James 1:19-26 “Do as I Say and As I Do”

We are now in our third week of our study of the book of James. Last week we looked at how James reminds us to be joyful when we encounter trials of various kinds because our trials are not obstacles to our growth, they are the means of our growth as believers. We talked about how the trials the we face as believers are there to reveal the reality of our faith. I also want to remind each of us of what we talked about this first week of this study that the things that James will tell us to … Continue reading James 1:19-26 “Do as I Say and As I Do”

James 1:2-18 “What Joy”

Welcome to week 2 of our study of the book of James. Last week we looked at the key element to understanding the commands and instructions that James is going to give us in this letter. I highlighted how James saw himself, and the people he was writing to and how we need to see ourselves not primarily as what we do, but who we are in Christ… Our culture has a disconnect. it is between the known truth that if you want to be good at anything, you must experience trials, and the desire that we have as a … Continue reading James 1:2-18 “What Joy”

James 1:1 “Meet James, Who are you?”

James: Author: self designation: “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” James was called James the Just. He was the brother of Jesus. Leader of the church in Jerusalem. Written most likely in the mid 40’s. We don’t know much about where he was or the circumstances surrounding the writing of this letter like we do about Paul’s letters. Recipients: “12 Tribes” This is a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel who come from the twelve sons of Jacob, who’s name was changed to Israel after he wrestled with God. It was a reminder to the … Continue reading James 1:1 “Meet James, Who are you?”

Philippians Recap

Philippians Recap (audio file) Philippians Recap Citizenship: Christ is the… …Focal point of the book… in this 4 Chapter book, there are 37 times that Paul uses the name Jesus, or Christ, or Jesus Christ specifically. 19 times, some form of the word “him” is used in reference to Christ. 12 times the word Lord is used in reference to Christ. So a total of 68 times that Christ is referenced in this short book. Some of the ways that Christ is referenced include: Paul and Timothy are “servants of Christ Jesus”; The saints are “in Christ Jesus”; Paul looks forward … Continue reading Philippians Recap

Philippians 4:14-23

Citizens:     Are partners in the Gospel. God has saved us to a people, not as Lone Rangers. – we are in this together. – It is a two way street.  Giving and receiving. – God has placed us together for a purpose and design.     The gifts we give are an act of worship, perfected by Jesus. – a fragrant offering points back to OT worship. – earlier in the book he makes it clear to us that our righteousness is based only on the finished work of Jesus, so when we worship by sharing with others, … Continue reading Philippians 4:14-23

Philippians 4:10-23

    Philippians 4:10-23         As Paul prepares to close out his letter to the Philippians, he is taking care of some housekeeping items, namely, thanking the Philippians for the gift they sent him through Epaphroditis,  But as he does, it is almost as though he breaks up the thanks for the gift, which he picks back up in V 14. and he reminds them that his thankfulness for the gift has less to do with the gift itself than it does with what their gift means to him. Look at what he does; first of all, … Continue reading Philippians 4:10-23

Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:4-9 (audio file) Philippians 4:4-9  The Peace That Makes No Sense So last week we heard a heard word from the Lord that we will have disagreements as Christians, and those aren’t always sinful. They can lead to sin, but a disagreement about an area where the Bible is silent is normal, and I would say healthy, and we should expect it. What we need to do though in the times when we disagree over an issue that is not clearly addressed in scripture is to “agree in the Lord”. the way we do that is to remember the gospel, … Continue reading Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:2-3

Philippians 4:2-3 (audio file) Philippians 4:2-3 What goes through your mind when you think of the word Unity? What kinds of things do you think of? Well, I hope if you have been here for this series in Philippians it would mean some of the things we have seen Paul talk about in earlier chapters. I hope that you would be reminded of Paul’s exhortation to have one spirit, one mind and walking side by side. You might remember that as citizens of the Gospel, we are to be primarily focussed on our right standing with God through Christ, and flee … Continue reading Philippians 4:2-3

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Philippians 3:12-4:1.   Hope we have learned a lot in this series. I’m not going to recap the whole series, but I do want to refresh last weeks message… Watch out for the dogs. The religious people, the ones who look to their own flesh for their right standing before God. They worship in their flesh, they glory in their flesh, put their confidence in their flesh. Citizens worship in the spirit, glory in Christ Jesus, and put all of their confidence in his finished work on their behalf. This morning Paul is going to flesh that out a little … Continue reading Philippians 3:12-4:1

Philippians 3:1-11

Philippians 3:1-11 (audio file) Philippians 3:1-11 We’ve been seeing through the first and second chapters of this book. Paul has been continuing to plea for the Philippians to live like citizens of the Gospel… Last week we saw Paul hold out for us 2 examples of people who have done just that and lived as citizens of the Gospel. We looked at how Tim and Epaphroditis served from the heart, laid it all on the line and did it for Christ and His glory. So that actually brings us to a place int the letter where Paul has finished that argument, … Continue reading Philippians 3:1-11