Philippians: When Bad Things Happen to Good People
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. TROUBLES CAUSE ME TO REMEMBER AND PRAY
A. TO REMEMBER
Phil 1:3 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you”
B. TO PRAY
Phil 1:4 “always in every prayer of mine (making my requests for you with joy)”
II. TROUBLES CAUSE ME TO SHARE AND PARTICIPATE
A. TO SHARE
Phil 1:5 “because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now”
B. TO PARTICIPATE
Phil 1:7 “Because it is right for me to think this about you all who I hold in my heart; because you all are partakers of my grace – as both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel,”
III. TROUBLES CAUSE ME TO BELIEVE AND HOPE
A. TO BELIEVE
Phil. 1:6a “And I am fully convinced of this fact:” (also Is 55:6-9)
B. TO HOPE
Phil. 1:6b “that the One beginning a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (also Psa. 89:30-33; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 4:21)
When “bad things happen to good people” we are reminded of six imperatives. We MUST:
REMEMBER and PRAY
SHARE and PARTICIPATE
BELIEVE and HOPE