Philippians 1:21-30 What Happens When We Die?
October 24, 2026
Sermon notes from Sunday, October 18th, 2026
Intro
What happens when we die? This is the big question of our sermon… but it is also the big question of every life.
Not only are we asking what happens but also what difference should this make here in our lives.
Today we are going to get a small glimpse of the first question, what happens, and a challenge about the second question, what difference does that make.
Recap
Memory Verse: Philippians 1:6 NLT
Before we dive in let us consider what is happening in our timeline.
In terms of church history, Jesus has lived, died, resurrected, appeared to hundreds of people, and ascended into heaven.
Paul has gone from number 1 hater of Christians to a top champion of Jesus Christ. This has been at great personal costs to Paul. He has lost friends, been beaten, arrested multiple times, and more.
If you are looking at your bible you can see he said in Philippians 1:12, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”
So Paul has set the standard that even the bad, horrible, and tragic circumstances can be used for good.
Last week we stopped mid sentence. We saw in verse 20 this:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
So here is where we jump in. Whether I live or die I want Christ to be exalted and lifted up! How can he say this?
Listen to this:
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
- Scripture Background
- What is our Christian View of Death?
Christian View of Death
Well, what does Paul say? Well Paul, nor Jesus, nor any part of the bible tells us everything we need to know. When my son was a little younger he asked, “Will I have my Nintendo Switch video game console in heaven?” I’ll give you my answer in a second. But first let us look at the hints we have from scripture.
- Paul tells us to live is Christ, to die is gain. He is winning either way. But how, what is he saying happens?
- Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
- In Romans 8:38-39 Paul says, “38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Paul views our existence as being with Christ even when we die. While we do not have all the answers we do know Christ does not abandon us.
- But there is an intermediary time. There are two stages in Christian death. There is 1) Life after death then 2) Life after life after death. The first part is what we are talking about here. This is not the Roman Catholic view of purgatory. Which is a state you have to enter to be made righteous… We believe you are made righteous but what Christ has done on the cross for us… But the second part after death is in Revelation 21. Where we will be resurrected and have similar yet different bodies (I will be 6 ft 6 inches). There will be the judgement of the whole world and God will be our light and will wipe every tear from our eyes. Heaven and Earth will become one.
- So, there is mystery but we know there is the love of Christ and Christ himself present for us and with us until then.
- And to answer Luke’s question. God knows everything we need and if we need a nintendo switch in heaven it will be there.
So how does this affect how we live?
Paul seems to imply there are direct consequences. As a matter of fact he is modeling this.
Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. What does this mean?
Well we should always look at the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 where we hear, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
How do we stand firm against our enemies? We do not have direct enemies, I think, in the sense of 1st century Christian persecution… but we do have enemies who overwhelm us… situations, hopes, fears, struggles.
Part of the Christian life is knowing we will suffer like Paul, like the Philippians yet, because Christ began a good work in us it is Him who will bring it to completion.
Pastoral Care Concern.
UGA got beat by Auburn. They went from 1st in the country to losing to an unranked team. I was texting with a preacher buddy who and wondering… is this rigged? There is so much money involved, so many opportunities to cheat, what if no matter how hard you try to just can’t win… there is a conspiracy against you.
Well that is what our life is like… but instead of Christianity being about no matter we lose… it is no matter what we win.
Death is still an enemy… but it is a beaten enemy. We do not look forward to dying… but we know, Christ will be there with us through it all. Accept his gift of relationship, call on him as Lord and Savior, and live a life now worthy of the Gospel, with His help not by your strength.
If you are here and feel like you have not done that… do it today. Make sure death is your beaten enemy. Then all our struggles in light of this will seem a little less.
Thanks be to God.
Prayer:
God, we do not look forward to dying. But we look forward to trusting you more and more. Not just for our deaths and the life after but with the abundant life you offer right now. Thanks be to you God. Amen.
Philippians 1:12-20 Sufficient Courage
October 24, 2026
My notes from Sunday, October 11th, 2026
Intro
- Recap of Paul and Timothy from last week.
- Memory Verse Philippians 1:6 NLT
- Scripture Background
Reflection
Big Idea: Christ brings about Great Reversals
Where is Paul in prison at? This is one of the debates in biblical studies. Paul has told us he is in chains. The interpretive issue here is Paul got arrested a lot.
Paul was one of the most important leaders of the first century church. He was also the least likely. The book of Acts is the story about his conversion and when he meets Christ he was literally trying to go kill other Christians. This is how much he hated Christians. Yet, Christ reverses his life.
Then Paul goes around and plants or starts churches. He tells people about Jesus and begins communities of followers. We are probably going spend some time in Acts next week but what I want you to think about is Paul was a hero and leader to a lot of these churches.
Luke and I are going to hear N.T. Wright speak in a few weekends. N.T. Wright is arguably one of the greatest living Christian scholars and theologians and he is going to speak on St. Simons.
So I was like, “I got to get me a ticket to that” Guess how much it cost? $90 dollars. They better let me sit on his lap and tell him what I want for Christmas.
Now this guy is not an apostle and a lot of church nerds are excited he is coming… now think of someone who is just a whole different level. The leader of the church. Telling about God, telling people outside of Jews they can be a part of God’s story, that Christ has died.
The Philippians raised money for him, sent gifts to him, partnered with him for this new movement and move of God.
Then he gets arrested!
Is the movement over? Yeah, we may still believe in God but we saw a lot of the ministry riding with Paul and Timothy.
They likely would have been crestfallen. This is hard news. Like Nick Saban leaving Bama. This iconic hero of faith is now arrested… As Rocky would say in Project Hailmary sad sad sad.
So where is the reversal?
Check this out:
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
This is what God does!
There is a great reversal happening. What has happened to Paul may seem bad but it has actually served to advance the Gospel!
Paul is witnessing to the guards around him. And wherever he is imprisoned at the believers around him are becoming more bold because, “If he is in chains and not losing hope and even continues to share what more can God do in me?”
Church, we are all going to be in similar situations. Similar in which it looks like hope is gone, our season or life did not turn out how we expected, our challenges are going up fast than gas prices… yet we do not lose hope. God calls us to continue.
The rest of the verses tell us how to do this.
Paul is going to compare two different groups here which are sharing the gospel:
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Two groups. One preaches out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill and with love.
Church, did you know there are mean Christians out there?
We were at General Conference in Africa and there was a preacher from the salvation army. She said you know there are people who know a lot about Jesus are mean. She said I even know someone who had PhD in Holiness and was mean. She it was myself. And challenged us operate out of love of Christ.
There will always be so called Christians who have the head knowledge of Christ… but they do not have the love of Christ… and before you go make the list of who that it is STOP. This is about making sure we do not fall into the camp of everything we do is out of envy.
Finally, how does God help us to do this. We are looking at chapter 1 through this lens of God doing this good work in us and bringing to completion.
Look at these last few verses:
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
All the bad here turns out for good. We do not know how but check out the verbs here “expect” and hope”. Expect and hope that we will not be ashamed but have sufficient courage that Christ will be exalted somehow in our lives.
Now this is hard. God if your asking do not give me sufficient courage. I need more than sufficient, I want an overflow, I want you to show me the next step, I want you to lift the fog and mystery of life and show me all the steps and how they connect…
Yet, God in his goodness does not do this. He gives a sufficient amount to go on. This amount was enough for Paul and it will be enough for us.
The Gospel is Christ has given it all on the cross for us and in payment of our sin, so we now join in the story of God’s people. We all have a part to play.
And now, in our story, we can and will have great reversals.
One more thought. I have been reading one of the scholars Nijay Gutpa and listening to a podcast his has on Philippians and he was talking about in the first avengers movie there is this scene where Thor is fighting Iron Man. Thor is a norse God who can summon lightening with his hammer. And in his battle with Iron man he thinks he can really beat iron man by really charging up his hammer and hitting him with lightening. Well after he hits Iron Man it actually just charges his suit up and makes it stronger.
God wants to do this in my life and yours.
The Gospel brings the reversal, we can share Christ not with wrong motivations, but with Love, and we can do it with God’s grace and just the right amount of courage.
New Interview Series from Nijay Gupta
October 9, 2026
I almost screamed with joy when I saw this interview had dropped. These are two of my favorite scholars talking about their lives of study. Inject this into my veins.
You will enjoy this if you are a seminary student, have a general interest in theology, or want to understand the life of a biblical scholar.
I have long admired Tremper Longman III. His works How to Read Proverbs, Proverbs (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament), and The Fear of the Lord Is Wisdom: A Theological Introduction to Wisdom in Israel were very helpful in my sermon preparation when preaching through Proverbs. He has a profound and clear writing style.
This interview had some great and unique insight. First, Tremper seems like an absolute delight. Sometimes you read someone then hear an interview which does not match up to your expectations. I really enjoyed his personality. Second, he has a lot of projects in the pipeline. Even though he is retired, he is staying busy. I am really looking forward to his The Old Testament in Its World. This will be a companion to The New Testament in Its World by Bird and Wright (see my Mike Bird interview on this book). Third, I learned he is friends with John Kasich.
Nijay is an incredible interviewer. I am really excited for the future of the series. There is only one question I would like to see added. I would love to hear why those individuals chose academia as a way to serve Jesus. As someone who has benefited greatly from their work, I am curious how they decided on this path for them.
Go watch the interview and make sure to subscribe to Nijay’s YouTube while you are there.
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About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
