Discipleship 101: The Connection Between My Peace & Our Peace | Philippians 4:2-9

I worked on a ranch for a summer. While I was there I helped brand cows, run cattle through chutes, and even tagged one cow’s ear. I’m not much of an animal person, but I do know that in a cattle herd the health of one cow can affect the health of the whole herd. Sickness and disease can spread quickly, so you want to make sure each cow is healthy. If one cow becomes stressed, it can get sick, and that sickness can spread.

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We see this same principle in lots of places. When one animal or fish becomes stressed, it can become sick, and that sickness can spread. When one child at school gets exhausted, she gets sick, then teachers, parents, and classmates get sick too. This is true of our church as well. When one of us gets anxious or fearful or upset, we can spread our anxiety, fear, and emotions to the whole church.

In Philippians, Paul writes to a church that is only about a decade old. It’s a young church and it’s susceptible to anxiety and worry.  And so, Paul writes them a letter explaining the connection between individual anxiety and corporate peace. None of us want to be anxious, and hopefully we don’t want to spread that anxiety to others, so let’s hear what Paul has to say. In Philippians 4:2-9, Paul gives us…

Seven connections between my peace and our peace:

Paul doesn’t say, here are seven connections, but as we read the passage, we see the principles.

1. Two people in conflict can drag a whole church into conflict. (v. 2)

As we’ve gone throughout this letter, we’ve seen Paul implying conflict within the church:

• • conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel (1:27a)
  • stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one (1:27b)
  • in humility value others above yourselves (2:3)
  • do everything without grumbling or arguing (2:14)
  • everyone looks out for their own interests (2:21)

He’s been writing to them as a church body, and now he writes to two individuals within that church body. He personally admonishes them in verse 2, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” Paul has worked backward, first addressing the big-picture conflict before addressing what could be one of its causes—two women who can’t get along.

The lesson for us is simple. When I’m upset with someone, if I don’t deal with that with the Lord and (if needed) with them, it’s like an undressed wound that can become infected. Pretty sound that infection spreads, either killing the whole church body or leading to an amputation, when a church splits or believers leave. #1 Two people in conflict can drag a whole church into conflict. So what’s the cure?

2. One peace-making disciple can create a culture of peace. (v. 3)

The next verse says, “Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women…” We don’t know who Paul is addressing, but he calls on him to act as a mediator (a peace-maker) to help Euodia and Syntyche get along. Some other versions of the Bible translate “companion” as “yokefellow.” He is someone who can help these two women who are pulling in opposite directions pull in the same direction.

Thierry preached here in August. He told me that when they were starting their church plant in France, their team was split. One side wanted to focus on evangelism, and the other side on discipleship. So he rented a crew-length rowboat and had his whole team get in. He told them to just go. And so they all started rowing and they couldn’t get anywhere because they were each pulling in their own direction. So he stopped them, told them to listen to his voice, and this time, row together. When they all worked together, they went somewhere. Thierry said this outing transformed their team from pulling in opposite directions to working together. Thierry is a yokefellow, a peace-maker.

One peace-maker can help a whole church have peace. How can you tell if you’re a yokefellow? Have you experienced conflict firsthand and not run away from it, but stuck it through to work it out? For example, let’s say you get an argument with someone here at this church, and you keep attending faithfully and trying to work it out, then you could be a yokefellow. We shouldn’t ignore the problem but address it. Are you someone who is willing to address conflict and prayerfully work it out? If you can do it in your life, then maybe you can help others too. #2 One peace-making disciple can create a culture of peace.

3. Anxiety in me produces anxiety in us. (v. 4-6a)

Paul switches once again from addressing the two individual women and their peacemaker, to addressing the church as a whole. Verses 4-5, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Both of the commands are to you plural, “You all rejoice!” In verse 6 we see the same, “(you all) Do not be anxious about anything…” This command is to the whole church.

How can a whole church be anxious? If it’s made up of a bunch of anxious individuals. How can whole church rejoice? If we all choose to rejoice together. To help the church address their anxiety problem, Paul gives himself as an example.

Philippians 4:11b-13 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (NIV^®)

Paul had plenty to worry about, but instead he rejoices because God is there for him. If he can be content while under house arrest facing trial and potentially death, so can we. Like we read in Philippians 1:14, his confidence and hope in trial emboldened the early church. Anxiety in me produces anxiety in us. But likewise, peace in me produces peace in us, and joy in me produces joy in us.

When each of us cultivates peace, it benefits the whole church. If you’re constantly anxious and you don’t want to get counseling, if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for the church, do it for the flock. As your pastor, when I feel anxiety in my heart, I want to deal with it so I don’t transmit it to you. I think that’s true of every one of your Elders and Deacons as well, but it doesn’t stop with us. All of us, especially as a small church, shape our culture. #3 Peace in me produces peace in us. So you want it, but how do you get it?

4. No matter your situation, pray, and you will know peace. (v. 6b-7)

What’s Paul’s solution to anxiety? Prayer. Prayer is talking to God. He continues in verse 6, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Paul calls us to prayer. In fact, he commands prayer; “present your requests” is an imperative. And if that’s not enough, he says the word prayer and synonyms (substitutes) for the word prayer four times total. Steven Lawson, in Philippians For You, breaks down each of these words like this:

1. Prayer – General term for intercession to God (intercession means asking God to intervene, asking him to be your peace-maker, your mediator, your helper).
2. Petition – Asking for something we lack (not enough food, money, or time causes anxiety).
3. Thanksgiving – We approach God gratefully (there’s always something to be thankful for).
4. Requests – Ask God for specific needs (so he can give you specific answer; pray for four new tires, for your exact mortgage payment, for a new job, for healing for your lime disease).

If we pray, Paul promises that we will receive the peace of God. He adds in verse 7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In other words, if you pray to God through Christ Jesus, Jesus will provide you with supernatural peace that doesn’t make sense, that’s not dependent on circumstances, that’s entirely dependent on Jesus who is with you.

I saw this kind of peace that surpasses all understanding in the face of trouble and anxiety with my childhood friend Rachel. She died a year ago this past summer from cancer. Her death was a battle. It was slow and ugly and her family said that she would get overwhelmed with fear and pain. But when she prayed to Jesus, when she remembered him and his promises, her anxiety would fade, and her face would relax. Maybe you’re facing sickness, or family or financial hardship. You can experience peace through prayer. #4 No matter your situation, pray, and you will know peace.

5. Our mindset determines our peace, so think on good things. (v. 8)

Paul gives us another command in verse 8. He tells us to think on good things. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I thought about defining each of these words, but I don’t want to be here all night. Essentially, this is a list of good things that honor God.

But in a world of options, how can we tell what is good and honors God? Should we only watch Christian movies and listen to Christian music? Sometimes we focus so much on the adjectives here (true, noble, right, pure, etc.) that we miss the pronouns Paul repeats six times, “whatever.” Whatever is true, whatever is noble, etc., whether it is “Christian” or not, is worth focusing on. Gordon Fee writes:

… it is decidedly not Paul’s view that only what is explicitly Christian (be it literature, art, music, movies or whatever) is worth seeing or hearing. Truth and beauty are where you find them. But at all times the gospel is the ultimate paradigm for what is true, noble or admirable.¹

This means that we can enjoy a good book, television show, or movie, we can appreciate an art museum, we can go for nature walks, and we can enjoy an amusement park. If we’re not addicted, we can enjoy a nice wine or beer. Now I wrestle with this principle. Just the other day I was working out at the gym when a song came on that I thought was really catchy. I asked my coach who it was, he went over and looked it up, and I said, “I like how this song sounds.” At that same time I realized what the singer was saying, and I thought, “I don’t like what this musician is saying.” I didn’t say that out-loud, but I wrestled with whether I should have or not. It’s not easy to navigate focusing on what is pure in a world of sin.

Paul is calling all of us to intentionally focus on what is right in this world instead of what is wrong in this world, to be optimistic and hopeful. That’s difficult because the evening news and online news always leads with the worst headlines because they’re the most catchy, “Newest healthcare proposal in Washington will kill you,” or “Tax-cuts for the rich only” or “Loss of power in New England freezes Pastor.” So as we apply verse 8 to our lives, it very well may mean turning off the news or not watching that TV show.

But ultimately, like Gordon Fee says, the gospel is the best example of what is true, noble, and admirable. At the end of the day, these verses describe the life and ministry of Jesus. Somehow he kept his mind on what is pure and good even as he entered into our sin-filled world and ate and drank with sinners (Luke 7:34). Somehow Jesus enjoyed the good in what God had provided without falling into temptation. #5 Our mindset determines our peace, so think on good things (think on Christ and the gospel). 

6. Receive peace through obedience and imitation. (v. 9)

It matters not only what we think, but also what we do. Paul finishes his thought in verse 9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Paul is saying two things:

1. Obey God’s Word – Paul calls for them to do whatever he has taught them. That means everything in this letter, everything in the Scriptures, everything in God’s Word. God lays out his plan for us and every human in the Bible. When we trust and obey him, we will naturally experience more peace as God answers our prayers and we’re spared the natural consequences of disobedience. For example, if I gossip about others, the natural consequence is conflict. But if I love others, like Jesus calls for in the Bible, I am setting myself up to experience peace with them. Obey God’s Word.
2. Imitate mature believers – Paul says, “Do what you’ve seen me do.” I feel like for a sermon series on discipleship, we haven’t talked much about older more mature believers pouring into younger believers. That’s a huge part of discipleship, and Paul is encouraging it right here. If you need help discerning what is good and pure, look for someone who is older and wiser than you, and has known Christ for a longer period of time, and imitate them. Watch their lives as you wrestle with these issues, and ask for their opinions. Imitate mature believers.

Verse 9 ends, “And the God of peace will be with you.” We obey and we imitate because we want to experience God’s presence unhindered by our own sin or disobedience. At the end of the day, God’s presence is what brings peace into our lives. #6 Receive peace through obedience and imitation.

7. We can only receive real peace in Christ Jesus. (v. 3, 7)

I want to go back and highlight the disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche. Paul ends verse 3 by affirming both are saved in Christ Jesus, “help these women… whose names are in the book of life.” In order to have your name written in the book of life, you have to be in Christ (Luke 10:20; Rev 3:5, 20:12). If you want to trade your conflict for peace, you need to know Jesus. 

Then again in verse 7 Paul says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you want to trade your anxiety for peace, you need to know Jesus. 

The problem is that we’re all born in sin and start this life at war with God. How can I ever hope to have peace in this life if I’m an enemy of the one who created this life? I can’t! This is why before you try to put any of these principles into practice, you need to become a friend of God. You do this by confessing your sins, which means confessing all the ways you disobey God and don’t act like Jesus, and then you place your faith in Jesus to save you. When you do, Jesus grants you friendship with God. Confession and faith isn’t a one time deal, but a lifelong commitment as day-by-day you get to know Jesus more and more through the Scriptures, prayer, and a church community that loves you. If you don’t know Christ yet, it can begin with a prayer. #7 We can only receive real peace in Christ Jesus. 

If I were to sum up today’s passage, and all seven connections between my peace and our peace, I would do so this way. This is my big idea.

Real peace in me and in us is found in Christ.

Peace is never just a me issue. Nor is it just a them issue. It’s always an us issue. And it’s an us issue that includes someone who is bigger than all of us, Christ Jesus. I can have peace as an individual and we can have peace as a church as Christ Jesus lives in us. True peace in me and in us is found in Christ.

Pastor Jonathan Romig wrote and preached this message for the people of Cornerstone Congregational Church. Click here to listen to more sermons or click here to read our story.

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