Philippians 2:19-30

Order of Service

• Preservice Music
• Welcome and Announcements
• Hymn — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
• Call to Worship — Psalm 67
• Hymn — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Sin — Psalm 51
• Assurance of Pardon — Psalm 51
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — Arise, My Soul, Arise
• Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:19-30
• Prayer of Illumination
• Sermon
• Prayer
• Lord's Supper
  • Hymn — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (verses 1–2)
  • Words of Institution — 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
  • Prayer of Consecration
  • Distribution of Bread
  • Reading — Hebrews 10:11-14
  • Distribution of Cup
  • Prayer of Thanksgiving
  • Hymn — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (verses 3–4)
• Benediction — Hebrews 13:20-21
• Postlude

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Sermon Title: Reliable and Self-Sacrificing Servants of Christ

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

I. The Reliability of Timothy

A. Paul places the traveling plans of Timothy and Epaphroditus here deliberately, to present them as life examples of the godliness he has urged since Philippians 1:27

B. Timothy's character mirrors Paul's earlier imperatives

1. In Philippians 2:2, Paul called the church to like-mindedness; Timothy is described as uniquely like-minded with Paul (Philippians 2:20)
2. In Philippians 2:4, Paul called believers to look to the interests of others; Timothy is genuinely concerned for the Philippians' welfare, not his own (Philippians 2:20-21)

C. Timothy's proven worth (Philippians 2:22)

1. He served Paul like a son with a father, demonstrating faithfulness over time
2. He is known and trusted by the Philippian church
3. The portrait of Timothy in Paul's letters is not of an imposing figure — he was sensitive, timid, and prone to ailments — yet what set him apart was reliability

D. The illustration of Ulysses S. Grant: Lincoln valued Grant not for superior military knowledge but for his dependability in battle; so too Timothy always answered the call with Isaiah's response: "Here I am, send me" (Isaiah 6:8)

E. The Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 presents saints with many besetting sins and weaknesses who were nevertheless reliable servants in the kingdom of God

F. Application: Are you a reliable servant?

1. Reliability can overshadow many weaknesses and imperfections
2. Unreliable Christians are called to re-evaluate their priorities so they may say, "Here I am, Lord, send me"

II. The Self-Sacrifice of Epaphroditus

A. Historical background: Ancient Roman prisons did not provide for prisoners' basic needs; the Philippians sent Epaphroditus over 800 miles to care for Paul on their behalf

B. Epaphroditus fell gravely ill en route or in Rome — without modern medicine, such an illness was likely fatal; Paul attributes his recovery to the mercy of God, and some commentators see a miraculous divine intervention (Philippians 2:27)

C. Paul commends Epaphroditus and instructs the Philippians to honor such men who risk their lives for the work of Christ (Philippians 2:29-30)

D. Comfort vs. giftedness

1. Christians often decline service by saying "I am not gifted in that way," when the honest answer is "I would be uncomfortable doing that"
2. Giftedness and comfort are not always correlated; gifts are often discovered through uncomfortable acts of service in faith
3. The illustration of John Calvin and William Farel in Geneva: Farel confronted Calvin's preference for scholarly comfort over pastoral ministry; Calvin, shaken out of his comfort zone, discovered his gift of pastoral ministry
4. We all need people who will shake us out of complacency

E. The call of the gospel is a call to take up the cross — the height of discomfort, yet the way of peace, joy, and glory for those united to Christ (Luke 9:23)

F. Application: Sacrifice daily comforts in faith and service; say with Epaphroditus, Timothy, and Isaiah, "Here I am, Lord, send me"

III. The Glory of Jesus Christ

A. A refrain of Christ's glory runs throughout the passage and undergirds the godly lives of both men

1. Timothy cares for the interests of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21)
2. Timothy serves with Paul in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:22)
3. Epaphroditus nearly died for the work of Christ (Philippians 2:30)

B. What compels such reliable, self-sacrificing service is a heart set on the glory of Jesus Christ, not personal affection alone

1. Epaphroditus is a Macedonian Gentile serving a Jewish missionary he had known only briefly — this is remarkable
2. His name means "belonging to Aphrodite," yet the gospel transformed him so that he now belongs to Christ and takes up his cross for his new Lord

C. The Lord's Supper connects to the passage's theme

1. In the covenant of redemption, the Son said to the Father, "Here I am, send me" — and went to the cross as the spotless Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7; Exodus 12)
2. Christ accomplishes a new exodus — the liberation of the soul from captivity to sin
3. At the table, believers really and truly feed on Christ by faith, reminded of his self-sacrificing, reliable, suffering-servant kingship
4. The proper response is to turn to Christ afresh and say, "Here I am, Lord — send me"