Pastor Geoff Smith Teaches on Philippians 3:2--4:1 

I am going to read Philippians chapter 3:2--4:1. Verse 3:1 says, "Finally, my brothers rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you..." is sort of transitional to a warning. This is so much like the New Testament. There are warnings which reminds us that the dangers for the church are real. The warnings are about false teachers which reminds us that the dangers to the church are real and typically originate inside the church. Not persecution per se but those teachings, credible teachings sometimes, that threaten the church from within. And it closes with a call to stand firm in the Lord. There's lots of stand firms in the Lord in the Bible. In fact, isn't that how I started the I Peter series. "Resit him firm in your faith..." Right? So the idea that this is a period of time whether the outward situation is tolerant, cooperate, or resistant and hostile--the danger comes from within...