We have all had mountain top days and experiences. Weddings, births of babies, promotions at work, big performances. On those days it can be easy to believe that the world is good, and that God is with you. But what about on days when life is not going as expected or challenges arise. God has a conversation with King Solomon that helps remind us that God’s faithfulness, God showing up for us, is unchanging, even if the circumstances of our lives are ever changing.
In our new series this fall, we are going to be talking specifically about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and alongside what we are calling it. We see in the calling of the first disciples and in the ministry of John the Baptist, that part of that is inviting people to be part of a movement that points our lives and focus towards someone else (Jesus and serving those around us).
This week Sunday we’ll be looking at who Jesus calls as his disciples. Upon first reading this passage it’s easy for us to focus on the type of people Jesus calls to see if we measure up. However, it seems the invitation for us is to look at the person and character of the one who calls. Jesus is the one who calls and knowing him invites us to see ourselves from his perspective.
Now it’s our turn. Having heard several examples of faith embodied, having set a foundation of Christ’s example, now Paul closes with a blessing for us as we live our faith out in this world. He blesses us on the good days and bad, when things are going well, and when they are challenging. Since God is the one who empowers us, we can have hope of how the Spirit can walk with us through whatever life sends our way.
Phil 3 continues with more examples, now moving to the author of the book himself, Paul. Paul shares about his own life, including his own struggles, as a reminder that even for him, the author, this is not just a list of things. This is what his life’s passion and work is all about. Faith is not something that we consider or think about, it is something that we embody.
Philippians is a personalized letter, to a specific church, and in these verses we get some of that feel. Paul names two known partners in ministry, Timothy and Epaphroditus. It could be easy to read past these verses, since, well, we don’t know either of these men like they did. But, this is more than a nod to partners in ministry. In light of the Christ hymn in verses 6-11, these are two examples of ways that the Christ centered life is lived out, and role models that the church is to look to.
The poem in the middle of these verses is the epicenter of the book of Philippians. In a book focused on an embodied faith, verse 6-11 names in clear terms what that kind of life is to look like as modeled by Jesus. Humility, grace, patience, serving.
In 1 Samuel we read about the Israelites rejecting God’s sovereignty. Thousands of years later we can wrestle with the same thing. Join us as we talk through keeping God as king in our lives.
Paul pivots to a sticky issue next: unity. Paul desires to see the church in Philippi rally together to love and serve the community around them in the name of Jesus. Paul reminds them that the source of that unity is found not in causes or topics, but in the love and grace that Jesus has extended to them, and they are not called to extend to others.
In the second half of Philippians 1, Paul gives a brief update about his own life. He is in prison for sharing Jesus with non-Jewish people, and it is possible his punishment might be death. Yet he quickly pivots to another update: he is sharing Jesus with his guards, and those around him. Paul leans into this idea, that we get to follow Jesus. And that whatever life throws at us, we have the opportunity to live for Jesus.
In much of our lives, we rush to finish projects, get a promotion, or reach the next something. That same mentality can leak into our faith if we are not careful. In Philippians 1 we are reminded that God is up to something in each of us, and that faith is a process of being formed by God, not a destination or project to reach.
One of the unique things about how Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in what is commonly known as the Lord’s prayer is calling God our Father. This title implies closeness, relationship, connection, and approachability. Like any relationship, part of growing closer together is time with one another. In 2 Corinthians, we are reminded that because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we are invited to enjoy and take time to be with God, with no agenda, simply to enjoy each other’s presence, but again what does that mean or look like?
In prayer we talk to God, and with God. Like any healthy relationship, it is also important to listen. A common desire is to hear guidance from God. How to handle a decision, how to navigate a tough circumstance, and at the root of hearing from God is, well, listening. So what does listening to God look like?
By Lead Pastor, Bill Flavin There is a big difference in a conversation between talking to someone and talking with someone. Teachers talk to a...
By Lead Pastor, Bill Flavin Prayer is connection with God. In our first week we will dive into how we talk to God and how that reflects...
This week we take a break from Nehemiah and look into Thessalonians. Both of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonian church address either an individual or individuals who are perfectly capable of working but have adopted a rebellious attitude and are refusing to work. This refusal to work places significant weight on the community of faith, and needs to be addressed with pastoral sensitivity (culminating with Paul’s instruction regarding discipline). I will demonstrate how the refusal to work continues to be a relevant issue today, and conclude with how at creation, God invited us to partner with Him in the gift of work, and even though sin has distorted this gift, in Christ Jesus, God has already begun to redeem the gift of work.
By Lead Pastor, Bill Flavin The project is complete, the good guys have won, and now they take time to celebrate and thank God, kind of. ...
Their project is almost done at near record pace, as their largest critiques ramp up their work trying to derail the project. Nehemiah is under intense threat and criticism, as he works to keep the most important thing most important.