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Walking in the Joy of the Lord

The Joy of Contentment

September 14, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Contentment is a highly prized, but elusive virtue. Though it comes only from being rightly related to God and trusting His loving, purposeful, sovereign, providence. People nevertheless seek it where it is not found - in money, possessions, power, prestige, relationships, jobs, education, promotions, or freedom from difficulties. But by that definition, contentment is unattainable, for it is impossible in this fallen world to be completely free from problems. In sharp contrast to the world's understanding of contentment is the simple definition of spiritual contentment penned by the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs: "Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition". The Bible has much to say about contentment.

The Joy of Right Thinking

September 7, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

A doctor who conducted a long-term study of worry discovered the following: 40 percent of the people worried about things that never happened, 30 percent worried about things in the past over which they had no control, 12 percent worried about their health even though they had no illness, 10 percent worried about family or friends though without substantial reason, and 8 percent of those studied actually had a legitimate cause to worry or be concerned. So more than 90 percent of the worrying was for no reason. But Paul said, "Even when you have legitimate concerns, don't worry!" Fortunately, Paul didn't leave the Philippians or us wondering how to go through life without worrying. He wrote out the prescription in the book of Philippians.

The Joy of the Peace of God

August 31, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Here is a proven prescription for unhappiness: let little things bother you, lose your focus, worry, be a perfectionist, always be right, be suspicious, compare yourself unfavorably to others, take everything personally, don't commit to anyone or anything, refuse to take the bad along with the good. If that prescription doesn't appeal to you, and I hope it doesn't, you can look with me this Sunday at how we can have the Joy of The Peace of God in our lives regardless of what we are going through. This Sunday we will look at three things we must do to ensure our joy and peace in the midst of our trials. We will be looking at Philippians 4:1-7.

The Joy of our Citizenship

August 24, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

People who make an impact in the world invariably have a single-minded commitment to reaching their goals. Whether those goals are to conquer the world, succeed in business, or win a championship, they are willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary to achieve them. On the other hand, those who are consumed with their own needs and comfort rarely accomplish much. The same is true in the Christian life. There are no hidden secrets, gimmicks, or shortcuts to a life that makes an impact on the world for the truth of Jesus Christ. Such lives are the direct result of a maximum effort to reach the spiritual goals of Christlikeness in life and ministry. Many noble servants of God have suffered much to reach those goals. Many even paid with their lives. All had one thing in common -- their own comfort was less important to them than being like the Lord Jesus Christ in this world. They left their mark on the church through their undying devotion to Him and their untiring efforts for His gospel.

The Joy of Winning the Prize

August 17, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Paul's favorite athletic metaphor is that of a race. He declared to the Ephesians elders,"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Reminding the Corinthians of the dedicated athletes who competed in the games the apostle wrote "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." Paul expressed his fear that he might be running, or had run, in vain in Galatians 2:2, but we know Paul didn't run in vain. At the end of his life he wrote "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..." (II Timothy 4:7). This Sunday, it is that metaphor of the Christian Life as a race, expressed in the familiar fourteenth verse of Philippians 3 that we will be focusing on. The title of the message is The Joy of Winning the Prize. God wants us to finish our course that He has given to us with joy.

The Joy of Christian Living

August 10, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

A lot of people today, who claim they are Christians, have a sense of God, but they sense there is something wrong between them and God. Sometimes they feel things are right; other times as though things are wrong. But underlying whatever feelings they have, men and women are never sure whether or not things are right between them and God. They lack complete confidence that they please God enough to be acceptable to Him. They have a hope that God will accept them, but they do not know with absolute certainty. It is these feelings that have stirred the religions of the world. This Sunday we will look at how we can have the Joy of Christian Living. Paul shows us, in Philippians chapter three, that it is not what we do but what Jesus did for us that matters.

The Joy of Service

August 3, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

When the Bible says that we should be like Christ, someone always says, "Impossible!" True, He is the sinless Son of God and we can be intimidated by His high standard of perfection. After all, we're only human, but we can have Christ's attitude about service. The Scripture gives us examples of ordinary people, just like us, who lived a servant lifestyle and worked out their salvation with fear and trembling. Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus remind us that the life that Christ demonstrated to us is a life that can be lived with the resources God has given us. This Sunday we will be looking at the lives and testimonies of these great servants.

Real Christian Faith

July 27, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Mark Twain, famed author and humorist, wrote that few things are harder to put up with "than the annoyance of a good example." Perhaps the thing most annoying about a good example is our inability to accomplish the same achievements. Admiration for a great person can inspire us, but it can't enable us. Unless the person can somehow enter into our lives and share his skills, we cannot attain to his heights of accomplishment. It takes more than an example on the outside; it takes power on the inside. Paul in the second chapter of Philippians presents Jesus Christ as our great example in the exercise of the submissive mind. We read it, and we agree with it, but how do we go about practicing it? Paul sets before us the divine pattern for the submissive mind and the divine power to accomplish what God has commanded. Philippians 2:13 says, "It is God which worketh in you". It is not by imitation, but by incarnation; "Christ lives in me"(Galatians 2:20). The Christian life may seem like a series of ups and downs, but it is more accurately a process of ins and outs. God works in, and we work out. We cultivate the submissive mind by responding to the divine provisions God makes available to us. This Sunday we will be looking at these provisions which allow us to be all that God wants us to be.

Griping, Complaining, & Murmuring (part 2)

July 6, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Last week, we examined the causes of our negative speech, and this week we'll take a hard look at the Consequences of Complaining and Murmuring. We will see what happens if we don't bridle our tongue. If we're not careful, our words will destroy us and those we love. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Grievous words are hurtful, critical, negative words. Criticism comes easily when we are sitting on the bleachers and we don't agree with a call in the field. Back seat drivers and arm chair quarterbacks find it easy to tell others what they're doing wrong, though they're not behind the wheel or in the game themselves. One of the best ways to get rid of a critical spirit is get involved and get to work. We should make it our goal to be like Barnabus, the son of encouragement and build others up instead of tearing them down. Paul said, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others."

Griping, Complaining, & Murmuring (part 1)

June 29, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Complaining is characteristic of those who believe God doesn't have the right to exercise His will in their lives. Remember the Hebrew slaves when they came out of Egypt? They pretty much complained the whole way from Egypt to Kadesh Barnea, then they were excluded from entering the Holy Land. God doesn't look lightly on complaining, but sees it as a lack of faith in Him. Moses got to the root of the problem when he told them, "Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord" (Exodus 16:8). God hears all complaining as complaints against Him. How can we, who have been given the mind of Christ, continue to be complainers and argue against God? Some have made being argumentative their lifestyle, a habit that marks their attitudes and words. Arguing (disputing) is just another form of complaining, is it not? How can we have unity and one mind while we complain and argue? Paul said, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings" (Philippians 2:14). Neither complaining nor arguing has any place in the church of Jesus Christ. Instead we are to be lights in the world, illuminating a better way to live. And that better way is characterized by three traits; we are to live blameless, harmless, and spotless. This Sunday, we will be looking closely at the causes of murmuring, griping, and complaining.

Our Example for Joyful Living

June 22, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

The book of Philippians has truly been the Joy Book through our verse-by-verse study of the Word of God. This week we will be focusing on one of the greatest passages of Scripture ever written about Jesus Christ, Philippians 2:5-11. He is our example for joyful living! It paints the perfect picture of humility, the humility of Jesus Christ leaving the glory of heaven to live as one of us, taking on a body of human flesh. Then if that wasn't enough, He humbled Himself even to die a sinner's death though He never sinned. No one has ever come close to humbling himself like Jesus did. If the problems of the church and of the world are to ever be solved, we must humble ourselves just as Christ did. The church is often divided, guilty of pride, criticism, murmuring, quarrels, jealousy, envy, selfish ambition, negative feelings, and desires for position and recognition. The only answer is to follow the example of Jesus, letting His ways and thoughts become ours. We must allow the humility of Jesus Christ to flow in and out of our minds. The unity of a church depends upon one thing, its members walking in true humility.

The Joy of Unity

June 15, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

This Sunday we will be looking at chapter two in the book of Philippians. Walking in the joy of the lord involves walking in unity with one another. The Phillippian church was a strong church, a very strong church. When a church is strong, it is always full of vision and planning, and it is always working out a strategy to carry the gospel to the community. It is never still and never complacent, neither the minds of nor the hands of the people. Because of this, there is always the danger of misunderstandings, differences in opinions, concerns, emphases and interests. Each one has a different idea of which ministry or project should be undertaken and supported among a host of other differences. The point is this: the more strength and activity a church has, the more attention it must give to unity. Why? Because a strong church has more minds and bodies working, and where more people are working, more differences are bound to come up. Paul knew this; he knew he had to put the Phillippian church on guard. The church had to protect itself against disunity and division. Paul said this to the church at Corinth, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment",1 Corinthians 1:10. Unity is the subject of Philippians chapter two. Join us as we examine several traits that will hold the church together in Christ- honoring unity.

Marks of a Great Christian Church

June 8, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

In the village green in Lexington, Massachusetts, there is a stone on which is carved the words of Captain Parker who commanded the colonial militia on the spot in 1776. Here is what he said to the men who were assembled to fight the British: "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." If that kind of courage is needed to gain victory in battles over temporal things, how much more is needed in the battles over eternal issues? More and more today, Christians individually and the church at large are coming under satanically-inspired attack. Christians are in a minority in this world; we are surrounded by the enemies of God either Satan and his demons directly or those human agents he inspires. We need a strategy not just for survival, but for victory in the spiritual conflict that rages all around us. While Paul endured arrest and imprisonment in Rome, he described to the church at Philippi a plan that would help them be victorious in spite of how dire circumstances looked. That plan would be the fellowship of the Gospel, the furtherance of the Gospel and the faith of the Gospel.

Joy in Spite of Trials

June 1, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

Our world knows little of what it means to be happy in the midst of a trial. Happiness is understood to be a function of mood, possessions, or place - not a confidence that rests completely outside of this world. American pastor A.W. Toer wrote, "In this day of universal apprehension when men's hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquility that will be a little bit of heaven here below."

The Joy of God's People

May 25, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett

God has ordained three key social institutions for the purpose of relationships; these are marriage, family, and the local assembly of believers, called the church. The church, also called the body of Christ, is God's source of relationships in a scope broader than that of marriage and family. It's where we develop relationships that sustain us and strengthen us, that provide more than any single family can. The church is God's way for us to be part of something much larger than ourselves, to give us a sense of identity and security in a world not always friendly to followers of Christ. The New Testament word for relationships and synergy is "koinonia". We usually translate it as "fellowship," but it literally means oneness or partnership. And while the word is not used, the idea is found in such great verses as Hebrews 3:13, "exhort one another daily" and Hebrews 10:24-25, "consider one another in order to stir up love and good works exhorting one another". The apostle Paul founded the Philippian church ten years before he wrote this letter to its members. But his deep relationship to them is evident. In this letter Paul pours out his heart to his beloved Philippian brothers, using personal pronouns like "I," "me," and "my" over 100 times. He is not writing about himself, but about his love for the Philippian believers.

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