Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0215A recorded on August 31, 1980 teaching from Philippians 1:1-24 – For to Me to Live is Christ, and to Die is Gain.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the profound Christian paradox that death is ultimate gain for those whose lives are centered on Christ. He structures his teaching around the preciousness of time, urging his audience to treat their fleeting days as a high-value investment that should be dedicated to divine service rather than self-interest. Stevens elegantly redefines “gain” as a spiritual accumulation of knowledge and character through repetition and devotion, contrasting the decay of the physical body with the eternal freedom found in the presence of God. By examining the apostle Paul’s inner tug-of-war between earthly ministry and the desire for heaven, the sermon serves to alleviate the fear of dying by framing it as a joyful release from the power of sin into a sinless, heavenly reality. Ultimately, Stevens presents an urgent call for listeners to reinvest their lives in a relationship with Jesus, ensuring that their earthly legacy yields an eternal reward.