Rev. David Holwick ZH PHILIPPIANS
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
October 15, 2017
Philippians 1:27 - 2:4
BE WORTHY, BE FIRM
I. Today is very special for our church.
A. I have always enjoyed baptisms.
1) Jesus ordered us to do them - "Go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them..."
a) It is the sign of new believers entering God's Kingdom.
2) But baptisms have been falling off in America.
a) Southern Baptists have seen their baptisms fall 25%
in just 17 years.
b) In 2012, 60% of their churches reported that they
didn't baptize anyone aged 12 to 17.
c) 80% reported they had either zero or one baptism of
someone aged 18-29. [1]
B. Is Ledgewood Baptist bucking the trend?
1) We have had a baptism every year I have been here.
a) In 55 years, we have had only 4 with no baptisms.
2) But in the 1960s, we averaged 10 baptisms a year.
a) In the last decade, only 3 a year.
b) We could wither and die if we are not faithful.
C. Our candidates today are a mix.
1) Young and old.
2) Male and female.
3) Different experiences, but the same Savior.
a) They need to keep living for Jesus.
b) Today's passage gives advice on how to do this.
II. Be worthy of your faith.
A. The gospel is worth something.
1) Being an Army brat, I have always watched war movies.
"Saving Private Ryan" is one of the classics.
After a family loses 3 sons in war, the Army decides to
bring the fourth son home.
However, he is in the thick of battle, and the group that
reaches him suffers many casualties.
At the end of the movie, the dying captain, played by
Tom Hanks, looks at the young soldier and says,
"Earn this." #36232
2) Christians should have the same attitude.
a) Jesus died for you so you could get right with God.
b) Don't slap him in the face by taking your salvation
lightly and superficially.
B. The gospel gives us a high standard to follow.
1) This week has seen widespread coverage of Harvey Weinstein.
a) Many prominent actors and actresses have been pulled
into it.
1> Apparently, his behavior was widely known for years.
2> TV shows like "30 Rock" openly joked about it.
b) He was protected because he offered fame and fortune.
1> He wasn't called on the carpet, so he thought it
was OK.
2) Christians are called on the carpet by God.
a) Our standards in this area are clearly laid out.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 says,
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified:
that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should learn to control your own
body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not
know God;
6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or
take advantage of a brother or sister.
The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins,
as we told you and warned you before.
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a
holy life.
1> How are YOU doing in this area?
2> As in many areas of life, we pretty much know what
God expects, but that is not necessarily the way
we are actually living. Start living worthy!
C. Don't act Christian just in church.
1) The Philippians were prone to this - they were
super-Christians when Paul was around.
a) They were not as hot when he was absent.
2) You should have a strong faith no matter what environment
you are in.
III. Three characteristics that should describe every Christian.
A. Firm.
1) How solid is your faith?
a) One church leader estimates 38% of Baptist church
members never attend church.
b) When people accept a watered-down faith, and are
never challenged to grow, not much fruit happens.
c) Plenty of people "taste" Jesus and move on to something
else.
1> Will you be one of them?
2) You have to have convictions.
a) Know where you stand spiritually and morally.
b) Don't let peer pressure or family pressure make you
waver.
B. Forceful.
1) We need to contend or strive for the faith.
2) Positive aspect: give a strong Christian witness.
a) Stand up for what you believe.
b) Approach people about it - don't wait for them to
come to you.
3) Negative aspect: face up to opponents.
a) True Christians have always rubbed society wrong.
b) If you are "contending," they have to notice you.
1> Example: Charles Colson, Franklin Graham.
c) Our forcefulness will be an omen to opponents.
1> They lose in the end.
2> We win in the end. (they'll notice this later)
A> Note emphasis on God's action in saving.
C. Fearless. 1:28
1) Not spooked or frightened.
2) Christian conduct can cost you.
a) John Wesley was riding on his horse when it dawned
on him he had not been persecuted for three days.
"Maybe I've sinned or been disobedient."
He got off his horse and got on his knees.
A redneck on other side of road recognized the
evangelist and heaved a rock at him.
It bounced off the road, just missing Wesley.
He leaped to his feet and shouted,
"Thanks be to God! Everything's all right.
I still have God's presence with me."
#4302
b) A forceful, courageous witness will draw pressure.
D. Focused.
1) Paul expects Christians to have a unity in our love and
our spiritual purpose.
2) Striving is not an individual sport.
a) "Striving together" is an expression Greeks used of
team wrestling.
1> (this is why people love professional wrestling.)
b) Our culture stresses individualism - everything is up
to you.
1> Christians believe we are bound with other
believers and should work arm-in-arm.
2> We are not alone - others have our back.
3> And we should try to be in agreement in heart and
soul with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A> The bickering and backstabbing that goes on
in some churches is a travesty.
Lee Iacocca once asked legendary football coach Vince
Lombardi what it took to make a winning team.
Lombardi's answer was this:
"There are a lot of coaches with good ball clubs who know
the fundamentals and have plenty of discipline but still
don't win the game.
Then you come to the third ingredient: if you're going to
play together as a team, you've got to care for one
another.
You've got to love each other.
Each player has to be thinking about the next guy and
saying to himself: "If I don't block that man, Paul
is going to get his legs broken.
I have to do my job well to protect my buddy."
"The difference between mediocrity and greatness," Lombardi
said that night, "is the feeling these guys have for
each other."
In the healthy church, each Christian learns to care for
others.
As we take seriously Jesus' command to "love one another,"
we contribute to a winning team.
#3156
IV. One characteristic Christians often lack.
A. Humility should be one of our highest values.
1) Jesus preached on it again and again.
2) Sadly, humility is in short supply in many Churches.
3) There should be no room for conceit or selfishness.
B. Look to the interests of others.
1) Look for ways to support, encourage and build up others.
2) Requires an attitude that would rather give than receive.
C. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's seven principles for erasing selfishness:
1) Hold your tongue and refuse to speak uncharitably about
a Christian brother or sister.
2) Cultivate humility by understanding that you, like Paul,
are the greatest of sinners. You can only live by God's
grace, so extend it to others.
3) Listen long and patiently so that you will understand your
fellow Christian's need.
4) Refuse to consider your time so valuable that you cannot
be interrupted to help with unexpected needs, no matter
how small or menial.
5) Bear the burden of your brothers and sisters in the Lord,
both by preserving their freedom, and by forgiving their
sinful abuse of that freedom.
6) Declare God's word to your fellow believers when they need
to hear it.
7) Understand that Christian authority is characterized by
service and does not call attention to the person who
performs the service.
#4304
V. Strive to not hurt, but help.
A. The horrible Las Vegas shooting brought out the best in some.
1) Bystanders jumped in to rescue people.
a) One guy even stole a truck to take the wounded to an ER.
2) Much was done anonymously.
a) They put themselves in danger for the sake of others.
B. Be one of the helpers.
Children's television host Mr. Fred Rogers often told this
story about when he was a boy and would see scary things
on the news:
"My mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers.
You will always find people who are helping.'
To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my
mother's words.
I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so
many helpers - so many caring people in this world."
#65929
You should be one of them!
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
[1] “Baptists, Just Without the Baptisms ,” by Emma Green; May 14, 2014;
<link>.
# 3156 “The Difference Is the Feeling They Have For Each Other,” by
Christopher Stinnett, Leadership, June 1994, page 49.
# 4302 “Persecution Proves Something,” from old sermon by Rev. David
Holwick, June 3, 1984; original source is lost.
# 4304 “Seven Principles For Erasing Selfishness,” by Frank Thielman,
NIV Application Commentary: Philippians, 1995, page 107.
#36232 “Earn This,” adapted from material in sermon "Earn This" by
Rev. David Washburn, Kerux Sermon #16482, originally at
www.SermonCentral.com. Other sources on the internet were
also used.
#65929 “Look For the Helpers,” by Mr. Fred Rogers; <link>.
These and 35,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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