Preaching a New Testament Letter

Follow the argument before choosing a memorable verse

Use this tool when preparing a sermon from a New Testament letter. The worked example is Philippians 2:1 to 13, with the surrounding verses read during preparation. Begin by reading Philippians 1:27 through 2:18 aloud. Notice how Paul moves between the shared life of believers, the account of Christ, and practical conduct.

Philippians 2:5 to 11 belongs with the appeals before and after it. Unity and humility concern the believers’ life together, and the account of Jesus grounds that appeal. The following call to obedience remains connected to God’s work in them.²

Underline words that connect one thought to another, such as therefore, wherefore, and for. They help show why an instruction appears at that point. Do not write a sermon around a familiar sentence until you can explain its place within the paragraph and the paragraph’s place within the letter’s concern.

Complete an argument tracing sheet

Write a short phrase for each step of the paragraph. The aim is to follow the writer’s reasoning rather than impose a list of topics on it. When a connection is uncertain, record the question and consult a reliable explanation before presenting your conclusion confidently.

1. Letter and passage boundaries: ____________________
2. The concern immediately before the chosen passage: ____________________
3. The people addressed and what the text actually says about them: ____________________
4. The opening appeal or claim: ____________________
5. The reason given for that appeal: ____________________
6. The connecting words and the ideas they join: ____________________
7. What God or Christ has done: ____________________
8. What the believers are called to do: ____________________
9. The paragraph that follows and how it continues the concern: ____________________
10. The complete message in one connected sentence: ____________________

Trace the movement in Philippians 2

The opening appeals to encouragement in Christ, love, fellowship of the Spirit, and compassion. Paul then calls for shared love and unity, rejecting strife and vainglory. Verses 3 and 4 turn attention toward the interests of others. The appeal concerns a community’s relationships, not merely an individual feeling modest about personal achievement.¹

Verse 5 introduces the account of Christ. The passage speaks of his taking the form of a servant, his obedience to death on the cross, and God’s exaltation of him. It ends with the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. These details need explanation before being reduced to advice about being helpful.¹

Verses 12 and 13 return to the believers’ obedience, including Paul’s absence. The reason given is God’s work in their willing and doing. Verses 14 to 16 then continue with conduct and witness. A proposed sermon message is: Because we belong to Christ, let his humble way shape our life together as God works in us.

Explain the difficult wording within its setting

The KJV phrase made himself of no reputation in verse 7 is followed by taking a servant’s form and being made in human likeness. Explain those stated actions. Do not make an unsupported claim that Jesus stopped being divine or lost all knowledge. The paragraph’s confession of his lordship must remain part of the explanation.¹

Work out your own salvation in verse 12 must also be heard with verse 13. Paul places the call to obedience beside God’s active work. The sermon should encourage serious Christian living without suggesting that God’s grace can be purchased through a sufficiently impressive record of service.¹

If listeners need the distinction stated more fully, turn openly to Ephesians 2:8 to 10. That passage names salvation as God’s gift and then names the good works of a life created in Christ. Explain that this is a supporting passage, rather than pretending its sentences appear in Philippians.¹

Prepare an outline that follows Paul’s reasoning

This original outline has three connected movements. Keep the explanation of each movement attached to the verses that support it. Read the central account of Christ carefully and allow its confession of his lordship to shape the tone of the message.

1. Verses 1 to 4: Receive the appeal to shared love and concern for others. Explain the grounds of the appeal and the conduct it calls for.
2. Verses 5 to 11: Attend to Christ’s humility, obedience, and exaltation. Explain why this account stands at the centre of Paul’s appeal.
3. Verses 12 to 13, with verses 14 to 16 for context: Take obedience seriously because God is at work. Connect willing and doing with the community’s conduct and witness.

A worked application to a church decision

Imagine a ministry team deciding when to hold a gathering. Some prefer the most convenient time for the people who lead. Others point out that older members and workers would struggle to attend. This is a hypothetical example, not a report about a dispute in IndiaPCG.

A proposed application of concern for others is to hear those practical needs before deciding. Ask which arrangements help the congregation participate, which create unnecessary difficulty, and who has not yet been heard. This does not mean every preference can be satisfied. It means the decision should not be driven only by the standing or convenience of the most influential people.

A suggested response could say: Before we defend our preferred arrangement, let us consider those who would find it difficult. We belong to the Lord who took the servant’s place. We can ask for the Spirit’s help to listen, choose responsibly, and act with care. The application grows from the passage’s concern for shared life; the scheduling example is our proposed use of it.

Review both the Gospel and the response

Ask a reviewer to explain the connection between the community appeal, the account of Christ, and God’s work in believers. If they hear three unrelated short sermons, strengthen the connecting sentences. If they hear only moral advice, give more attention to Christ’s saving obedience and confessed lordship.

Check that your conclusion invites a response listeners can understand. Keep the emphasis on God’s grace and the Spirit’s help alongside willing obedience. Remove a claim that unity requires unquestioning agreement with every leader. Concern for others calls for attentive Christian conduct, and the sermon should model that care in its own language.