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“Government and the Gospel”

I Peter 2:11-17  It is often said that if you want to keep friends that you should never talk about religion or politics. One of my neighbors just recently told me that this was the rule in his house, that the only way to keep the peace is simply to avoid those two topics. The...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: “Conflict Resolution”

Philippians 4:2-9  Sin is the cause of a lot of what goes on in our lives. Recently we talked about the fact that all suffering is caused by sin. It might not be specific sin that causes specific suffering, but our lives were not created for suffering, we were not created to die, hell was...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: Taken Hold Of

Philippians 3:12-16 Last week we discussed Paul’s famous statement in Philippians 3, “what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.” There is an exchange that is essential for transformation; those things that were important, that made up my identity, my pride, my hope and strength, those things must become unimportant...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: A New Exchange

In II Corinthians 5 Paul wrote “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” In I Corinthians 13 Paul wrote, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: Demolished Complaints

Philippians 2:12-30 “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Most of us have had this verse quoted to us at some point in our lives. This verse is used most often as a reaction to complaints rather than being proactive to prevent them. It has been quoted from parents to children, teachers to students, employers to...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: Work it Out

Philippians 2:12-18 The call to unity through humility culminated with Jesus as our example of both mindset and activity. The mind of Christ is the conviction that considers others more significant than ourselves and the fruit of that conviction is obedience to the call of God, it is never thinking too highly of ourselves but...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: We Have Been Counted

This week, in Philippians 2:1-11, we continue to see the power and necessity of unity. Paul ties the conflict that the church at Philippi has watched him engage in to their own conflict. He calls this church to engage in the conflict of the gospel, to be affected and even suffer for the kingdom of God....

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: The Power of We

In Philippians 1:27-30 the Apostle Paul moves from encouraging the Philippian church about his situation to challenging them to live in the fullness of Christ in their own situations. He gives his first command of the letter in verse 27, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ”. While this statement is...

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Philippians Series: Bridges of Joy: A Life and Death Situation

Still in the beginning of his letter from prison, Paul writes a bold declaration to the church in Philippi, “I know that this will turn out for my deliverance . . .” Earlier Paul had declared that his imprisonment was leading to the furthering of the gospel, now he declares that he knows that his...