"Joy As Testimony" - Doug Rehberg

A monk joined a monastery and took a vow of silence.  After the first 10 years his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say, my brother?”  The monk replied, “Food bad.”  After another 10 years the monk again had an opportunity to voice his thoughts.  He said, “Bed hard.”  Another 10 years went by and again he was called before his superior.  When asked if he had anything to say, he replied, “I quit.”  “It doesn’t surprise me a bit,” said his superior. “You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here.”

Next week we are going to talk about “Joy in Serving” as we look at what a man named Epaphroditus did for Paul when the Philippians sent him to Rome as an encouragement for the Apostle.  But this week we look at the text immediately preceding it, and here Paul is talking about a problem among the Philippian Christians.  It’s clear that Paul’s concern has come from Epaphroditus’ report.  There is grumbling and disputes in the church.  He’s already spoken of the general conflict that exists in the church, but in Sunday’s text, Philippians 2:14-18, he gets specific.  They are grumbling among each other.  Actually, the Greek word translated “grumble” is better translated, “grudge-bearing”.  It’s the same deadly sin that ancient Israel committed time and time again in the wilderness.

Remember the children of Israel?  The Lord delivered them from Egypt and took them through the Red Sea; and yet, it isn’t long before they start whining and complaining.  As you may remember, the murmuring is not just against Moses, it’s against God, and here in Philippians 2:14-18 Paul draws heavily upon his Old Testament understanding of it.

If you are one who is desperate for application of the Scripture to your life, and you find it difficult to listen to a sermon and find “the take-aways”, this Sunday’s message is for you!  We are going to dig deeply into these five verses and examine the pain of complaining and the joy of conquering it.

Sunday’s message is entitled “Joy As Testimony”, and the companion text is Numbers 11:10-15 where Moses is moaning and groaning to God.  Grumbling and disputing is a sign that our “old man”, that our old natural human mind is fully in charge.  To humble yourself and have the mind of Christ is to eschew grumbling and embrace rejoicing.

We will start in Philippi this Sunday and end at the cross, which is fitting, seeing that Sunday is communion at Hebron.

In preparation for Sunday’s message you may wish to consider the following:

1.      Identify the four types of grumbling that we commonly engage in and are found in the Scriptures.

2.      How does Paul’s command in verse 14 relate to his command in verse 3?

3.      How is selfish ambition and conceit, or striving for glory, the seedbed of grumbling?

4.      What does Paul mean in verse 15 when he says that they “may be blameless and innocent”?

5.      What is the penalty for Israel’s murmuring in the wilderness?

6.      How is the penalty for Israel’s grumbling analogous to the penalty for Christian’s grumbling?

7.      How apt is Paul’s link between ancient Israel’s complaints and the Philippians?

8.      Where does Paul get the expression “a crooked and twisted generation?”  Does it referred to the same people?

9.      What is Paul’s biggest problem with grumbling and disputes?

10.  How is the cross the perfect antidote to grumbling, grudge bearing, and the like?