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courier it to Paul and it became to him “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing toGod”II. Some ApplicationsA. Common Sympathy1. Peter calls it “like precious faith” (Second Peter 1:1), not in the way that teenagers pepper theirspeech with the word “like,” but in the sense of commonality and fellowship2. sharing faith in Jesus Chris with other believers was not as common then as it is today and eventoday, it can be rare in certain parts of the country and the world3. it is so refreshing to go far away and find brethren and find that they believe as you do andpractice as you do, because you each have the same reverence for the Biblea. Jude called it “our common salvation” (3) and Paul greeted Titus as “a true son in ourcommon faith” (1:4)b. this is the reason that we refer to one another as brother and sister, not because we are hungryfor titles, but because we want to enjoy the same deep fellowship known to first century saints4. in his first letter, Peter commanded his readers to “Love the brotherhood” (2:17)–to have genuineand practical affection for all those anywhere who likewise name Christ and belong to his bodya. in the first century, when persecution followed the saints everywhere and a terrible famineafflicted the first congregation in Jerusalem, this common sympathy translated into limitless benevolence(Acts 4:32-35)b. sometimes, the only thing we share in common with a person is Christ–our cultures,backgrounds, ambitions and personalities might be totally different, but if we both belong to him, weshare the only thing that matters5. brotherhood, thus, is not limited to the borders of the congregation, which is why Paul enjoyedfellowship with Philippi all the way in Rome, but it is most active in the local church (Ephesians 4:11-16)B. Common Work1. because of their common sympathy, Paul, Epaphroditus and the Philippian church he representedcould enjoy the labor and fruit of a common work in evangelism as well2. when we speak of having fellowship in the gospel, it is because of the precedent set by thischurch and these individuals (Philippians 1:3-8)3. Paul gave them a report about a work, just as we receive such reports today from the men whomwe support (cf. Philippians 1:12-18) and reminded them that every fruit that his work bore was to theiraccount as well (cf. 4:17)4. the fellowship of the teacher and the student is to reflect gratitude for the gravity andeffectiveness of the doctrine (“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him whoteaches” (Galatians 6:6).a. even when we do not have the opportunity or capability to travel with the gospel to places ofdarkness, we can have fellowship with those who do, especially on an individual basis (Galatians 6:7-9)b. “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is wellpleased” (Hebrews 13:16).5. the historian who wrote First Kings made this note about the construction of the temple (“Andthe temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer orchisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built” (6:7).a. your efforts might be as behind the scenes as those of Epaphroditus or the anonymous saintsin Philippi, so that no hammer or chisel is heard as you have fellowship with such teachers, but the factthat the work is accomplished is all that mattersb. as in giving in alms, your left hand might not know what your right hand is doing, and noone on Earth may be aware of your generosity, but God knows and the work is accomplished and that isall that mattersC. Common Danger, Toil and Suffering1. sharing sympathy and work often includes sharing danger, toil and suffering as wella. the apostles rejoiced when beaten by the Sanhedrin because they were worthy to suffershame for the name of Christ (cf. Acts 5:41)b. Paul encouraged the Romans not to let sharing in suffering get them down (Romans 8:12-17)2. Paul asked the same of Timothy (Second Timothy 1:8)144! Jeff S. Smith
3. the command remains for us today (Hebrews 13:1-3)4. through sacrifice, daily concern and genuine affection, we must be willing to share the danger,toil and suffering that sometimes accompanies the proclamation of the gospelConclusionEpaphroditus took such risks and came close to death because of the work of Christ, yet he did not regardhis life as more important than the task at hand. I wonder how many of us are that committed to anything,let alone the Lord. That is the courage of character that we hope to learn from this great, but largelyobscure man.<strong>Character</strong> <strong>Studies</strong>! 145
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CharacterStudiesby Jeff S. Smith
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Character StudiesThe goal of these
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2. she points backward to his defea
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2. Jesus knew he was not an oversiz
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6! Jeff S. Smith
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2. when the local church is involve
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D. No Luther1. it fell to the apost
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c. is the antithesis of Diotrephes
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2. and then he rebukes him for his
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2. before gaining his victory over
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II. Practical ApplicationA. A Lesso
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a. we are all bending over so easil
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ConclusionJoseph was faithful to Go
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a. that, I think, is the great maje
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a. he had to leave his home, where
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3. when Isaac became old and blind,
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II. Man’s New BeginningA. The Old
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1. every time the gospel is preache
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4. Elijah now has his turn, once th
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a. we, like they, are strangers and
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D. Deliverer Appointed1. when God s
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. those with little would be moved
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. in one fell swoop, he takes out a
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3. it is not that some earn God's f
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C. The Pleasures of Sin Are Passing
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3. reaching our land of milk and ho
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1. he believed, but he was not yet
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1. we must know the Bible and be ab
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2. David took care to respect the p
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a. if he complains about having to
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. later in life, we see Herod Antip
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2. this Aaronic priesthood executed
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4. that more acute, more spiritual,
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D. His Defense (cf. Acts 7:1-50)1.
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Page 102 and 103: A. Concern For Others, Even Servant
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3. when Lot chose to live in Sodom,
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Christ3. they have the mission to t
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a. he is frequently described as a
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II. Some ApplicationsA. Prodigies a
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a. the other bureaucrats turned him
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21:20-25)a. it is safe to say that
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Ittai)b. as much as he hated what h
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II. Some ApplicationsA. Decisive Th
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or friendship at all (First John 3:
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c. Antipas was part of the tennis m
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3. Silas begins and ends his Bible
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26Brown, Driver, Briggs and Geseniu
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