Podcasts about Philippi

Who does God put on his team? In this talk, Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through Acts 16, where we we watch the Gospel cross into Europe for the first time, and God assembles His church in Philippi out of the most unlikely crew. Three people. Three completely different stories. And yet, Jesus who meets every single one of them exactly where they are. We learn that whoever you are and whatever you are carrying, there's a place for you on God's team. Key Verses // Acts 16  — Give towards what God is doing through Passion City Church: passiondc.link/give  — Subscribe to our Youtube channel to see more messages: www.youtube.com/passioncitychurchdc — Follow along with Passion City Church DC: www.instagram.com/passioncitydc — Follow along with Pastor Ben Stuart: www.instagram.com/ben_stuart_ — Passion City Church is a Jesus church with locations in Atlanta and Washington D.C. For more info on Passion, visit https://passioncitychurch.com

This 6/7/26 sermon by Mike Gowens is based on Philippians 3:17-21 and is #26 in the "Exposition of Philippians" study. Using the fact that Philippi was a Roman colony although a distance of 800 miles separated the capital city from its Greek city-state, Paul reminds the saints of the need to think of our lives in this world in terms of our heavenly home, and to prioritize that ultimate, political reality in the way we think about the present life.

Guest speaker, Josh Hofford, opens with a word of encouragement to every father in the room — reminding them that their assignment was given by God Himself, that it is eternal and essential, and that God will not run out on them or their children. From there, Josh anchors the message in a sweeping passage covering Acts 15-17, tracing Paul's second missionary journey across roughly 1,300 miles on foot. The big idea Josh returns to throughout the message is this: God often redirects our plans to accomplish His greater mission, and faithfulness matters far more than our comfort. Josh walks through a series of moments where everything seemed to be going wrong for Paul and his team — the painful split with Barnabas, closed doors from the Holy Spirit, imprisonment in Philippi — and shows how God was not moving them out of the way, but moving them into position. Through each setback, God provided: Timothy joined the team, Lydia and her entire household became the first European converts to the gospel, a demon-possessed slave girl was set free, and a Philippian jailer on the verge of suicide came to faith along with his whole family. None of this was what Paul had originally planned. Josh closes by bringing the message home with two pointed questions: Where are you tempted to quit? And what would obedience look like if you pressed on anyway? Drawing from Acts 17:6 — the declaration that Paul and his companions had "turned the world upside down" — Josh reminds the congregation that the gospel still has that same radical power today, and that Hope Church's own mission teams, both in Folsom, California and Southeast Asia, are continuing that very same mission.

As Paul sends Timothy and Epaphroditus back to Philippi, he commends them for how they have worked alongside him in sharing the Gospel. How is God inviting us to work together in community for the kingdom in our time and place?

Some of the greatest writings in history were written from prison—like Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Nelson Mandela's Autobiography. The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians is no different, but most people have never heard of it. Written from a Roman prison to a church he started in Philippi, Philippians is a short letter full of brilliant theology, no-nonsense wisdom, and tattoo-worthy one-liners that has sparked joy, resilience, humility, and more in the church ever since.

The Conversion of Two Women in Philippi Acts 16: 11-18 Pastor Jae Lee

Pastor Steve teaches us to partner with God to work out what He's already working in our lives.

Most of us have heard sermon after sermon, message after message, telling us that we shouldn't sin. That instead, we should repent and live a godly, holy life. That's great – but the real question is HOW?   STIFF-NECKED GENERATION I was never much of an accountant but I do remember learning about double-entry book keeping systems. They were really important back in manual accounting systems because they provided a double check to make sure that the accounts balanced. Basically, here's how it worked. Every financial transaction in the accounts had two entries – hence the name double entry. A credit entry and a debit entry. And the whole point of that was the double entry provided a double check. And it's not just in accounting that you find this approach. You find it in physics too. Newton's third law says that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In other words – whenever a body exerts a force on a second body, that second body exerts an equal and opposite force on the first body. Maybe that's something we should have learned at school. And it's not just in accounting and physics that we see this two sided approach to life, we also find it in the spiritual dimension. Absolutely we do. Every spiritual transaction has two sides to it. Every spiritual action in one direction creates an equal and opposite action in the other direction. So what's the point? Well in this double-sided mystery lies our rubber-hits-the-road solution to overcoming stubborn sin – which is the thing that we're talking about in this series, "Eliminating Stubborn Sin Once and For All". And it's a powerful solution indeed. Last week on the program we saw that each one of us finds ourselves with at least one stubborn sin in life that we can't seem to overcome. Now it's different for each one of us – anger, temper, sexuality, greed, self esteem, pride … the list goes on. And somehow that one particular sine comes back again and again to defeat us. But whilst sin is all too common, it's not normal – and God's intention is to set us free from that sin. Not only His intention – it's His plan, it's His will and it's something that He has the power, the divine power to do. Last week on the program we looked at this particular passage, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: For the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. Every proud obstacle in our hearts that sets itself up against the knowledge of God – and that's what the strongholds are that the Apostle Paul's talking about here – can be destroyed by the weapons of warfare which are not human, they're divine. God's divine power. And it's a power that God delights in exerting right in the moment our of our weakness – so that it's His power and not our strength that overcomes sin. Here's Paul again. We looked at this last week too, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9: To keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Don't you just love this. Instead of just taking the messenger of Satan that was tormenting Paul away – God instead gives Paul the opportunity to discover God's perfect power – the power of Jesus Himself – in His own experience in overcoming Satan. But it's one thing to know that whilst we all have a stubborn sin and even though it's God's plan to wield His divine power to overcome that sin in our lives – well, all that's one thing. But what you and I really need to know, beyond that wonderful liberating truth – is how! HOW to lay hold of God's power and how to overcome the stubborn sin that's been wracking our bodies for a lifetime. Well today, right now, I want to take you deep into God's Word and show you God's how. Not my how. Not the world's how. But God's HOW! Now I've heard this Scripture we're about to go to have a look at quoted often – but only half of it, only one side of the transaction, and not the other side. And a half truth is as good as an untruth because a half truth can easily be made into a lie. It's something the devil does all the time. The half truth – the part of this Scripture that's most often quoted – goes like this, James Chapter 4 verse 7: Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And so a whole bunch of people set about resisting the devil. Problem is that the old enemy's been around much longer than you and I have, and he's seen it all. He's wily, crafty and deceptive and he'll go to any length to catch us in his snare. He'll wait to till the most opportune moment, until we're tired or weak or distracted or frustrated or all of the above – and then he'll pounce. 1 Peter Chapter 5:8: Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Lions wait in the long grass until they see a weak animal or a young animal or a slow animal separated from the pack – and then they pounce on their prey. The devil's the exactly the same. And what we discover when we set about resisting the devil – is that working hard just doesn't work. We don't need human weapons in this spiritual battle, we need weapons full of divine power. And it turns out that the way to access and wield those weapons involves a double-sided transaction. The half truth from the Scriptures that I gave you before – let me give the whole thing to you now – and you'll see what I mean. James Chapter 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Do you see the two sides of the transaction involved in defeating the devil – in overcoming stubborn sin? The first is, submit yourself to God and then resist the devil – two sides – and the result of that is that he will flee from you. When we submit ourselves to God, we rebel against the devil. When we submit to the devil – we rebel against God. It's a double sided entry, it's a double sided transaction. But some people have a foot in both camps – they want to honour God but they want to go with the devil and they're the ones who are double-minded, the ones who have to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts. We're going to look at some intensely practical examples of this after the break – but just for now think back to Adam and Eve in the garden. When they were living that perfect life prior to the fall – they were submitting to God (and getting all the benefits) – but on the other side of the ledger, they were resisting the devil. The tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, it was there all the time, they just didn't eat of it – and so they lived in the benefit of God's blessing. BUT – the moment they submitted to the devil – on the other side of the ledger, they were resisting God, they were rebelling against God – in that very first, terrible, double-sided act of rebellion. Submission to God = rejecting the devil. Submission to the devil = rejection God. And in this double-sided transaction lies the practical truth of overcoming stubborn sin. If we try to do it by resisting the devil, as we've already seen – that's a half truth and it doesn't work. The answer is first to submit to God, to draw near to Him, because in so doing, He will draw near to us. And since He's the one with the power – He's the one with the weapons of warfare that have the divine power, the first thing that we need to do, is to submit our selves to Him. Resisting the devil is what flows out of that.   RULES DON'T WORK Stubborn sin – that sin that we just can't shift, sin that keeps on keeping on long after we'd hoped that we would have defeated it – is a fact in many, many people's lives. And over the last couple of weeks on the program, we've seen that not only does God understand that, but He wants to give us His weapons full of His divine power, right in the middle of our weaknesses defeat the sin. Jesus died and rose again to give us victory, to give us a new life – and so whilst stubborn sin is commonplace, it's not normal and it's not what God means for our lives. In fact, this is something that God takes so seriously – that He sends not only His Son just to die to pay for all our sin on the cross, but to rise again to give us a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17: that if anyone believes in this Jesus, then that person is a new creation – old things have passed away and look all things are new. So, whilst many a Christ-follower is convinced that their particular brand of stubborn sin is just a fact of life, just something that they have to live with for the rest of their lives here on Earth, that's a luxury that the Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't afford us. Jesus came to set us free from every sin. And right now we're going to continue our look at this practical "how to" – how do we lay hold of God's divine power to allow ourselves to be set free, by God – of this sin and, and it's painful consequences. Now this is something that frankly puzzled me for a long time. First, I thought I had to do it all. And so I fought against the devil and I tried and I tried and I tried to resits him and overcome these temptations … but as strong willed an individual as I am, that just didn't work. I ended up lying bloodied and beaten and discouraged and dejected and defeated on the battlefield. OK ... OK ... OK that didn't work. So, what I'll do is I'll leave it all up to God. I'll sit back and let God do it all. But let me tell you – the old "spiritual couch potato" model didn't work either. And it wouldn't amaze me at all to know that you've been there too – right? So the question is, how do we make it work? What's God's part, what's our part? Come on – how do we break free from the power of stubborn sin?? Well, before the break we discovered that not only do accountants have double entry book keeping, not only did Isaac Newton discover that in physics and in nature, every action has an equal and opposite reaction – but when it comes to defeating sin, this spiritual transaction too is double-sided. And, it's in the double-sidedness of the transaction that we discover our role and God's role. If you were with us before the break you'll have heard this Scripture, James 4:7-8: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Do you see its double sidedness? This is really important – that's why we're covering this ground again briefly. It's not just about racing on and resisting the devil – that's something we can't win on our own. First, first submit yourselves to God – that's the God side of the ledger, and then, on the devil's side – resist him and he will flee. That's because when we submit to God, we lay hold of His power, and we have the power to resist the devil – and once he sees that power at work – he's on his bike and out of there because he and all his demons have to submit to the name that is above all names – the name of Jesus Christ. Now the danger is that we leave it there and we don't get down and practical enough to give us something to take away to implement. So I want to go deeper into the "how to" so that each one of us knows how to live out this submission to God AND resist the devil, so that the devil will flee from us. That's how you overcome stubborn sin. This first example is one that jumped out at me in a Bible study group. Have a careful listen, it's the Apostle Paul on death row, writing to his friends in Philippi – telling them how not to worry: now listen and see if you can pick up the double-sidedness of God's solution to worrying, Philippians chapter 4:6-7: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I remember sitting in this Bible study group and we talked about worry and people hedged around this and they were prepared to move on from it without taking God at His Word. Worry is a sin – people with their trust in God needn't worry. Worry falls a long way short of living the life of abundant peace that God purchased for us on that cross. What this passage says is – look, here's the solution to overcoming this sin of worry. Instead of worrying – instead of spending your time doing that, replace that with praying and giving thanks to God and telling Him your needs. First submit to God – see that's what's going on here. This is God's way of dealing with the problem, the sin of worry. First submit to Him, do it his way. Pray and give thanks. Let your needs be known to God. If we take the time that we would have spent worrying … and instead we used it to do it God's way – to pray. The devil loves throwing doubt in our minds. He loves it when we're discouraged. How to deal with him?? We submit to God, we do it God's way – and the promise is that when we do that, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". What's just happened here? God's weapons of divine power have been brought into play – we have a confidence that comes from God, because we did it His way in faith – and so the devil ceases to have any power over us to make us worry. Now, now stand in this newfound power from God … and watch the devil flee. The secret is in proactively replacing the bad with the Good, proactively stepping into this space and saying – No, no – no, no! This worry is from the devil. My only answer is to submit to God. Now I discover His divine power in my weakness. Now I can resist, now the devil must flee. Let's have another quick look at another practical example. It has to do with the things that we say that hurt other people. So many of us have a problem with that don't we – always grumbling, always pulling other people down. Have a listen again to the double-sided solution, Ephesians chapter 4:29: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. How do I stop this addiction of evil talk coming out of my mouth. Do I just sit there and try to hold my tongue. No! – God's saying – instead of doing that, proactively replace it with my way – instead of speaking the things that are only going to hurt people, speak only what is useful for building other people up as there is need. Replace the bad with the Good. Deliberately step out with God and do it God's way and not our way. So when we feel like cursing people with our words instead we go "No! God's way is to bless them". The devil's got nowhere to go. He's lost his power. Then, having submitted to God, then we simply stand and resist the devil in the power of God because we've done it God's way. And let me tell you – they way I've learned this is simple. I sat down and thought about my weaknesses. I identified them. And I had more than my fair share. And I looked through the Bible and found a simple verse to tell me - when I'm in a situation where I'm prone to live out this particular stubborn sin – what is it that I CAN DO, to submit to God in my actions and my thoughts and my words, right there and then how can I submit to God. And so when I found myself in that place, I knew God's word, I knew how to submit to God. And you know what happened, little by little – God changed me. And the devil, well, he had no choice. He just had to flee. And when you think about it – this isn't rocket science. This is something that we can apply to any sin in any situation. It'd be just like God to make it that simple, wouldn't it? In fact next week on the program, we're going to look at some more specific details – common stubborn sins that people have in their lives, – to help each one of us stop sin dead in its tracks.   THE POWER TO CHANGE Over the next couple of weeks on the program, we're going to be looking at some very common stubborn sins that people deal with – anger, sexual immorality, selfishness, low self esteem – and how to overcome each of those. But as we come towards the end of our time together, I want to share with you perhaps the most important thing that I know about overcoming stubborn sin in my life. In fact – there's no maybe about it. It is the most important thing that I know. And it's this – that prayer works. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says very simply that we should: Pray without ceasing. Can I tell you something – that verse has stuck with me over and over and over again as God's done His work in me to overcome the stubborn sin in my life – and let me tell you, I had more than my fair share – and this is what I've found. When I was in that time of overcoming anger or overcoming selfishness – God dealt with them one at a time in me – I discovered that on those days when I specifically and deliberately prayed about that sin in my life first up in the morning – and got focussed on those handful of scriptures that God gave me – perhaps only a five minute investment each day – but when I made that investment I didn't sin. But somehow when I didn't quite get around to it, didn't have time, you know what it's like– those sins just got the better of me – time and time and time again. And still today, if I don't spend that time with the Lord each morning in prayer and reading His Word and letting Him have sway in my heart – I tell you - those stubborn sins will find their way back into my life. To put it very succinctly – PRAYER IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS. I can't make it any simpler than that. And even through the day, when I was in a situation where that sin was prone to come out of me – just a quick prayer under my breath – LORD HELP ME – that's all It takes. Pray without ceasing – because prayer works. I'm always taken by the time that the disciples were trying to cast a demon out of a boy while Jesus was up on the mount of the transfiguration – they couldn't do it. And Jesus came down – cast the demon out no problem and later the disciples went to Him and said, "So Lord, how come you could do it but we couldn't?" And Jesus said the most surprising thing to them, Mark 9:29: He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting. Now just stop and think a minute – He's been up on the mountain, He's walked down into this farce where there's a crowd and the disciples are trying to cast out a demon and the demon's not going and instantly Jesus casts out the demon. Let me ask you – did Jesus have time for prayer and fasting right at that moment? Not at all – He was talking about his normal, every day prayer life, He was talking about the fasting He'd been doing before that. And when I scratch around looking at the original text of what Jesus said – recorded in Greek not English – the deep sense of what He's saying here is this – nothing but prayer and fasting has the power to cast out the stubborn demons such as these. – The stubborn demons. The sort that wont go – like our stubborn sins. The power is in the prayer – Jesus was incredulous when He saw what was going on – He said "How long must I bear with you, you faithless and perverse generation?" Pretty strong language. He was expressing His frustration - why is it that you people still don't get it? My friend if you would defeat the stubborn sin in your life – it will only happen by prayer. And the odd bit of fasting isn't going to hurt either I have to tell you. Pray without ceasing. Pray every day. And little by little that stubborn sin will be gone – so out there in the heat of the battle, with the crowds looking on – that hidden prayer life will bring its rewards. That hidden prayer life will bear the fruit that others see in your life. That hidden prayer life will bring the power of God to bear in overcoming the most stubborn sin in our lives that we could ever imagine.

Send us a message!We zoom in on Acts 16 and wrestle with what it means when the Holy Spirit blocks a plan, even a plan that seems undeniably good. We share personal stories and practical frameworks so you can face closed doors with trust, discernment, and a loose grip on your own timeline. • treating Acts as more than history and asking what obedience looks like now • Paul's blocked route to Asia and the confusion of spiritual resistance • a real-life “no” that later looks like protection during a medical crisis • the Macedonia vision that leads to Lydia and the church in Philippi • why changed plans can be God's protection from harm or from “not best” • why making plans is still wise and helps us recognize God's redirection • stepping-stone yeses that build momentum toward a bigger calling • the perennial vs annual metaphor for seasons that are meant to end • detours that increase intimacy with God and with co-laborers  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260618dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 The Power of the Gospel Paul appealed to the believers of Thessalonica to pray. His concern was “that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.” The apostle knew the difficulties involved in proclaiming the good news about Jesus. Just before Paul went to Thessalonica, he was jailed at Philippi for preaching God’s word. Before that, he was stoned at Lystra. Just after leaving Thessalonica, he debated with some philosophers at Athens, and they scoffed at his message and rejected it. Nevertheless, Paul’s enthusiasm for sharing the saving message of the gospel never faded. He sought to spread the word of life wherever and whenever he could. He recognized the urgency of telling people about Jesus and how the Savior rescued them from sin and hell. He asked, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). It is vitally important for people to hear about Jesus so that the Holy Spirit can work in their hearts. Therefore, include in your prayers the plea that God will cause the good news of salvation through Jesus to spread rapidly so that many people may hear the message of free forgiveness and eternal life. And pray that the word of God be honored by those who hear it—that through the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit turn people from damning unbelief to saving faith in Jesus. Prayer: Holy Spirit, use the message of salvation to call many more people out of the darkness of unbelief to the marvelous light of faith in Jesus Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Send us a message!Simon is an actor, evangelist, and children's book author from Melbourne, Australia, where he lives with his wife and two children. For the last 24 years, he has had a particular passion for excellent and engaging Bible reading. He loves presenting "epic readings" of whole books of the Bible, training Christians in public Bible reading and encouraging the Body of Christ to value this vital ministry. Find out more about his ministry at www.PublicBibleReading.com and www.patreon.com/simoncamilleri. We listen to Acts 16 read aloud with Simon Camilleri and watch God redirect Paul and Silas into Philippi, where the gospel takes root in surprising lives. • Paul and Silas continuing the missionary journey after the split with Barnabas • Timothy joining the team and the mission wise reason for circumcision • the Holy Spirit closing routes and the Macedonian vision opening a new one • Lydia's conversion, baptism, and hospitality as the church in Philippi begins • deliverance of the exploited slave girl and the backlash that follows • prayer and worship in prison leading to the Philippian jailer's salvation • “Believe in the Lord Jesus” as the simple answer to the salvation question • Paul asserting Roman citizenship and protecting the credibility of the church You can find out more about Simon and his ministry at publicbibelreading.com and check out his Patreon. If you enjoyed this story, join me tomorrow where Kelsey and I are going to have a conversation about what it looks like to follow God's changes of plans in your own life, just like we saw Paul did today.  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260618dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 The Power of the Gospel Paul appealed to the believers of Thessalonica to pray. His concern was “that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.” The apostle knew the difficulties involved in proclaiming the good news about Jesus. Just before Paul went to Thessalonica, he was jailed at Philippi for preaching God’s word. Before that, he was stoned at Lystra. Just after leaving Thessalonica, he debated with some philosophers at Athens, and they scoffed at his message and rejected it. Nevertheless, Paul’s enthusiasm for sharing the saving message of the gospel never faded. He sought to spread the word of life wherever and whenever he could. He recognized the urgency of telling people about Jesus and how the Savior rescued them from sin and hell. He asked, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). It is vitally important for people to hear about Jesus so that the Holy Spirit can work in their hearts. Therefore, include in your prayers the plea that God will cause the good news of salvation through Jesus to spread rapidly so that many people may hear the message of free forgiveness and eternal life. And pray that the word of God be honored by those who hear it—that through the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit turn people from damning unbelief to saving faith in Jesus. Prayer: Holy Spirit, use the message of salvation to call many more people out of the darkness of unbelief to the marvelous light of faith in Jesus Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Discover the profound message of St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians in this insightful episode of Who's Who in the Bible. Presented by Fr. George Puthenpura, C.Ss.R., this session delves into the budding Christian community of Philippi—a group facing potential disintegration.Fr. George masterfully explores key themes including the Christ Hymn, the call to humble service, and the shift from utilitarian relationships to virtue-filled bonds. Learn how St. Paul transforms their social identity from mere Roman subjects to citizens of heaven. Often called the "Letter of Joy," this study reveals how to maintain hope through Christ regardless of life's trials. Join Fr. George for this spiritually enriching series and be inspired to mirror the mind of Christ in your own life.

Uncover the profound and often untold story of Epaphroditus, a faithful partner in the Apostle Paul's ministry. In this episode of Who's Who in the Bible, host Fr. John Paul Xavier, C.Ss.R., masterfully illuminates the life of this courageous missionary from Philippi. Discover his critical role as a “fellow worker” and “fellow soldier” who risked everything to support Paul during his imprisonment in Rome.From his miraculous recovery from a near-death illness to his legacy of sacrificial service, this reflection offers timeless lessons on faith, joy, and emotional resilience. Don't miss this insightful journey into the heart of the early Church—join Fr. John Paul Xavier in the Who's Who in the Bible series today to deepen your spiritual walk!

Discover the inspiring life of Saint Silas (also known as Silvanus) in this milestone episode of Who's Who in the Bible, presented by Fr. Christopher KL, C.Ss.R., Explore how this early Christian prophet and loyal missionary became an indispensable partner to Saint Paul. From their miraculous escape after singing hymns in a Philippi prison to their collaborative work in establishing and stabilizing churches, Silas stands as a testament to faith, courage, and service. Learn why his gift of prophecy and commitment to the gospel made him a cornerstone of the early church. Dive into this enriching study of a true biblical hero—join Fr. Christopher for this series and deepen your own witness today!

Summary of Bible Study by Patricia Hudson - June 17, 2026 Topic: Philippians 2 — Joy in Serving Patricia Hudson opened the Bible study with prayer, thanking God for the day, for the opportunity to study, discuss, share, and grow. She emphasized that the Holy Spirit is the true teacher and prayed that the Word would encourage each heart. She also prayed over the concerns of life, including family, health, finances, and daily living, affirming that God is working in every situation and that His love is great and unconditional. The study began with a review of the previous lesson from Philippians chapter 1. Patricia connected the study to the larger theme of being “rooted and grounded.” She referenced Philippians 4:9, where Paul instructs believers to keep putting into practice what they have learned, received, heard, and seen. The central idea was that spiritual growth requires action. Believers are not only to hear the Word of God but to live it out in daily life. When God's Word is practiced, the peace of God becomes active in the believer's life, helping them navigate conflict, hardship, confusion, and everyday responsibilities with stability and wisdom. Patricia reviewed the background of the book of Philippians. Paul wrote the letter around A.D. 61 while imprisoned in Rome. The church at Philippi was established during Paul's second missionary journey after he received the Macedonian call in Acts 16. Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia, and the church was mostly made up of Gentile believers. Patricia noted that Philippians is often called Paul's “joy letter” because joy and rejoicing appear throughout the book, even though Paul was writing from prison. This shows that true joy is rooted in Jesus Christ, not in circumstances. A major point from the review was Philippians 1:6, where Paul expresses confidence that God, who began a good work in the believers, would continue that work until it is completed in Christ. Patricia emphasized that God works in us to build character and through us to bless others. The class reflected on examples of teaching, prayer, encouragement, service, and influence in family and community life as evidence of God's continuing work. The class also discussed why the church at Philippi was so closely connected to Paul. Participants noted that Paul had suffered deeply in Philippi, including being beaten and illegally imprisoned because he was a Roman citizen. Acts 16 was highlighted as important background, including the conversion of Lydia, the deliverance of the slave girl, Paul and Silas being imprisoned, and the jailer's conversion. Patricia explained that Paul's suffering and ministry in Philippi created a deep bond between him and the believers there. The Philippian church also supported Paul financially and remained loyal to him throughout his ministry. Patricia pointed out that Philippi was the first Christian congregation established in Europe and became a launching point for the spread of the gospel into Europe. Because Philippi was a patriotic Roman colony, Christians there faced pressure and persecution for declaring Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar. Despite these pressures, Paul's letter to them focuses on joy, peace, humility, unity, and contentment. Unlike some of Paul's other letters, Philippians contains few rebukes. Instead, it is mostly a letter of encouragement, gratitude, and exhortation. The main focus of the lesson was Philippians 2, especially the theme “Joy in Serving.” Patricia introduced the focus verse, Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” She also read an easier translation, which says believers should not think only about what they want to do for themselves but should also think about how they can help other people. This set the tone for the chapter: Christian maturity is expressed through humility, unity, and concern for others. Patricia read Philippians 2:1–4 and explained Paul's call to unity through humility. Paul urges believers to be like-minded, to have the same love, to be of one accord, and to be of one mind. Patricia connected this to the issue Paul mentioned in Philippians 1, where some preached Christ from pure motives while others preached from jealousy, rivalry, and selfish ambition. She suggested that Paul may have been addressing attitudes of selfish ambition and division in the church. His answer was not merely correction but a call to humility, unity, and service. A key teaching point involved the “if-then” statements in Scripture. Patricia explained that Philippians 2 begins with conditional statements: if believers have encouragement in Christ, comfort from His love, fellowship in the Spirit, tenderness, and compassion, then they should respond by being like-minded, loving one another, and walking in unity. She compared this to John 8:31–32, where Jesus says that if people abide in His Word, then they are truly His disciples, they will know the truth, and the truth will make them free. The class discussed how abiding in God's Word leads to maturity, understanding, freedom, and transformation. Participants shared personal reflections about how the Word of God brings freedom. One person spoke about learning to hear God through His Word. Another shared that when they began seeking understanding for themselves, they realized that some behaviors were rooted in ignorance and began to change as they became rooted in the Word. Patricia emphasized that the truth of God's Word can make people free from their past, from things spoken over them, from wrong patterns, and even from themselves. The Word of God brings healing, clarity, growth, and forward movement. Patricia then connected Philippians 2 to Philippians 4:8–9, where Paul instructs believers to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. She explained that peace is connected to what believers meditate on and practice. People often seek peace while filling their minds with stress, negativity, or things they cannot change. Patricia encouraged the class to allow God to help them with the matters of their own lives and not become overwhelmed by burdens God has not assigned them to carry. When God does call believers to speak or act, they should do so boldly, then release the results to Him. The study then moved to Philippians 2:5–11, where Paul presents Jesus Christ as the supreme example of humility. Patricia read the passage: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” She emphasized that Jesus, though equal with God, humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, came in human likeness, and became obedient to death, even death on the cross. Because of this, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. Patricia explained that Christ's example gives believers grace to desire and imitate humility. To further explain the deity and supremacy of Christ, Patricia read from Colossians 1 and Colossians 2. She highlighted that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, that all things were created through Him and for Him, that He existed before all things, and that He holds all creation together. She also emphasized that the fullness of God dwells in Christ and that believers are complete through their union with Him. This helped connect Christ's humility with His greatness: Jesus served not because He was weak, but because of divine love and purpose. Patricia explained that serving others does not always begin with desire or joy. Sometimes believers serve while grieving, while sick, while tired, or while dealing with personal challenges. Yet Christ's example teaches that service is rooted in humility, obedience, and love rather than selfish ambition. Class participants reflected on how serving together creates a bond among believers. One participant noted that when people serve together through grief, sickness, and hardship, they develop a common purpose and a special bond, much like Paul had with the Philippian church. The lesson continued with Philippians 2:12–18. Patricia read Paul's instruction to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” while also emphasizing that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.” She used the Living Bible wording: “For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.” Patricia raised an important discussion question: if God is working in believers and helping them obey, why do believers still need to submit to biblical conditions and make choices? The class answered that believers still have a choice. God gives grace, desire, and power, but believers must submit their will to Him. Another important emphasis was Philippians 2:14–16, where Paul tells believers to do all things without complaining and disputing so they may shine as lights in a dark world. Patricia explained that complaining, arguing, bickering, and strife do not reflect a transformed life. She noted that in families, workplaces, and other environments, people can easily fall into conversations focused on everything that is wrong. Believers must sometimes step back from that atmosphere and choose not to participate in negativity. Instead, they are called to speak life, be light bearers, and demonstrate the transforming power of God's Word. Patricia shared a personal testimony about coming to herself, similar to the prodigal son. She reflected on a time in her younger years when she realized she had drifted from what she knew was right. She remembered how her mother-in-law, Gay Nell Hudson, shared a gospel tract with her and planted a seed that helped lead her toward the Lord. Patricia used this testimony to show the power of prayer, the Word, and personal witness. One person's light can touch another life, and that life can go on to touch many others. Toward the end of the study, Patricia briefly introduced the final section of Philippians 2, which discusses Timothy and Epaphroditus. She encouraged the class to finish reading the chapter on their own. Timothy was with Paul during his ministry and imprisonment, and Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippian church to bring support to Paul in Rome. Patricia explained that Paul was under house arrest, likely chained to rotating guards, which gave him repeated opportunities to preach the gospel. Even in confinement, Paul continued spreading the Word. His imprisonment became another platform for ministry. Patricia concluded by assigning the next study passages. The class would continue with Philippians 3 on July 2 and Philippians 4 on July 15. She encouraged everyone to keep studying, reading, and preparing so they could continue sharing insights during the discussion. The study closed in prayer. Patricia thanked God for His fullness revealed in Christ, for His plan in each person's life, and for the people who prayed, planted seeds, and helped open hearts to the gospel. She thanked God that since the moment believers received Christ, He has continued working in their lives. She prayed that the Word they had learned, seen, heard, and experienced would continue to be practiced, and that God's peace would guide them. Overall, Patricia Hudson's Bible study taught that Philippians 2 calls believers to live out their faith through humility, unity, service, obedience, and spiritual maturity. The Christian life is not passive. God works in believers, but believers must also choose to obey, serve, avoid complaining, walk in love, and shine as lights in the world. True joy is found not in comfort or circumstances, but in Christ-centered service and in practicing the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-121 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (06/15/26), Hank comments on the amazing contentment Paul describes in Philippians chapter 4, and the generosity of the church at Philippi whose gifts were a fragrant offering to the Lord. This wonderful example of giving shows the biblical model is not giving to get, but rather participating in the advance of the gospel through giving.Hank also answers the following questions:I lost my son to cancer. Should the promises in Jeremiah 29:11 be taken literally? If so, was there a chink in my faith armor that allowed this to happen? Warren - Edmonton, AB (2:53)As a Millennial, how can I stand strong against homosexuality and same-sex marriage? Are there Scriptures to support this? Leigh - AR (6:13)Why did God stop giving us inspired writings? Tammy - OK (15:47)What is a prophet, and how is that office expressed today? Karen - BC (21:41)

Some of the greatest writings in history were written from prison—like Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Nelson Mandela's Autobiography. The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians is no different, but most people have never heard of it. Written from a Roman prison to a church he started in Philippi, Philippians is a short letter full of brilliant theology, no-nonsense wisdom, and tattoo-worthy one-liners that has sparked joy, resilience, humility, and more in the church ever since.

Pastor Tyler teaches that because Jesus was secure in His identity, He was free to let go, move downward, and serve others. The more secure we become in Christ, the more freedom we have to do the same.

Paul urges the church at Philippi to live out their salvation together as a community. How is God inviting us to be Jesus-centered community today?

What does it really take to bring people together? In this message from Philippians 2:1-11, we explore how true unity in the church starts not with agreement, but with humility. Drawing from Paul's plea to the church at Philippi, this sermon unpacks why pride divides and humility unites — and how Jesus himself is our perfect example of what humble living looks like. If you've ever struggled with self-promotion, conflict, or just feeling like you don't measure up, this message is for you. Remember: unity comes from humility, and true humility is found in Christ!#UnityThroughHumility #Philippians #JesusIsEnough #NeighborhoodChurch #Humility #ChurchUnity #Humble #SermonSeries #FaithAndLife #GrowInChrist

What does it mean to be a partner in the Gospel? When Paul writes to the church in Philippi, he doesn't simply thank them for their support. He rejoices because they have become partners in God's mission. From the very beginning, they shared in the work of making Christ known. In this message from Philippians 1:3-11, we explore the biblical meaning of koinonia, a fellowship that goes far beyond friendship or church attendance. It is a shared participation in the life, mission, and work of God. Many people think of God's mission as something reserved for pastors, missionaries, or church leaders. But Scripture paints a different picture. God delights in inviting ordinary people into His extraordinary work. Just as a father welcomes his children to join him in what he is doing, God invites His people to participate in spreading His love, grace, and hope to the world. This message challenges us to consider a simple question: Are we spectators of God's mission, or participants in it? Series: The Generosity of God Message: Partnership in the Gospel Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Anne Phillippi is the Founder of The New Health Institute and a journalist with decades of experience working with major brands and celebrities. She joins the Mycopreneur Podcast today to discuss the need for elevating the way that non-profits in the psychedelic space approach fundraising, why there should be a Met Gala for psychedelics, and how to navigate the burden of digital censorship when discussing psychedelics online. Follow her work on SusbtackThis episode is brought to you by Mycogenius, fully traceable, third-party tested functional mushroom extractsand by Full Canopy Genetics, the only isolated genetics for mushroom grow bags Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Melanie began having regular headaches, her doctors discovered she had a benign tumor in her pituitary gland. The tumor was about the size of a plum and was surgically removed in 2003 and again in 2006 when it recurred. Then in 2017, when it came back a third time, Melanie underwent radiation treatment instead, which caused her to lose her hair. Her twenty-seven-year-old son, Matt, decided to grow out his own hair to make a wig for her. Matt’s selfless, loving act illustrates how one person’s abilities and resources can supply the needs of another person or group. Paul highlights the beauty of such reciprocal generosity in his letter to the Philippians. The believers in Philippi had shared in his “troubles” and “sent . . . aid more than once when [he] was in need” (Philippians 4:14, 16). Having received their gifts, Paul recognized that God had provided amply for his needs. Our willingness to share with one another is often the conduit of God’s provision in our lives. Sometimes we’re in a position to give of our time, talent, or treasure; other times we’re in need ourselves and must rely on the support of another. Through His Spirit working in us, our gifts are “pleasing to God” and a manifestation of our shared life in the Body (v. 18).

This Sunday, we continued our Becoming A Praying Church series as Pastor Rob taught from Philippians 1:1–11. In Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, we see a prayer filled with joy, gratitude, and deep affection for God's people. Paul reminds us that joy grows when we recognize God's work in others and faithfully pray for their spiritual growth.We are so glad you've joined New North Church for service today! If this is your first time with us, we are honored to have you and we want to get to know you more personally - please, fill out our digital connection card. http://bit.ly/nncconnectDo you have questions about life or need prayer? We would love to hear from you. Submit a request here: http://bit.ly/nncprayerNew North is financially sustained through your partnership. Thank you for your generosity as you consider giving online. http://bit.ly/nncgiveJoin us in person on Sundays at 8:30am, 10am and 12pm in San Francisco! Plan your visit: https://www.newnorth.church/plan-your...STAY CONNECTED:Website: https://www.newnorth.churchInstagram: http://bit.ly/nncinstagramFacebook: http://bit.ly/nncfacebookSpotify: http://bit.ly/nncpodcast

Some of the greatest writings in history were written from prison—like Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Nelson Mandela's Autobiography. The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians is no different, but most people have never heard of it. Written from a Roman prison to a church he started in Philippi, Philippians is a short letter full of brilliant theology, no-nonsense wisdom, and tattoo-worthy one-liners that has sparked joy, resilience, humility, and more in the church ever since.

Today we are continuing in Philippians chapter 2, lookingspecifically at verses 26–27. We are talking about Epaphroditus, a wonderfulservant of God from Philippi who was in Rome ministering to the Apostle Paul.We are going to find in this passage that he became very sick and almost died. Whenwe think about Epaphroditus, we are reminded of the four illustrations Paulgives us in Philippians 2 about being a servant, being a surrendered person,and having a submissive mind—the mind of Christ. Iam amazed at the many times in the book of Acts that Jesus is called God'sServant, the Servant of God. As you look through Scripture and history, you seemen like Moses. When Moses died, God referred to him in Joshua 1 as “Moses Myservant.” Then, at the end of the book of Joshua, when Joshua died, Godreferred to him as His servant, Joshua. Oh, my friend, great men and women ofGod are people who make themselves servants of God and serve Him by servingothers. Itis also what the Apostle Paul did. That is what Timothy did. And now we see itin the life of Epaphroditus as we read verses 26 and 27: “Since he waslonging for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and notonly on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” Thinkabout this for a moment. Epaphroditus was the one who was sick. In fact, henearly died. Yet he was not primarily concerned about himself. He was concernedthat the Philippians were worried about him. What an incredible spirit! Most ofus naturally focus on ourselves when we are hurting, suffering, or sick. We areoften not thinking about what others might be going through because of ourillness. But Epaphroditus was different. His concern remained fixed on others. Thisreminds us of Jesus in Gethsemane. Even while facing the cross, Jesus thoughtabout His disciples. Even while dying on Calvary, He thought about His mother. Asa matter of fact, the word translated “distressed” in verse 26 is verysignificant. Some translations render it “full of heaviness.” This isthe exact same Greek word used to describe Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane inMatthew 26:37: “…He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed His spiritwas exceedingly heavy.” The burden was so great that Jesus sweat greatdrops of blood..Oh,my friend, we see something of that same spirit in Epaphroditus. Even in hissickness, even when he was near death, his heart was burdened for the believersback in Philippi. He worried because they were worrying about him. But then weread these wonderful words: “God had mercy on him.” God had mercy onEpaphroditus. Whata reminder that we are in God's hands. Even in suffering and sickness, God issovereign over our health. Notice that the passage does not say Paul healedhim. Paul had been used by God to perform miracles. There were times when evenhandkerchiefs associated with Paul were used by God to bring healing. Yet thatis not what happened here. The Scripture simply says, “God had mercy onhim.” Godis sovereign over our health. God is sovereign over our circumstances. God issovereign over our future. Sometimes God heals. Sometimes He sustains us in themidst of our sickness. But God is always faithful. He will never allow us tosuffer beyond His purposes for our lives, and He will always provide the gracewe need for every trial. Today,perhaps you are carrying a burden. Maybe you are facing an illness. Maybe youhave come to a place of discouragement in your life. I want you to know thatjust as God had mercy on Epaphroditus, God has not forgotten you. He knows yourneed today. He knows your suffering. And even in the midst of your suffering,God can still use you to encourage others through your service. What awonderful blessing to know that God has a perfect plan, even in the midst ofsickness and hardship.

Pastor Steve teaches that the good news of the gospel is something to believe, and it's something to embody.

Today we are continuing in Philippians 2, and we are lookingat verse 25, where the Apostle Paul writes: “Yet I consider it necessary tosend to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier.” Thisman appears only briefly in Scripture, yet he teaches us a tremendous lesson. Epaphroditusno doubt lived in the area of Philippi. He was a follower of Christ, anexemplary Christian, and a man who lived a balanced Christian life. He wastrusted by the people at Philippi. His name actually suggests that he wasprobably a full Gentile, unlike Timothy, who had a Jewish mother and a Greekfather. Yet Epaphroditus was a man who loved the Lord Jesus Christ with all hisheart. Hewas trusted because of his faithfulness over the years. The believers atPhilippi entrusted him with carrying a special gift—perhaps money or othervaluable provisions—to the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome. As wewill discover in these verses, he also cared for Paul during his imprisonment. Thisis an interesting man whom we meet only briefly in Scripture. Pauldescribed him in three ways. First, he was a brother. That speaks of hisfellowship with the Apostle Paul. Second, he was a fellow worker. That speaksof his labor. Third, he was a fellow soldier. That speaks of spiritual warfare.As we look at his life through these few verses, we find that he was a balancedChristian. Somebelievers love fellowship but avoid service. Others work hard but neglectrelationships. Still others enjoy debating doctrine but never reach lostpeople. Over the years, I have met many folks who become so interested inprophecy that they do not want the pastor to preach about anything else.Prophecy is all they want to discuss or study. But that is not the balancedChristian life. Epaphroditus maintained balance in his Christian walk. He lovedGod's people. He worked for God's kingdom. He fought for God's truth. He was afellow soldier of Jesus Christ. Thisreminds me of the book of Nehemiah. As Nehemiah and the people rebuilt thewalls of Jerusalem in fifty-two days, they faced constant opposition from theirenemies. Nehemiah stationed the workers on the wall with a sword in one handand a trowel in the other. They were working while remaining ready to battle ata moment's notice. My friend, that is a good description of the Christian life. TheChristian life requires both fellowship and service. We also need to understandthat we are engaged in spiritual warfare. We need accountability. A balancedChristian life includes worship, fellowship, evangelism, service, prayer, andBible study. Iwill never forget my very first semester at Lynchburg Baptist College—todayknown as Liberty University. We had a class co-taught by Dr. Elmer Towns andDr. Jerry Falwell called The Balanced Christian Life. We used a book written byCharles Ryrie entitled “The Balanced Christian Life”. That class was oneof my first introductions as a brand-new believer to what the Christian lifeshould look like. It helped me understand the importance of balance. Atthat point in my life, I was very interested in evangelism. But there is moreto being a Christian than simply trying to get everyone saved. We needfellowship with one another. We need teaching from God's Word. We needopportunities to participate in all the various aspects of Christianliving—giving, prayer, Bible study, service, and worship. A balanced Christianlife makes all the difference. Whenone area is neglected, imbalance develops. We should constantly ask ourselves:Am I still growing in every area of my Christian life, or am I neglectingsomething important? My friend, let us make sure we are like Epaphroditus,living a balanced Christian life. Letus pray. Father, help us become balanced Christians. Teach us to love Yourpeople, serve Your kingdom, and stand for Your truth. Make us faithful workersand faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Paul and Silas proclaimed the Gospel even when they were imprisoned in Philippi. The result was a miraculous earthquake and the dramatic conversion of the Philippian jailer. Pastor Doug Horner preaches from Acts 16:16–40.

What comes to mind when you hear words like generosity, mission, or supporting ministry? For some people, those words inspire gratitude. For others, they raise questions. Is generosity simply about giving more? Is mission about growing an organization? Or is there something deeper going on? In this opening message from our series The Generosity of God, we look at the surprising story of how the church in Philippi began. Before this church became known for its partnership, generosity, and joy, God was already at work. He opened a door for the Gospel, opened a woman's heart to receive it, and opened a life for His mission. At the center of this story is a truth that changes everything: Christian generosity does not begin with what we give to God. It begins with what God has given to us. Through Acts 16:6-15, we discover that generosity is not about earning God's favor or sustaining an institution. It is the natural response of people who have experienced the overwhelming generosity of God in Jesus Christ. Because before we open our lives to others, God opens His heart to us.

Today we're looking at Philippians 2:22. Here, the ApostlePaul is talking about Timothy. Paul writes: "But you know his proven character,that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel." Oneof the most valuable qualities in the Christian life is proven character. Noticethat Paul did not praise Timothy primarily for his gifts, talents,intelligence, or abilities. He praised him for his character. The phrase provencharacter speaks of something that has been tested and approved. Gold istested by fire. Steel is tested by pressure. Character is tested by life. Timothyhad been tested. Whenyou go back to Acts 14, where Paul first meets Timothy in Lystra, Timothywitnessed Paul being stoned for preaching the gospel. It was during this periodthat Timothy gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ. He had a godlygrandmother and mother who taught him the Scriptures, and he grew in the graceand knowledge of the Lord. Then, when Paul began his second missionary journeywith Silas in Acts 16, one of the first people mentioned in Lystra was Timothy.The Bible tells us that, “he was well spoken of by the brethren who were atLystra and Iconium”. In other words, Timothy already had a good testimonybefore Paul invited him to travel with him. Paul said, in effect, "I wantyou to join me and Silas on this missionary journey." Weknow that Timothy traveled with Paul to Philippi, where Paul and Silas werebeaten and thrown into prison. Luke was also with them during this period. Justimagine the privilege Timothy had of being surrounded by and mentored by suchgodly men. Year after year, as Paul invested in him, Timothy grew in his faith,his knowledge of Christ, and his character. Eventually, he became a man ofproven character. Only after proving himself faithful did the Apostle Paulinvite him to become part of this missionary team. Thisteaches an important lesson for all of us. God is more interested in developingour character than displaying our abilities. Many people want immediateinfluence. They want instant success. They want positions of leadership beforethey have developed spiritual maturity. That can become a problem in manychurches when people seek positions for which their character has not yetprepared them.  ButGod works differently. Remember, David spent years tending sheep beforebecoming king. Joseph spent years in slavery and prison before ruling in Egypt.Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before God called him to lead Israel.Timothy spent years learning, serving, growing, and becoming Paul's trustedrepresentative. My friend, we discover that character is more important thanabilities and all the other things for which people are often praised. Yearsago, I taught people not to praise someone merely for their talent or ability. "Oh,they play the piano so well." "They are such a gifted speaker." Instead,praise them for their character and the discipline that enabled them to developthose abilities. Praise them for doing the right things for the right reasons.Praise them for faithfulness, honesty, kindness, loyalty, thoughtfulness, diligence,and integrity. That is proven character. Someone has wisely said: "Godprepares the man before He prepares the ministry." The Christian life isnot a sprint; it is a marathon. Faithfulness over time produces provencharacter. Maybetoday you feel overlooked. Maybe you have been serving quietly for years and noone seems to notice your faithfulness. But God notices. Every prayer. Every actof service. Every sacrifice. Every hidden act of obedience. God sees them all. Luke16:10 says: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also inmuch." God often develops greatservants in ordinary places.Let'spray. Father, help us today to develop proven character. Teach us to befaithful in the small things and patient during the seasons and years ofpreparation. May our lives bring honor to You. We pray this in Jesus' name.Amen.

Today we will be looking at Philippians 2:21. But before wetalk about that, let's remind ourselves what the book of Philippians is about.The book of Philippians is about the joyful mind and the secure mind. TheApostle Paul is teaching us something very powerful. Before we can claim inchapter 4, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthensme," we first must practice what istaught in the earlier chapters. Inchapter 1, Paul teaches us to have a single mind—a mind that is set on Christ,a mind that is focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a mind that desiresto glorify the Lord Jesus Christ before glorifying itself. Then chapter 2becomes very practical as Paul teaches us how to have a submissive mind—a mindthat is submitted to the will of God. In verse 20, the Apostle Paul commendedTimothy as a man who genuinely cared for the spiritual welfare of others. ThenPaul makes a very sad statement in verse 21: "For all seek their own,not the things which are Jesus Christ's." Thinkabout that statement for a moment: "For all seek their own, not thethings which are Jesus Christ's." Paul was living in Rome, the centerof the Roman Empire. There were many believers there. In Romans 16, when Paulwrote to the church at Rome, he mentioned dozens of Christians by name. Yetwhen he looked for someone to send to Philippi, he found only Timothy who wasavailable and willing to put Christ's interests first. Thisverse exposes one of the greatest spiritual diseases that affects believers andchurches. It is the disease of self-interest. The natural tendency ofevery human heart is to focus on self. The first words of many little childrenare often, "Mine!" or, "I want that! That's mine! Don't touchit!" We naturally ask: "What do I want?" "What do Ineed?" "What is best for me?" Yet the Christian life is exactlythe opposite. Thesubmissive mind that Paul has been describing throughout Philippians chapter 2causes us to ask: "What does Christ want?" "What will helpothers?" "What will advance the gospel?" The world teaches us tolook out for number one. Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves. In Luke 9:23,Jesus said: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." That is not a popularmessage today because we live in a culture that promotes self-fulfillment,self-promotion, self-expression, and self-centeredness. But Christianity iscentered on Christ, not on self. Onemissionary who served for more than fifty years in Africa once lamented thelack of long-term commitment among believers. He quoted the words of Barzillaiin 2 Samuel 19:36: "Thy servant will go a little way." Thatseems to describe many Christians today. They are willing to serve a littleway. They are willing to sacrifice a little. They are willing to commit alittle. ButJesus, our example in Philippians 2, went all the way. He left heaven. Hehumbled Himself. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Myfriend, we cannot truly follow Jesus Christ while living for ourselves. Whena church becomes filled with self-centered people, ministries suffer. Peoplestop serving. Needs go unmet. The gospel loses momentum. But when believers putJesus Christ first, amazing things happen. People are saved. Lives are changed.Churches become healthy. Missionaries are sent. And the gospel advances. Sothe question today is simple: Am I seeking my own interests or Christ'sinterests? Am I willing to serve even when it costs me something? Am Iavailable when God calls? The greatest joy in the Christian life is found whenwe stop living for ourselves and begin living for Christ and for others. Let'spray. Father, forgive us for the selfishness that so easily creeps into ourlives and hearts. Help us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.Give us the mind of Christ and teach us to put Your interests above our own. Wepray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Theme: Rooted and Grounded — Practicing What We Have Learned Primary Texts: Philippians 4:9; Philippians 1 This Bible study focused on the book of Philippians, especially Paul's encouragement to believers to keep practicing what they had learned, received, heard, and seen. The key idea was that spiritual growth requires action: when believers continue putting God's Word into practice, the God of peace will be with them. Peace helps believers navigate conflict, confusion, hardship, and daily life with stability and wisdom.  The lesson introduced the historical background of Philippians. Paul wrote this letter around A.D. 61 while imprisoned in Rome. The church at Philippi was established during Paul's second missionary journey after he received the Macedonian call in Acts 16. Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia, and the church was mostly made up of Gentile believers. Philippians was described as Paul's “joy letter” because joy and rejoicing appear repeatedly throughout the book, even though Paul was writing from imprisonment.  A major focus was Philippians 1:6, where Paul expresses confidence that God, who began a good work in the believers, would continue that work until it is completed in Christ. The discussion emphasized that God works in us to build character and through us to bless others. Participants shared examples of how teaching, prayer, encouragement, service, and influence in family and community settings reflect the good work of God continuing through their lives.  The study also highlighted Philippians 1:9–11, where Paul prayed that the believers' love would overflow more and more in knowledge and understanding. This love was not merely emotional, but active, discerning, and rooted in Christ. The fruit of salvation was described as righteous character produced by Jesus Christ, bringing glory and praise to God. Paul's imprisonment was presented as an example of how difficult circumstances can become opportunities for ministry. Instead of becoming bitter or giving up, Paul saw prison as another place to spread the gospel. Even the palace guards became aware that he was in chains because of Christ. The class reflected on how believers today may not be physically imprisoned, but still face discouragement, grief, uncertainty, and hardship. Like Paul, they are called to demonstrate faith in difficult circumstances. The lesson concluded with Paul's call for believers to live as citizens of heaven, standing together in one spirit and one purpose for the faith of the gospel. The study addressed biblical suffering as more than inconvenience or not getting what one wants. Suffering was described as standing against what one has been delivered from, and as something God can use to shape character, strengthen faith, and display His glory. Key Takeaways God's Word must be practiced, not only heard. Peace comes as believers continue walking in what they have learned from Christ. God's good work continues in believers throughout their lives. The fruit of salvation is righteous character that brings glory to God. Hardship can become an opportunity to witness, grow, and encourage others. True joy is rooted in Jesus Christ, not in circumstances. Believers are called to unity, love, purpose, and faithfulness as citizens of heaven. Homework Given Read Philippians 1:7–8 and reflect on this question: Why did Paul say the believers at Philippi had a special place in his heart? The class was encouraged to consider not only their financial support of Paul, but also their partnership, loyalty, love, and shared commitment to the gospel.

Let'sbegin by reading Philippians 2:19-20: "But I trust in the Lord Jesus tosend Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know yourstate. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for yourstate." What a remarkable statement! Remember, Paul is writing from aRoman prison. He is chained to a Roman guard. He is uncertain about the outcomeof his trial. Yet even while facing his own problems, his heart is focused onthe believers at Philippi. That is the mark of a mature Christian. A matureChristian does not become consumed with his own troubles. He remains concernedabout others. Paulwanted to know how the Philippian believers were doing. Were they standingfirm? Were they remaining united? Were they growing spiritually? He careddeeply about them. But Paul faced a problem. He could not go himself. So helooked around for someone he could trust. Among all the believers in Rome, Paulfound one man whom he believed would genuinely care for the Philippians. Thatman was Timothy. Paul says, "I have no one like-minded." Thephrase "like-minded" carries the idea of being of the same soul orkindred spirit. Timothy had spent years traveling with Paul, learning from him,serving alongside him, suffering with him, and praying with him. Over time,Timothy began to develop the same heart that Paul had. That is whatdiscipleship is all about. Jesusspent three years with His disciples. Paul spent years with Timothy. Godlycharacter is often caught as much as it is taught. Timothy learned how to carefor people by watching Paul care for people. I am reminded of what Paul wrotein 1 Corinthians 11:1: "Imitate me, just as I also imitateChrist." Every believer needs someone to learn from and someone tohelp. One of the greatest needs in our churches today is spiritual mentoring.Older believers should be encouraging younger believers. More mature Christiansshould be helping those who are younger in the faith. Timothyhad a servant's heart. Notice Paul says that Timothy would "sincerelycare" for their welfare. The word means genuine concern. Not professionalconcern.    Not forced concern. Notconcern because it was his job. Genuine concern. Timothy truly cared aboutpeople. That immediately raises a question for us. Do we genuinely care aboutothers? It is easy to become wrapped up in our own schedules, our own plans,our own problems, and our own needs. Yet Jesus constantly looked beyond Himselfto the needs of others. Even while hanging on the cross, He cared for Hismother. Even while suffering, He prayed for His enemies. Even while dying, Hesaved a thief. That is the heart of Christ. Onepastor said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how muchyou care." How true that is.Peopleare looking for genuine Christians who will listen, pray, encourage, and help. Asimple phone call can change someone's day. A handwritten note can strengthen adiscouraged believer. A visit can encourage someone who feels forgotten. Aprayer can lift a burden. You never know what God can dothrough a caring heart. The submissive mind always produces concern for others.Selfishness asks, "What can others do for me?" Love asks, "Whatcan I do for others?" Perhapstoday there is someone God has placed on your heart. Maybe it is a familymember. Maybe it is a neighbor. Maybe it is a fellow church member. Maybe it issomeone who is hurting. Don't ignore that prompting. Reach out. Encourage them.Pray for them. Show them the love of Christ. That is exactly what Timothy wouldhave done. And that is exactly what Christ would have us do. Let'spray. Father, thank You for the example of Timothy. Give us hearts thatgenuinely care for others. Deliver us from selfishness and help us to seepeople through Your eyes. Use us today to encourage someone and point them toJesus Christ. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Some of the greatest writings in history were written from prison—like Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Nelson Mandela's Autobiography. The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians is no different, but most people have never heard of it. Written from a Roman prison to a church he started in Philippi, Philippians is a short letter full of brilliant theology, no-nonsense wisdom, and tattoo-worthy one-liners that has sparked joy, resilience, humility, and more in the church ever since.

God is not limited by human limitations.

Some of the greatest writings in history were written from prison—like Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and Nelson Mandela's Autobiography. The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians is no different, but most people have never heard of it. Written from a Roman prison to a church he started in Philippi, Philippians is a short letter full of brilliant theology, no-nonsense wisdom, and tattoo-worthy one-liners that has sparked joy, resilience, humility, and more in the church ever since.

Weekend Scripture: Philippians 1 Choose joy when the future is uncertain. Carl Kuhl joins us to launch our new series on Joy. In Philippians 1, Paul sets an example for the church at Philippi to practice gratitude and choose joy no matter their circumstances. If you want to be confident that God is not done, double down on gratitude. Join the battle, link arms with your church family, and fight through prayer. Our hope is in Jesus, and He has the eternal victory.  

Pastor Steve prays Jesus, form in us Christ-like love that sees clearly, lives purely, and bears fruit for your glory.

 I have been reading a book by Bill Elliot, who is a therapistBut it's not about psychology – it has the unlikely title, Falling Into the Face of God– it's an autobiography of sorts• Bill felt called by God's Spirit to go to the Judean desert• and , to spend forty days there like Jesus, only without fasting– on day 17, he was meditating on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness• then his thoughts went to Jesus and disciples in Philippi, and the moment when he called Peter “Satan”William J. Elliot, “Why did Jesus do that? Especially since Peter was just trying to be helpful? It was because Peter was opposing Jesus' deeper sense of destiny and Jesus' deeper sense of God's will. Satan comes from the Hebrew word for ‘opposer' or ‘adversary.' And that's the point: we each have friends, and even parts of ourselves, that are often opposed to our deeper truth and connection with God. Even though they are trying to be helpful, they are still adversaries. So how do we find the skill and the courage to rebuff those well-meaning adversaries—especially when they love us and have often loved us in the past.”

Where does real joy come from? Not from comfort, not from isolation — but from the people God places around you. In this message from Philippians 1:1-11, Pastor Riley opens the summer series through Philippians by tackling one of the most honest questions we face: why do the people we love also drain us? Drawing from Paul's letter written from a Roman prison cell, we discover that lasting joy isn't circumstantial — it's relational. When we pray for people, partner together in purpose, and invest in each other's growth, joy doesn't just survive — it multiplies. As Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, "Jesus did not save you to isolate you. He saved you into a family, into a mission, into a gospel partnership." Stop spectating. Start participating. Real joy is waiting on the other side.

Paul's letter to the church at Philippi is full of love and instruction for the Lord's church. He rejoices that the gospel is moving forward even while he is in prison, and encourages the church to endure suffering, to be united in love, and to serve one another sacrificially, looking to the King of Kings who humbled Himself even to death on a cross. Our boast is no longer in the flesh, but in the cross of Christ. Paul had much to boast about before surrendering to Christ but he says he now counts at all as loss in comparison to knowing Christ. Knowing that the Lord is near, we should be anxious for nothing, opting instead to pray and to consider the goodness of God. Philippians 1 - 1:11 .  Philippians 2 - 5:42 .  Philippians 3 - 11:08 .  Philippians 4 - 14:57 .  Proverbs 31 - 19:01 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

What's actually standing between most people and a genuine relationship with God? Pastor Peter Philippi, author of You and God: How to Establish a Personal Relationship with God and a Clear Understanding of His Word, joins Brian From in studio to work through the objections, the confusion, and the keys that open up all of Scripture once you understand what God is actually doing. Peter breaks down why salvation has nothing to do with religion or works, what it means that we were once God's enemies and are now reconciled to him, and why every believer carries the identity of ambassador — whether they know it or not. He also makes a compelling case for the reliability of God's Word: of the 1,000 prophecies in the Bible, 500 have already been fulfilled exactly as written, which makes the remaining 500 a pretty safe bet. A practical, grounded conversation for seekers, new believers, and anyone who has picked up their Bible, put it back down, and wondered if they're missing something. Find the book and learn more at pbmusa.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been in a situation where everyone — including everything you could see — said it was over? You had been publicly humiliated. Everything had been stripped away. The doors were locked and the chains were on. If that is where you are today — this message was prepared for you.Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, publicly beaten, dragged before the authorities, severely flogged, and thrown into the innermost dungeon of a Roman prison with their feet clamped in stocks. By every human measure — they were finished. The mission was over. The ministry was done. And then they did the most impossible thing anyone in that situation could do."Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening." — Acts 16:25 (NLT)Let these words resonate within your heart today. They did not cry. They did not complain. They did not rehearse their injustice. Around midnight — at the darkest, most painful, most hopeless hour — Paul and Silas opened their mouths and worshipped. And every prisoner in that dungeon stopped and listened. Take comfort in this — your praise in the midnight hour is not just for God. It is a weapon. It is a witness. And it always — always — produces something supernatural."Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!" — Acts 16:26 (NLT)Understand this — God did not send the earthquake before the praise. He sent it IN RESPONSE to the praise. The moment they opened their mouths at midnight, God shook the foundations of every prison in that building. Not just their chains — EVERY prisoner's chains fell off. Your midnight praise does not just break your chains. It breaks the chains of everyone around you who is watching how you handle what you are going through."Then he brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'" — Acts 16:30 (NLT)The jailer who had locked them in the deepest dungeon was now on his knees asking how to be saved. The man who was sent to keep them bound became the first member of the church they planted in Philippi. Midnight proved everyone wrong. And your midnight will too.May this powerful teaching from Acts 16:20-32 fill your heart with the faith to praise at midnight and remind you that God specializes in turning your most finished-looking moment into your most fruitful one. Thank you for joining me today. Subscribe for daily teachings, morning prayer broadcasts, and live services.

You'd think that someone sitting on the cold stone floor of a Roman jail cell would be the least likely to pen a letter overflowing with joy and gratitude—but that's exactly what the Apostle Paul does with his letter to the church at Philippi. And in this week's message from Philippians 1, Pastor J.D. explains how gratitude is one of the secrets to the “good life” that Paul illuminates for us. Gratitude, of course, doesn't always come naturally. It isn't merely a feeling that comes and goes, but a practice that we can—and must—intentionally cultivate.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and quoted the prophet Joel: in the last days God will pour out His Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Of all the texts he could have chosen, he chose that one. And when the Holy Spirit came, women were in that room and filled with the Spirit alongside the men. The early church gave roles based on gifts, not gender. Priscilla taught men at a seminary level. Lydia launched the first church in Philippi. The four daughters of Philip preached and prophesied. Sin had disrupted what God originally designed. But Jesus came to restore it. Galatians 3 puts it plainly: there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. So women, God knit you together with gifts and talents this world and this church desperately need. Be all who God made you to be.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, opens her heart to the Gospel, and after having her entire household baptized, she offers hospitality to Paul and his companions. (Lectionary #291) May 11, 2026 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Guest Author Barry Strauss discusses the power struggle between Mark Antony and the young Octavian following Julius Caesar's assassination. Strauss relies on the Greek historians Plutarch and Cassius Dio to reconstruct this era, noting that Plutarch is the best single source for Antony's life. While Antony was a noble consul and Caesar's seasoned lieutenant, Octavian was a slight, 19-year-old great-nephew who lacked military experience but possessed "Machiavellian" cunning. The two joined Lepidus in the Second Triumvirate to avenge Caesar, leading to the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Although Antony emerged as the hero of that victory, Octavian allegedly fled the battlefield due to illness. This victory eliminated assassins like Cassius and Brutus, yet it set the stage for a civil war where Octavian'spolitical ambition would eventually overwhelm Antony's social pedigree. Strauss emphasizes that Caesar likely educated Octavian in the "dark arts of power." (1/8)1680 CONSTANTINOPLE