Joy in Knowing Jesus

Philippians

November 22, 2020 • Bryan Carter • Philippians 3:1–14

When you hear the word religion, what comes to mind? What about the word relationship? What do the two of them have to do with Christianity and the Bible? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, Dr. Bryan Carter teaches through Philippians 3:1-14, teaching us what we can learn about religion and a relationship with God through the life of the Apostle Paul.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

-Beware of people who say Christianity is Jesus + something else.

-We will never be able to earn our way to God. Doing good, religious things is not what God wants from us or for us.

-Religion always leads to pride, self-righteousness, and cruelty.

-Unfortunately, some of the meanest people can be found in the church! This should not be; it is not what God is about nor what the Bible teaches.

-Followers of Jesus change from the inside out, not the outside in.

-Religion makes a whole lot of noise, but it’s empty. It doesn’t really do anything. It’s like a vacuum that powers on and sounds like it’s working but doesn’t suck anything up.

-It’s the Spirit of God that changes us and fuels us to live for Him, not our works or efforts.

-When you follow Jesus, you grow and learn to no longer put confidence in yourself or your actions.

-Anything and everything this world has to offer—money, sex, power, status, fame—is all for loss compared to knowing Christ.

-Do you focus more on external things that happen in your life or the internal things of your heart?

-What is the joy and focus of your life?

-As Christians, in suffering, we get to know and become closer with Jesus.

-2020 has been quite the year...do you know Jesus and love Him more as the end of the year is drawing near?

-Religion creates a facade and a complacency making you think you’ve arrived and that you can coast. Christians aren’t “there yet” or done until we die or Christ returns. We are all a work in progress.

-In order to know and press toward Christ, you need to learn to forget what lies behind you.

-Christianity is both an “already” (Christ came and died and rose to life) and a “not yet” (Christ will come again!) faith.

-What are you pressing toward? What is the aim and goal of your life?

MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

-Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 3:1-14

-Book: The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll

-Sermon: Ordinary Obedience

-Sermon: Working Out to Finish Strong

The Greatest Apologetic?

December 20, 2020 • Nate Hilgenkamp, Jonathan Pokluda • Philippians 4:14–23

Do you ever look back on financial decisions with regret? Made a choice that you thought would be good but turned out poorly? How did it affect your ability to be generous? As we finish studying the book of Philippians, Nate Hilgenkamp teaches us about generosity and its relationship to the gospel. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Being generous isn’t about the amount of money you have or don’t have, give or don’t give. -“Yet” is never going to come on this side of Christ’s return. -Generosity is at the heart of the gospel. -The most generous moment in human history was 2,000 years ago when Christ went to the cross. -We often think, “How much do I have to give?” whereas God thinks, “What’s the most I can give?” -Generosity pleases God. -God doesn’t want our money, He wants our heart. (It’s not our money http://anyways...it’s His!) -Money makes a terrible master. -Generous people are happier people. -Our God is generous. -God delights in being generous toward us. It can look different at different times (physical, material, spiritual, etc.), but He loves to be generous toward us! -Most of us have more excess than we want to admit. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 4:14-23; Ephesians 5:1-2; Matthew 7:9-11 -Sermon: Finding Contentment -Sermon: The Peace that Follows Belief

Finding Contentment

December 13, 2020 • Jonathan Pokluda • Philippians 4:10–13

Do you struggle with discontentment? Or better asked, where do you struggle with discontentment? Where in life are you most often discontent? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches us the secret of contentment found in Philippians 4:10-13. KEY TAKEAWAYS -What we need for contentment is available for us at all times. -Contentment is not found in others. -We don’t use people and love stuff, we use stuff and love people. -When you give someone the control of your emotions you have made them your god. -People will let you down consistently until Jesus returns. -Who controls your contentment? What should you do about it? -Contentment is not found in circumstances. -When you make circumstances your god you will be let down time and time again. -God rarely changes our circumstances, rather, He changes us in our circumstances. -What is God teaching you in the midst of circumstances you want to change? -Christians are called to bloom where they are planted (regardless of the circumstances). -Contentment is not found in stuff. -Every Black Friday, most of us search the ads looking for something to need. Not something that we need, but something to need. Don’t buy that lie! -The rich are infinitely better off than the poor because while the poor think more money will make them happier the rich know better. -Philippians 4:13 doesn’t teach you can hit a home run because of Jesus, it teaches that you can endure any and all suffering because of Jesus. -Contentment is found in Christ alone. -When you find yourself really wanting something, pray to God that you’d want Him more. -You belong to God and God is enough. -If you dig deeply wherever God has you you will find whatever it is He wants you to find. -The gospel is not simply fire insurance to avoid hell someday when you die, it affects everything about every thought, decision, and action of your life right http://now...today! MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 4:10-13; Galatians 1:10; Hebrews 13:5: 1 Timothy 6:6-8 -Sermon: The Peace That Follows Belief -Sermon: Distractions on the Journey Home

The Peace That Follows Belief

December 6, 2020 • Jonathan Pokluda • Philippians 4:4–9

Do you get stressed easily? 2020 has likely caused most of us to get stressed more than normal. What causes stress in your life? As we continue studying the book of Philippians, JP teaches through Philippians 4:4-9, showing us a 2,000 year old answer to today’s problems and stress. KEY TAKEAWAYS -Pay attention to what you pay attention to. -This world is not our home and we are not home yet. Our citizenship is in heaven! -The behavior (rejoicing and being gentle) that follows belief (the Lord is near). -Joy is an emotion (noun), but rejoicing is a choice (verb). You can choose to rejoice at any point in time. -We typically believe the answer to worry and anxiety is control. Gentleness admits that you aren’t in control and that God is in control. -What do you want to be doing when Jesus comes back? Regardless of what you are actually doing when He does come, you want to be found believing and trusting that He is in fact coming back. -The Bible—written 2,000 years ago—teaches what science is now discovering to be true about the human body and mind. -Do not be anxious without prayer. In a matter of two verses, Paul instructs us to pray four times! -The peace that follows prayer. -It takes the same amount of energy to pray as it does to be worried. -Christians have the supernatural ability to turn worry into prayer. Add “God, help us with ______” to the front of anything you are worried about. -Prayer changes everything. -Some of the most popular apps in 2020 (meditation apps) are simply encouraging us to do the very thing Paul instructs us to do 2,000 years ago while in a Roman jail cell. -Fix your mind on who you are and on Whose you are. -The peace that follows practice. -The teaching from this passage is not a one and done application. It’s something you practice day in and day out. -Practice is the ability to apply what you’ve learned. A doctor—medical practice—practices what they learn and gets better as they hone their craft. -Anxiety is contagious. Be careful of whose practice you are following. -People today are spending billions of dollars to create an angst in you to buy their product (which won’t actually solve that angst). -Your mind is a storage container. Think of it like a filing cabinet. What kind of thoughts (files) are you filling your mind with? -Who is your role model? One of the most impactful things in life is who you spend your time with. -Our behavior follows our belief. Peace follows prayer. Peace follows practice. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture Study: Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Peter 3:8-9; Philippians 2:20; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:15; Galatians 3:26-28; 2 Corinthians 11:16-29 -Sermon: Peace From Heaven -Sermon: Distractions on the Journey