Today, we’re turning an eye to the greatest hits of Paul in his letter to the folks in Philippi. We’ll do a quick flyover - filled with reminders of the gospel truth we’re to hold onto in this letter and the principles and passions we are to adopt in following Jesus. This letter is packed with rich theology of Christ and His truth for each of us to live out, empowered by God’s grace in our everyday life. May you be refreshed often by the reminders locked up in this text as the Holy Spirit anchors you to God’s promises and perspectives.
The Secret of Contentment
September 22, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull
As the Apostle Paul closes out this letter to the church in Philippi. He reemphasizes his gratefulness and a deep thank you to a people that is very special to him. He zeroes in a secret and a promise. He’s wanting them to know that they can experience this secret of contentment as well. And they can also live with a growing confidence in the promise of God’s provision as they grow in their generosity, gratitude and reliance upon Jesus.
God's Unity and Peace
September 15, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull
Relational tension is a part of any and every relationship. It can stir stress and anxiety within us. The Apostle Paul gives us a prompt for exchanging relational anxiousness for an abiding peace from God. He tells the Philippians what they can do, so that God’s peace can return to their heart and in their church. Yes, it will take work and effort. No, it’s not necessarily easy. But it is our calling. This is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture that leans on God’s promise of His peace to watch over us, when we align our lives to this gospel practice. God's unity and peace will prevail.
Pressing On
September 8, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull
As followers of Jesus we again rest in his finished work and grace. We are invited to keep pressing on in getting to know Him and having our lives formed to reflect His character and heart more and more. We’re to grow into maturity of faith. The Apostle Paul urges us to forget what is behind and to press onward in the goal of knowing Christ and His surpassing greatness. He reminds us again of our heavenly citizenship and to live our here and now moments with an eternal focus on our Savior.
Confidence in Christ
September 1, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull
The Apostle Paul tethers us back to the joy we can have in the Lord. The joy that is founded within the grace given us in Jesus. We are restored into a right relationship with God not by self-salvation - but through a surrendered faith in Jesus and his finished work on our behalf. God invites us to trust in His grace, not our grit. True faith trusts wholly and solely in Jesus Christ. His life, death, resurrection and all He accomplishes and secures for us through faith in Him. We ride His coattails, not our efforts.
Becoming the Person God Wants You to Be
August 25, 2024 • Pastor Lyle Thompson
Philippians 2:12-13 has caused many headaches over the years as people wrestle with what it means to work out your salvation, usually because we place too great an emphasis on what we must do as opposed to resting in the work God does on our behalf. We must learn how to be willing participants in this process instead of trying to take it on by ourselves. In doing so, God works in us, allowing us to be the people He wants us to be: light-bearers who illuminate the Gospel of Christ for the world to see.
An Others Kind of Focus
August 18, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull • Philippians 2:1–11
Into the me-centric culture of our day comes an ancient calling to be counter cultural. A call for us to invest our lives with an others kinda focus. A challenge to foster and cultivate a mindset like Jesus and to reflect his heart that sought to serve others above himself. The Apostle Paul is writing to the church back then and today - challenging us to mimic this mindset of our Savior and see the transformation it creates within us and the world.
Sidetracked: Identity
August 11, 2024 • Pastor Jonathan Cleveland
Welcome our guest speaker, Jonathan Cleveland, as he addresses how easily we can get sidetracked in our identity in Christ. We each have a choice before us to try to earn our identity through effort and achievement, or receive the Gospel and live in the knowledge that the Father gifts us our identity through Jesus -- one we don't have to work to achieve.
Living for Christ: Purpose, Focus, and Unity
August 4, 2024 • Pastor Lyle Thompson
Despite his imprisonment, Paul’s unwavering joy and commitment led him to write his famous declaration, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Understanding what this means enables us to see what it is to honor Christ with our lives and bodies. Paul uses his own life’s purpose to call the Philippian church — and those of us in the Christian church today — to stand together in striving for a focused unity and purpose in our faith.
Having a Kingdom Mindset
July 28, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull
The Apostle Paul is set to report back on all that has unfolded in his journey the last few years and instead of having a 'life is unfair' type attitude - he points out how the gospel of Jesus keeps advancing despite the hardships he’s personally facing. He’s modeling courage, perseverance and a kingdom mindset that measures God’s purposes over his preferences. He's got the 'spiritual binoculars' to see more of God's activity is happening then what is within his little scope of reality around him and he takes joy in that!
Filled Not Flavored
July 21, 2024 • Pastor Jack Schull • Philippians 1:1–11
As the Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Philippians he is caught up with joy as he thinks about them. Joy is a major theme that runs through this book, despite the backdrop of where it’s being written from and all Paul is facing. We get insight that godly joy transcends circumstances. Paul is fueled by his ultimate trust in the work and ongoing activity of God, so he prays for God’s continued progressive transforming work within His people then and now. Paul’s praying that every believer be overflowing with the love of Christ; that we be Jesus filled, not just Jesus flavored.
