All Disciples Show (Part 1)

What a joy it is to be gathering together in worship today.

It's good to be back at church with my church family.

! Catherine and I and several others from the church and a couple other churches had the opportunity to travel to Greece

and retrace the footsteps of Paul on part of his second missionary journey.

It was fascinating.

We got to go to places like where Lydia was baptized, the first convert in Europe.

We got to go to Philippi, see the jail where Paul was imprisoned at.

We got to go to Corinth.

We got to go to Ephesus, Patmos, all these different places.

And one of the things that we kept talking about over and over again as we made our way through

was the fact that Paul had an unstoppable message and a bold faith.

And with an unstoppable message, the gospel, and a bold faith of taking and making sure that he proclaimed this message everywhere he went,

God was able to turn the world upside down.

He was able to move and work in mighty ways.

And one of the things that we're talking about today and want to focus on is that we have an unstoppable message.

We still have the same gospel message that we get to proclaim today.

And God has called us to live this out with a bold faith.

And while the unstoppable message has not changed,

what we need to focus on many times is having this bold faith that shares this message to those who need to hear it.

And one of the ways that we get to see this encouraged in our life is when we have fellowship with other believers.

When we have this spiritual fellowship that not only gives us an example to follow,

but also encourages us along the way to live out our faith,

to live out this message to this life that God has called us to live.

And so for the next two weeks, we're going to be looking at another component of our discipleship pathway.

And the truth that we're going to be considering this week and next week is the fact that disciples show.

We've already talked about the fact that all disciples know.

They all know some things.

They know who God is.

They know who we are in light of who God is.

And they know that the only way to receive salvation,

the only way to be safe, to have that relationship with God restored,

is through faith in Christ Jesus.

So in short, all disciples know the gospel.

In addition to this, we've talked about the fact that all disciples grow.

They grow in this relationship.

It's not something where we stay stagnant.

It's not something where we come to faith in Christ and then never do anything with it.

But we're growing in this relationship.

And so for these first two components,

I feel that we can all understand and appreciate the fact that these are characteristics of all disciples.

But also, in addition to this,

we're going to be moving into a couple things over the next four weeks

that are sometimes a little harder to wrap our minds around the fact

that they are prevalent or that should be prevalent in all disciples.

And so as we begin to look at the fact that all disciples show and all disciples go,

sometimes it gets a little more challenging to realize that this is for all of us.

You see, with the fact that disciples know and grow,

that's something that many times we think we can do by ourselves.

It's a personal relationship with the Lord.

It's a personal commitment to read the Bible,

to pray, to give generously,

to do all of these things.

We feel that we can do this on our own.

But all of a sudden, as we think about showing and going,

then all of a sudden we realize that this is something that we're to do within community.

This is something that we are to do with other people.

And so sometimes it gets a little more challenging for us to wrap our minds around that.

But we must understand the fact that all disciples of Jesus,

not just pastors or missionaries,

but all disciples of Jesus show and go.

Now, I want us to consider the fact that disciples show in two regards this morning and next week.

As disciples of Jesus, we're not only commanded to show others what Christ has done for us,

we are to be shown by others as well.

And so think of it like this.

We are to see and we are to show.

We are to see and we are to be seen.

We are to show and we are to be shown this message.

This week, our focus is going to be on seeing,

on the fact that we as disciples should be looking to others' lives,

having someone to invest in our life.

And to help us understand the necessity of looking to godly examples,

I want to invite you to open with me to the book of Philippians.

Philippians chapter 3.

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

We're going to start in verse 17 and work our way through chapter 4, verse 1.

It's just a few verses of scripture here,

but in these few verses, what we see is a necessity to look to godly examples.

And so if you have a copy of God's Word,

I want to invite you to follow along as I read,

starting in Philippians chapter 3, verse 17.

Philippians 3:17

It says this,

Brothers,

Now from this passage,

there are a few observations that we can make when it comes to discipleship

and the fact that all disciples should be showing and be shown some things.

The first observation that we made from this passage is this,

Disciples see the example of godly believers.

The importance of disciples seeing the example of godly believers.

Brothers, this passage right here says,

Brothers, join in imitating me.

Where we first, when we first read this,

it kind of sounds a little arrogant of what Paul is saying, right?

He says,

Be like me.

Imitate me.

I can only imagine

if I go into staff meeting on Tuesday

and I tell the rest of the staff,

I said,

All right, guys,

I want you to imitate me.

They'll start laughing at me like,

Yeah, right.

We're not doing that.

But Paul here,

he's saying,

Imitate me.

But it's not in an arrogant sense.

It's not in a,

Hey,

to be exactly like me.

It's what he's saying is,

Follow my example in looking to Christ.

Follow my example in keeping Christ at the center of everything.

And if you look back at the chapters leading up to this in Philippians,

you will see this example that Paul is saying to imitate him.

The example of putting no confidence in the flesh.

No confidence in our works.

Paul's already told him,

He says,

Look,

If anybody has confidence in the flesh,

in their works to gain salvation,

it's me.

And he says,

But I don't put any confidence in that.

And so he's saying,

Follow my example in this.

Follow the example of realizing we are all a work in progress.

Follow the example of forgetting what's behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Follow his example of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Follow his example in being consumed by one thing.

Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Paul is saying,

Follow my example in these things.

He realizes he's not a perfect example.

In fact,

that is one of the ways that we can relate to him and follow his lead.

We realize that we are all works in progress.

We all have much that needs to change in our lives,

to be molded and informed,

to look more and more like Jesus Christ.

But what he's saying is,

Follow this example.

Follow the example.

In a sense,

This is discipleship.

Having people in your life that you can look up to,

that will mentor you,

that you can follow their example,

to have someone more mature in your life,

that you can see how they live out their faith

and be inspired to do the same.

We need examples in our lives.

We need people that we can look to,

that we can see how they're living their life out.

Many have said much of the Christian life

is far easier caught than taught.

In other words,

much of the Christian life,

we figure out and we learn

by looking to other people's lives.

Yes, we hear the words.

Yes, we hear what we should be doing.

But much of the Christian life

is following the example of others

who have gone before us.

who are more mature in this world.

We need to see those examples in our lives.

Several,

and this is something that we all need to understand

because when we look to people's lives,

when we look to those godly lives,

it illustrates for us sound teaching.

Several of you have mentioned

that I'm running up quite the tab

with my kids right now

using them in sermon illustrations.

For those that you don't know,

every time I use one of my kids

and a message,

I have to pay them $5.

And so let's just hypothetically speak here

and just say,

just imagine I had a child

that is learning how to drive right now.

So just, I mean,

nobody in particular,

but just imagine

that I have a child

who's learning how to drive right now.

And what has been interesting

is to see how he pays attention

to how Catherine and I drive

much more than he used to.

We are,

or him or her,

whichever child it is.

But,

but,

but he's paying attention

to how we are driving.

And so when,

when we tell him things,

when we say,

hey,

you need to make sure

you stop completely right here.

You need to make sure

you don't go up to speed limit.

You need to make sure

you look both ways.

You need,

he's now applying

those same things to us

and making sure

that we do those same things

that we're telling him to.

And it's trickling down

to his other siblings.

And it's not just with,

with Catherine and I.

I was riding with Charlotte

the other day

and she told me,

she goes,

you know,

sometimes Mimi drives

a little fast.

And I said,

oh really?

She said,

yes,

sometimes Mimi drives

a little fast,

but she told me

that it's okay

to go five miles an hour

over the speed limit.

I said,

oh,

she did.

Okay,

well thank you Mimi.

Thankfully,

my mother-in-law

is at the Methodist church

and as long as

all of you agree

to keep that story here,

it will never make

its way there.

But,

what I've found

is that so many times

what we do

leaves a far more

lasting impact

than what we say.

And so,

we've got to have people

in our lives

that we can look to

at how they're living

their life.

We can look to their life

and say,

hey,

they've got their eyes

fixed on Jesus.

They're following Jesus.

They're trying to follow him

with their lives.

Jerry Bridges,

in a book

that I would highly recommend

called Growing Your Faith,

he says this

about the importance

of fellowship

and having the example

of others to follow.

He says this,

he says,

none of us

have the spiritual

wherewithal

to go it alone

in our Christian lives.

Spiritual fellowship

is not a luxury

but a necessity

vital to our spiritual

growth and health.

Biblical fellowship

involves both

a sharing together

of our common life

in Christ

and sharing

with one another

what God

has given to us.

He says,

one of the most

important things

we can share

with one another

is the spiritual truth

that God

has been teaching us

which might be

of great help

to fellow believers.

He says,

none of us

are meant to do this alone.

None of us

are meant to go this alone

and try to

just pave the way

ourselves

but we are to have

this community,

have this fellowship

with other believers

to live this life out.

we need the example

of others

in our lives.

It's obvious

when we look

at our children

and realize

that they need

these examples

in their lives.

They need parents

that model for them

what it means

to follow Jesus.

In fact,

as parents,

we are our kids

primary example

in this.

It's wonderful

to bring them

to church.

It's wonderful

to encourage them

to go to youth camp.

It's wonderful

to encourage them

to go on a mission trip

but they need something

that is far more impactful

than these things.

They need parents

that day in

and day out

show them

what it looks like

to follow Jesus.

They need parents

who not only

make sacrifices

to follow Jesus

but teach them

the importance

of making

those sacrifices.

But here's the thing.

It's really easy

for us to see

this connection

with children.

It's really easy

for us to see

this connection

with being

this is something

that is important

to teach our children.

But Paul

is not writing this

to the children's ministry

at the church

of Philippi.

He's not writing

this letter

to the youth group

at the church

of Philippi.

He's writing this letter

to the church

as a whole.

He's saying

we all need this

in our life.

We all need

the example

of others

who are looking

to Jesus

who are focused

on Him.

We need this example

in our lives.

We need

this discipleship.

We need

this fellowship.

We need this

as a part

of who we are.

He's writing

to the whole church.

We all need

examples

to follow

in our lives.

That is why

the church

not this building

but this group

of believers

is so important

so vital

in our Christian

walk.

We have people

who are experiencing

the challenges

of life

like we are

and we can come

alongside each other

and do life

with one another.

We have those

who've gone before us

who've experienced

the difficulties

of this life

and we can go

to them

and say

is it worth it

and they will say

every single time

absolutely

it is.

So I want to ask you

do you have

godly examples

in your life

that you can look to

that you can

look up to

those that aren't

just voices

on a podcast

or people that you

watch on social media

but people that you

know

that you have

a relationship with

that you can call

that you can text

that you know

will be there

for you.

You see

we can get

a lot of great

you can get

far better teaching

online than you can

right here.

There's a lot

there's some really

incredible gifted

teachers out there

but it's more than that

we need people

in our life

that are going

to do life

with us

that are going

to come alongside

us

that's not just

something that we

we experience

on a screen

but something

that we experience

with other believers.

You see

in this

in this book

Paul has already

spent time

with this church

in Philippi.

He's already

built relationships

with them

and that's why

when he says

things like he

does in

Philippians chapter

Philippians 1:29

1 verses 29

and 30

it carries

a great deal

of weight.

You see

in Philippians

Philippians 1:29

1 verse 29

he's telling

this church

he's telling

this group

of believers

a difficult

truth.

He's telling

them that

sometimes

in this

Christian walk

we're going

to have to

suffer for

Christ.

There's going

to be things

that we go

through that

are difficult

that are

challenging

and he's

telling them

this difficult

truth

but they

receive it

better because

of his

relationship.

I want you

to listen

to this.

Chapter 1

29 and 30

says this

for it has

been granted

to you

that for

the sake

of Christ

you should

not only

believe in

him

but also

suffer

for his

sake.

You should

also suffer

for his

sake.

This is a

difficult

truth

but then

he goes

on to

say this

he says

engaged

in the

same

conflict

that you

saw

I had

and now

hear

that I

still

have.

He's

saying

you're

going

to

experience

suffering

but remember

I did

as well.

I was

there

with you.

You saw

me experience

this suffering.

Yes I was

there and

brought the

gospel message

and Lydia

was saved

and was

baptized

there and

then I

came in

and cast

this demon

out of

this young

slave girl

this spirit

of divination

who was

making her

owners much

money and

because I

did this

they got

really upset

with me

caused a riot

beat me

threw me

in jail

but while

I was in

jail

Silas and I

were praising

God.

We were

singing

and all of a

sudden it

gave us an

opportunity to

share the

gospel of the

Philippian jailer

and him and

his whole family

came to faith

in Christ.

He says

you remember

me experiencing

these things

the suffering

that I experienced

while you were

there but I'm

here to tell

you it's worth

it and so

because of

that relationship

he's able to

share this

truth with

them and

these words

carry a

great amount

of weight.

You see we

need the

example of

strong believers

in our lives.

There are

people that I

intentionally make

time for each

and every month

to go and

have lunch with

them because I

need this in

my life.

I need people

who will pour

into me and

who have gone

before me who

are further along

in their relationship

with the Lord

who will invest

in my life as

well.

We all need

this as a part

of our Christian

walk.

This is part of

what it means

that all

disciples show

and part of

that is we

have other

people showing

us.

We get to

look at their

life and see

that example

over and over

again.

One of the

reasons that

we see this

is important

is because it's

a tremendous

blessing in our

life to help

you grow in

your walk

with Christ.

You see,

I've never had

a conversation

with someone

where I was

sharing with

them some

hard things

that I was

going through.

I've never

had a conversation

with someone

who was actually

growing in

their walk

with Christ,

who was

actually looking

to Jesus in

the midst of

everything going

on in their

life.

I've never had

somebody say,

nah, it's

really not worth

it.

No.

Every single

time, no matter

what they've

experienced, if

they're growing

in their

relationship

with the

Lord, if

they've got

their eyes

fixed on

Jesus, every

single time

they'll say,

yes, it's

hard, but

it's worth

it.

But it's

worth it

because Jesus

is worth

it.

So we need

it because

of the

encouragement

it is, but

we also need

this because

this is what

God has

called us

to do, and

not doing

it as being

disobedient.

Paul says,

brothers, join

in imitating

me and keep

your eyes on

those who walk

according to

the example

you have in

us.

So we must

keep our

eyes.

Disciples see

the example

of others, the

godly example

of others.

But not only

does Paul give

us an example

to follow, he

gives us a

warning in this

passage.

He gives us a

warning that

there are going

to be those who

don't give us a

godly example.

And so the next

thing that we see

is that disciples

see the danger

in following bad

examples.

Yes, disciples

see the good

examples, the

godly examples

to follow, but

they also see

the danger in

following bad

examples.

It says this,

for many of

whom I have

often told you

and now tell

you even with

tears, walk as

enemies of the

cross of Christ.

Their end is

destruction, their

God is their

belly, and they

glory in their

shame with

minds set on

earthly things.

You see, I

don't think Paul

is referring to

people who were

openly speaking

against the

church in

public.

I don't think

he's referring

to people who

were in the

church and

now they

said, I

don't want

anything to

do with that

anymore, and

now they're

speaking and

talking bad

about it.

Of course, Paul

would say don't

follow that

example, but I

think what he's

talking about

here is people

within the

church who are

saying one thing

with their mouth,

but their life is

living something

completely different.

He's saying don't

follow that

example.

Don't follow the

example of

people who say

one thing, but

their life is

screaming something

very different.

It was those who

claimed to be a

part of the

fellowship, but

their lifestyle was

an open

contradiction to

what they

claimed.

For these

people, their

end is destruction.

You see, for

these people, they

claimed to be

followers of

Christ, but there

was a sharp

contrast in what

they claimed to

believe and how

they actually

lived.

These people

claimed to know

Jesus, but they

focus on

themselves.

But here's the

thing, Paul's

sharp warning and

the way that he

says this has

led many people to

think that Paul was

probably talking

about leadership

within the church.

People who had a

voice on a regular

occurrence, people

who were openly

sharing, but yet

their life was a

contradiction to

what they were

saying.

He's telling them

be very careful

about those people.

don't follow that

example.

And sadly, there is

no shortage of

people who claim to

know Christ, who can

say the right things,

but their life is a

complete contradiction.

We see it in

prominent places.

We see it from

politicians who

claim Christ, but

their life is a

complete contradiction

to that claim.

And sadly, where we

often see this is the

same place that Paul

is likely referring to

inside the church.

church and often

in the office of

pastor.

Over the past few

years, we have seen

more and more pastors

walk away from the

ministry, being forced

to resign or to

rethink their views

on certain issues

because they got

caught.

The reasons are

many.

Pride, abuse of

power, pornography,

adultery, you name

it, and there's a

good chance that a

pastor has been

involved with it.

And so what we're

seeing here is that

we must choose

carefully who you

are going to

follow.

Now, I'm not saying

that we only follow

perfect examples

because none of us

in here are perfect,

but we're following

examples that keep

their eyes fixed on

Jesus.

We're following

examples of those

that realize, hey,

I'm not there, but

I'm working towards

it.

We follow the

examples of those

who not only see

Jesus, but their

life shows that

they're actively

trying to follow

him, and we

follow those

examples.

Don't follow bad

examples no matter

what they say.

But also I want to

encourage you, don't

give up on the

Christian faith because

of bad examples or

because of a bad

experience either.

This isn't a new

struggle.

Paul is warning the

church of Philippi of

this 2,000 years ago,

but it's something that

we must consider

today as well.

And so not only are

disciples able to see

the example of strong

believers, not only are

they able to see the

danger of these

examples, but finally

we are able to see

that disciples follow

the good examples

they see.

Disciples follow the

good examples they

see.

Verses 20 through 4,

1 says this, it

says, but our

citizenship is in

heaven, and from it

we await a Savior,

the Lord Jesus

Christ, who will

transform our lowly

body to be like his

glorious body by the

power that enables him

to be subject to all,

to, uh, enables him

even to subject all

things to himself.

Therefore, my brothers

whom I love and long

for, my joy and my

crown stand firm thus

in the Lord my beloved.

left.

Several years ago, we

worked our way through

the entire book of

Philippians, and I'm

sure that each and

every one of you

remember every single

thing that we talked

about in the book of

Philippians, and that

there's really no need

in me giving a

refresher here, and

since you remember it

all word for word, but

some of you may not

have been here, so let's

just do a quick

refresher for something

that we see at the

beginning of

Philippians.

In chapter 1, verse

27, Paul tells us, he

says this, he says,

only let your manner

of life be worthy of

the gospel of Christ.

The word that Paul

uses here to describe

this life, it has a

citizenship implication

to it.

In fact, I love how the

ISV, it translates this,

I think probably better

than most of our

translations that we

have, it says this, it

says, the only thing

that matters is that

you live as good

citizens in a manner

that is worthy of the

gospel of Christ.

We are called to live

in this world as

citizens of another

world.

We are called to live

in this world as

citizens of another

world.

We are called to live

in this world as

citizens of heaven, as

citizens of the gospel

of Jesus Christ.

We are called to live

in this world, but our

home is somewhere else.

And in just a moment,

we're going to briefly

take a look at what this

means and how this gets

applied to our lives.

But before we discuss

that, given the context

that this is given in,

I believe Paul is setting

us up for this.

He's letting us know that

in order to live this

life, we need godly

examples in our life.

In order to live this

life where we are living

as citizens of another

place, we must have

those examples who are

modeling this for us in

this life, who live in

this world as citizens of

another.

And so how do we do

this?

How do we live as

citizens of another

world?

We do it in two ways.

First, we let one

citizenship take priority

over the other.

We let one citizenship

take priority over the

other.

And two, very closely

related to this, is we

let one citizenship

influence the other.

We let one have a

bigger priority, a

higher priority in our

life, and we let that

one have influence over

the other.

And so this plays out in

all kinds of ways.

And I just want you to

consider this with me for

just a moment.

I am thankful.

And I know that many of

you are thankful for the

freedoms that we get to

experience in this

country.

To be able to gather

together today like this,

to open God's Word freely

and discuss it, I am

thankful for that.

We get to worship without

persecution.

I am thankful that I get

to call the United States

of America my home.

But my allegiance to this

country, as great as it

is, must always take a

back seat to my

allegiance to God.

My allegiance to this

country, as great as it

is, must always take a

back seat to my allegiance

to God.

There is absolutely nothing

wrong with being patriotic.

This is a patriotic church.

I consider myself to be

patriotic.

But our allegiance to our

country or to a political

party must always take a

back seat to our allegiance

to God.

We must make sure that our

citizenship in heaven takes

priority over everything

else.

We must let that citizenship

influence the latter.

We must set our minds on

heavenly things where our

true citizenship is, where

our true hope, our true

treasure is, where Christ is,

who will transform this lowly

body to be like his glorious

body.

This is where our minds must be

fixed on.

And we live in light of Christ

each and every day.

This is where the examples we

should be following fix their

eyes.

And so when you look to people who

are caring for the vulnerable,

when you look to people who are

caring for orphans, who are doing

all that is good and right and

true, who are giving to the poor,

who are speaking edifying words to

one another, who are outdoing one

another with good works, who are

showing no partiality or racism, who

are putting the needs of others

before their own, who are doing

nothing with grumbling or disputing,

who are shining as lights in the

world, we should say this looks a

lot like Christ.

This looks a lot like living for

another kingdom.

This is what it looks like to be

heavenly minded, to be focused on

the things of heaven and let those

things influence this life.

We should show and attempt to show

the world a glimpse of our heavenly

home.

So I want to encourage you to find

godly examples in your life.

Avoid those who claim Christ but

their life screams something

completely different and set your

gaze, fix your eyes on the things

that are above, not on this earth.

And so how do we do this?

We look to the examples of others.

We look to those who are focused on

scripture, who are focused on the

things of heaven.

We come alongside them.

We see the example that they set for

us, this modeling that they have done

for us.

Think of it like this.

Have you ever thought about why a

little Australian child has an

Australian accent?

It's because their parents, it's

because what they've heard over and

over again.

Charlotte, our youngest, she has a

pretty good southern drawl.

You know why she has a pretty good

southern drawl?

Because of her mother.

No.

We see these things all the time.

We see it play out in so many

different ways.

We see how modeling this example of

setting an example, we see how this

plays out in different people's lives.

We see how children, they'll copy

other children.

We see the importance of having these

godly examples in our life.

And so we must keep our eyes fixed on

those godly examples.

We must make sure that we are

surrounding ourselves with people

who will not only show us what it

looks like to follow Christ, but will

call us out when the time is needed.

So please let us consider and think

about this idea of modeling.

It is vitally important in our

Christian walk.

Think about it.

How did you learn how to pray?

There's a good chance if you grew up

in a Christian home, then your prayers

sound very similar to your parents'

prayers.

Because you heard those things over

and over again.

There's a good chance the examples

that they set for you are the

examples that you still live by today.

So make sure you look to godly

examples.

Make sure you're careful where you

look.

Not just to any example, but to those

who are focused on Christ, who look

to Him.

You see, Jesus' disciples, His disciples

spent three years with Him, learning

His example.

And just before He goes into heaven,

just before He ascends into heaven,

He gives them the Great Commission.

And He says, go therefore into all

nations.

Go therefore and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name

of the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Spirit.

But then He says, teaching them to

observe all that I've commanded you.

Jesus set this example of living a life

for others to follow.

And I want to encourage you to find

those people that you can look to,

that will be an encouragement to you,

that you can follow their example,

and to encourage you to find that in

your life.

This passage is a great reminder of the

fact that who you hang out with, who you

look to, who you let have influence in

your life, it matters.

Look to and see godly examples.

Those who have their eyes fixed on

Jesus, those examples will not only

help you to more clearly see the bad

examples in this life, but those

examples will show you what it means to

live as citizens of another place.

So help us to do that today.

Lord, we thank You so very much.

We thank You for Your Word.

We thank You for what we understand

that it means for us today.

Lord, help us to apply it.

Help it not to be, just be something

that we know about, we get more

knowledge with, but Lord, help it to be

something that we apply to our lives.

And Lord, I thank You.

I thank You for the godly examples that

You have placed in my life.

Examples that have pointed me to You

over and over and over again.

And so Lord, I pray that we will

actively be finding people to look to

that will encourage us, that will

mentor us, that will come alongside us,

that we can look to their life and see

how they're looking to You and follow

that example.

And so Lord, give us wisdom, give us

grace, give us understanding in all of

this.

And we just thank You so much for Jesus

who makes a way for us to live as

citizens of another place.

So Lord, help us to keep our eyes

fixed on You.

We ask all this in Jesus' precious name.

Amen.

I'm going to invite you to take your

Baptist hymnal and turn to hymn number

628, He Touched Me.

I want to encourage you, if God is

speaking to you this morning, won't you

respond as we stand together and sing?

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