Philippians

Refine by chapter:
58 results found

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

October 3, 2015

The apostle Paul described the secret to a life of contentment to the believers at Philippi, namely, Christ. This verse, although a favorite on posters with captions of athletic prowess depicted, was descriptive not of success against overwhelming odds, but contentment under all circumstances. Paul taught that the secret to true joy and contentment is not based on the ever-changing circumstances of life, but in our dependence on the unchanging presence of Christ in us.

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7 NKJV)

October 2, 2015

Paul listed the personal achievements that he had attained before following Christ and then described them as “loss” in comparison. Paul had quite an impressive resume, if anyone had reason to boast, he did. Yet, he chose to count it as nothing compared to knowing and following Jesus. He understood that following Jesus meant leaving your former life behind. What have you left to follow Jesus? What have you “counted loss for Christ?”

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NKJV)

September 29, 2015

Writing while imprisoned in Rome, Paul expressed his readiness to die and be with Christ, while recognizing the need to remain for the sake of sharing the gospel. In chains or not, living or dying, the apostle wanted the believers at Philippi to know that he trusted Christ in all things and wanted Him to be glorified in all ways. The indomitable joy of Christ was his. He may have been in chains, but the gospel was unchained and so was his soul. Paul was not suicidal. He did not have a death wish. He was merely expressing the reality for one whose old life had already died with Christ and whose new life was risen with Christ. What could the Romans do to Paul? They could kill his body. But they couldn’t touch his soul. His life was already hidden in Christ.

The Mark of Joy

May 24, 2015 | Philippians 4:1-9 | character, discipleship, fruit of the spirit

Pastor Jonathan Combs teaches from Philippians 4:1-9 on the true joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. This joy is not based on our circumstances, but is found only in the Lord, can be nurtured only in prayer, and changes our thought processes based on the gospel.

Reset Your Focus

February 1, 2015 | Philippians 3:12-17 | beginnings, work

In this conclusion to the RESET sermon series, Pastor Gary helps us understand how to focus our efforts towards God’s priorities and how all work is sacred when it is given to God as worship.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

October 3, 2014

What is worry? Isn’t it anxious self-talk? It’s an internal conversation between you and you. Worry circles around your head like a cloud of gnats that you can’t swat away. What is prayer? It’s talking to God. Why not take the same amount of effort that you’re putting into worry and turn them into prayer? Paul taught us to stop worrying and to start praying. Worry at its heart is an expression of doubt. It is the opposite of faith. It is sin. Prayer is an expression of faith. Prayer causes us to lift our eyes from self to our Savior. Prayer pleases God. Turn your worries into prayers!

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8a NLT)

October 2, 2014

Paul was one of the most brilliant minds of his generation, yet he counted human knowledge worthless when weighed against the “value of knowing” Christ. Truth is not a philosophy or equation, it is a Person. Decide to know Jesus. Let Him be the criterion for knowing, the lens by which you interpret reality. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6).

“…We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort” (Philippians 3:3b NLT)

October 1, 2014

Paul warned the Philippians against the Judaizers who would have the Christians live under the law of circumcision once again, rather than the law of the Spirit. He taught them to “rely” on Christ’s finished work on the cross, rather than their own human effort. When we have acknowledged and accepted the finished work of Christ, we are able to have the complete joy and freedom that we are fully accepted by God. Our confidence, and therefore our joy, is in Christ alone!

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ” (Philippians 1:27 NLT)

September 30, 2014

Paul taught the Philippians that they should live as “citizens of heaven,” remembering the gospel in their conduct. When we live as worldly, our message has no consistency and our gospel comes across hypocritical. Our lives should be consistent with the good news we believe. Our lifestyle should in fact cause people to ask about our faith, so that the gospel comes out easily. One cannot be excluded from the other. We are called to both live and share the Good News.

“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return” (Philippians 1:10 NLT)

September 29, 2014

Paul prayed that the Philippians would understand what “really matters.” He prayed that their priorities would focus on becoming more and more like Jesus until the Day of completion when Christ returns. What are you focused on today? Will today’s concerns matter tomorrow? Lord, help us to focus on what “really matters” today.