THEME: Know Christ & Make Him Known SERIES: A Contagious Family of Faith Worthy of Christ Philippians 1:27-30

27 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel, 27 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel, 28 - without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, 29 - For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 - since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

verse 27 whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner WORTHY of the gospel of Christ!"

Ephesians 2:8,9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves – it is the gift of God... not by works, so that no one can boast.

2 nd Corinthians 5:15...those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him Who died for them and was raised again.

verse 28...is a sign that we are indeed saved - and that by God.

verse 30...for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

2 nd Timothy 3:12...EVERYONE who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...

ROGER STAUBACH (Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys): If you're not playing hurt, you're not playing football.

JOE STOWELL (President, Moody Bible Institute): Jesus' rejection, alienation, and ultimately His crucifixion were the direct result of the fact that Christ came to do His work in alien territory that was dead set against His success.

John 15:18,19 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

1.REMAIN FAITHFUL (vv. 27, 28) One way I will know you are living worthily is when you STAND FIRM... without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.

stand firm = persevere

U.S. MARINE CORPS: Semper Fidelis (always faithful)

Hebrews 12:1...let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

"...be prepared in season and out of season... watch your life and doctrine closely. PERSEVERE in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (I Timothy 4:16; II Timothy 4:2)

Hal Sherbeck: Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. TALENT will not; Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. GENIUS will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. EDUCATION will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. PERSISTENCE and DETERMINATION alone are important.

2. STRIVE TO CONNECT (verse 27) stand firm IN ONE SPIRIT, contending as ONE man for the faith of the gospel.

John 17:20-23 My prayer is not for them alone... I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message. That all of them may be ONE, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

PAUL BILLHEIMER: The continuous and widespread fragmentation of the Church has been the scandal of the ages. It has been Satan's master strategy. The sin of disunity probably has caused more souls to be lost than all other sins combined.

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

STRIVING TOGETHER * to wrestle together * to wrestle in harmony STRIVING TOGETHER * to wrestle together * to wrestle in harmony