This 6 week sermon series allows us to be cellmates with Paul in chains. The letter puts Paul in prison right before his execution in 62AD. Written to express appreciation and affection for the church Paul loved, it’s a fount of encouragement to live out faith in praise, practice and prayer, experiencing God’s gracious gift of security, joy and peace. This is what living in Jesus is all about!
September 6: “Surety a Certainty”
Surety implies both the certainty of thought or action as well as a person who takes responsibility for another payment of a debt. A guarantor. We can have confidence that God will see our living through to completion. This is true in terms of our spiritual growth and development, the obstacles we face including both the work of living as missionaries on holy purpose. We can risk in faith because God is first faithful.
September 13: “Better for All”
Better for all is best for you. While anxious living leads us to live toward the self, a singular and self-emptying love in Jesus is what fills us up. This is a paradox, the mystery of what God accomplishes in us as we imitate Christ.
September 20: “The Great Pursuit”
The disciple is a life long learner. The pursuit of knowing Jesus leads us forward. The all-surpassing wonder of knowing Jesus more intimately today is what leads one to be anxious for nothing tomorrow. Of course, this pursuit involves leaving behind in order to journey ahead. Paul saw this loss as inconsequential compared to what is gained.
September 27: “Minding our P’s and Q’s”
Practicing praise and prayer in God’s love over us leads us rightly to reconcile and resolve quarrels. The outpouring of the heart in these ways shifts our identity in Jesus which gives us peace that passes all understanding in any and every situation.
October 4: “The Embrace of the Excellent!”
The embrace of all that is true, holy, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy leads the disciple to ‘crowd out’ and root out that which needs to be replaced in our lives. The embrace of God’s beauty enables us to overcome self, sin and struggle in the life we live with Jesus.
October 11: “Content in our Contents”
Contentment in Jesus is a high mark of discipleship. Contentment leads us past circumstances to live in the joy of Jesus. Paul saves the best for last here… even in prison, there is joy. Joy is the God-given gift that the world cannot understand, nor take away.