Podcasts about Philippi

Thursday, 29 September 2022   So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” Acts 10:33   In the previous verse, Cornelius continued his reason for having Peter called as he conveyed the words of the messenger from God. Now, he finishes this side of the conversation, beginning with the words, “So I sent to you immediately.”   This is exactly what happened as was stated in verses 10:7, 8 –   “And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.”   Not even waiting for the next day, he had immediately followed through with the words spoken to him. With that, he next says to Peter, “and you have done well to come.” The words more appropriately read, “and you did well, having come.”   Cornelius acknowledges Peter's presence, demonstrating gratefulness through the words conveyed. It is the same formula used when Paul addressed those at Philippi –   “Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.” Philippians 5:13,14   After his compliment to Peter, he begins his finishing thought, saying, “Now therefore, we are all present before God.”   Cornelius acknowledges on behalf of all assembled his understanding of God's omnipresence and ability to discern the hearts of those assembled. Even if his understanding of the nature of God was limited, he had deduced enough to know that God was fully sovereign over His creation, including His creatures, and that He had expectations of man who walked in His presence. His words convey the idea that God was attending the meeting with the same attention that He had when He created the universe. Having noted this, he finishes with, “to hear all the things commanded you by God.”   The Alexandrian text, used by many translations, says, “to hear all the things having been commanded you by the Lord” (BLB). Determining which is original, God or Lord, is difficult. If Cornelius was either aware of Jesus, or if Peter had told him he was a messenger of Jesus as they entered in verse 10:27, then saying “Lord” would make more sense. If Cornelius was not yet aware of Jesus yet, then saying “God” would make more sense.   The coming verses do not really clear that up and could be taken either way, but because Jesus is God, it doesn't change the overall narrative greatly. God sent Jesus to accomplish His mission. The command rested upon Him, and He fulfilled it, including giving His commands to the people. Peter was fully aware of this, and he had been given his further commission during the trance which was specifically tied to his speaking to Cornelius.   Peter will explain the ministry of Jesus going back to the time of John's baptizing, including the words “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout Judea.” However, this doesn't necessarily mean that Cornelius was aware that Jesus was the Messiah. All it means is that he had likely heard about Jesus in some fashion. This is certain because it will go on to say –   “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.” Acts 10:40, 41   If the resurrection was not known to all the people, then it means that not all the people knew that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. As such, the story in Cornelius' mind may be that another failed messianic figure had come among the people. The extent of the knowledge of who Jesus was by Cornelius cannot be known. But what he will need to know will be fully presented as the verses continue.   Life application: It is rare to come across a person who has never heard of Jesus, even people in other cultures around the world usually have some limited knowledge of Him. This is no different than most people having heard of Buddha or Muhammed. Just because someone has heard of a person, it doesn't really tell you much about the extent of that person's knowledge.   In the US today, knowing there was a “Jesus” who started Christianity is almost universal. And yet, even in supposed Christian churches, there may be very little knowledge beyond that about who He is or what is expected by Him. Our responsibility as saved believers in Jesus is to explain the meaning of Jesus' coming and what it means to the state of humanity.   Once the truth of Jesus has been explained, there is still the necessary instruction that not only is He God and that He is the focus of the gospel, but it should be explained that He is the only path of restoration with God. This is not a part of the gospel itself, but it is an important point about Jesus that should be explained. If not, there may remain confusion in people's minds about the exclusivity of what Jesus has done. This should not be the state of anyone who has accepted the simple gospel.   The sooner sound discipleship is introduced, the chances will be all the better that this person will rightly repeat the message of Jesus to others. And so, be prepared to give the important basic points about the faith that will keep that individual, and those he next talks to, from heading down erroneous paths of thinking.   Lord God, help us to be clear in our presentation of who Jesus is and what He means to the state of all people before You. Give us wisdom in our presentation of Him and help us to be strong in our stand concerning those points about Him that must be conveyed for a new believer to be solidly grounded in his thinking about the faith. Amen.

How should Christians relate to beauty and ugliness? For that matter, how should followers of Jesus relate to truth and falsehood? To begin to answer these questions, I look to Philippians 4:5-9 where the Apostle Paul writes about what we think about and how we feel, as well as what our expectation of benefit should be when our hearts and our minds are oriented and calibrated correctly. "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone," he says. And I take this as a mandate to reasoning and logic out loud and in the open. Next Paul reminds the church at Philippi that "The Lord is at hand," and to not be anxious. Instead, we are to present our requests to God "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving." Then Paul says to think on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. And what if we made the study of all these things a systematic and logical thing within the broader context of love for and devotion to the Almighty? As it turns out, I think this is precisely what historically happened, and that the same explains the rise of advanced sciences in the West in a way those pursuits and their codification did not happen outside the influence of Theology being "the queen of the sciences." Moreover, given such an origin story for the scientific method, the advanced sciences cannot long be sustained in a practically beneficial way except in the context in which they arose - love for God and love for our neighbor. But we must believe that truth, honor, justice, purity, and loveliness - also alternatively known as beauty - are real things that exist in order to think on them, much less make an orderly and productive study of them. This is just another way of saying that this presumption to God's glory is the root of scientific research. So also, what follows in Paul's letter to Philippian Christians about practicing what we have learned, received, and heard, plus the promise of the God of peace being with us, is the basis for practical sciences to the end of developing technology useful to craftsmanship and human flourishing. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support

A new MP3 sermon from Berean Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Paul's Prayer for the church at Philippi Subtitle: Missions Conference 2022 Speaker: Rick Arrowood Broadcaster: Berean Baptist Church Event: Conference Date: 9/27/2022 Bible: Philippians 1:3-11 Length: 41 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Berean Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Paul's Prayer for the church at Philippi Subtitle: Missions Conference 2022 Speaker: Rick Arrowood Broadcaster: Berean Baptist Church Event: Conference Date: 9/27/2022 Bible: Philippians 1:3-11 Length: 41 min.

Biblical scholar Paula Gooder says that stories and storytelling make all the difference to our understanding of the New Testament. In this conversation with Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley she talks about her new book Lydia, her second narrative exploration of a woman in the early church, which opens up life as a Christian in first-century Philippi and Paul's letter to the new church there. They explore why she chose to write about Lydia, the honour and shame culture in the first century and how much it resonates today, the centrality of forgiveness, how engaging our emotions deepens our understanding of Paul's message, why they both think Paul has a positive view of women in leadership, and why he writes so much about joy. Dr Paula Gooder is a leading New Testament scholar specialising in Paul's letters and theology, and Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. Her latest book is 'Lydia: A Story', following her bestselling 'Phoebe: A Story'. Dr Helen-Ann Hartley is the Bishop of Ripon. She previously taught New Testament at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and at St John's College in Auckland New Zealand, following her doctorate in Paul's letters.

We are remodeling our studio—and so for the next two weeks, we are heading back to the archives and listening to a few of our favorite throwback series (episodes from Leslie, Nathan, and Eric). This week Nathan focuses on one of his favorite topics: knowing (ginoskō) Jesus. In this study, Nathan continues his discussion on knowing (ginoskō) Jesus by exploring Philippians 3 and showing the importance of knowing Jesus through Paul's letter to Philippi. --------- For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/ (https://ellerslie.com/). If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/ (https://ellerslie.com/donate/)

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is an eight part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We will get back to our journey through the Sermon on the Mount in due time.

After doing jail time in Philippi, the Apostle Paul eventually makes his way to Thessalonica and Berea. Chased out of those two cities, he finds himself waiting on his colleagues in idol-infested Athens. After sharing about Christ in the synagogue and marketplace, two groups of philosophers invite him to address them at the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill. In Acts 17:21-23 Luke gives us this picture: "Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you." (ESV) Paul continues by tactfully presenting the Gospel. When he gets to the part about Jesus' resurrection from the dead, the philosophers balk, canceling the rest of Paul's message. Other than a handful of folks, Athens rejects the Gospel. The deities once worshiped on Mars Hill have all gone the way of the dinosaur but the Gospel continues to be preached worldwide. Many we know and love have pitched their tents on their own version of Mars Hill. But there's a better hill--it's called Mt. Calvary. There, Jesus bled and died for our sins to make us His own and this forevermore. Upon which hill have you pitched your tent? It truly does mater...

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John. This week we find ourselves back in prison. We spoke briefly last week about Paul and Silas being freed from the jail in Philippi by a well-timed earthquake. The earthquake not only got Paul and Silas' attention but also that of the jailer. He was about to take his own life when Paul and Silas intervened. The man asked how he could be saved, and Paul and Silas told him to believe in Jesus. The man was saved that day and was so touched that he got his family involved as well. The whole household was baptized, and we can only imagine that they became an important part of the Philippian Church. Today we consider not only the new life that came to the Philippian jailer, but to his entire family. The jailer was focused not just on Jesus, but on family was well. The same is true for us as a church. We are focused on Jesus and on family, both our own families and those in our community. That focus is a part of our identity and is important when it comes to reaching out in the name of Christ.

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is an eight part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We will get back to our journey through the Sermon on the Mount in due time.

Proper 20 First Psalm: Psalm 87; Psalm 90 Psalm 87 (Listen) Glorious Things of You Are Spoken A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song. 87   On the holy mount stands the city he founded;2     the LORD loves the gates of Zion    more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.3   Glorious things of you are spoken,    O city of God. Selah 4   Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;    behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush1—    “This one was born there,” they say.5   And of Zion it shall be said,    “This one and that one were born in her”;    for the Most High himself will establish her.6   The LORD records as he registers the peoples,    “This one was born there.” Selah 7   Singers and dancers alike say,    “All my springs are in you.” Footnotes [1] 87:4 Probably Nubia (ESV) Psalm 90 (Listen) Book Four From Everlasting to Everlasting A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. 90   Lord, you have been our dwelling place1    in all generations.2   Before the mountains were brought forth,    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,    from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3   You return man to dust    and say, “Return, O children of man!”24   For a thousand years in your sight    are but as yesterday when it is past,    or as a watch in the night. 5   You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,    like grass that is renewed in the morning:6   in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;    in the evening it fades and withers. 7   For we are brought to an end by your anger;    by your wrath we are dismayed.8   You have set our iniquities before you,    our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9   For all our days pass away under your wrath;    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.10   The years of our life are seventy,    or even by reason of strength eighty;  yet their span3 is but toil and trouble;    they are soon gone, and we fly away.11   Who considers the power of your anger,    and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12   So teach us to number our days    that we may get a heart of wisdom.13   Return, O LORD! How long?    Have pity on your servants!14   Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.15   Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,    and for as many years as we have seen evil.16   Let your work be shown to your servants,    and your glorious power to their children.17   Let the favor4 of the Lord our God be upon us,    and establish the work of our hands upon us;    yes, establish the work of our hands! Footnotes [1] 90:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts (compare Septuagint) our refuge [2] 90:3 Or of Adam [3] 90:10 Or pride [4] 90:17 Or beauty (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 136 Psalm 136 (Listen) His Steadfast Love Endures Forever 136   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,    for his steadfast love endures forever.2   Give thanks to the God of gods,    for his steadfast love endures forever.3   Give thanks to the Lord of lords,    for his steadfast love endures forever; 4   to him who alone does great wonders,    for his steadfast love endures forever;5   to him who by understanding made the heavens,    for his steadfast love endures forever;6   to him who spread out the earth above the waters,    for his steadfast love endures forever;7   to him who made the great lights,    for his steadfast love endures forever;8   the sun to rule over the day,    for his steadfast love endures forever;9   the moon and stars to rule over the night,    for his steadfast love endures forever; 10   to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,    for his steadfast love endures forever;11   and brought Israel out from among them,    for his steadfast love endures forever;12   with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,    for his steadfast love endures forever;13   to him who divided the Red Sea in two,    for his steadfast love endures forever;14   and made Israel pass through the midst of it,    for his steadfast love endures forever;15   but overthrew1 Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,    for his steadfast love endures forever;16   to him who led his people through the wilderness,    for his steadfast love endures forever; 17   to him who struck down great kings,    for his steadfast love endures forever;18   and killed mighty kings,    for his steadfast love endures forever;19   Sihon, king of the Amorites,    for his steadfast love endures forever;20   and Og, king of Bashan,    for his steadfast love endures forever;21   and gave their land as a heritage,    for his steadfast love endures forever;22   a heritage to Israel his servant,    for his steadfast love endures forever. 23   It is he who remembered us in our low estate,    for his steadfast love endures forever;24   and rescued us from our foes,    for his steadfast love endures forever;25   he who gives food to all flesh,    for his steadfast love endures forever. 26   Give thanks to the God of heaven,    for his steadfast love endures forever. Footnotes [1] 136:15 Hebrew shook off (ESV) Old Testament: Hosea 1–2:1 Hosea 1–2:1 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. Hosea's Wife and Children 2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” 3 So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” 6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Call her name No Mercy,1 for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. 7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.” 8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People,2 for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”3 10 4 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children5 of the living God.” 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished 2 6 Say to your brothers, “You are my people,”7 and to your sisters, “You have received mercy.”8 Footnotes [1] 1:6 Hebrew Lo-ruhama, which means she has not received mercy [2] 1:9 Hebrew Lo-ammi, which means not my people [3] 1:9 Hebrew I am not yours [4] 1:10 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew [5] 1:10 Or Sons [6] 2:1 Ch 2:3 in Hebrew [7] 2:1 Hebrew ammi, which means my people [8] 2:1 Hebrew ruhama, which means she has received mercy (ESV) New Testament: Acts 20:1–16 Acts 20:1–16 (Listen) Paul in Macedonia and Greece 20 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 Jews1 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 Dead 7 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; and2 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. Footnotes [1] 20:3 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 19 [2] 20:15 Some manuscripts add after remaining at Trogyllium (ESV) Gospel: Luke 4:38–44 Luke 4:38–44 (Listen) Jesus Heals Many 38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. Jesus Preaches in Synagogues 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.1 Footnotes [1] 4:44 Some manuscripts Galilee (ESV)

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is an eight part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We will get back to our journey through the Sermon on the Mount in due time.

We look through Philippians 1:3-11 where we see Paul's prayer for the church in Philippi. In his example, we see how to pray with Consistency, Connection & Conviction for God's peopleWatch this message here: https://youtu.be/Dhbc-6LGOkY

Yadkinville UMC is centering our worship on September 25, 2022 around Paul's Letter to the Church in Philippi starting at the second half of verse 4 inchapter 3: to chapter 4 verse 1. We are following Paul all through 2022 from his conversion to his mission to Rome, we will read parts of Acts and all of Paul's letters. Join for a Lectio Divina as prayer and preparation for worship in 2022. If you would like to financially support this ministry of Yadkinville United Methodist Church visit yadkinvilleumc.org/contribute and click “Other” New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. If you would like to financially support this ministry of Yadkinville United Methodist Church visit yadkinvilleumc.org/contribute and click “Other”

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is a four part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We will get back to our journey through the Sermon on the Mount in due time.

Continuing our way through the book of Philippians, deacon of Music, Michael Tooley takes us through Paul's prayer for the church in Philippi; that their love would be more and more like the precise love of God. For more information visit our website: coramdeonc.com

Nobody promised this Christianity thing would be easy. How would you respond if you were arrested merely for changing the life of a broken, hurting person? This is the outcome for Paul and Silas as they end up in the inner prison of the Macedonian city of Philippi merely for rescuing a slave girl from her demons. Doesn’t seem fair. Do they complain? Curse and get bitter? What we find them doing in the middle of the night is actually unnerving and unnatural. We find these two guys in chains, yet they are singing praises and declaring the glory of Jesus in this dark dungeon. God again executes a miraculous release, yet this time the prisoners do not leave. That is interesting— freed prisoners who do not run away. By the end of the story we have another whole house of people who have been rescued by Jesus and a growing church in this city. The praise from prison becomes contagious and shows all of us how we can respond to the worse of adversities we face in life.

Singing in prison--the attitude of Paul when he was beaten in Philippi is the same attitude he displays in the letter to the Philippians. Join us as we introduce the background to Paul's letter to the saints in Philippi.If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, rate, review, & share!For more information, in-person or online studies, or if you have questions, please reach out to us:(717) 585-0949 call/textCapitalCityChristians@gmail.comCapitalCityChristians.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our "Making a Difference" series based on the visions and values of Saint John. Paul did some of his best work from prison, or maybe we should say that God did some of his best work while Paul was imprisoned. Of course, we remember Paul and Silas singing and praising God in the Philippian jail when an earthquake set them free. The jailer was so distressed that he was ready to take his own life. Paul and Silas stepped in, and the man asked how he might be saved. As we know, Paul wrote from prison, most pointedly from Rome. One of these letters was to the church in Philippi. It was a thank you note where he also shared about his deep devotion to Christ.  Paul's reason for being was to exalt Christ.  Whether in life or death, it was Paul's desire to bring glory to Jesus. In Philippians 1:21, Paul offers a hopeful word tied to the power of Christ's resurrection from the dead when he resoundingly states, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” That is a powerful statement for us as we seek to live in the power of Christ's resurrection.  Whether in life or death, we are called to be centered in Christ.

The Good News continued to spread, as Jesus said it would, to the ends of the earth. In the city of Philippi, the first European converts believed. But when the Gospel disrupted the exploitation a young slave girl, Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed. Are we willing to preach a liberating Gospel, even if it means disrupting […]

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. The church at Philippi was passionate about helping Paul spread the message of the Gospel into other cities in their region. The truth of the Gospel had triumph in their lives and they wanted the same for others. When Paul wrote his letter to them, he commended them for their sacrificial generosity. It was their financial investment in work of the Lord through Paul that had enabled the Gospel message to be preached in Thessalonica and many other cities. Today we will discover what happens with churches and believers like us invest in missions. Download Notes Thanks for joining us for this episode and please take a moment to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoy this content, please don't hesitate to leave us a 5-star review and share this podcast with your friends. We'd like to extend an invitation to you and your family to join us for worship this week at Grace Baptist Church. We'd also love to connect with you online at https://gracekettering.org. Thanks again for checking out this episode, and we look forward to having you join us again right here on the Grace Baptist Church Podcast!

Philippians 1:1-2 - Rev. Max Benfer

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is a four part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We are also staying on our journey through the Sermon on the Mount

In This Episode:This week the Tyler and Mike sit down "Pops". Michael Druey (aka "Pops" or "Grandpa Mike") has been trying to do it right for decades and the end result is a rich life that bears the sweet fruit we like to call RELATIONSHIPS. From his incredible personal relationship with God (aka "Dad") to his wife/best friend Sharon, Mike tries to leave enough evidence in the end for the world to be able to convict of being a Christian. In their time with Michael, the guys are treated to a masterclass of mid-week church and nuggets about serving others, loving not judging, putting God first, reaching out to others in their moments of need, and so much more. Michael shares that he was not looking for God but God came and got him and he rest is history. Grandpa Mike, you're right. There are absolute truths out there for us to learn and discover. There is power in just loving. When you're in a hole, there's wisdom in the counsel to "stop digging". We can see that God did indeed flip a switch in Mike's heart and now he is doing a little bit of that to everyone that is lucky enough to know him. Keep stirring the pot Pops. Thanks for showing up, sharing, and teaching us all how to live that richest man in town life. If the game is about impact, you Michael Druey are a champion indeed. Show NotesWho Said It..."When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?...And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." -Matthew 16: 13-17References...Adam Grant's podcast WorkLife (Episode: "How to Change Your Workplace")ColumboEpisode #73: Derick Anderson-"A New Shot at Being the Best Me"Sandy KoufaxHammered DulcimerGrandpa Jones on Hee HawLuke 6: 47-49"Unknown God" in Acts 17:23Parable of the treasure in the field in Matthew 13: 44-46Psalm 23Unbroken by Laura HillenbrandPsst...Check out our website or visit us on our Facebook and Instagram platforms.Mike and Tyler are both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  If you would like to learn more about the Church or their beliefs, we invite you to check it out by clicking here.

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is a four part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We are also staying on our journey through the Sermon on the Mount.

Yadkinville UMC is centering our worship on September 18, 2022 around Paul's Letter to the Church in Philippi chapter 2:1-13. We are following Paul all through 2022 from his conversion to his mission to Rome, we will read parts of Acts and all of Paul's letters. Join for a Lectio Divina as prayer and preparation for worship in 2022. If you would like to financially support this ministry of Yadkinville United Methodist Church visit yadkinvilleumc.org/contribute and click “Other” New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. If you would like to financially support this ministry of Yadkinville United Methodist Church visit yadkinvilleumc.org/contribute and click “Other”

Today we're joined by a special guest, Katie Philippi from Casey, Illinois. In this interview Katie shares with us her "why" for Bible study and how it has developed through the years to where she is now. She also shows us how people influence us and impact our growth toward maturity in Christ, and the challenge of pushing through the daily grind to prioritize time with God's word.    Music Credits  "Faith" by Vibe Tracks  "Cafe Terrace at Night" by John Tadlock "The Starry Night" by John Tadlock

Proper 19 First Psalm: Psalms 61–62 Psalms 61–62 (Listen) Lead Me to the Rock To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David. 61   Hear my cry, O God,    listen to my prayer;2   from the end of the earth I call to you    when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock    that is higher than I,3   for you have been my refuge,    a strong tower against the enemy. 4   Let me dwell in your tent forever!    Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah5   For you, O God, have heard my vows;    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6   Prolong the life of the king;    may his years endure to all generations!7   May he be enthroned forever before God;    appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! 8   So will I ever sing praises to your name,    as I perform my vows day after day. My Soul Waits for God Alone To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 62   For God alone my soul waits in silence;    from him comes my salvation.2   He alone is my rock and my salvation,    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3   How long will all of you attack a man    to batter him,    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?4   They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.    They take pleasure in falsehood.  They bless with their mouths,    but inwardly they curse. Selah 5   For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,    for my hope is from him.6   He only is my rock and my salvation,    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.7   On God rests my salvation and my glory;    my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 8   Trust in him at all times, O people;    pour out your heart before him;    God is a refuge for us. Selah 9   Those of low estate are but a breath;    those of high estate are a delusion;  in the balances they go up;    they are together lighter than a breath.10   Put no trust in extortion;    set no vain hopes on robbery;    if riches increase, set not your heart on them. 11   Once God has spoken;    twice have I heard this:  that power belongs to God,12     and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.  For you will render to a man    according to his work. (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 68 Psalm 68 (Listen) God Shall Scatter His Enemies To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song. 68   God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;    and those who hate him shall flee before him!2   As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;    as wax melts before fire,    so the wicked shall perish before God!3   But the righteous shall be glad;    they shall exult before God;    they shall be jubilant with joy! 4   Sing to God, sing praises to his name;    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;  his name is the LORD;    exult before him!5   Father of the fatherless and protector of widows    is God in his holy habitation.6   God settles the solitary in a home;    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7   O God, when you went out before your people,    when you marched through the wilderness, Selah8   the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,    before God, the One of Sinai,    before God,1 the God of Israel.9   Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;    you restored your inheritance as it languished;10   your flock2 found a dwelling in it;    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 11   The Lord gives the word;    the women who announce the news are a great host:12     “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”  The women at home divide the spoil—13     though you men lie among the sheepfolds—  the wings of a dove covered with silver,    its pinions with shimmering gold.14   When the Almighty scatters kings there,    let snow fall on Zalmon. 15   O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;    O many-peaked3 mountain, mountain of Bashan!16   Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,    at the mount that God desired for his abode,    yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?17   The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,    thousands upon thousands;    the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.18   You ascended on high,    leading a host of captives in your train    and receiving gifts among men,  even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. 19   Blessed be the Lord,    who daily bears us up;    God is our salvation. Selah20   Our God is a God of salvation,    and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.21   But God will strike the heads of his enemies,    the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.22   The Lord said,    “I will bring them back from Bashan,  I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,23   that you may strike your feet in their blood,    that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.” 24   Your procession is4 seen, O God,    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—25   the singers in front, the musicians last,    between them virgins playing tambourines:26   “Bless God in the great congregation,    the LORD, O you5 who are of Israel's fountain!”27   There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,    the princes of Judah in their throng,    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 28   Summon your power, O God,6    the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.29   Because of your temple at Jerusalem    kings shall bear gifts to you.30   Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,    the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.  Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;    scatter the peoples who delight in war.731   Nobles shall come from Egypt;    Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. 32   O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;    sing praises to the Lord, Selah33   to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.34   Ascribe power to God,    whose majesty is over Israel,    and whose power is in the skies.35   Awesome is God from his8 sanctuary;    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.  Blessed be God! Footnotes [1] 68:8 Or before God, even Sinai before God [2] 68:10 Or your congregation [3] 68:15 Or hunch-backed; also verse 16 [4] 68:24 Or has been [5] 68:26 The Hebrew for you is plural here [6] 68:28 By revocalization (compare Septuagint); Hebrew Your God has summoned your power [7] 68:30 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain [8] 68:35 Septuagint; Hebrew your (ESV) Old Testament: Job 40:1; Job 41:1–11 Job 40:1 (Listen) 40 And the LORD said to Job: (ESV) Job 41:1–11 (Listen) 41   1 “Can you draw out Leviathan2 with a fishhook    or press down his tongue with a cord?2   Can you put a rope in his nose    or pierce his jaw with a hook?3   Will he make many pleas to you?    Will he speak to you soft words?4   Will he make a covenant with you    to take him for your servant forever?5   Will you play with him as with a bird,    or will you put him on a leash for your girls?6   Will traders bargain over him?    Will they divide him up among the merchants?7   Can you fill his skin with harpoons    or his head with fishing spears?8   Lay your hands on him;    remember the battle—you will not do it again!9   3 Behold, the hope of a man is false;    he is laid low even at the sight of him.10   No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.    Who then is he who can stand before me?11   Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?    Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. Footnotes [1] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew [2] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown [3] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew (ESV) New Testament: Acts 16:6–15 Acts 16:6–15 (Listen) The Macedonian Call 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul1 had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. The Conversion of Lydia 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the2 district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Footnotes [1] 16:10 Greek he [2] 16:12 Or that (ESV) Gospel: John 12:9–19 John 12:9–19 (Listen) The Plot to Kill Lazarus 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus1 was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The Triumphal Entry 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15   “Fear not, daughter of Zion;  behold, your king is coming,    sitting on a donkey's colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” Footnotes [1] 12:9 Greek he (ESV)

"The Middle Rings" – Philippians 2:14-18 Sermon by Dr. George C. Anderson from Rally Day Sunday, September 11, 2022. "[Paul's] whole letter goes back to what I read as our scripture lesson: 'Do all things without murmuring and arguing. Shine like stars in your witness to give cause for what we all need, for we are living in a crooked and perverse time that needs cause to rejoice.' Paul writes with his heart on his sleeve in writing the church in Philippi because he knew the world needed faith communities like it to be a force of reconciliation and peace. I preach this sermon with my own heart on the sleeve of this robe because I think our world today needs faith communities like this one more than ever. I say that because I feel and sense what Dunkelman talks about—that there has been an erosion of middle ring communities that are formed to bind us rather than to reinforce what divides us." Read the manuscript on our website: https://www.spres.org/the-middle-rings/ 

I remember hearing the story of the Macedonian Call in a missions class at my church when I was a kid. The image of a Macedonian man appearing to Paul in a vision and crying out, “Why don’t you come over here,” felt a little like Red Rover to me. Yet, this story revealed something about God and Paul. Both of them had a passion for the unreached people in the world. The Macedonian Call is a reminder that there are still people all over the globe who have never heard the name of Jesus. In some of these places God is doing miracles and even sending visions to people. Yet, the primary way God has planned to reach those people is through the faithful witness of Jesus’ people and the raising up of future missionaries like Timothy to join the task. The result is the salvation of people such as Lydia in cities like Philippi and formation of a community of faith that will be a mission outpost is each city. Today we will consider the global task God has given us and consider ways each of us can be a part of the Gospel to the nations.

Like the lens of our eyes (or eyeglasses), we all carry around internal thoughts, feelings, and ideas composing core beliefs that filter our everyday experiences and help us make sense of life. As the Apostle Paul writes a “thank-you” note to the church at Philippi that overflows with joy, he begins by providing insight into his core principles that help him understand life. What type of lens do you use to interpret life? Let's take our first step to finding joy together by looking at life through the lens of Philippians 1:1-14.Support the show

Acts 20:1-24 New King James Version Journeys in Greece 20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Ministering at Troas 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. From Troas to Miletus 13 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. The Ephesian Elders Exhorted 17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Cette semaine, le Dance'o'drome de Yuksek retourne vers le Brésil, avec Ubaruh ! Nouveau projet du musicien Philippi (connu pour le duo “Philippi & Rodrigo” et membre de Fatnotronic) avec Emmo Martins, ils ont sorti en mars le titre “Pinche Funky Disco”, qui figure sur la compilation “Multi-Culti Equinox II” ! Ubaruh figure aussi sur la dernière compilation de Partyfine “PARTYFINE, Vol. VI”, sortie le 8 juillet. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Ranters, I am headed to Greece soon as part of a tour to visit the places Paul walked in this second missionary journey. Before I go, I wanted to get into Paul's head. What was he thinking? What was he feeling? How was he adapting his strategy from the previous journey as he was going into a very different environment, far from supporters and benefactors? What were the signs of the Spirit moving? I figured that since I was doing all of this research for myself, I might as well share it with my rant family. It is a four part series. In the fourth podcast, I will review for you my expanded translation of 1 Thessalonians. It is in my opinion, the most transparent, humble and naked of all of Paul's letters. It badly needs an editor. It is as if Paul is speaking off the cuff, pouring out his heart, sharing his anxiety, fears, doubts and joys with these new converts who he thought would have turned their backs on him. Great stuff. Hope you enjoy it. We are also staying on our journey through the Sermon on the Mount.

J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics reviews Acts 16:19-40, Paul's visit to Philippi, verse-by-verse. Have your Bible handy, and be prepared to take notes!

J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics reviews Acts 16:19-40, Paul's visit to Philippi, verse-by-verse. Have your Bible handy, and be prepared to take notes!

J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics reviews Acts 16:6-18, Paul's visit to Philippi, verse-by-verse. Have your Bible handy, and be prepared to take notes!

J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics reviews Acts 16:6-18, Paul's visit to Philippi, verse-by-verse. Have your Bible handy, and be prepared to take notes!

In Paul's opening of his letter to the church at Philippi, he was thankful for his partners in ministry, sure of their future and complete sanctification, and full of hope-filled prayer for their ever increasing love for one another in Christ. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on September 4, 2022.

As the book of Philippians begins, we are reminded that it is a letter. It was written from a couple of slaves to a bunch of saints about the living Savior. The only hope for the Christians in Philippi is Jesus. He is our only hope, too! Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/preach-the-word/id1449859151?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aSveQvIs7SPHWB4UcmSUQ

This Sunday, Pastor Jon wrapped up our Summer sermon series, Defiant Joy: A Study Through Philippians, with Paul's closing message to the church at Philippi. When we study Paul's life and church history, it is evident that the Gospel is always moving along relational lines. Through Paul's relationship with the Philippians we see the Gospel being carried out because of their sacrificial commitment to Jesus and His Kingdom, long, loyal relationships to one another, and generous partnerships to promote the movement. Paul's life of mission was a response to the love that saved him, and he calls us to respond in the same way, giving everything we have for the sake of the Gospel.

In Paul's opening of his letter to the church at Philippi, he was thankful for his partners in ministry, sure of their future and complete sanctification, and full of hope-filled prayer for their ever increasing love for one another in Christ. This message was preached by Erick Cobb on September 4, 2022.

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul[a] had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the[b] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Paul's 2nd journey cements his mission to the Gentiles, as he travels through Asia Minor and then across into Macedonia and Greece. He continues to found new communities of believers. Early on, he meets Timothy who becomes one of Paul's most important associates. In Philippi, Paul meets Lydia, who embraces the Gospel. Always on the move, Paul is chased out of Thessalonica and embraced in Berea. In Corinth, Paul meets Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, who become leaders in the early church. In all this, we see the Holy Spirit at work: sending Paul westward (Acts 16:6-10), opening hearts to the truth of the Gospel, gathering new leaders, even springing Paul and Silas from jail in Philippi (16:16-40). The Spirit will not be held back, instead pressing Paul ever forward. The work of the Spirit continues in us all even now.

Paul's 2nd journey cements his mission to the Gentiles, as he travels through Asia Minor and then across into Macedonia and Greece. He continues to found new communities of believers. Early on, he meets Timothy who becomes one of Paul's most important associates. In Philippi, Paul meets Lydia, who embraces the Gospel. Always on the move, Paul is chased out of Thessalonica and embraced in Berea. In Corinth, Paul meets Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, who become leaders in the early church. In all this, we see the Holy Spirit at work: sending Paul westward (Acts 16:6-10), opening hearts to the truth of the Gospel, gathering new leaders, even springing Paul and Silas from jail in Philippi (16:16-40). The Spirit will not be held back, instead pressing Paul ever forward. The work of the Spirit continues in us all even now.

Welcome to La Jolla Pres Online Worship, we're excited that you're joining us! We're in the Summer sermon series called, "Choosing Joy" looking at the New Testament letter to the Philippians. Despite recent hard times, Paul urges the church to look to Jesus and Choose Joy. Today Pastor Paul is wrapping up the Summer series on Choosing Joy, and we're looking at Philippians 4:14-20. The Apostle Paul is grateful to the church in Philippi, for the generosity that they have shown him, and Paul blesses the people as he wraps up the letter. If you would like to connect with our church, you can find our website at ljpres.org. We hope to see lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus, and we strive to be a place where you experience and are able to express that transforming love of Christ. La Jolla Pres holds a CCLI License to live stream and archive all musical material. It builds our faith to help give back a portion of what God has given us. If you would like to help further His work in La Jolla, San Diego and the world you can give online at LJPres.org/Donate or text 844-957-4017.

The gleeful shouts arising from our basement came from my wife, Shirley. For hours she’d wrestled with a newsletter project, and she was ready to be done with it. In her anxiety and uncertainty about how to move forward, she prayed for God’s help. She also reached out to Facebook friends and soon the project was completed—a team effort. While a newsletter project is a little thing in life, small (and not so small) things can bring about worry or anxiousness. Perhaps you’re a parent walking through the stages of childrearing for the first time; a student facing newfound academic challenges; a person grieving the loss of a loved one; or someone experiencing a home, work, or ministry challenge. Sometimes we’re needlessly on edge because we don’t ask God for help (James 4:2). Paul pointed the followers of Jesus in Philippi—and us—to our first line of defense in times of need: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). When life gets complicated, we need reminders like the one from the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”: Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer. And perhaps in our asking God for help, He’ll lead us to ask people who can assist us.