Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 167^th Year

A 21^st Century Parish with a 1^st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Pentecost 18
September 18, 2005
Philippians 1:3-5; 22, 27
Advancing the Cause of Christ

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INTRODUCTION: To advance the cause of Christ in your dying, advance His cause in your living.  100 years before Paul sat in jail writing our Epistle lesson for this morning - an important battle was fought near the town of Philippi. On one said was the army of Antony and Octavian. On the other, the forces of Brutus and Cassias. The battle determined the fate of an empire. Octavian became Caesar Augustus. Paul wrote of a more important battle. Today, the Holy Spirit, through Paul, urges us: living or dying advance the cause of Christ.

I.                    Would your death advance the cause of Christ?

A.      Many Christians do not like to talk about death. We have two fears.

1.        The who subject of death

2.        The process of dying.

We know that God “has begun a good work in us” yet our old natures and the devil cause us to doubt He will “carry it on to completion”. We hear that “to die is gain” and yet, we have no personal experience of it. We confess that “to depart and be with Christ is far better” but we fear the unknown.

B.       Death is a time of transition for family and friends as well as for the one who dies. The details surrounding your death will give you a wonderful opportunity to witness to people who are especially open to the Gospel.

1.      We want to “set our house in order” by writing a last will and testament. Here is a wonderful opportunity to include a Christian preamble.

2.      Now is the time to make sure that our funeral will witness to your faith in Jesus as your Savior who died on the cross fro you and rose again. Surely you want to discuss with your pastor the hymns and the text of your resurrection celebration.

Transition: Some people avoid thinking about wills and funerals because they think such talk is morbid. How much better is it to make your own final arrangements as a plan for living today!

II.                 Does your living advance the cause of Christ?

A.      Live by means of the Gospel. - “{For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 1:6

1.    You have received the grace of God – in the worship service of the church, in family devotions, in baptism, at Wyneken Lutheran School, in your personal study of God’s Word.

2.    Let that love in you abound more and more in knowledge and insight (v.9)

B.       Live worthy of the Gospel. -  “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” - Phil. 1:27

1.         Live worthy of Jesus, because you already have salvation.

2.         Live worthy of the Gospel by standing firm in it.

CONCLUSION: At the death of a life – long church member, a fellow office worker said, “I never knew he was a Christian!” God forbid that such a charge should ever be laid to us! To advance the cause of Christ in your dying, advance His cause in your living.

+ Soli Deo Gloria +