame, fortune, power, and popularity.
- We figure we’ll only have to face the Lord when we die.
- We might think we only need to be spiritual at the end, meanwhile we’ll pursue our own goals.
- The implication of this reversed statement is that if living is achieving gain, then death is the end of achieving gain, thus it is loss … might as well go be with Jesus.
So, what do you think Paul meant when he said, “to live is Christ”?
- A daily relationship with Jesus.
- Paul lived and worked only in the strength of Christ at work in his life.
- Life was not worth living without that connection to Jesus.
How, then was death in any way “gain”?
- No longer struggling with sin (see Romans 7).
- Now free from the presence of sin.
- Now actually with the Lord … not a matter of faith.
- Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
- No longer hoping for being in God’s presence, now you can see and experience it in reality.
Point: Our desire should be to magnify Christ before others no matter what we are facing. Our afflictions can actually lead to the advancement of the gospel.
LIVE IT OUT
What a challenge this lesson presents!
Is such a thing as sharing the gospel with a sense of joy in the midst of suffering and difficulty actually possible for plain people like you and me? After all, Paul was a cut above most of us, wasn’t he? But if he was, it was only in the sense of his being willing to submit himself to the bonds of Christ. However, that was not a privilege given exclusively to him. We too can share Christ with joy no matter what if we give ourselves completely over to Him.
I don’t know why some people are diagnosed with terminal cancer. I don’t know why some children rebel so strongly against their parents. I don’t know why so many things happen that don’t make sense. So, it’s encouraging to hear Paul say, “I don’t know why things happen as they do, but I still choose to not give up.” God has a plan and I trust in that!
It’s good to know that we can trust God and that He knows things we don’t. He has promised that one day He will set everything right. One day He will bring together everyone who trusts in Him.
Until then there are two ways we can live our life.
- You can live feeling like God owes you an explanation or
- You can live realizing God has given you great gifts.
If you live life feeling like God owes you an explanation, you will only wind up in a constant state of bitterness, because God doesn’t owe you anything.
But even though He doesn’t owe you anything, He has given you everything. He gave you His Own Son. He gave you the gift of eternal life. He gave you the promise of being together with Him forever. Aren’t these joyful gifts?
Isn’t this something we can share with joy?
This is a devotion that a dear friend of mine share with me - he has been diagnosed with a brain cancer!
Ready, Set — Wait
When life seems to be falling apart, your most “spiritual” decision may be a surprise: Get alone with God, and wait.
The Bible tells us this in Lamentations 3:28, “When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The ‘worst’ is never the worst”.
Most of us don’t know how to “enter the silence.” We’re always anxious. We don’t like to wait on God because it stresses us out. We like to be in control.
What does it mean to wait on God? You sit down, close your mouth, and just listen to God. You may read your Bible. You may pray. But most all, you’re quiet in front of God.
Anxiety comes when we’re not “waiting for hope to appear,” as Jeremiah tells us. God wants to talk to us. He wants to give us the hope we crave. But we’re way too busy. All of our circuits are busy! When He calls, we’re on a different line.
If we want to listen to God and experience the hope He has for us, we have to get alone with Him. We must “enter the silence” and be ready to hear Him. (See Matthew 6:6)
Get honest with God, and your focus will shift from just seeing your problems — no matter how overwhelming they seem — to the grace of God.
Before you go out and try to solve your problem on your own, let God save you. It’s like in those war movies when the enemy is marching toward the hero’s army — which is usually an inferior, ragtag group. The hero tells his men to wait until he gives the order to shoot. Then, at the last possible moment, he yells, “Shoot!” Firing at the right moment means success.
The same is true for us. No matter what obstacle you’re facing, you’ve got to wait for God’s timing. He’ll time your next move perfectly. So, wait and listen.
In His Love,
David & Susan
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