These verses highlight both the difficulty of Paul’s circumstances and his joy in the midst of them. The perspective he displays towards is sufferings, the spiteful efforts of his enemies, and his questionable prospects towards the future, points to some core understandings about his life that flow from the Gospel. We can’t have confidence in the face of difficult days without the same foundation from which to see all of life.

Here is a plan for a sermon series on Philippians developed by the preaching team at Tapestry Church. These general thoughts, or “seeds,” for each sermon were developed as a team, then each preacher had freedom to structure and present the sermon in a way that fit his own style and the Spirit’s leading.