1. VS BETTER

2. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS Whom should I date/marry? What kind of music should I listen to? What kind of clothing should I wear? What kind of people should I be friends with? What should I do with my free time? What kind of movies/tv should I watch? While some of these questions may appear simplistic, the way we answer them will affect our character as well as the overall direction of our lives.

3. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:10 BETTER VS so that you may be able to discern what is best [New International Version] that ye may judge of and approve the things that are more excellent [Darby Translation] For I want you to understand what really matters [New Living Translation]

4. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS the things which happened to me [v.12] The Personal Example: Paul the Apostle [1:12-26] -- imprisonment! (my chains are in Christ [v.13]) GOOD to avoid prison; dont antagonize, etc. GOOD to go elsewhere, perhaps -- Acts 21:8-14; the disciples tried to dissuade him -- Acts 17:5-10; 14:19-22; depends on situation BETTER to preach, even if prison results! -- Real result: furtherance of the gospel [v.12] -- 1 Cor. 9:19, 23

5. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS the things which happened to me [v.12] The Personal Example: Paul the Apostle [1:12-26] GOOD to avoid doing what got you in trouble! GOOD to avoid annoying the law-makers! BETTER to serve God than fear men evident to the whole palace guard [v.13] -- continued to preach in prison! -- cp. Dan. 1:8; surely Paul knew the history -- cp. Matt. 10:27-28; Acts 4:18-20 -- Real result: some of Caesars household converted! [4:22]

6. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS not…robbery to be equal with God [v.6] The Perfect Example: Jesus the Christ [2:5-11] GOOD to be God in the glory of heaven! GOOD to be the ruler over all the universe! BETTER to come as a man and serve them -- taking the form of a bondservant! [v. 7] -- cp. Hebrews 1:3 -- Mark 10:45 -- Real result: perfect example of service for us [2:3-5] -- John 17:1, 4-5; Jesus longed for this again

7. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS not…robbery to be equal with God [v.6] The Perfect Example: Jesus the Christ [2:5-11] GOOD to be born into riches, influence GOOD to be born into a priestly family? BETTER to choose most common -- He chose a lowly birth, not a royal one! [v.8] -- greater sin, temptation risk [cp. Mk. 10:23; etc.] -- Real result: sympathy with us [cp. Heb. 4:15-16] -- greater opportunity to reach people? He humbled himself [v.8] -- more spiritual? [cp. John 18:19-24, 28]

8. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS not…robbery to be equal with God [v.6] The Perfect Example: Jesus the Christ [2:5-11] GOOD to die in your sleep, as a king GOOD to die as a martyr, in a blaze of glory BETTER to die as the Christ, in much suffering -- Chose horrible death, not an easy one! [v.8] He humbled himself [v.8] became obedient to death, even…the cross [v.8] -- was a public spectacle, punished as an evildoer -- REAL result: to show Gods love for us; become exalted Messiah [2:9-11; Ro. 5:8; Lk. 24:44, 46-48]

9. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS Better seemed worse in these cases at decision! How do WE decide between Good and Better? How can we tell beforehand which is BETTER? Consider street map analogy: -- How do I get THERE from HERE? -- Not just a question of what is the next turn… -- MUST know where the THERE is! -- MUST work backward from the THERE to know the BETTER decision HERE!

10. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS Better seemed worse in these cases at decision! How do WE decide between Good and Better? How can we tell beforehand which is BETTER? We must know beforehand what is the destination! Where do I want to be spiritually at the end of it all? Which is a BETTER decision to get me closer there? -- PAUL: Christ will be magnified in my body [1:20] -- JESUS: to the glory of God the Father [2:11]; and for the joy that was set before Him[Hebrews 12:2] -- US: without offense…filled with the fruits of righteousness…to the glory and praise of God [1:10-11]

11. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS What is YOUR DESTINATION? If you dont know, you can never get there! Without Christ, you can never reach a spiritual destination!

12. That you may approve the things that are excellent Philippians 1:9-11 BETTER VS It is GOOD that you are here; Wont you make the BETTER decision now to make heaven your DESTINATION?