Big visions make small arguments.

Steve Brown:
Big visions make for small arguments. Let’s talk about it, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
If you’re sick of guilt and manipulation, and if you’re looking for an honest and thoughtful presentation of Biblical truth, you’ve come to the right place. This is Key Life with the founder of Key Life Network, Steve Brown. Keep listening for teaching that will make you free.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. We’re talking about arguments and divisions in the church. We’re, it’s a part of our study in Philippians. We’re in the fourth chapter in verses two and three. And you’ll miss it. I missed it when I was preparing for teaching this with you and then I realized there’s more here than is apparent and it’s profound. And so, we’re taking some time to do an analysis. Analysis of Church Arguments 101, if you will, and we’ve seen the principles that are a part of these two verses. The principle of potentiality, superiority, objectivity, commonality, and conformity. And we mentioned yesterday the principle of priority, that big visions make for little arguments, Philippians 4:33b.

Help these women who contended at my side

here it comes

in the cause of the gospel.

Somebody has said.

Polished boots are never an issue on a battlefield.

It is said that Napoleon, when his generals would quarrel, he wouldn’t take sides, he wouldn’t get involved and make one of them right and one of them wrong. He would say, follow me. And he would take them up on a hill and show them the enemy. And when they saw the enemy, the arguments became very small, contended in the cause of the gospel. What is the gospel?

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Now, notice the first part of the text that we’re studying, Philippians 4:2a.

I plead with you Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other

and here it comes

in the Lord.

In other words, Paul is saying in a very subtle, but a very clear way, there’s something bigger than you in this issue. There is something that is so big it’s changing the world. Now, you’ve got to remember this was the beginning of the church. This was the beginning of what would become the biggest, most important, largest thing that would ever happen in the history of the world, and that would be the church of Jesus Christ. And Paul was saying, ladies, I get your anger, I get angry on occasion, but don’t forget Jesus. Don’t forget the cause to which you have been called. Don’t forget the gospel that God has called you to share with the world. I have a lot more to say on that, but let me go to the final point on this particular teaching. And then we’ll land the plane and move on. I want you to note, and this is number seven, not only the principles of potentiality and superiority and objectivity and commonality and conformity and priority. Please note the principle of perpetuity, to wit, eternity always puts things in perspective, Philippians 4:3c.

Whose names are in the book of life.

What’s Paul doing here? He’s saying it hurts now, it’s dark now, it seems important now, it’s hard now, but you are not home yet. He’s saying, remember that you’re going to live forever. Remember that this argument is already settled. Remember that Jesus is going to clean up the mess. Remember that when you stand before him, as my brother John has said.

It does not appear what I shall be, but I know that when he appears, I will be just like him.

You don’t have to win every argument. You don’t have to make every point. You don’t have to come out on top in the end. It will all come out on the wash, and we will laugh, laugh and dance and sing before the throne of God. I have a seminary friend said to me one time, I was a liberal in those days, but a liberal theologically. I have repented of those views, and now I join the enemy. But at any rate, my friend said, Steve, we have had a lot of arguments. But one day we’re going to stand before the throne. And in the light of his presence, all our differences will fade into nothing. The world believes that he who dies with the most toys wins. That he who dies with the biggest house wins. He who dies with the fastest car wins. And God says, you win, because Jesus wins. And when you keep that in mind, that’s the future. That’s already settled. The battle has been won. And someday, we’ll celebrate before the throne. When you’re mad at somebody, don’t forget the future. You think about that. Amen.

Well, it’s Wednesday, and sometimes when we have some time, I take some time to answer one or two questions. As you know, Pete will be in on Friday, and together we answer your questions, and we love that time. We love your questions, and we take them seriously. If you have a question, you can call 1-800-KEY-LIFE and that’s open 24 7, follow instructions and record your question. And sometimes we put your actual voice on the air. Or you can send your questions to

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This is an interesting question, it’s an e-mail. How do you decide whether or not to stay in the church? Are you crazy? You might ask, how do you decide whether or not to steal? How do you decide whether or not to commit adultery? How do you decide whether or not to lie? The Scripture is clear. If you read Hebrews 10:25 it clearly says, go to church. Well, it says.

Forsake not the gathering together.

But that’s what it means, it means go to church. I had somebody say recently that the most important thing that a Christian can do or that anybody can do in our culture with all of the anger and the division taking place in our country is to join a church, a good church, and support it. And so, listen, I get what you’re asking, and I’m not making fun of you. Sometimes I want to run too. I remember the time, the late Yael Eckstein, who was the founder and head of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. We were at a hotel in Chicago and some anti-Semitism had been spoken by some Christians. And I said, Yael, let’s go up to my room and just sit and talk. And we went up there and closed the door. Yael said to me, do you ever just want to quit? And I said, every other day. You ever want to run? And I said, yeah, a lot. And maybe one day I will, but I can’t, cause I’ve gone too far to get out, and you have too. So, I understand what you’re saying, the church can be a very difficult place sometimes. But find a church, where Jesus is exalted, where the Scriptures are taught and believed, and where people genuinely try to love one another. And then put your name on the church rolls and support it. That’s very clear in the Bible. So, you don’t have to ask God to lead you about whether or not you should stay in church. Now, should you stay in a particular church, that’s another question altogether. Sometimes, it’s not a good fit. Sometimes, what is that old joke about the pastor? About the young man who didn’t want to get out of bed and go to church, and his mother came in and said, you’ve got to go, you’re the pastor. You can’t just ignore it. But sometimes churches can be very difficult, and we don’t feel comfortable or a part of it, and there are cliques, and we’re not a part of those. That’s okay. It’s okay, but just don’t make waves when you leave. Disturbing the peace and unity of the church is not a good thing. But quietly, and tell the pastor you love him, you’re going to pray for him. Then go look for another church. Join it, and then support it. Because it’s really important in this culture, in this time. Maybe more than any other time in the history of the church, that we’d be a part of it. And besides, it lets the world know whose side we are on. And so, church is important. Hey, I’ve got to go. Key Life is a listener supported production of Key Life Network.