Joy in gospel conduct

Do you remember when you were a kid, you’d pull into the driveway of someone’s house and before you hop out of the car your parents would give you the “this is what we expect of you” talk, where the proper behaviour for this event was clearly laid out? “Say hello, use your manners, don’t break anything, eat the food even if you hate it etc. etc.”  Those were important moments for us to learn the way to conduct ourselves in light of the family we’re a part of, the place we are in and the people we spend time with.

That’s essentially what Paul gives to the Philippian church in the passage we’ll look at this Sunday. What he says in these verses is really not anything new in this letter, but a rehearsing of all that he’s said already, a clear laying out of the ways they should be living. How are we as believers supposed to conduct ourselves in light of the gospel? How does the gospel affect our attitudes and our actions? The Lord will unpack all of these things for us as we continue our look at Philippians chapter 4 this weekend.

Series: Joy Unleashed
Jordan Coros
Message: 12 – Joy in gospel conduct
Harvest Bible Chapel
Text: Philippians 4:4-9
May 28, 2023

If the gospel has changed me, I will be…

…joyful no matter what (v. 4)

The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord.
George Müller

John 10:27–29
2 Corinthians 6:10

…gentle with everyone (v. 5)

“Gentleness” puts up with other people’s faults and when provoked will not seek revenge. It is a spirit that is open, conciliatory, and trusting of one’s neighbour, and it is the opposite of being contentious and self-seeking.
David Garland

Matthew 11:29

Bear with others now, that God may bear with you then.
John Barber Lightfoot

…praying away anxiety (v. 6-7)

The way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything.
Robert Rainy

…prioritizing proper things (v. 8-9)

2 Corinthians 10:5