When we started our study of Philippians on November 2, 2019, no one had heard of the coronavirus. As we close this series, everyone has heard of the coronavirus, which has now spread from China to over 120 countries. Among other things, this challenge is an opportunity to apply the truths we have learned in Paul's letter to the Philippians. As followers of Christ, we face the coronavirus with joy by affirming three important facts about God (see handout).
Facing the Coronavirus with Fact-Based Joy: Full Service
March 15, 2020 • Steve Bateman
When we started our study of Philippians on November 2, 2019, no one had heard of the coronavirus. As we close this series, everyone has heard of the coronavirus, which has now spread from China to over 120 countries. Among other things, this challenge is an opportunity to apply the truths we have learned in Paul's letter to the Philippians. As followers of Christ, we face the coronavirus with joy by affirming three important facts about God (see handout).
Reason 17: The Joy of Financial Contentment
March 1, 2020 • Steve Bateman
[Paul] does not use his circumstances as an opportunity to extract more money from [the church]. Rather he uses his circumstances as an opportunity to teach them the principle of contentment. The "secret" of contentment is a secret that any believer can learn.
Reason 16: The Joy of Disciplined Thinking
February 23, 2020 • Steve Bateman
Disciplined Thinking: intentionally feeding my mind the information that influences me to love God and my neighbor, while rejecting the dis-information that permeates a proud culture in moral rebellion, for the advance of the gospel, to the glory of God.
Reason 15: The Joy of Logical Prayer
February 17, 2020 • Steve Bateman
Immediate circumstances are the facts that "stand around" us on any given day (weather, sickness, arguments, bills, imprisonment, etc.), but they are temporary and ever-changing. The ultimate circumstances are the facts that "stand around" our immediate circumstances that are eternal and never changing. The believer must keep these facts in mind: the inevitable fame, sovereign lordship, imputed righteousness, and triumphant return of Jesus Christ.
Reason 14: The Joy of Managing Church Conflict
February 9, 2020 • Steve Bateman
Church conflict is often a positive sign that people care about the church and the mission Jesus gave us. They are invested in the ministry and have strong feelings about what ought to be done and how to do it. But unmanaged conflict can soon divide a church, and that division decreases the level of joy. A happy church is not a church without conflict, but a church with conflict that is managed well.
Reason 13: The Joy of Standing Firm
February 2, 2020 • Steve Bateman
The Liberal Error: Because god made me this way, I am lord of my life and live according to the law of Me (license).
The Law of Moses: Because I selectively obey the law of Moses, and even add to it, God is obligated to accept me (legalism).
The Law of Christ: Because God has accepted me for Christ's sake (imputed righteousness), I find job in obeying the Law of Christ.
Reason 12: The Joy of Imputed Righteousness
January 26, 2020 • Steve Bateman
After demonstrating the futility of legalism (a self-righteous dependence on our own law-keeping to earn a right standing with God), Paul now turns to the only way, the only hope, of being reconciled to God: imputed righteousness. To impute means "to credit, to debit, to ascribe, to assign, to lay something to the account of a person." Paul knew that the righteousness that came from him was worthless. His only hope was in the righteousness that comes from God.
Reason 11: The Joy of Leaving Legalism
January 19, 2020 • Steve Bateman
The Apostle Paul grew up and entered adulthood in an environment of legalism. Legalism views the commands of God as a means to earning his love. By law-keeping, the law-keeper seeks to obligate God, the law-giver, to pardon and promote him. When Paul came to know Christ, he left legalism behind and opposed it for the rest of his life.
