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Philippians
Chapter 1
        A. Paul and Timothy Servants.
                1. No mention of apostleship.
                2. To the saints in Christ Jesus.
                        a. If you are in Christ Jesus you are a saint.
                        b. Maybe the church has not recognized it yet, but
                           the Lord has.
        B. Grace be unto you and peace.
                1. So typical of all of Paul's salutations.
                2. From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
                        a. Lord Jesus Christ is not first, middle and last
                           name.
                        b. Lord is a title.
                        c. Jesus is His name.
                                1. You shall call His name Jesus, for He
                                   shall save His people from their sins.
                                2. A name that is higher than all names.
        C. Paul gives thanks for them. vs. 3
                1. He prays for them. vs. 4
                2. He thinks of them. vs. 7
                3. He has them in his heart. vs 7
                4. He longs for them. vs 8
                5. He gives thanks for every remembrance of them.
                        a. He is thankful for the fellowship in the
                           gospel. vs.5
                        b. Thankful for the good work that the Lord has
                           begun in their lives.
                        c. They were partakers with him in the bonds and
                           the defense of the gospel. When one member
                            suffers, they all suffer.
        D. Paul's prayer for them.
                1. That their love may abound even more. vs. 9
                2. That they may have the knowledge and judgment too
                   approve the things that are excellent. Not just things
                   that are good, but are best. Good enough is often the
                   greatest enemy of the best.
                3. That they may be sincere and without offense until the
                   day of Christ .vs. 10
                        a. Note the day of Jesus Christ in verses 6
                        b. The day that Jesus Christ comes to take them to
                           be with him.
                        c. Paul certainly believed in the eminent
                           coming of Jesus Christ, and taught it as the
                           blessed hope for the believer.
                4. That they might be filled with the fruits of
                   righteousness.
                        a. Which bring glory and praise to God.
                        b. "Let your light so shine"
        E. Paul's current state.
                1. A prisoner in Rome, waiting to make his appeal to
                   Caesar.
                        a. The current Emperor of Rome was Nero.
                2. All things work together for good for those who love
                   the
                   Lord and are called according to His purposes.
                3. Paul's imprisonment was working to the furtherance of
                   the gospel.
                4. Paul's boldness in prison, was bringing other believers
                   out of the woodwork.
                        a. Others were preaching Christ by envy or strife.
                        b. They possibly were in disagreement to some of
                           Paul's teaching, such as were the Judaizers.
                           They were contentious.
                        c. Their motives were wrong, they thought that
                           they were making Paul more miserable.
                5. Paul rejoiced that Christ was being preached, people
                   were talking about Jesus.
        F. Paul's chief desire was that Christ be magnified. It mattered
           not to him, whether it be in life, or in death.
                1. For to him to live, was Christ.
                        a. That is all he lived for.
                        b. "And when Christ who is our life shall appear."
                        c. To life was to bring forth fruit by his labor.
                2. To die was to gain.
                3. Paul didn't know what to choose, he found himself with
                   mixed emotions.
                        a. He had a desire to depart and to be with Christ
                           which was far better.
                        b. He felt that his work was not yet finished,
                           there were many young Christians who still need
                           his firm and strong guidance for their
                           continued joy and faith.
                4. Paul's hope was to return to them again.
        G. Paul's exhortation to them.
                1. Let your manner of life be as becometh the gospel of
                   Christ.
                        a. Don't just speak it, live it.
                2. That they stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind
                   striving together for the faith of the gospel.
                3. That they would not be terrified by their adversaries.
                4. To realize that they were not only called to believe in
                   Christ but to suffer for Christ.