Posts with the tag “gospel”

The warmth of Paul’s closing comes from his godly affection for this faithful church. He began the letter with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Now he concludes, maintaining his focus on the centrality of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.   Read More

There is much that distracts and pulls our attention from the things that matter most. How do we combat the encroaching concerns of life that threaten to overwhelm our proper focus? As Paul is wrapping up his letter of thanks and encouragement to the Philippians,   Read More

In one of my favorite stories, The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes tries his hardest to escape from prison but all his plans and efforts fail. Yet, something finally happens that sets Edmond free. Faria, a priest and innocent cellmate who befriended Edmond, suddenly dies and the prison guards put the priest’s dead body in a sack and sow it up to be taken away.   Read More

When I was four years old, I was screened for pre-school and they recommended I get my eyes checked. This led to glasses and a whole new world. Prior to wearing glasses, I was able to function, but with corrective lenses, I was able to navigate, appreciate, and excel in areas that had previously been fuzzy and obscured.  Read More

Have you tried to lift something heavy with other people without communicating? You lift and they don’t. It is very frustrating to expend so much energy for no good purpose. Little can be accomplished when we don’t work together or work at cross purposes.  Read More

In tense or scary situation, I can freeze up. Sometimes this is the right response, but when it comes to someone else being in danger, action is required. If they don’t see a car approaching at high speed or a door closing on their fingers or someone turning into them with a tray of drinks we must warn them. And this is what Paul does here.  Read More

There have been seasons of my life as a Christian in which I was deeply connected and supported by brothers and sisters in the work of the gospel. I think back to my youth group in middle school and our missions trips to San Francisco for a week of service, worship, and sharing our faith. Similar times shaped my life in high school, college, seminary, and in my life since seminary.  Read More

I am very concerned with my own interests. They are mine for crying out loud. I am focused on paying the mortgage, taking care of my kids, not being a jerk as a husband, doing good work. When it comes to faith, I’m interested to learn more, not be fake, and to grow closer to God. I am interested in others in our church and at least have some sense of my need to make the world a better place. You probably have some lists like this that inform your life. They are your interests.  Read More

Whatever time we are able to take to slowly look at scripture is worth it, because it yields insights that were not evident before. Take today’s passage for instance. I had always thought of it as a bit of a conundrum related to some interplay between our work and God’s work in salvation, but the context changes how we look at the issue.  Read More

In Psalm 31, David reminds us that each day, along with each different season of our lives, are all in the hand of God. He wrote, "My times are in your hand" (31:15). But David added something earlier in the Psalm as well.   Read More

What is Christian unity? It is not a feeling or always agreeing about everything, rather it is an understanding and steadfast commitment to believing the gospel and living out its ramifications in our life together as the church.  Read More

Children know very little of their parents fussing, sacrifice, thinking, and concern for them while they grow up. It is only later, when they are responsible in a similar way that they begin to understand what was hidden from them.  Read More

I helped lead the memorial service today for my friend Rob. He became a follower of Jesus in the past three years and I got to see the wonder and joy he experienced as his relationship with God grew and impacted all the areas of his life. He was a changed man!  Read More

Paul is emphatic about rejoicing. It is his true eagerness and happiness to see the message of Jesus preached. He is encouraged by the Philippians’ prayers and the Holy Spirit strengthening him to face imprisonment, trial, and even death. As Christians, who do we identify most with in our lives?  Read More

Often suffering brings clarity. Many of the things on which we focus our time and attention end up being frivolous and a waste of our life energy. Paul, as he sits in prison, is not unaware of the conflicts around his apostleship and leadership in the Church, but he has clarity regarding what matters.  Read More

It is easy to get confused with all the complexities of life. Paul keeps the main concern for the Christian life in clear focus. In this case it is the defense of the good news. His first concern is that the truth about Jesus is clearly shared, preached, and proclaimed.  Read More

Paul gives a great example of leadership as he focuses on what God called and equipped him to do. His encouragement to the Philippians is coupled with his disclosure of hardship. You can imagine people thinking his imprisonment would crush him, but Paul’s orders come from a higher source and his imprisonment is an assignment.   Read More

In May of 1940, Winston Churchill addressing the House of Commons stated, "I say to the House as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”   Read More