Paul’s final exhortations to the Philippians

 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!  I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.  Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God

 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies to that they will be like his glorious body. Phil. 3:20, 21

 The centrality of the call of the gospel to all of life  The essential nature of the unity of the body of Christ  A righteousness won by Jesus for us (through the gospel)

 A salvation which changes everything and which we must ‘work out’, which we must ’press on’ to obtain fully  A heavenly citizenship which we’re called to live out while we’re here and to live toward until we’re there

Euodia and Syntyche

 Fellow laborers in the gospel – life message must match verbal message  Names written in the book of Life – citizens of the eternal kingdom and Brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ; the importance of unity

Rejoice in the Lord

Joy is Relational

GENTLENESS Because He is NEAR

Do not (continue to be) anxious about anything

Anxiety - spiritual ‘pain’

 Where do you look for Joy?  What are your anxieties and fears? How do you ‘handle’ them? Will you bring Jesus into the middle of them?