1. We Can Rejoice in the Lord Because We Have a Purpose in Life (Philippians 1:19-26)

2. Reasons to Rejoice! We can rejoice in the Lord because: –We are saints (1:1) –God works in our lives (1:6) –We are partakers of His grace (1:7) –Our love is abounding (1:9-11) –He works all things to our good (1:12-18)

3. What Is Our Purpose in Life? As Christians our purpose in life is to live out the words expressed by Paul in (1:21) of our text: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

4. Are You There Yet? Can you say in your heart of hearts that your life is consistently consumed with the desire to live for Christ? What keep us from fulfilling our purpose? –Distractions –Discouragements –Disheartening Moments –Frustrations –Fear

5. To Live Is Christ How can we fulfill our purpose in life to live completely for Christ? –By choosing to love Christ supremely (Matthew 10:37) –By denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Him (Matthew 10:38) –By seeking first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) –By crucifying ourselves (Galatians 2:20) –By crucifying ourselves to the world (Galatians 6:14)

6. To Die Is Gain This statement is the absolute epitome of maturity. It is the acceptance of the fact that we are all indeed destined to go all the way of the earth. (Heb. 9:27) More than this, it is also the accompanying attitude of joy and anticipation that is joined to the acceptance of the fact of our passing that really solidifies true maturity in Christ!

7. To Die Is Gain What keeps us from achieving this level of maturity in our purpose in life? It has to do with our emotional attachment to this life. Intellectually we understand that to die would be “far better,” but because of our attachment to this life, we are not interested in thinking about it too much.

8. To Die Is Gain How then do we develop the kind of maturity we need to fulfill our purpose in life? –By learning to continually look to heaven (Colossians 3:1-4) –By looking in anticipation for His coming (Titus 2:11-14)