Set “It” Aside – Philippians
Set “It” Aside
Together Church | Pastor Brandon Werner
March 22, 2026 | Series: Philippians
INTRODUCTION
Today marks the final message in our study through Philippians.
Consistently, Paul has shown us that the best relationships in the world are shared between followers of Jesus who are united as partners in the gospel.
When it comes to gospel partnership, you’d think that the greatest threat to the church would come from the outside: persecution, opposition, culture…
But in Philippians, Paul shows us something different-
Some of the greatest threats come from within.
We’ve already seen that there are many threats to the unity of gospel partnership…
- Persecution (Philippians 1)
- Personal ambition (Philippians 2)
- False teachers (Philippians 3)
And in our text this morning, Paul adds three new threats to this list. All three are threats that arise from within. They are…
- Personal conflicts (verses 2-5)
- Anxiety (verses 6-9)
- Discontentment (10-19)
Philippians 4 is rich. Let’s take a closer look at this incredible passage and each of these threats to gospel partnership.
BODY
- Personal conflicts (verses 2-5)
Philippians 4:2-5
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche (sin-ti-chee) to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Who were Euodia and Syntyche?
Both were prominent female leaders in the Philippian church. Paul says they “labored with me in the gospel” – meaning they were not fringe members but respected women who were known by the church.
Their disagreement was serious enough to:
- Affect the unity of the mission of the church
- Require public mention
- Warrant a mediator (this “true companion” to help these women)
What caused the conflict between them?
Paul didn’t explicitly say. But some realities are evident. For example, we know it was…
- Not a doctrinal dispute
Paul was not afraid to confront and correct doctrinal errors directly (ex: Peter and Barnabas in Galatians 3; the false teachers in Philippians). Paul wouldn’t have left a doctrinal dispute impacting the whole church unresolved. So, it wasn’t a doctrinal dispute, and it was…
- Not a moral scandal
Paul always confronts moral scandals (ex: the moral scandal in 1 Corinthians). There’s no rebuke, no call to repentance—only a call for reconciliation.
Based on the text and context, scholars generally conclude that their conflict was almost certainly…
- A personal or relational disagreement
Paul’s wording — “be of the same mind in the Lord” — echoes his earlier exhortations against selfish ambition, rivalry, and pride that can cause personal conflicts.
If this was a personal or relational disagreement, what was it about?
There are several possibilities! It could have been…
- A jurisdictional dispute over who was in charge of some ministry responsibility.
- A preferential dispute over a variety of issues.
- A personal unresolved offense due to some immaturity or character flaw.
Or maybe something else. Whatever it was, the conflict was a serious enough threat that Paul addressed their dispute in a public letter.
What makes personal conflicts like this one so serious?
It’s serious because of the threat of unresolved disputes in the body of Christ.
Unresolved disputes…
- Spread like gangrene.
It is the nature of the flesh for people to gossip and slander and take sides. Left unchecked, unresolved disputes spread like wildfire and destroy the unity of the church.
Unresolved disputes also…
- Harm the testimony of the church of Jesus to the immature in Christ and unbelievers in the community.
You know, the harm of a personal conflict isn’t caused by the conflict itself. In fact, outsiders and immature Christians can really appreciate and admire when a conflict is handled appropriately!
The harm comes when believers handle conflict in an immature way. That disrupts unity and does damage to our witness for Christ.
And unresolved disputes…
- Weigh down our hearts and disrupt the joy of the church.
We have all experienced this. How do you feel when you’re in the middle of conflict with someone? Or how do you feel when people you care about are being driven apart by conflict?
Unresolved conflicts weigh heavy on us, they disturb our sense of peace and joy, they can prompt anxiety, and they can ultimately drive a wedge between us.
So, Paul calls these two women—gently but firmly—to reconcile “in the Lord.” And he encourages other leaders in the church to help them. Paul created accountability with his admonition. This was not a problem that everyone could just ignore.
For the sake of gospel partnership and unity in the church, Paul identified the need for this personal conflict to be resolved.
Then, Paul’s solution was simple. He offered the solution without even needing to go into the details of addressing the problem.
I like it when that happens in the text. If we knew what their problem was, we might assume that Paul’s solution would only work in their unique situation! But the truth is, Paul’s simple solution for them is the same for us.
How do we agree with the Lord and work together to resolve personal or relational conflicts?
Paul said…
- Rejoice in the Lord with one another.
To rejoice in the Lord is to rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul really doubled down on the importance of “rejoicing in the Lord” as a simple solution to conflict. Look…
- He says it twice in one sentence!
- He says to do it “always” (Paul is saying he won’t stop reminding them to focus on the gospel and rejoice in the Lord!)
Paul said, “Hey! Remember, your names are written in the book of life!”
It’s like Paul was saying, “I know you think you’ve got it bad, and that you’re being treated unfairly. But hold on a second: do you want to be treated fairly? If God gave you what you deserved, you would be judged by God for your sins, and your name would not be written in the book of life! And if Jesus was not humble enough to put your interests ahead of His own, He would have never came to suffer in your place!”
That changes my perspective. How about you?
It’s amazing how so many personal conflicts become meaningless when two disciples begin to focus on the gospel.
Apart from the gospel, our focus naturally gravitates to how we feel we are being treated unfairly or on how we are hurt.
But when we rejoice in the Lord and focus on the gospel, it’s like wielding a divine shield that keeps us from being easily offended.
Suddenly, through the lens of the gospel, we stop fixating on our pain. Instead, our focus shifts and we start to ask, “Lord, what are you doing through this circumstance?
- How are You sanctifying me?
- How are You conforming me into the image of Jesus?
- How do You want to grow my character?
- How do You want me to love others?
- How are You working in my life to bring Yourself glory?
- What can I do to align with You?
So, these two women are fighting, and Paul knows why. They aren’t rejoicing in the Lord! They aren’t marveling that, despite their sinfulness, through Jesus, their names have been written in the book of life!
So, Paul’s solution is to rejoice in the Lord! And to…
- Be gentle with one another. (verse 5)
Gentleness comes from deferring to one another when there’s a personal conflict. Gentleness is the natural result of walking in the Spirit.
It’s amazing how much peace there is between two disciples of Jesus when both disciples are willing to defer to the other.
It’s a callback to Philippians 2… in humility, not considering ourselves to be more significant than others.
So, be gentle with one another by deferring to one another.
The last part of Paul’s solution is….
- Remember, the Lord is at hand. (verse 5)
Paul is saying whatever personal differences you have now do not matter compared to the greater cause. It’s time to lay aside those differences for the sake of the mission.
Time is too short. Souls are too precious. Jesus’ return is imminent. Eternity is too significant.
Stop squabbling over anything that won’t matter when Jesus returns… the Lord is at hand.
In Philippians 4:2-5, Paul identifies personal and relational conflicts as a significant threat to the church, and he gives them the solution – the antidote – to overcome that threat.
And that brings us to a second threat in this text to their gospel partnership…
- Anxiety (verses 6-9)
Philippians 4:6-9
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things
Paul knew that no disciple of Jesus can be effective in a gospel partnership if they’re being overwhelmed by emotional anxiety.
The word “anxious” comes from a Greek word “merimnao” (mer-im-nah’-o). This Greek word literally means “to take thought” or to “be pulled by your thoughts in different directions”.
Emotional anxiety is caused by focusing your thoughts on outcomes that you cannot control.
It’s natural for us to consider outcomes and do what we can to plan and prepare for certain outcomes (ex: my house may get hit by a tornado, so I’m going to build a storm shelter and have the proper insurance). That’s not anxiety, it’s responsible thinking.
Emotional anxiety is caused by continuously entertaining outcomes in your mind that you cannot control.
Thoughts of anxiety can be related to our welfare or the welfare of those we love…
- What if I get a terminal disease?
- What if my spouse or child gets a terminal disease?
- What if I lose my job?
Thoughts of anxiety can come from insecurity and a fear of man, what others might do, or how they perceive us…
- What if I go and no one likes me?
- What if people get to know the real me and reject me?
- What if someone says or does something that causes me pain?
The “what ifs” of anxiety can be so crippling that it can take away our freedoms. It’s like we are prisoners behind the bars of anxiety, constantly being controlled by the fear of things that haven’t even happened.
Here’s the reality…
The list of things you can’t control is endless. Emotional anxiety occurs when we allow our minds to entertain these “what if’s” over and over.
Paul says be anxious for nothing.
In other words, do not have anything on your list of “what ifs”.
How does Paul coach believers to do this?
Paul says it is about prayer. But it is not just any prayer. It is a prayer he calls prayer with supplication.
Supplication is a kind of prayer where you take one of your “what ifs”, turn to the Lord, and share your concern with Him. And then… you release that concern into His hands.
Supplication means trusting the Lord and His goodness.
It’s saying, “Hey, God. I know You are in control and that You love me. So instead of worrying about what I can’t control, I trust You.”
Trust is not removing the possibility,
it’s knowing God is good and releasing the outcomes into His capable hands.
When we do that, our thoughts are freed from the prison of anxiety, and we grow in our ability to focus our minds on what is good…
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
Now that’s powerful.
Don’t you want that? The ability to take your thoughts captive and focus them away from the “what ifs” and on what is good?
What is Paul’s solution for learning how to do that?
In verse 9, Paul points to himself as the example to imitate once again. That’s a call to relationship. Why?
Because the freedom you’re looking for isn’t in isolation… The freedom you crave is in relationship with mature disciples of Jesus who set the right example.
Do you want to be free from anxiety?
Identify the right examples. Go be with them at church, in small group, and in personal relationship. Talk to them, be transparent with them, and pray with them.
When you identify and follow the right examples, you’ll learn how to eliminate the threat of anxiety through pray with supplication.
And that brings us to the third threat in our text. The last threat to gospel partnership in this passage is…
- Discontentment (verses 10-19)
Philippians 4:10-19
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The word “content” in verse 11 means to be inwardly satisfied.
To be inwardly satisfied means to be at rest regardless of your outward circumstances.
Paul uses this word with regards to the conditions of his life in this world. He’s NOT talking about being inwardly satisfied about his personal responsibilities… he cared about glorifying God in his work!
To be inwardly satisfied about the conditions of your life in this world means…
- You don’t really care whether you have a little or a lot
- You don’t really care if what you own is cheap or expensive
- How much house you can afford
- Or what your car looks like
- You don’t really care if it is common or esteemed
- You don’t really care if the food you eat is plain or delicious
- You don’t really care if your lifestyle is mundane or exciting
- You don’t really care whether you go to ordinary or exotic places
- You don’t really care about physical appearances outside your control…
- Whether you are tall or short
- The color of your skin
- Whether you’re built slender or not
- Or if your hair is great or balding
Do you get the point?
Your affections are not found in the things of this world that won’t last. That’s what Paul meant when he said he had learned to be content regardless of his state.
Remember, Paul wrote this while he was in prison!
Clearly, Paul’s contentment was not dependent on his conditions in this world.
How do you become content or inwardly satisfied with the conditions of your life as a disciple of Jesus?
In the middle of this passage, in a famous verse, Paul gave the HOW:
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
This verse is often misinterpreted and misapplied.
Too often, this verse is used to claim the ability to achieve any desired ability or goal. But that isn’t at all what Paul was saying.
This verse is specifically about Paul’s ability to be content regardless of his circumstances or conditions in this world.
Now, let’s be real…
In his flesh, Paul preferred not to be in chains.
He would have enjoyed a steak dinner over his prison diet.
I’m sure his bed wasn’t helping his aging body much.
But with regards to the condition of his soul, his conditions in this world were irrelevant to him. He couldn’t care less! Why?
Because of Christ, he saw himself as…
- Always abounding (having plenty) in Christ.
- Being rich in Christ.
- Highly esteemed in Christ.
- A citizen of heaven in Christ.
- Never alone in Christ.
- With a future that surpassed anything this world has to offer.
The outlook for Paul’s future was so good that it was far more significant to him than any temporary, earthly condition.
When a church or even a member is discontent, it opens the door to jealousies, controversies, and division.
How do we eliminate the threat of discontentment?
By shifting our focus off of what we don’t have in this world and focusing on what is already ours in Christ.
Paul was so confident in this solution that he gave us this promise…
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The threat of discontentment is eliminated when the members of a local church are content: inwardly and completely satisfied by Christ.
CONCLUSION
It’s important to note what Paul said at the end of this letter.
Philippians 4:20-23
20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Because of their gospel partnership, the gospel had reached an unexpected place according to verse 22.
It had reached “Caesar’s household”.
In Acts 2, a gospel partnership began with the first 120 followers of Jesus who gathered in that upper room to wait on the Holy Spirit.
Since Pentecost in Jerusalem, in just 30 short years, there were already THOUSANDS of disciples of Jesus in Israel, Samaria, Asia Minor, and Europe… and there were now even disciples of Jesus in the highest levels of the Roman government!
It’s amazing what God can do with a small group of people who agree to join together in gospel partnership!
Because of the gospel partnerships we share at Together Church, God is doing a work in and through us that is bigger than us…
- The lost are being saved
- The waters of baptism stirred
- People are finding freedom from…
- Addiction
- Anxiety
- Sin
- Small groups are being reproduced
- Disciples who make disciples are being made
- We are working together to reach more people for Jesus
When it comes to the mission of Jesus, there’s always God’s part and our part. We can’t do God’s part!
But what’s our part?
Our part definitely includes appreciating what God is doing so much that we identify and eliminate threats to gospel partnership.
That’s your part. How should you respond to this message?
INVITATION – THE LOST
Consider these threats Paul identified in Philippians 4.
We all deal with these threats.
How should you respond?
The invitation is simple…
Set “IT” Aside
What is “it”?
It’s anything keeping you from following Jesus and working together with the church to lead others to Christ.
There are some in this room who have never decided to follow Jesus. If that’s you, it’s time to set “it” aside. Is “it”…
- Your pride keeping you from a decision to follow Jesus?
- Your unbelief that Jesus’ work is enough to cover your sin?
- An unwillingness to give up your life to follow Jesus?
- Your reluctancy to be baptized?
Am I talking to you? If I am, you know what “it” is. Will you set “it” aside this morning?
There are others in this room who are baptized followers of Jesus, but you’re tolerating threats to gospel partnership in your life.
Look at this list. Are you tolerating one of these threats to gospel partnership in your life?
Again, the invitation is simple…
Set “IT” Aside
What is “it”?
- A conflict you have refused to be humble about and resolve?
- Anxiety that imprisons you and keeps you from meaningful relationships?
- Wanting something in this world more than you want Jesus?
What is “IT” for you? What is the Holy Spirit showing you?
Will you set “IT” aside right now?
As we consider our response, let’s all stand together.
(invite response team forward)
These individuals are here to talk with you, pray with you, and answer your questions. Pastor Seth is going to lead us in a song of surrender. We invite you to come set whatever “it” is aside this morning.
IMPACT Month:
- I want to remind us that there’s only one more week in March and then IMPACT Month begins!
- IMPACT Month is about gospel partnership and working together to reach the lost.
- The strategy is simple. Use and IMPACT Card to…
- Identify your ONE
- Pray
- Invest relationally
- Invite to group
- Invite to services in April
- Next week: RSI Sunday… bigger than us!
- Perfect last Sunday in March… a reminder of how God works to save the lost… and the importance of our obedience to Him.
Fill out an IMPACT Card
Stay consistent this week
Come back next Sunday for RSI Sunday
And then we’ll invite our IMPACT friends for Easter on April 5!