• Joy

• Unity

• Peace

• Contentment

“Philippians is a joyful letter, but its undercurrent is a sober realization that time is running out. Paul himself was facing a possible death sentence; the church was tensed up, ready for the assault of a menacing world and for the insidious encroachment of false doctrine. Above all, God’s clock was turning relentlessly to the hour which would be both End and Climax.”

– Alec Moyter; The Message of Philippians –

• Jesus and the Gospel

• we can find joy in the midst of turmoil

• we can enjoy peace in the midst of conflict

• we can be content in a world that doesn't satisfy

• we can rejoice in all of it together

Servant – doulos­ – a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)

Philippians 2:7 (ESV) — but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Philippians 3:17 (ESV) — Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Saint – hagios -sacred (physical pure, moral blameless or religious, ceremony consecrated)

“A great deal of trouble had been caused for many seeking to understand what the Bible says about being a saint by the erroneous assumption that the word refers to personal holiness. It does not. The one who is a saint in the biblical sense will strive to be holy, but his holiness, however little or however great it may be, does not make him a saint. He is a saint because he has been set apart by God. The biblical word for saint refers to consecration.” – James Montgomery Boice; Philippians: An Expositional Commentary–

1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV) — To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Ephesians 2:19 (ESV) — So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Colossians 1:12 (ESV) — giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.