Podcasts about friend we have

What a Friend We Have in Jesus June 8, 2025 Worship Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio To support the ministry of the church, please click here: https://groveportumc.org/give/

June 8, 2025 Worship Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio To support the ministry of the church, please click here: https://groveportumc.org/give/ OPENING SONGS: “Do Lord” and “I Love You, Lord” WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING PRAYER: God of wind and fire, embolden us this day to receive your power. Help us to proclaim the wondrous things that you have done and continue to do in our lives. Give us strength and courage to share the Good News of your love and your presence. For we ask this in Jesus' Name. AMEN. PRELUDE & LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” *HYMN “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” - #514 CALL TO WORSHIP: L: Come, Holy Spirit! Ignite our hearts with joy and confidence! P: For God has done wondrous things for us. L: Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with the power of the rushing wind that we may faithfully serve you in all that we do. P: For Christ has called each of us and blessed us! L: Come, Holy Spirit! Be with us today. P: Help us to boldly proclaim Christ Risen. AMEN. HYMN “In Moments Like These” PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Lord God, you know us too well. You know that we would be like the disciples following the crucifixion and even the resurrection. We would rather hide and mutter and weep, than proclaim the power of your love. The world is a difficult place. We fear so much. We want people to like us, and so we hold back on our proclamation of our faith. We don't want to offend anyone. But your love and presence are not offensive. They are empowering and healing. Bring your holy fire upon us this day to ignite a spark of joy in our hearts and our voices. Bring the power of your rushing wind through our spirits that we may be turned in new directions for service and witness. We pray this in Jesus' Name. AMEN. WORDS OF ASSURANCE FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 2:1-21 OUR TIME OF PRAYER (During our time of prayer, the altar rail is open for all who wish to come forward.) HYMN “Sanctuary” PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD'S PRAYER OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS: “The Solid Rock” *DOXOLOGY *PRAYER OF DEDICATION CHILDREN'S MOMENTS (Children may be dismissed for Jr. Church at this time) SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 8:14-17 SERMON “The Gift of Freedom” HOLY COMMUNION *HYMN “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” - #526 *BENEDICTION *SENDING FORTH “As We Go” POSTLUDE “Wonderful Words of Life”

Send us a textHave you ever done something pretty terrific and someone else gets the credit for it? It can frustrate us, and even sometimes make us mad. But Joseph Scriven reacted neither way, even when his beautiful hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," was credited to someone else. Scriven was a completely selfless and loving man, who happily sacrificed all he had to further the Kingdom of God. His story is one of tragedy and sadness, but ultimately a story of triumph as God used Joseph Scriven in mighty ways!Introduction Song - To God Be the Glory performed by Julia Gavin Holmes with permissionWhat a Friend We Have in Jesus - The Worship Zone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Yx06camvUThanks for tuning in! Be sure to check out everything Proverbs 9:10 on our website, www.proverbs910ministries.com! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Rumble, YouTube, Twitter, Truth Social, and Gettr!

Meditação de 31 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Observando o agir de DeusTexto: Carol ViellLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 30 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Amor e perdãoTexto: Fabrício FreitasLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 29 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Você tem um melhor amigoTexto: Carol ViellLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 28 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Quem sou eu?Texto: Carol ViellLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 27 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Você cuida do corpo?Texto: Carol ViellLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 26 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Qualidade nas relaçõesTexto: Carol ViellLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 25 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Que amor é esse?Texto: Demilda LimaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 24 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: O caminho perfeito e eternoTexto: Demilda LimaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 23 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Cura e restauraçãoTexto: Fabrício FreitasLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 22 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Vida e esperançaTexto: Demilda LimaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 21 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Amizade e féTexto: Demilda LimaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 20 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Olhar da consciênciaTexto: Rubens CordeiroLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 19 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: O prazer de viverTexto: Rubens CordeiroLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 18 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Deus criou o amanhecerTexto: Rubens CordeiroLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 17 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Cristo é sempre melhorTexto: Rubens CordeiroLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 16 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Livre da opressãoTexto: Fabrício FreitasLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 15 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Jesus caminha em nossa direçãoTexto: Lidiane MachadoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 14 de maio de 2025Leitura do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Rendam graças ao SenhorTexto: Lidiane MachadoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass.

Meditação de 13 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Famílias obedientes a DeusTexto: Lidiane MachadoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 12 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Jesus, o amigo presenteTexto: Lidiane MachadoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 11 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Ser mãe: prazeroso desafioTexto: Lidiane MachadoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 10 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: CidadaniaTexto: Juliana da SilvaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 09 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Gratidão e féTexto: Fabrício FreitasLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 08 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Pipoca grátisTexto: Juliana da SilvaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 07 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Amiga BíbliaTexto: Juliana da SilvaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 06 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Em tudo dai graçasTexto: Juliana da SilvaLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 05 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Assuma o seu papelTexto: Farley Monteiro FilhoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 04 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Família é ministérioTexto: Farley Monteiro FilhoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 03 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: As três dimensões do chamado cristãoTexto: Farley Monteiro FilhoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 02 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: Um chamado surpreendenteTexto: Fabrício FreitasLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Meditação de 01 de maio de 2025Extraída do devocional Manancial, publicação da União Feminina Missionária Batista do BrasilTítulo: O Deus que me vêTexto: Farley Monteiro FilhoLeitura e Edição: Samuel LimaBG: O grande amigo (165 HCC) - "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", com arranjo de Josh Snodgrass

Mark 14:12-21Exodus 12:1-20Psalms 46 & 41Hymns:O Bless The Lord, My SoulAt the Lamb's High Feast We SingWhat a Friend We Have in JesusThe Last Passover: OutlineI. Preparation for the Last PassoverII. Prophecy of the Last Passover

Song List:1- Surely the Presence2- He Is Here3- No, Not One!4- What a Friend We Have in Jesus5- The Solid Rock6- In the Garden- Sis. MaggieMessage: Bro. Steve LeCroyScripture: Acts 2:36-47Invitation- Just as I Am

Send us a textHow do we balance the hands of Martha with the heart of Mary?After facing near-death experiences, the call to live intentionally and be fully present becomes even more profound. In this episode, we explore what it means to serve with purpose, seek Christ in the everyday, and embrace the gift of each moment. Tune in for a powerful conversation on slowing our pace, being on the Lord's errand and living with purpose.-----------Markell's InstagramSimply Stressless WebsiteLatter-Day Ladies ArtworkPoem on Mary & Martha (In the book: "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" by Chieko Okazaki)"My hands are those" By: Lonnie SeverinsonMy hands are those of Martha With serving cumbered aboutHome duties continue to keep meSo busy my time just runs outOh no, I don't belittle these tasks That's very trueFor motherhood's importantAs is each thing I must doStill, I long to know the master To study the words he spake That I might grow in wisdom And better decisions makeBut consumed by physical troublesAs pressures abound and buildMy spirit self becomes emptyThough my every moment filledAt these times I desire, as Mary, to choose that good partThough my hands are the hands of Martha, I am Mary in my heart.

Sunday Morning Service, October 20, 2024 Message: What a Friend We Have in Jesus Passage: Proverbs 18:24 Speaker: Pastor Eric Johnson

It's Tuesday of Ordinary Time, Proper 23 in the Church Calendar, October 16, 2024. Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. Today's song: What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Joseph Scriven, Charles Converse). Psalm 119:1-24 Luke 9:1-17 Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer. If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠. Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount! ⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠ Photo by Daniel Sarmiento. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prayerandworship/support

 | Artist  | Title  | Album Name  | Album Copyright  |   | 3Times7  | I Might  | Silver Linings  |   |   | Catfish Keith  | Can't Be Undone  | Blues At Midnight  |   |   | Catfish  | London  | London  |   |   |   | Vanessa Collier  | Two Parts Sugar, One Part Lime  | Live At the Power Station  |   | Lol Goodman Band  | Taken My Pain  | Scruddy and the Healing Sun  |   | Backwater Roll Live Featuring Jon Amor  | Fistful Of Dirt  | Backwater Roll & Jon Amor LIVE  | Mitch  Woods  | Southbound Blues  | Friends Along the Way (Disc 2)  |   | Elizabeth Cotton  | Sweet Bye and Bye  , What a Friend We Have in Jesus  | Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes  | Chuck Berry  | Tulane  | The Ultimate Collection cd 3  |   | Carl Perkins  | Lend Me Your Comb  | The Complete Sun Singles  |   | Catfish  | Chocolate Jesus  | London  |   |   |   | Jimmy Carpenter  | Midnight Blue  | Just Got Started  |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 

Jesus proves His friendship to Christians by sharing His life with them and giving it up for them—and He says they can show they are His friends in return living by and for Him. What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

PreludeWelcome & News of the ChurchCall to WorshipHymn of Praise - (#108) "Rock of Ages"Praise SongsMoment for MissionConfession, Assurance, and Gloria PatriWelcoming New MembersSermon - "Welcome Home: A Place to be Known" (Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 43:1; James 5:16) - by Rev. Jason GrifficeHymn of Response - (#432) "Softly and Tenderly"Offertory - "Home Where I Belong" by Pat TerryDoxologyPrayers of the PeopleClosing Hymn - (#466) "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (verses 1 & 3)BenedictionPostludeRock of AgesRock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure. Could my tears forever flow, Could my zeal no languor know, These for sin could not atone—Thou must save, and Thou alone: In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling. While I draw this final breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. Softly and TenderlySoftly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; Patient and loving, He's waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me. CHORUS:Come home, come home, Ye who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling—Calling, "O sinner, come home!"Why should we linger when Jesus is pleading, Pleading for you and for me? Why should we wait, then, and heed not His mercies, Mercies for you and for me? [CHORUS]O for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me; Tho' we have sinned He has mercy and perdon, Pardon for you and for me. [CHORUS]What a Friend We Have in JesusWhat a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer. Are we weak and heaven-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield thee—Thou wilt find a solace there.

Join us in this inspiring episode where we delve into the profound teachings on the effectual fervent prayer. Drawing from the story of Elijah in 1 Kings, we explore how private prayer can lead to public power, and the miracles that arise from a devote connection with God. Learn about the importance of prayer, miraculous provisions, and the faith that empowered Elijah to triumph even in the face of immense trials. This message underscores that through prayer, we find strength, solace, and the ability to overcome any obstacle while glorifying God's name. 00:00 Introduction to Effectual Fervent Prayer 00:14 Reflecting on 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' 00:45 The Power of True Prayer: Elijah's Example 02:11 Private Prayer, Public Power 03:32 Miracles Through Prayer: Elijah's Story 07:29 Elijah's Encounter with Jezebel 12:20 God's Tender Care for Elijah 12:51 Conclusion and Prayer

In this episode, we delve into the importance of effective prayer in the Christian life. The speaker discusses how sin, wrong motives, unforgiveness, and broken human relationships can hinder prayers from being answered. Practical advice is given on reconciling with others and maintaining a pure heart before God to ensure that prayers are heard. The episode concludes with an illustration of the powerful prayer of Elijah, emphasizing the need for a close, sin-free relationship with God for prayers to be effective. Watch and learn how to transform your prayer life and deepen your walk with the Lord.

PreludeWelcome & News of the ChurchCall to WorshipOpening Hymn - (#466) "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"Praise SongsConfession, Assurance, and Gloria PatriSpecial Music - excerpts of "Meditation" by Jules Massenet - Micah Wright, piano; Cornel Radulescu, organSermon - "Tefilla: Prayer" (Matthew 6:5–8) - by Amy Hemseri-SabalaReceiving of Our Tithes and OfferingsOffertoryDoxologyHymn of Approach to the Table - (#564) "Let Us Break Bread Together" (verses 1 & 2)Serving of the Sacrament of CommunionAnnouncement of Cornel's RetirementBenedictionSinging of The Lord's PrayerPostludeWhat a Friend We Have in JesusWhat a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness—Take it to the Lord in prayer! Are we weak and heaven-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer! Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield thee—Thou wilt find a solace there. Let Us Break Bread TogetherLet us break bread together on our knees; Let us break bread together on our knees; When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us drink wine together on our knees; Let us drink wine together on our knees; When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, accomplish your will in us now, through your preached word, in Jesus's name, amen.This Spring I've been helping to coach four different sports teams — three baseball teams and a flag football team — and apart from having to keep up with 46 boys' names, it's been doable. The focus has not been winning. One of the things I've told the guys since the start of the season is that the amount of games you win in middle school baseball is probably not going to make a difference in your life, but the things you learn might. The emphasis has been growth and development — not mainly in skills, but in character. What matters most is not winning but it's who you are becoming — how you are learning to be.And look, that goal has been put to the test because we've not been winning. Come to find out, the character development stuff has not just been for the players, but it's been for coaches. I feel my own need to keep growing — “God is still working on me!” And that's what our passage is about this morning, Philippians 4, verses 4–7. Paul is landing the plane of this letter, and beginning in verse 4 he gives a rapid-fire list of commands connected to three character qualities. And Paul ending a letter like this is not unusual. He does it in other letters. These are the things he wants to leave with the church. He's saying: While I've still got you, before you go, take this with you — and these verses in Philippians 4 are all about these Christians being a certain kind of people, having a certain kind of character. Three qualities: joy, gentleness, and peace. We're going to look at each one of these this morning, but before we get there, we need to answer two preliminary questions?How are these qualities connected?Why do these qualities matter?1) How are these qualities connected?This is a tricky question because, at one level, we know that joy, gentleness, and peace are connected — they're all fruit of the Spirit — but we're not exactly sure how they're connected in this passage. What is Paul thinking about their relationship to one another? Now, we could meditate on this, and put our sanctified reason to work, and we might say that … Joy is most foundational. It's at the heart, down deep in our souls, and then that joy is evidenced outwardly as reasonableness and experienced inwardly as peace.We could try to make a case like that, and that is all theologically valid. But here's the thing: the grammar of this passage does not tell us that. The actual wording of these verses doesn't say anything about how these qualities are connected. And so I'm reluctant to say a lot about that, at least in a sermon. Maybe in a different setting, or in a different kind of sermon, we could ponder the connectedness more, but my aim today is to give you an exegetical sermon. That's the kind of preaching that we do at Cities Church most of the time (not all the time; we've done some topical-theological sermons in the past), but most of the time we take a book of the Bible and we walk through it bit by bit, and we try to exegete or interpret meaning from the text. The Bible says about itself that it's inspired by God — breathed out by the Holy Spirit — which means that what the Bible says is what God says. Therefore the words really matter! We should never read into the text what we want, but we need to discover what the text says, and then sit under its authority as the word of God.And when I apply that conviction to these verses, it means I'm going to explain each of the qualities as standing on their own, separate from one another, because that's the way Paul writes it. 2) Why do these qualities matter?What's the point of character anyway? Why is it important to develop character and be a certain kind of person? Well, the truth is, for some people, it's not important, but for Christians it is, and it's all got to do with that short sentence in verse 5: “The Lord is at hand.”When Paul says “the Lord” here he's talking about Jesus, and the word for “at hand” simply means “near.” Paul is saying the Lord is near. Jesus is close. Close to who? To doing what? Jesus is close to us right now in his activity and care — he has sent his Spirit here in us and among us — and he's close to the event of this return. Jesus is always involved and at work in our lives and soon he's coming back. And that is not a novel idea to Paul — but it's the dominant theme in the entire New Testament. In fact, in several places when we're commanded to live in a certain way, it's connected to the event of Jesus's return. Our behavior now is connected to the future coming of Jesus. This is like the air we breathe when we read the New Testament. For example, take what Paul says in Titus 2:11. He says that God's grace has appeared to us now, and it trains us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”Take what Peter says in 1 Peter 1:13, “… set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be comforted to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”Take what James says in James 5:8 — even James (no offense, James), “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another…”In other words, be a certain kind of person right now, church, because Jesus is about to walk through that door! He's close. He's right here, all the time. And to clarify something for us, one of the things that we like to say a lot at Cities Church is that “Jesus is real.” And when we say that, this is what we mean.When we say “Jesus is real” we're not talking about his historical reliability or anything to do with apologetics (now we could talk about that, because it's all solid and it can be helpful), but when we say Jesus is real we mean what Paul means here — the Lord is at hand. Jesus is the greatest, most all-encompassing reality in the universe. He has already changed everything about the world, and one day he's going to change it all for good, and out of all the things that we need to remember in life, THAT is the most important.Jesus is real. The Lord is at hand. He's close. That's the biggest assumption of the New Testament, and it should define us as disciples of Jesus. That's why you live a certain way now. That's why you should be a certain kind of person. We're not really interested in moral improvement for the sake of moral improvement — better ourselves to better our world — okay, fine, but that's not really the point. Instead: Be a certain kind of person now, Christian, because your Christ is about to split the sky wide open and you will see him and you will stand before him and so live right now in witness to that wonder. That's why character matters. … even more than winning. Paul exhorts us in three character qualities. Here's the first…1) Be a person of spiritual joy.This is verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”Paul gives the command to rejoice twice in this verse, and it's the same command he already gave in 3:1. In 3:1 he says, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” He uses the exact same words in 4:4 — and now let's recall all the other places in Philippians where Paul talks about joy, like in … 1:18, when Paul rejoices that Christ is preached even though some of the preachers have selfish motives. Or 2:2, when Paul exhorts the church to complete his joy by being united. Or 2:17–18, when Paul tells the church to share his joy because they've shared in the same ministry. Or 2:29, when he says they should welcome Epaphroditus with great joy because he almost died for the work of Christ. Or in 4:10, which we'll see later, when Paul says he rejoiced in the Lord greatly because of God's provision for him through the church. There's a lot of joy in this book! It's no wonder that commentators call Philippians the “epistle of joy.” And Philippians 4:4 is where it's most emphasized, and some of you already know this …“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice, Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice.”Clarifying Spiritual JoyThat's Philippians 4:4. Not only does Paul say it twice, but he says to do it “always.” And that is “always” as in every circumstance. Every circumstance as in your joy is derived from something deeper than your circumstances and it overflows from those depths into whatever you have going on. That's why Paul says “rejoice in the Lord.” This is not just any kind of joy, but the Puritan Thomas Watson simply calls this “spiritual joy.” Watson says,“Spiritual joy is higher built than [that which is built] upon creatures, for [spiritual joy] is built on the love of God, on the promises, and on the blood of Christ” (271). That's why he says it's like a spring of water underground. It's possible for this joy to abound in places the world would never expect it. Because remember who Paul is talking to here. This is a small church surrounded by the encroaching forces of the world superpower. These Christians were the social underdogs. Life for them was not smooth. Their beloved apostle is writing from prison, awaiting a trial, and they could be next. Paul is not saying to rejoice in their problems. He's not saying that they should be all “Gee golly everything's okay” when everything is not okay. Paul is not suggesting head-in-the-clouds escapism. This is not the irrational denial of hardship. But to rejoice in the Lord, means that whatever the hardship is, however painful the suffering may be, Jesus is who he is; Jesus has defeated sin and the grave, and Jesus will come again — so we rejoice in him. Always in him. Spiritual joy.And this kind of character is so vital to our witness. A friend once told me that the biggest hurdle in our evangelism is that we have a lot of sad Christians trying to convert happy sinners.In on the SecretBut when we rejoice in the Lord, that's different. This is at the heart of our faith.Paul doesn't talk about joy only in this letter, he talks about joy in almost all of his letters. One New Testament scholar has called Paul the “theologian of joy” and one of the most astounding truths Paul makes clear is that God himself is a joyful God.We see this all throughout Scripture — but Paul says it plainly in 1 Timothy 1:11 — he says we've been changed by “the glorious gospel of the happy God.” All of creation is the overflow of God's happiness and our great end as God's creatures is to share in his happiness. Everything, most ultimately, is from joy in God and for joy in God. God is the source of our joy, and although now we experience this joy dimly, it is real joy from God and one day we will have its full.And when we know this it's like being in on the greatest secret of the universe. If you've ever thrown a surprise party for someone or given a surprise gift for someone, I think you'll know what I'm getting at here … I recently threw a big surprise moment for my oldest son's 13th birthday. I had his grandparents surprise him from North Carolina, and in an unusual way. I had my dad meet Micah at a certain place, completely unexpected. I had planned the whole thing so that Micah would show up at this place and my dad would already be there, to Micah's surprise. And, in the weeks and days leading up to this moment, I got more excited. Because I knew what was coming. I knew it was gonna be good, and I'll be honest, there was a kind of lightness to my step. Y'all know what I mean? I knew something good was coming, and it gave me joy.And truly that experience can be applied to the Christian life overall. Because we know the truth about God and ultimate reality … Because we know that when Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord he's telling us to do what we're made for … because we know God's promise …No matter what, we can look to the future and say, Something good is coming.We're in on the secret, except we don't have to keep it a secret. We are headed to joy and we wanna bring people with us. And I know sometimes it doesn't feel like it. A lot times maybe. Days can be long and dark. Terrible things happen in this world. Frustrations happen in this world. But Jesus is close. Joy is coming. Like the psalmist says, “I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy!” (Psalm 43:4). In him we can rejoice.Be a person of spiritual joy. 2) Be a person of obvious gentleness.Verse 5:“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”The word there for “reasonableness” is also translated “gentleness.” That's the way it's translated in the handful of other places this word is used in the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 2 Peter 3:18). The main idea of this word is to be lenient. It's the opposite of insisting on every single letter of the law — it's the opposite of strict justice; it's the opposite of being “stiff and bristly.” You're not demanding, but it's to be gracious and patient. Gentle. Lenient. A word we might use is “chill.” Or maybe even a better word to capture the idea is be flexible.And we have to be careful here because right away, we can start thinking about this as a personality trait — it seems like some people are just wired to be this way more than others — but hold on. Remember: Paul is commanding this. He's not commanding a personality trait, this is a character quality. This is a matter of the heart. It comes from the inside-out. And honestly this is one of those unassuming qualities that's easier to recognize when you see it missing. For example, you are not being reasonable/gentle/flexible … If you lose your head because Chipotle added the wrong salsa to your burrito bowl. Or if you snap at someone in the kitchen because they're in your way. Or if you immediately think of retaliation when someone crosses you. Or if you argue balls and strikes with a 14-year-old umpire in a youth baseball game.You are not reasonable/gentle/flexible when you live in a constant defensive posture, when you are easily disappointed in others, when you are overly critical about everything, and when you are quick to be the victim.Now I'm so glad that this doesn't describe us or any Christians we know — but man, don't you want to be different than that? Don't you want to be large-hearted! Magnanimous! Reasonable! Flexible!Well we're called to be that, and we're called to make it obvious to everyone. We should think of this as foundational to our witness. It's kind of like pre-evangelism. It's necessary. Before you share the good news of Jesus with someone, how about you don't shake your fist at them in traffic?Look, what I'm about to say might blow your mind, but I think we're ready for this. Here it is: You cannot treat someone like they're a moron and then tell them that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their life.We're talking entry-level Christian living here. “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” Be flexible. Be a person of obvious gentleness.3) Be a person of inner peace.This comes from verses 6 and 7, and this quality is different from the others because we are not commanded to have peace, but peace is the promise if we obey the command to pray. That's the shorthand way of putting it. Look at the language in verse 6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” This is a negative-positive command. It's a put off/put on — don't do this, but do this. And another way to say that last part is simply: Tell it to God.Don't be anxious, but in everything tell it to God — and tell him with thanksgiving, which is a fail proof to being a whiner. The best antidote to have a grumbling heart is to be mainly thankful. There are still things to pray about. There are still things you need and want God to do, but you ask God for those things in recognition of the past grace God has given you. We come to God, not with an attitude that says, “Ugh, he's never done anything for me. Here goes.” No, instead, we come to God, saying: I'm alive, right now, because of you. My heart is beating because of you. You've kept me all these years. You've always provided for me. Jesus Christ died for me. I know you love me, Father! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! And then you let God know what you want. That's the other side to not being anxious. Don't be anxious, but in everything, with thanksgiving, tell it to God.Now both sides of this negative-positive command give some insight to the other.What does prayer tell us about anxiety?Why are we anxious?We're anxious because we know we don't have the control to make things go the way we want them to. And without that control, we fear the thing will go badly. I can't make this certain thing happen, and therefore I'm anxious about it.At one level, to be anxious is to be merely human. We desire things that we ourselves cannot create. That's the human condition, and it's hard, and you can see why throughout history, humans have tried to figure this out. One alternative is to stop desiring things altogether. If wanting things and not being able to create them produces anxiety, then stop wanting things. That's Stoicism. It's indifference to reality. The thinking is that: If you care, you get hurt and disappointed, so stop caring. Be apathetic. Walk through life shrugging your shoulders.That's one pagan way to live in our humanity, but Christian, don't do that. And beware the Stoic mindset because it's out there. But the Christian way to wrestle with the human condition is to pray.Don't be anxious, but instead pray. Tell it to God. You don't have control to make things go the way you want them to, but you know the One who does have control — he is your heavenly Father and he loves you, and so ask him. Ask him. Let your requests be made known to God, and, verse 7, God will always give you exactly what you want — is that what it says?No, the result of not being anxious, but praying is that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”There's a question here about the peace of God. Is this God's peace, as in the peace that God has in himself? Or is this peace from God that he gives us? I take this latter view. I think this is the experience of inner peace that God gives us from himself as the God of peace.And this kind of peace is greater than human thought. That's what “surpasses all understanding” means there. And this is important because a lot of times, in our anxiety, in life, we want to figure things out. We put our minds to work and we try to do the math and we think, think, think — but the peace God gives us transcends our ability to think. It means we don't have to have it all figured out and we can still rest. We may not get the things we're asking for, but we have peace.And, as it turns out, this peace is what we've needed most all along. It's a peace that guards our hearts and minds from anxiety. We know we're gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay. Even as we keep knocking, we keep asking, we keep telling it to God. And we do that with everything. I want us, each of us, to be this kind of person. I want us to be this kind of people. When someone is carrying anxiety, it is always a fair question to ask them if they'd prayed about it. My great-grandfather used to love to sing the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” And that first stanza just nails it:“What a Friend we have in Jesus,All our sins and griefs to bear!What a privilege to carryEverything to God in prayer!O what peace we often forfeit,O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carryEverything to God in prayer!” If you're anxious about something but you have not prayed about it, start there. And an even better way to go about this as a church, is that when we meet anxiety in one another, rather than just refer people to God, let's take people to God. This is why it's so helpful to pray with one another on the spot. It's not just so that you don't forget to pray, but it's that you're taking the thing to God right away and you're bringing you're brother or sister with you. Because Jesus is close. He's right there. Tell him about it. Be a person of abundant joy.Be a person of obvious gentleness.Be a person of inner peace.Church, however many wins we get, character matters more. Let's be this kind of people in Christ Jesus.That's what brings us to the Table.The TableThe last three words in verse 7, “in Christ Jesus,” puts everything in perspective. The character we've been talking about is blood-bought. We don't become this kind of people in order to earn God's love, but this is because of God's love. God has shown his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! And his goal is to make us like Christ. He's still working on me.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 381 - Come, My Soul, With All Thy Care - Luke 11:9-13: (Jesus said), “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks it will be opened.” “What father among you, if your son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 385 - What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Tim Hartwig, President, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist)

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 381 - Come, My Soul, With All Thy Care - Luke 11:9-13: (Jesus said), “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks it will be opened.” “What father among you, if your son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 385 - What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Tim Hartwig, President, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist)

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 381 - Come, My Soul, With All Thy Care - Luke 11:9-13: (Jesus said), “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks it will be opened.” “What father among you, if your son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 385 - What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Tim Hartwig, President, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist)

Funny man Rob Schneider, finds Jesus and turns from the ‘Evil Monopoly' of Hollywood.    AND   While a great many have heard the hymn in traditional church services or during funeral services, few know the story behind the lyrics of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."   To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates!   https://www.godupdates.com/rob-schneider-jesus-testimony/ https://www.godupdates.com/story-behind-what-a-friend-we-have-in-jesus-lyrics/   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.