January 25, 2026
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Philippians 4:10-20
Today we’re talking about the HARVEST—how God wants us to have His vision for the world. And what is God’s vision for the world? Jesus tells us in Mark 16:15: “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'”
This is God’s vision for the church. It’s God’s vision for me and for you! The challenge for many of us is not that we disagree with God’s vision, but that we feel overwhelmed by it. We hear the vision, but the world? That’s just too big for our minds to grasp! For others it’s more a matter of feeling disconnected from it.
How do ordinary believers like us move from feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from the mission to experiencing the joy of meaningful partnership in God’s vision for the world? That’s exactly what the apostle Paul helps us see in Philippians 4. In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he expressed his joy for their partnership with him for the gospel, viewing their generous support as a spiritual investment that fueled the gospel’s advance and brought glory to Jesus.
October 3, 2025
“All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22 ESV). Paul closes his letter to the Philippians with a warm benediction, passing along greetings from the believers in Rome. Remarkably, he singles out “those of Caesar’s household.” Paul is writing these words while under house arrest in Rome, chained to imperial guards,
February 29, 2024
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV). It’s Leap Day and there is no OYB reading for
October 3, 2023
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). What is worry? Isn’t it
October 3, 2022
WHAT THOUGHTS FILL YOUR MIND TODAY? As the apostle Paul closed his letter to the Philippians, he urged them to always rejoice in the Lord. He gave them a couple of spiritual practices to help them to always experience the joy of the Lord. One practice was that they should turn their worries into prayers,
October 3, 2021
TURN YOUR WORRIES INTO PRAYERS 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
October 3, 2020
WHAT KINDS OF THOUGHTS FILL YOUR THINKING? As the apostle Paul closed his letter to the Philippians, he urged them to always rejoice in the Lord. He gave them a couple of spiritual strategies for joyful living. One, was that they should turn their worries into prayers, not being anxious about anything, but praying about
May 10, 2020
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Philippians 4:4-7
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anxiety
Over the past few weeks, we have talked about how troubled times can cause us to be overwhelmed by fear, by
depression, and by doubt. Today, we want to consider how trouble can cause us to feel overwhelmed by anxiety. Certainly, the “uncertainty” of this time has caused much anxiety in our world today. Yet, even before COVID 19, anxiety was a pervasive condition for Americans.
Are you overwhelmed by anxiety today? Do you have a constant sense of unease? A kind of nervousness? Have the uncertainties of what’s coming next overwhelmed you with worry? The truth is, there will be trouble in this world. But do we have to be overwhelmed by anxiety as we face it? In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he taught them to turn to the Lord when overwhelmed by anxiety. We can learn to turn to the Lord when we are overwhelmed by anxiety.
February 29, 2020
TURN YOUR WORRIES INTO PRAYERS It’s Leap Day and there is no OYB reading for today, so I have chosen one of my favorite Scripture passages to consider. With the all the anxiety over the Coronavirus, politics and the economy, it seemed a good time to offer God’s prescription for worry. Consider what worry
October 3, 2019
TURN YOUR WORRIES INTO PRAYERS 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