Big Idea of Sermon: Let the book of Proverbs shape your thinking and your character, and live in God’s world with utmost respect for God.

Matthew 7:21-29

Big Idea of Sermon: The mindset and heart of Christians are full of God’s peace and joy when we trust in Jesus.

We have 5 major exhortations in the passage

o Rejoice in the Lord Always

o The Lord Is Near

o Pray Instead Of Worry

o Dwell On Things Which are Excellent In Character and Praiseworthy

o Practice The Scriptures And The God Of Peace Will Be With You

Since all conflict will be resolved in heaven, we should seek unity now–– so when conflict arises, press in to agree in the Lord through mutual love, respect, humility, and service.

From our text today, we learn three actions we can take when conflict arises between believers in our congregation.

1. When Conflict Arises Between Believers, Urge Both People To Agree In The Lord (v. 2)

2. When Conflict Arises Between Believers, A Mediator May Need To Help Reconcile (v. 3a)

3. When Conflict Arises Between Believers, Show Them Honor For Their Gospel Work And Salvation Status (v. 3b)

We are on a journey toward spiritual maturity until we reach our true home in heaven, of which we are now a colony of citizens.

Know Christ. Privilege with God does not come from anything one could achieve or inherit, but from knowing Christ.

True Christians rejoice in the lord, look out for a false gospel, worship by the Spirit, boast in Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

Let’s learn from the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus, who were Christ-focused, others-focused, and self-sacrificial.

Paul gave us two examples of men who demonstrated care for others’ needs above their own, and more importantly, care for the interests of Christ above their own.

Timothy and Epaphroditus demonstrated the mind of Christ from 2:3-5 (in humility count the other more significant than yourselves, and look out not only for your own interests but also the interests of others, as Jesus did, who humbled himself to serve even to lay down his own life for us on the cross.)

These two men demonstrate living a life worthy of the gospel of Christ, as Paul instructed in 1:27. We live worthy of the gospel of Christ by having concern for others and for Christ.