A Fragrant Offering
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Paul discusses a formula of Christian giving from a Kingdom perspective that makes it "beautiful" for both giver and receiver.
Text: Phil. 4:14-18
Date: 06/01/2025, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 35
Description:
After expressing the source of his contentment in each and every circumstance, Paul returns to thanking the Philippians for their faithful support in his times of need. He refers to their gift as "beautiful" and reminisces about all the times they have selflessly helped him in the past. But Paul will make it clear, as he did in the previous verse, that it is not the physical or material blessings that he appreciates most-- but the fact that they are bearing such marvelous fruit for the Kingdom. We will analyze Paul's words and how his formula for Christian giving obliterates any tension of reciprocity between the giver and the receiver. Ultimately we will learn that when Christian giving is done with a pure heart and motives, it is a beautiful act of worship and a fragrant offering to our Lord.
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I. Introduction, Luke 7:44-47.
II. Exposition of the text, Phil. 4:14-18.
A. Context, Phil 4:13.
B. Paul's formula for Christian giving.
1. A beautiful kindness, vs. 14.
a. Reverting the conversation.
b. A beautiful thing to do, Mark 14:6.
c. Troubles and tribulations, Matt. 24:21.
2. A uniquely benevolent church, vs. 15-16.
a. From the beginning, vs. 15a, Phil 1:5.
b. A church that stands alone, vs. 15b-16.
i. The example from Thessalonica, vs. 16, Acts 16:40, 17:1.
ii. The example from Haiti.
3. Paul's true intentions, vs. 17.
a. The heart of a shepherd.
b. Accusations to the contrary, 2Cor. 11:7, 12:14; 1Th. 2:3,5,8.
c. Focus on the giver, Phil 4:11.
4. The joy of giving and receiving, vs. 18.
a. Paid in full. vs. 18a.
b. A fragrant offering, vs. 18b, Gen. 8:21.
III. Application
IV. Conclusion
