Podcasts about Philippi

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12–13 NIV) Some people are really into exercise. They love to work up a sweat, go on a run, or lift weights. I hate all of it. And I know I’m not alone in that. But the fact of the matter is that we really need to exercise. We can’t hire someone to work out for us. It’s something we have to do for ourselves. In Philippians 2:12–13, the apostle Paul addresses a similar spiritual reality. Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (niv). Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote those words. He was experiencing anxiety over the fact that he was separated from his fellow believers, whom he cared so much about. Effectively Paul was saying, “Look, guys, I can’t be with you right now. I wish I were there to offer you guidance and to be a good example for you, but I can’t do it. But don’t forget: It’s God who works in you, and not Paul.” The believers in Philippi may have been thinking, “We can’t live the Christian life without Paul around.” But the reality was, they could. And the same goes for believers today. If pastors and spiritual leaders are doing their jobs properly, they will get you up on your own feet, spiritually speaking, so that you’re not dependent on them. This is especially important in the heat of spiritual battle. Some Christians may be hesitant to engage the enemy without the direction, encouragement, and motivation of their spiritual leaders. They don’t trust themselves. And the devil is quick to take advantage of that. Paul speaks for all sincere Christian leaders when he says, in effect, “Guys, keep things in perspective. It’s God who’s doing the work. He’s the only One you have to rely on. Maybe He worked through me, but it’s still God who did the work. And He can do it through you.” Paul would have been the first to object if someone had tried to put him on a pedestal or claim that he could do no wrong. So, our takeaway from Philippians 2:12–13 is that we must not base our relationship with God on someone else’s relationship with God. We need to develop our own faith, based on our own experiences with God and His Word. We need to build on our own spiritual foundation. We need to fight our own spiritual battles with God by our side. Reflection question: Why is it tempting to rely too heavily on spiritual leaders? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Be Humble or Be Humbled Philippians 2 Chew the Bible Season 3Paul encourages the believers in Philippi to live in unity, humility, and love. He urges them to put others before themselves, following the example of Christ, who humbled Himself by leaving His divine glory, taking on human form, and dying on the cross. Because of His obedience, God exalted Him above all, giving Him the name above every name. Paul tells the church to “work out their salvation” with reverence, shining like lights in a dark world. He also commends Timothy and Epaphroditus as faithful servants of Christ who live out this selfless attitude. Key Themes: Unity and humility in Christ Jesus as the ultimate example of obedience and sacrifice God exalting Christ above all Living as shining examples of faith in the worldYour words were found and I ate them

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:1–2 NLT) Sometimes in spiritual battle the devil will tempt us with things we’ve never experienced before. Because they’re new to us, we may not understand fully the damage they can cause. In other words, our enemy exploits our inexperience. Other times, the devil uses desires and impulses that are so familiar to us and such an integral part of who we are that—again—we may not understand fully the damage they can cause. In other words, our enemy exploits our blind spots. Selfishness falls squarely into the second category. Think about the problems you deal with on a regular basis—the things that get you into trouble time and time again. How many of them stem from selfish desires? How many of the things that you struggle with have selfishness at their root? How often does the devil exploit your selfish impulses for his own gain? James wrote, “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them” (James 4:1–2 NLT). In other words, “You want your own way.” You can see this impulse even in little children. Have you ever noticed that when two children are playing, one child will ignore a certain toy until the moment the other child picks it up? Suddenly both children want it. They scream and pull, trying to wrest it away from one another. Sometimes they’ll destroy the toy in the process—all because one child wants what the other has. That’s just human nature. We’re born that way, and we carry that trait with us through life, causing countless problems along the way. Marriages fall apart, by and large, because of selfishness. People have sex before marriage because of selfishness. People commit adultery because of selfishness. Name a problem in our society today, and chances are you’ll find selfishness at its root. Dwight L. Moody once said, “I have more trouble with D. L. Moody than with any other man I’ve ever met.” As Moody recognized, it’s our obsession with ourselves that is at the root of our problems. The apostle Paul urged the believers at Philippi, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3–4 NLT). That’s a tall order for people whose selfish impulses start at birth. But God stands ready to help you. To transform your focus and your priorities. To help you recognize and deal with your selfish urges. To take away the devil’s advantage over you. It’s a lifelong process, but one that’s well worth the time. Reflection question: In what areas do selfish urges cause you the most problems? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul in Prison Philippians 1 Chew the Bible Season 3Paul writes to the believers in Philippi from prison. He thanks God for them, prays for their love and knowledge to grow, and encourages them to remain steadfast in Christ. Paul explains that his imprisonment has actually helped spread the gospel, as others are now more bold in preaching. Some preach Christ out of envy, others out of goodwill—but Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed regardless. He expresses confidence that through their prayers and the Spirit of Christ, he will be delivered, whether by life or death. For Paul, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He longs to be with Christ but chooses to remain for the sake of the believers' growth. He urges them to stand firm, united, and unafraid of opposition.Your words were found and I ate them

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira was not a magnificent city in antiquity and was relatively obscure compared to Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum.  It was known for the manufacture of purple dyes and the making of cloth.  In Acts 16, the first convert in Philippi was Lydia, a seller of purple fabrics, from the city of Thyatira (Acts 16:14). The commendation of the church in Thyatira is glowing and emphatic.  “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Rev 2:19).  But there was a serious problem in the church.  There was an influential woman (she is referred to as ‘Jezebel' in Rev 2:20) who had encouraged some of the people in the church toward acts of immorality.  The church was tolerating her and these practices.  In spite of the sterling qualities within the church, its purity had been compromised.  The church in America today faces the same struggle.  Moral purity is increasingly difficult to maintain, due to blatant sexually-charged messages everywhere.  Pornography is a multi-billion-dollar business in the US alone.  Let us guard our heads and hearts, lest we compromise the church's purity and effectiveness.  Let us, like Job, make a covenant with our eyes so we will not dishonor God and we will not deaden our hearts by what we see (Job 31:1).  “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” (Psa 119:9).

Paul warns the church at Philippi to beware of the dogs, and no, he's not talking about puppies or pack animals, he's talking about those Judaizers who say you must be circumcised in order to be a follower of Jesus. If anybody had reason to boast in the Jewish-ness, it was Paul, and in today's chapter he gives an extensive list of his Jewish commendations. He places no trust in these fleshly accomplishments, however, as his goal is only to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection. He is quick to say that he is not perfect, but he strives toward the goal of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus, laying aside what is behind. Our focus should not be on earthly things, for our citizenship is in heaven. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Even within the church, humility and unity don't come easy, but even so, Paul wants to see the church at Philippi to be united in their thinking, int their love, in spirit, and in purpose. There's a lot of heart-work involved in serving one another with Christlike love, and Paul admonishes the church to meditate on Christ's humility as inspiration for humility. The church ought to shine like stars in the world, bringing light to the dark through blameless and pure conduct. As examples, Paul puts forth Timothy and Epaphroditus as faithful men whom the church should welcome in Christ and honor as models of righteousness. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

During his second missionary journey, Paul travelled through the city of Philippi and planted a church there. As is evident from the opening chapter of Philippians, Paul had a deep love for this congregation and he has no trouble expressing his affection. His occasion for writing is to inform them about the details of his imprisonment, and even in such circumstances, Paul's mind and heart are focused on the gospel of Christ going forward. He springboards from reflections on dying for the sake of Christ into encouraging the church the live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. Whether by his life or by his death, it is evident that Paul does everything for the glory of God. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

“How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior…” beautiful words from an old, blessed hymn. The Apostle Paul walked in the steps of Christ and this broadcast, we “walk” with Paul in Philippi as we join Jeff in the journey.

Paul pray forthe church at Ephesus during their time of tremendous persecution they wouldknow how blessed they were in Christ. Today we want to give a little backgroundhistorically of this church and the reason Paul wrote this letter.  Nowas you read these first verses of this chapter, you find verse number one, Paulis the writer of this epistle. And we need to remember that the Apostle Paulwrote at least 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. And he wrote them asletters, as epistles to churches or to individuals that he knew. Nine of theseletters were written to churches. Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians,Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Four of theseletters were written to individuals. First and Second Timothy and Titus andPhilemon.  Weknow that Paul wrote most of his writings over a period of about 15 years. Fourof Paul's letters are what are called the Prison Epistles. They were writtenbetween AD 60 and AD 62 when he was in prison in Rome under house arrest (Acts28:30-31). He sent these letters from prison by four different men to thesechurches and one individual. Tychicus took the letter to Ephesus (Ephesians6:21). Epaphroditus from Philippi took the letter to the Philippians (Philippians4:18). Epaphras was from Colossae and he took the epistle to the Colossians.And then Onesimus who was a slave that Paul led to the Lord while he was in prison,was the one who took the letter back to Colossae where Philemon lived and deliveredhis letter to him. Nowas you read these letters and you read what Paul was going through during thistime, Paul was in prison. He was suffering. He was maybe facing immediatedeath. But we know that basically Paul was released for a period of time and laterwas sent went back to Rome under Nero's rule and there he was executed around AD67.  Thebook of Acts records at least three missionary journeys that Paul tookthroughout the Roman Empire. It was on the second missionary journey that hewas on that he went through Ephesus (Acts 18:19). He stayed only a short timebut two years later while he was on his third missionary journey he stayed inEphesus for at least two years and during that period of time it tells us thatall of Asia heard the gospel (Acts19:1-20) Later when Paul was on his way toJerusalem in Acts 20, he met with the elders of the church there at Ephesus andencouraged them to stand strong in the midst of persecution.  Later,when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and then sent to Rome a prisoner is when hewrote this letter to the church at Ephesus. They were going through a difficulttime of persecution that was happening throughout the Roman empire and Paul waswriting a letter to help them. There's three words that stand out in this firstchapter I think are so important. Faith, Hope and Love.  Inverse one Paul talked about they were faithful in Christ Jesus. In verse15, Paul said, “he heard of their faith”, and “their love for allthe saints”. Obviously despite the hard time they were still exercising theirfaith and their love but then Paul said that he was praying “that they wouldknow the hope of their calling (v. 18). Faith, hope and love, three greatwords. Paul later to the Corinthians would say, "Now abide these three,faith, hope, love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). You can gage the strength ofyour Christian life on the amount that you have of these three spiritual connectionsto the Lord. When everything falls apart around you these three things will keepyou going! Myfriend, that's what you need when you're going through difficult, terribletimes. You need to know your position in Christ, the riches of His glory thatyou have in Him despite the circumstances around you. Keep your eyes on Jesus.He is the only hope that you can have that will bring you real security.  Today,how strong are your faith, hope and love? Godbless!

Welcome to the School of Ministry podcast, where today's lesson focuses on the establishment of the First Church of Europe as recounted in Acts 16. Join us as we explore the journey of Paul, Silas, and Timothy, who were guided by a vision, known as the 'Macedonian Call' with God's intervening to spread the Good News of Christ in Europe. Witness how a diverse group of believers—including a wealthy businesswoman, a formerly demon-possessed slave girl, and a Roman jailer—came together to form a new church in Philippi. This episode challenges us to see the needs of those around us, love them as God does, and be ready to act when God interrupts our plans. We hope you are encouraged and inspired to embrace the high calling to join the Lord in His work.

The apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians from - of all places - prison. He was in prison for being a Christ-follower. Yet, the entire book of Philippians is all about Joy. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi - a church he planted in Acts 16 - and the church had always supported him. Nineteen times, Paul uses the word “joy” in these four chapters. Paul did not plan to be in prison, but He trusted in God and exuded faith in the challenges. Because of Paul's obedience to Christ, countless people were impacted for eternity. Life will not always go as planned for any of us, and we will all have decisions to make about how we respond - Choose Joy.

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT) There are a lot of motorcyclists today who don’t like helmet laws. Rather than donning a helmet, they prefer to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their face. It feels like freedom. That is, when things are going well. But the moment they lose control, and their bike goes airborne, is when a helmet suddenly seems like a really good idea. In fact, it might be the difference between life and death. Between walking away from an accident and being carried away from it. The helmet of the Roman soldier was made of leather and covered with metal. It was the last piece of armor the soldier put on. It was essential in battle for the same reason a motorcycle helmet is important: It protected the brain, the command center of the body. The brain processed the input of the soldier’s eyes and ears. It recalled the soldier’s training. It deciphered the enemy’s battlefield strategies. It directed the soldier’s movements. The protection the helmet provided was crucial. If the soldier’s brain was damaged, the rest of the armor was useless. In spiritual battle, believers must put on the helmet of salvation because our minds, thoughts, and imaginations must be protected. That’s where most temptations start. The devil recognizes the importance of getting a foothold in the realm of our thoughts and imagination, because it prepares the way for that thought to translate into action. Perhaps you’re familiar with the adage, “Sow a thought; reap an act. Sow an act; reap a habit. Sow a habit; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny.” It all starts with a thought. Putting on the helmet of salvation means embracing the assurance of salvation that God offers. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross saves us from God’s ultimate punishment for our sin and makes eternal life possible. But it does more than that. In the here and now, it saves us from the devil’s attacks. God has equipped us to win the battle for our minds. We may not be able to control all the things in this world that we’re exposed to, but we can control some things. We can control the social media we choose to explore. We can control the movies and shows we choose to watch. We can control what we choose to read and listen to. In his letter to the believers in Philippi, Paul offered some insight into how to do it. “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. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:6–8 NLT). Be careful what you allow into your mind. Put on the helmet of salvation. Reflection question: What’s your most effective strategy for guarding your mind against the devil’s attacks? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're back live! at Lurch Fest where we tried Mona's Eggrolls "A taste of the Philippines" and boy is it ever. Located as a food truck and catering out of Elkins, WV. You can find them usually at the Walmart parking lot in Elkins, visit their facebook page or call 304-621-2636 to contact.Here's what we tried:Homemade pandan ice cream, pancit bihon, eggrolls, shrimp lumpia. We were very happy for them that so many things were already sold out, but not happy for us that we didn't get to try their siomai, halo halo, or roll cakes.Then, Matt tells about the Delphi murders of two young kids, Abigail Williams and Liberty German, who walking trails in Indiana in 2017. He also goes into the arrest and sentencing of Richard Allen after the case had been unsolved for half a decade, and after Allen did a considerable amount of confessing that he was the "Bridge Guy".They also talk about having dessert first, Singapore noodles, finally being able to take Kelsey to see the Philippi mummies, and Britt gets jump scared by a table of fake reborn baby dolls.

Acts 16:16-40  View this week’s sermon outline

Thessalonica was a major city in Macedonia. It had a huge harbor and was situated on a major trade route. It had been established by a Macedonian king named Cassander in 315 B.C., who named it after his wife Thessalonike. Paul was supported financially in his mission here by the saints in Philippi, the city he had just come from (Phil. 4:16).

ACTS of the Holy Spirit - A Study on the Book of Acts - Lesson 12Acts 15:36-16:40. After several unsuccessful attempts at journeying into Asia, Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi. Their ministry there probably looked different to what they had expected, as after delivering a slave girl from demonic possession they ended up beaten and thrown into prison!To learn more about Michele and to support this international ministry, please visit https://intheword.com

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We kicked off our series in Philippians with a message titled "How God Started a Church." We looked at Philippians 1:1 and Acts 16 to see how God, by His sovereign prerogative and power, planted a church in Philippi. From a businesswoman, a slave girl, and a jailer, God began a work that still bears fruit today. Come see how He builds His church—and what that means for us.

Over the last few weeks on the program, we've been discovering how it is that God speaks to us today and how we can get about hearing Him when He does speak. The question is – when it's something big or important – how can we make sure that we've heard Him right? Because the last thing we want to do, is to get it wrong, right?   The Counsel of Others It's great to be with you again today in this last message in the four part series that I have called, “How Can I Hear God Speak to Me?" And today we are going to take a look at how God sometimes speaks to us through the people around us. Just the other night I was asked to spend some time facilitating a discussion amongst the elders, the church council, of a particular church, not far from where I live. It seems that what had been going on was that there was conflict amongst some of the leaders and that's not good. Leaders of God's people shouldn't be in conflict – they should act in unity. The Apostle Paul, writing to his friends at the church in Philippi said this – Philippians chapter 2, verse 2: Make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love and being in full accord and of one mind. We were chatting about the fact that God has made each one of us differently – Romans chapter 12 – some of us are prophets, others servers, others teachers, encouragers, givers, leaders, carers. And I can tell you, a leader is going to have a totally different view of the world compared to say, an encourager or a carer – that's because leaders are wired one way, the encourager is wired another way and the carer is wired yet another way, on the inside. That's the way it is, because we are different. We see things differently and often, that's the source of conflict. Now, in this meeting, one of the elders of the church; an older man with a great deal of wisdom asked the sixty four million dollar question. He said, "Okay, so we are all different, with different points of view – then how are we meant to discern the will of God, out of all those different views?" And that my friend, is a very, very good question. One of the things I'm prone to do is to race out and just do things – without listening to the advice of other people. It's because my personality type is the "leader". I'm an action person. I work on the theory that if I make ten decisions today and get just seven of them right, I'm way ahead than if I only made three decisions but got them all right. And my good friend Keith Henry, with whom I co-authored the book, “My Personality GPS”, he makes this point about leaders – he says that one of their natural weaknesses is they often fail because they don't listen to advice. Those detail people – you know the sort – they analyse everything to the "enth" degree – those detail people naturally drive me nuts because they slow me down. I want to get on with things and they want to analyse things first. But you know what I have learned? I have learned that without those detail people, I am going to fail at things because God is in the detail. The detail matters! And part of my growing up; my process of maturing is to value and to listen to the detail people because they are really, really, really important to me. And I have come to realise that often God will speak to me through the gifts and the abilities of other people, even – let me say – people who in the natural have a tendency to drive me nuts. I love that – God has such a great sense of humour in dealing with our own immaturity. Okay, what does God's Word have to say on this issue – this answer to the sixty four million dollar question? When there are all these different perspectives, how are we supposed to discern God's will? Well, there are a few fantastic bits of wisdom on this very thing in the Book of Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 15, verse 22, says: Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs chapter 18, verse 2: A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinions. Proverbs chapter 20, verse 18: Plans are established by taking advice; wage war by following wise guidance. Isn't that great stuff? What God is saying to us here is that, if we rush off in a fit of pride because we think we know best, well, there's every chance that our plans will go off the rails. But if we humble ourselves, instead of being more interested in our own opinions and listen to the advice of others, that's how our plans are going succeed. I have to tell you this is something I have had to learn and I have learned it the hard way and the more I have learned it, the more I have succeeded. We were recently planning something really new in the ministry of Christianityworks – quite different and quite new. And so we pulled together a group of very different people to plan and implement the project. Very different people, I have to say and with all that I am, I believe we heard God speak through this process. And with all that I am, that's exactly what I think God meant for us to do. “Without counsel plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.” It's awesome stuff! It is so easy to fall into conflict when teams of people are working together or at least trying to and yet, everyone sees things from a different perspective. And the key to discerning God's will is mutual submission - that requires wisdom. Have a listen to what God has to say about His wisdom; the wisdom that comes from above. James chapter 3, verse 17: The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. The bit I really like in there, that strikes a chord with me, is the bit that says "willing to yield" – willing to get off its high horse, listen to the skills and views and gifts and abilities of other people as godly men and women that God has put around us. It's when we yield that we hear the voice of God. Let me say it again: it is when we yield that we hear the voice of God. And there is a reason for that: James chapter 4, verse 6: Because God opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble. So often we want to hear God speak; we want to discern the will of God: "God, what are You doing? God, what's next? God, this is a tight spot, how do I deal with this?" And yet we ignore the good advice of the godly men and women that God has put around us. Hello!! Why? Because we are proud! Let me say this loving but directly – immature and foolish and proud, because as it says in Proverbs chapter 18, verse 2: Like a fool, we take no pleasure in understanding but only in expressing our own personal opinions. We all know people like that – we have all done that. We get on our high horse; we think we are right and we are not interested in listening to anyone else. And to stop doing that we need to humble ourselves. Sometimes, as we saw last week on the programme, God speaks to us supernaturally, other times He speaks to us through the ordinary and the every day. Both are equally valid! And one of the great delights of my heart, something that I have grown to truly love is to hear God speak through the lives and the mouths and the skills and the abilities and the gifting and the experience of other people because by His grace He has taught me to get off my high horse, to shut up and to listen.   Dreams and Visions Right now I want to go on and chat about dreams and visions, because that's something the Bible; the New Testament talks about. But are they real? Does God really still speak through dreams and visions today or is this a phoney notion? I think they're reasonable questions to ask when we are enquiring as to how God speaks with us. Now maybe you are thinking, "Dreams and visions – aw, for goodness sake! Where is this joker coming from? Is he for real?" Well, my response is simply this: my heart; my passion is to dive into God's Word, the Bible, to read it, to understand it as best I can and to live it. I'm a simple kind of guy and that's how I approach life. And one of the things that happen is that God often does things in ways that I, with my rational Western mind-set, perhaps wouldn't have chosen had I been in His big shoes. Well, fortunately for you, I'm not – that's the up side. But perhaps the downside is that if we accept God at His Word, then we have to accept that He is going to do things His way, even if they don't always quite make sense to us. So, what does God's Word say about dreams and visions? I am going to share with you a passage from chapter 2, from the Book of Acts. God's Spirit has just been poured out on these Christians and they are all talking in different languages – they are behaving as though they are drunk – literally. You can read it for yourself – the fifth book in the New Testament; the Book of Acts chapter 2. Not surprisingly, the other Jews in Jerusalem at the time were pretty critical of this sort of behaviour. They are accusing these Christians of being drunk, so Peter the Apostle, stands up to explain. Acts chapter 2, beginning at verse 12: All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' See, what's going on here is that the unexpected is happening. These Christians are falling over as though they're drunk; they are speaking in different tongues. And to silence the sceptics, Peter gets up and says, "You think this is amazing? This is nothing! Wait to see what else is going to happen." And then he goes on to quote the Old Testament prophet of Joel. Remember this is Jerusalem in the first century – everybody listening knows the Scripture that he is quoting. And he promises that the Holy Spirit will cause people to have dreams and visions and prophesies – all ways that God is going to speak with us. "It's in the Bible", Peter is saying, "so don't shoot me; the messenger." And if I could personally echo that same sentiment to you, here and now – if you somehow feel uncomfortable with the notion of dreams and visions and prophesies and me talking about it – friend, it's in the Bible, so please, don't shoot the messenger. Do you know that many, many Muslims who come to put their faith in Jesus Christ, report that they saw Jesus coming towards them in a dream. In fact, this is a really, really common occurrence. Has God ever spoken to me in that way? No, He hasn't. I hear God in different ways and that's fine. We are all different and God knows that and He speaks to us in different ways. But I have been impacted by this – absolutely. When my wife, Jacqui, first visited our church – this was before she was my wife, in fact, none of knew who she was – she came on a Sunday morning; a service when I was preaching. And she came back again on the Sunday evening. Now, in the evening, our pastor Phil was scheduled to preach that night. You may have heard me speak about Phil before – he is a practical, very down to earth kind of guy. He gets up; he is about to preach and he looked towards Jacqui – he didn't know her name; none of us knew her and he said to her, "Look, God's given me a vision for your life." And he went ahead and he described this picture; this vision he had had in a huge amount of detail. That was a pretty gutsy thing to do, I thought. Well, Jacqui is pretty quiet and shy so she didn't react. Months later though, we discovered that this was an incredibly difficult time in her life and that she had been wanting God to speak to her and that vision that Phil described to her that night, was a huge turning point in her life's journey. In fact, if Phil hadn't communicated that to her that night, she probably wouldn't be my life today. In many parts of the world, people have no problems at all with the idea that God speaks through dreams and visions and prophesies, but somehow, we Westerners, with our rational, materialistic mindsets, struggle with the idea. Let me come back to where I started. We should test everything like this against God's Word. Sometimes, people will come to us with stuff that isn't from God but sometimes it is from God and if God tells us in His Word the Bible, that all along it's been His plan to speak to us through dreams and visions and prophesies, well, I don't know about you, but I think we should be listening. Yes, it's open to abuse! In Colossians chapter 2, verse 18, Paul talks about this – about people who: ... dwell on visions, being puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking. That's why we test everything against God's Word. But friend, God does things in ways that perhaps, you or I wouldn't have done and I hunger to hear Him speak and I delight in hearing Him speak. When, how, that's His choice. Our job is to listen.   Ducks in a Row Well, here we are almost at the end of this series that I have called, “How Can I hear God Speak to Me?” And over the course of these four messages, we have looked at eight different ways that God speaks to us today. (1) The Bible, firstly, God's Word, (2) secondly, God speaks to us in times of prayer; when we get still before Him. (3) Thirdly, God speaks to us through preaching and teaching – God anointed, Spirit-filled, faithful, Christ-centred preaching. (4) He speaks to us through signs and wonders, (5) through prophets. (6) Sometimes He speaks right out of the blue – (7) other times, through the counsel and the gifts and abilities of others and sometimes (8) He speaks through dreams and through visions. And you know, you add that up and what you discover is that God is speaking rather a lot – principally, primarily through the authority of His Word, the Bible; the living Word of God. That's why we put it right up there at number one. If numbers two through eight purport to be God speaking, then they had better be consistent with number one, the Word of God. If they aren't, then they are not from God – it's as simple as that. Let's make no mistake – God is not in the business of contradicting Himself. God is not in the business of changing His mind. But He is interested in our lives – in the nitty gritty of our lives and He knows that sometimes we need His guidance. And because He loves us, it stands to reason therefore, that He is going to speak specifically into our lives as any father would. I heard a pastor; a man whom I respect greatly, stand up and preach a sermon, not too long ago, in which he basically said that God, these days, only speaks through His Word, the Bible, and through no other means – not through prophets, not through signs and wonders, not through anything except the Bible. Uh!! Well, the first thing is ... the first thing is that it's not what the Bible says. Each of the other ways that God speaks with us that we have looked at over these last few weeks – numbers two through eight, that I just listed previously – in that list we just went through, each of those is straight out of God's Word, the Bible. But afterwards, when I went and asked this pastor a couple of questions, it was interesting. The first one I asked was: "Well, how did you come to be an ordained minister in this church; in this denomination?" And his answer was: "Well, because I felt called!" And friend, that's exactly the right answer – in fact, it's God's calling that's the only answer. So my next question was: "Well, how did you discern that calling; how did you come to the conclusion that God was calling you into His ministry?" And he then proceeded to tell me about this and that, all the things we have been talking about in two through eight – through other people, through preaching, through voices out of the blue. Yet, he didn't want to acknowledge that God speaks that way, even though this man had discerned his calling into ministry that way. It stands to reason that if we feel led by God to do this or to do that, we somehow must have heard Him speak that into our lives. That's what this series of messages has been all about. We are going into God's Word and learning from Him how it is that He chooses to communicate with us. But learning to discern His calling; learning to put the pieces together sometimes isn't easy. Along the way I have made mistakes and I'm sure you have too and when it comes to the big decisions in life, that's a bit of a scary prospect. What if we think we are hearing from God but we're not, in choosing a wife or a husband or in choosing a particular career or ministry or in maybe, heading off to so some distant foreign land to become a missionary? You get the point! I mean, I do believe that sometimes – often times – God's leading leads us right into the wilderness for an experience of the wilderness, when we are expecting instant success. That's okay; I'm not bothered by that. The issue, simply uppermost for me, is if I am going to head off in this direction or in that, then I want it to be the direction that God has chosen and ordained and prepared for me. That's all! Whatever way it is, I want it to be God's way. How do you discern God's will amongst the noise and the distractions of life? A prophesy, a dream, a passage from the Bible leaps out at you, "Man, were they from God or am I just imagining this?" Before the days of global terrorism, as a frequent flyer, I was often invited up into the cockpit of a plane, to sit in the jump seat and watch take-offs and landings. They were the good old days. One time I was returning during the night to Sydney, on a flight from New Zealand and I was in the cockpit of a Boeing 767 which gives you a great view out of the front windscreen – better than most other commercial planes of the time. And flying into Sydney, well, it's a pretty big city – there were so many lights. I thought, ‘How are the pilots going to pick the runway out amidst all these lights?' I mean, I know they were flying by instruments but eventually, they had to see the runway. And then all of a sudden, we turned and the plane levelled off and the runway came into view. This bright, straight row of lights – I mean, you just couldn't miss it. All those lights in a row, clearly, unmistakably showed the pilots which direction to fly in and how to land once they were off their instruments into visual mode. And for me, it's the same thing with discerning God's will. He speaks to us in different ways at different times and learning to understand Him is a process, as it is in any relationship. But when I feel Him leading me down a particular path, inevitably what happens is, two or three or four things kind of line up in a straight line – a Scripture verse that sets my heart on fire and just won't go away and then someone else comes along with a word; a prophesy and they don't know what is going on; they don't know what I'm thinking and dreaming. And then some event – that door over there that I thought was open, slams shut in my face and this one over here, to my surprise, opens up. And all of a sudden it's like those lights on the runway – they end up in a bit of straight line, like little ducks in a row that point you in a certain direction. And sometimes, oftentimes, you can't actually see them until you start heading down the path. In fact, that's mostly the case – we have to step out first in faith, often letting go of the past, before God reveals what is coming next. That's why it's called ‘stepping out in faith'. But friend, time and time and time again, I have seen my God just line those little ducks up in a row and when I see that, I start to head down that path; prayerfully, eyes open, asking God to open doors if it is His will and to slam them shut, if it's not. Sometimes there is opposition and that's where faith comes in. But above all, I always remember this: God is a faithful God, He knows my heart; He will not lead me down a path that He doesn't want me to follow. Yes, sometimes He will take me to the wilderness; yes, sometimes He needs to prune me and cleanse me so that I can bring Him more glory. That's fine and that's His choice. I just want to make sure I'm following in His direction. And whilst I have run into the occasional dead end along the way, you know, as I look back ... look back over the last decade and a half of walking with Jesus, I can see how He has guided me to where He wants me to be. Friend, God is a faithful God. God is still speaking to us today, through His Bible, through prophesies and dreams and visions and other people and He's speaking to us in so many different ways. Can I encourage you to stop, to spend time with Him, to listen to Him, to learn to discern His voice? Jesus said we would hear His voice and we would know that it's Him. And as we grow in that and we discover how we can hear God's voice, friend, that is such a wondrous thing. God is still speaking to His people today!

Send us a textActs 20:1-6After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.Support the show

Philippians 2:1-5 NLTIs there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.Paul was asking the believers at Philippi, first, have they received any benefit from being in their community of faith. Knowing their answer would be yes, he encouraged them with some basic dos and don'ts of loving one another. He closes the thought with the challenge of having the same attitude as Jesus. Why? Because we all know our attitude drives our thoughts, words, and actions.A community in Christ is going to be marked and known by its attitude that reflects His nature first. All else will follow from that source.Think for a moment about the circles you frequent. What is the attitude of each? How do they impact your own attitude?Listen again to Paul's very intentional words from the Message:If you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.This passage is about our attitude. As we close and you breathe a few deep breathes, ask God to reveal your attitude to you. Is it selfless and sacrificial or selfish and self serving?The good news of the Gospel is you can have the attitude of Christ Himself and your community will benefit by your choice.Let's make Paul words our prayer today: “Father, thank You for the encouragement in belonging to Christ, the comfort from Your love, the fellowship together in Your Spirit that allows our hearts to be tender and compassionate. In my own community, guide me to live in wholehearted agreement with others, love, and work with one mind and purpose. Help me to not be selfish; not work to impress others, to be humble, and think of others as better than me, to not look out for my own interests, but take an interest in others. May I have the same attitude as Christ. As above, so below. Amen”

Written by Bill Palmer and presented by Kendrick Diaz.In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul encouraged members to “let this mind be in you,” referring to the mind of Christ. What did he mean?Read Online: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/let-this-mind-be-in-you/

Noah Hagglund teaches from Philippians 3:12-21. The Apostle Paul speaks to the church in Philippi concerning the endurance needed to finish well in the Christian life.bfc4u.org, facebook.com/bfc4u

Acts 16:6-15  View this week’s sermon outline

Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus' promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, we zoom in on the work of the Spirit in Philippi to see him bring freedom and life to Lydia, an enslaved, demonized girl, and a jailer, along with his household.

Acts 20:1-16 English Standard VersionPaul in Macedonia and Greece20 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.Eutychus Raised from the Dead7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 

On this Freedom Friday, we concluded our weekly theme of “Family Relationships” with discussions about how data can help improve marriage and intimacy, as well as how the radical transformation of others can impact our walk with Christ. We turned to Acts 16, where we saw how Paul and Silas witnessed for Christ while in prison in Philippi, and how it transformed the life of a prison guard. We also heard a radical transformation story about the late Hulk Hogan, former professional wrestler, and how he turned to Christ and publicly declared it before his passing. We then turned to the phone lines to hear a freedom story from one of our listeners, Prestina, and we asked her, “Who in your family or circle of friends had such a radical transformation that caused you to repent and turn to God completely?” Then one of our special guests, Shaunti Feldhahn, shared data that can help married couples understand their partners more. Shaunti is a best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and popular speaker. She received a graduate degree from Harvard University. She was formerly an analyst on Wall Street, so she applies her analytical skills when investigating truths in the home and the workplace. She has also written groundbreaking research books such as “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Then Luke Smallbone from For KING + COUNTRY, a musical duo consisting of two brothers, Luke and Joel Smallbone, joined us to discuss the importance of intimacy with God in private. He also shared with us information about the musical duo's upcoming Little Drummer Boy Christmas tour. For more information about For KING + COUNTRY and the tour, visit their website. The duo has been awarded four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and has garnered over 16,000 streams. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Hulk Hogan Interview and Salvation Teaching [00:09-14:01 ] Listener Freedom Story (Prestina) [14:02- 18:30] Acts 16 Teaching (Paul and Silas in Philippi) [18:40-26:45 ] Shaunti Feldhahn Interview (Data in Marriage and Intimacy) [26:55-43:19] Luke Smallbone ( Private time with God and Drummer Boy tour ) [43:29- 52:52]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Freedom Friday, we concluded our weekly theme of “Family Relationships” with discussions about how data can help improve marriage and intimacy, as well as how the radical transformation of others can impact our walk with Christ. We turned to Acts 16, where we saw how Paul and Silas witnessed for Christ while in prison in Philippi, and how it transformed the life of a prison guard. We also heard a radical transformation story about the late Hulk Hogan, former professional wrestler, and how he turned to Christ and publicly declared it before his passing. We then turned to the phone lines to hear a freedom story from one of our listeners, Prestina, and we asked her, “Who in your family or circle of friends had such a radical transformation that caused you to repent and turn to God completely?” Then one of our special guests, Shaunti Feldhahn, shared data that can help married couples understand their partners more. Shaunti is a best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and popular speaker. She received a graduate degree from Harvard University. She was formerly an analyst on Wall Street, so she applies her analytical skills when investigating truths in the home and the workplace. She has also written groundbreaking research books such as “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Then Luke Smallbone from For KING + COUNTRY, a musical duo consisting of two brothers, Luke and Joel Smallbone, joined us to discuss the importance of intimacy with God in private. He also shared with us information about the musical duo's upcoming Little Drummer Boy Christmas tour. For more information about For KING + COUNTRY and the tour, visit their website. The duo has been awarded four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and has garnered over 16,000 streams. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Hulk Hogan Interview and Salvation Teaching [00:09-14:01 ] Listener Freedom Story (Prestina) [14:02- 18:30] Acts 16 Teaching (Paul and Silas in Philippi) [18:40-26:45 ] Shaunti Feldhahn Interview (Data in Marriage and Intimacy) [26:55-43:19] Luke Smallbone ( Private time with God and Drummer Boy tour ) [43:29- 52:52]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Freedom Friday, we concluded our weekly theme of “Family Relationships” with discussions about how data can help improve marriage and intimacy, as well as how the radical transformation of others can impact our walk with Christ. We turned to Acts 16, where we saw how Paul and Silas witnessed for Christ while in prison in Philippi, and how it transformed the life of a prison guard. We also heard a radical transformation story about the late Hulk Hogan, former professional wrestler, and how he turned to Christ and publicly declared it before his passing. We then turned to the phone lines to hear a freedom story from one of our listeners, Prestina, and we asked her, “Who in your family or circle of friends had such a radical transformation that caused you to repent and turn to God completely?” Then one of our special guests, Shaunti Feldhahn, shared data that can help married couples understand their partners more. Shaunti is a best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and popular speaker. She received a graduate degree from Harvard University. She was formerly an analyst on Wall Street, so she applies her analytical skills when investigating truths in the home and the workplace. She has also written groundbreaking research books such as “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Then Luke Smallbone from For KING + COUNTRY, a musical duo consisting of two brothers, Luke and Joel Smallbone, joined us to discuss the importance of intimacy with God in private. He also shared with us information about the musical duo's upcoming Little Drummer Boy Christmas tour. For more information about For KING + COUNTRY and the tour, visit their website. The duo has been awarded four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and has garnered over 16,000 streams. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Hulk Hogan Interview and Salvation Teaching [00:09-14:01 ] Listener Freedom Story (Prestina) [14:02- 18:30] Acts 16 Teaching (Paul and Silas in Philippi) [18:40-26:45 ] Shaunti Feldhahn Interview (Data in Marriage and Intimacy) [26:55-43:19] Luke Smallbone ( Private time with God and Drummer Boy tour ) [43:29- 52:52]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Freedom Friday, we concluded our weekly theme of “Family Relationships” with discussions about how data can help improve marriage and intimacy, as well as how the radical transformation of others can impact our walk with Christ. We turned to Acts 16, where we saw how Paul and Silas witnessed for Christ while in prison in Philippi, and how it transformed the life of a prison guard. We also heard a radical transformation story about the late Hulk Hogan, former professional wrestler, and how he turned to Christ and publicly declared it before his passing. We then turned to the phone lines to hear a freedom story from one of our listeners, Prestina, and we asked her, “Who in your family or circle of friends had such a radical transformation that caused you to repent and turn to God completely?” Then one of our special guests, Shaunti Feldhahn, shared data that can help married couples understand their partners more. Shaunti is a best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and popular speaker. She received a graduate degree from Harvard University. She was formerly an analyst on Wall Street, so she applies her analytical skills when investigating truths in the home and the workplace. She has also written groundbreaking research books such as “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Then Luke Smallbone from For KING + COUNTRY, a musical duo consisting of two brothers, Luke and Joel Smallbone, joined us to discuss the importance of intimacy with God in private. He also shared with us information about the musical duo's upcoming Little Drummer Boy Christmas tour. For more information about For KING + COUNTRY and the tour, visit their website. The duo has been awarded four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and has garnered over 16,000 streams. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Hulk Hogan Interview and Salvation Teaching [00:09-14:01 ] Listener Freedom Story (Prestina) [14:02- 18:30] Acts 16 Teaching (Paul and Silas in Philippi) [18:40-26:45 ] Shaunti Feldhahn Interview (Data in Marriage and Intimacy) [26:55-43:19] Luke Smallbone ( Private time with God and Drummer Boy tour ) [43:29- 52:52]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Freedom Friday, we concluded our weekly theme of “Family Relationships” with discussions about how data can help improve marriage and intimacy, as well as how the radical transformation of others can impact our walk with Christ. We turned to Acts 16, where we saw how Paul and Silas witnessed for Christ while in prison in Philippi, and how it transformed the life of a prison guard. We also heard a radical transformation story about the late Hulk Hogan, former professional wrestler, and how he turned to Christ and publicly declared it before his passing. We then turned to the phone lines to hear a freedom story from one of our listeners, Prestina, and we asked her, “Who in your family or circle of friends had such a radical transformation that caused you to repent and turn to God completely?” Then one of our special guests, Shaunti Feldhahn, shared data that can help married couples understand their partners more. Shaunti is a best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and popular speaker. She received a graduate degree from Harvard University. She was formerly an analyst on Wall Street, so she applies her analytical skills when investigating truths in the home and the workplace. She has also written groundbreaking research books such as “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Then Luke Smallbone from For KING + COUNTRY, a musical duo consisting of two brothers, Luke and Joel Smallbone, joined us to discuss the importance of intimacy with God in private. He also shared with us information about the musical duo's upcoming Little Drummer Boy Christmas tour. For more information about For KING + COUNTRY and the tour, visit their website. The duo has been awarded four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and has garnered over 16,000 streams. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Hulk Hogan Interview and Salvation Teaching [00:09-14:01 ] Listener Freedom Story (Prestina) [14:02- 18:30] Acts 16 Teaching (Paul and Silas in Philippi) [18:40-26:45 ] Shaunti Feldhahn Interview (Data in Marriage and Intimacy) [26:55-43:19] Luke Smallbone ( Private time with God and Drummer Boy tour ) [43:29- 52:52]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Freedom Friday, we concluded our weekly theme of “Family Relationships” with discussions about how data can help improve marriage and intimacy, as well as how the radical transformation of others can impact our walk with Christ. We turned to Acts 16, where we saw how Paul and Silas witnessed for Christ while in prison in Philippi, and how it transformed the life of a prison guard. We also heard a radical transformation story about the late Hulk Hogan, former professional wrestler, and how he turned to Christ and publicly declared it before his passing. We then turned to the phone lines to hear a freedom story from one of our listeners, Prestina, and we asked her, “Who in your family or circle of friends had such a radical transformation that caused you to repent and turn to God completely?” Then one of our special guests, Shaunti Feldhahn, shared data that can help married couples understand their partners more. Shaunti is a best-selling author, podcaster, blogger, and popular speaker. She received a graduate degree from Harvard University. She was formerly an analyst on Wall Street, so she applies her analytical skills when investigating truths in the home and the workplace. She has also written groundbreaking research books such as “For Women Only” and “For Men Only.” Then Luke Smallbone from For KING + COUNTRY, a musical duo consisting of two brothers, Luke and Joel Smallbone, joined us to discuss the importance of intimacy with God in private. He also shared with us information about the musical duo's upcoming Little Drummer Boy Christmas tour. For more information about For KING + COUNTRY and the tour, visit their website. The duo has been awarded four Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 10 GMA Dove Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and has garnered over 16,000 streams. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Hulk Hogan Interview and Salvation Teaching [00:09-14:01 ] Listener Freedom Story (Prestina) [14:02- 18:30] Acts 16 Teaching (Paul and Silas in Philippi) [18:40-26:45 ] Shaunti Feldhahn Interview (Data in Marriage and Intimacy) [26:55-43:19] Luke Smallbone ( Private time with God and Drummer Boy tour ) [43:29- 52:52]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Church Street Podcast: The Bullpen Where every voice gets a turn at the mic. At First Grapevine, we are blessed with three gifted preachers—but not every voice gets the chance to speak each Sunday. That's where The Bullpen comes in. This space amplifies the voices waiting in the wings, offering fresh perspectives and deeper spiritual insight. In this episode, Pastor Zach Stiefel and Dr. Keva Green continue their exploration of The Letters of Paul, focusing on the book of Philippians. As the first European church planted by Paul, Philippi was a Roman city turned retirement haven for Roman soldiers. It was also a city caught in a spiritual crossroads: Who will you worship—God or Caesar? This powerful conversation centers on the enduring joy found in the Lord. As Paul writes in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" The episode invites listeners to see God at work in all things—if only we take the time to look. Expect real conversations, honest reflections, and shared wisdom from three distinct voices. Follow us on social media to stay connected with The Bullpen, The Church Street Podcast, and everything happening at First Grapevine. Let's keep growing together in truth and grace. We're so glad you're here.

In this special episode, Shane Willard brings a powerful, practical, and perspective-shifting message from Philippians 2. What does it really mean to “do all things without grumbling”? And how does our attitude impact the way the world sees Jesus in us?With historical insights, psychological wisdom, and classic Shane humor, this sermon challenges us to stop complaining, regain perspective, and become people who shine like stars in a dark world.00:00 - Intro & July Update  00:50 - "Enough Already" Book Shoutout  01:32 - Why Shane Willard Sermons This Month  03:18 - Shane's Intro & Mission  06:11 - Opening the Bible: Philippians 2  07:13 - Do All Things Without Grumbling  10:35 - Historical Backdrop of Philippi  13:49 - Paul's Arrest & Final Words  20:11 - Don't Be Like the Grumbling Israelites  21:05 - Grumbling as a Clanging Gong  23:59 - Hope Requires Perspective  25:56 - Be Part of the Song, Not the Gong  27:26 - Why We Grumble  30:53 - Perspective: Then vs. Now  33:41 - Don't Miss the Water for the Mud  35:36 - Comparison & Sacred Object Syndrome  39:00 - Freezing the Present  42:57 - Final Summary: No Grumbling, Shine Like Stars  43:50 - What This Means for Us

In celebration of CRC's 35th anniversary, Pastor Richard Hilton delivered a heartfelt and powerful message titled “I Have You in My Heart,” centered on Philippians 1:3–7. Reflecting on the deep bond Paul shared with the church at Philippi, Pastor Hilton reminded us that ministry is more than moments—it's about meaningful relationships built through financial support, friendship, and fellowship. He emphasized that we're called to do life together: remembering each other with gratitude, praying with joy, and walking in deep, limitless love. When someone is in your heart, you set your affection on them, you share vision with them, and you sacrifice for their destiny. With joy woven throughout the message—just as it flows through Philippians—Pastor Hilton closed with the reminder that God is a Finisher, faithful to complete the good work He began in us. This message marked not just an anniversary but a reaffirmation of our calling to love deeply, dream boldly, and serve one another wholeheartedly.

The first question was asked by Nicodemus, a religious ruler "How can a man be born again?" John 3:4 The answer… Jesus John 3:16 The second question was asked by the prison warden at Philippi "What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30 The answer... Jesus Acts 16:31 The third question was asked by The Lord's faithful servant, The Apostle Paul "Who shall deliver me?" Romans 7:24 The answer... Jesus Romans 7:25 Jesus is the answer to our questions and our needs!

On Paul's road trip to Philippi, we see how the gospel changes lives—from a wealthy businesswoman to a desperate jailer. Whether we're facing open doors or hard days, God still nudges us toward people, places, and purpose.

see link below: https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/07/20/paul-witnesses-in-philippi-acts-1611-40-the-gospel-is-for-everyone/

In today's sermon, Pastor Rich Jensen delves into the early missionary journeys of Paul and Barnabas, focusing on the establishment of the church in Philippi. He examines the context of Philippians within the framework of the Great Commission, highlighting God's guidance through visions and the apostles' decision-making process. The sermon contrasts the apostolic age with the modern church, emphasizing the importance of Scripture as the primary guide for believers, rather than seeking mystical guidance. Pastor Jensen highlights the example of Lydia's conversion in Philippi to illustrate the necessity of gospel preaching and God's role in opening hearts to the message of salvation. The episode concludes by urging listeners to focus on God's revealed will in Scripture, prioritizing obedience and faithfulness to His calling, rather than seeking to discern His secret will.Podcast: www.ReformedRookie.comPodcast: https://anchor.fm/reformedrookieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReformedRookie Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYapologistSemper Reformanda!

Division in the church is nothing new. It has been present since the fall and is the exact thing Paul is pleading with the Church in Philippi to avoid.

When a demon-possessed girl disrupts Paul and Silas' ministry in Philippi, their compassion and authority lead to her deliverance—but at a high cost, as they are beaten and imprisoned, trusting God's greater purpose in their suffering.Paul and Silas, after days of being followed by a possessed slave girl, command the demon to leave her in the name of Jesus. This act of liberation angers the girl's owners, leading to a violent confrontation, false accusations, and a brutal flogging for Paul and Silas, who endure the suffering with unwavering faith.Today's Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 14:33, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acts 16:16-40

Join Rev. Dr. George Payton as he delivers an inspiring message about the transformative power of the Gospel using the biblical account of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. Drawing from Acts 16:25-40, Dr. Payton explores how God can create "gospel explosions" in our lives - moments when His power shakes us to our core and moves us from where we are to where He wants us to be. Through the story of the midnight earthquake that freed the prisoners, converted the jailer and his family, and shook the entire city of Philippi, this sermon challenges us to be vessels of God's transformative power in our own communities. Dr. Payton calls for the church to walk their talk, spread the Gospel actively, and work together across all divisions to help turn the world right side up for Jesus Christ.

Who do you follow? Who is following you? Paul says the people of Philippi should practice what they have learned, received, heard, and seen in him. The good news is, when we follow Paul to Jesus, the God of peace is with us! Find out what makes someone followable to Jesus!

What's the most valuable thing you have? What or who do you love the most? The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the early Christians in Philippi to encourage them to follow the way of Jesus. In it, he said… Everything good he had was a loss compared to one thing—knowing Jesus. Not just serving Jesus, but knowing Him. When he wrote these words, he was in prison—everything was stripped away. How challenging for him! The truth is that everything we have, we will lose. And the people we love, they will go. But you will one day face Jesus at the end of your life. Nothing matters more than this, when all is said and done. Will He know you as a friend and welcome you home? Always remember, there is hope with God. "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done." Philippians 3:7 radio.hopewithgod.com

Ben Chally preaches from Philippians 1:3-11. Paul's introductory prayer for the church in Philippi highlights three marks of a church that has begun and remained in Christ: assurance that God completes the work He begins, affection rooted in Christ-centered fellowship, and ongoing growth in godliness through love shaped by truth and discernment. This passage serves as a call to examine our hearts in light of God's promises, to turn from anything that hinders fellowship with Christ and His church, and to continue steadfastly in Him, trusting His promises, treasuring His people, and seeking His glory. Grace Community Church exists to build spiritually healthy people for ministry in the world. One of the ways that we pursue this mission is by gathering each Sunday for corporate worship, prayer, and biblical teaching. The corporate nature of this gathering is both edifying to the believer and a witness of God's grace to the world. Sermon speaker is Scott Patty unless otherwise noted.