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Run with Endurance! - Philippians 3:12-4:1

RUN WITH ENDURANCE! Philippians 3:12-4:1 Introduction: The Philadelphia Marathon is just a few weeks away. I will not be running this year (nor have I ever, nor do I plan to in the future!). My son-in-law will be running, and my younger brother has run six times in the past. I’ve adapted the title of my message to the coming marathon, as Paul uses the imagery of running, pressing on, and enduring in the Christian life. As we are getting to the end of Philippians, we see an emphasis, in these final admonitions, on Paul’s concern for practical Christian living. Perilous times will come! In the light of the Gospel, how then should we live? Paul frequently uses several “athletic metaphors,” like “fighting the good fight” or “running a race with endurance.” The paragraph today uses the imagery of a runner, pushing toward the finish line, striving with every fiber to win the race set before him.   Context: Paul has just urged the Philippians to guard the truth of the Gospel and to not fall i
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What Really Matters: The Surpassing Value of Knowing Jesus - Philippians 3:1-11

[My apologies for the formatting issues, I am not sure what is going on. If you would like a PDF of the message email me and I will get it to you later today. SN]  What really Matters: The Surpassing Value of Knowing Jesus Philippians 3:1-11               I think we’ve all heard the saying, “No news is good news.” It strikes me that it seems at times we can interpret that differently: No news (that is, none of the news the media is reporting) is good news!  What really matters, after all? We can be so addicted to our comfort and sense of security as Americans in the 21st century, that it is easy to forget that we are pilgrims in this fallen world, and even the best moments we experience today are only a glimmer of what God has for us! We were created for eternity. It is not a sin to have material blessings and to own property in the world. We want to remember that ultimately, we will live in the New Heaven and the New Earth! We can easily get so focused on the superficial and neglect w
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The Fellowship of the King, Part 2: Saved to Serve - Philippians 2:25-30

  THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE KING, PART II: Saved to Serve Philippians 2:25-30 Introduction : In the Lord of the Rings trilogy each character had a role to fulfill if the mission was to succeed. Last week, in Part 1 of the “Fellowship of the King,“ we saw that We too have been called into the Fellowship, tasked with carrying out God’s mission as a disciple who makes disciples. Epaphroditus was not a Paul, or even a Timothy, but he was a faithful servant… “The Fellowship of the Ring” was a great story, but the “Fellowship of the King” is a world-changing mission. In this “Fellowship” we all have a role to fulfill,   a contribution to make to the unfolding plan of God. We are a team – each of us unique, different, and gifted, to complement one another and to serve together in God’s mission. You were created by God and uniquely gifted to fulfill a specific and important role in His mission in the world. God uses ordinary people like us in the extraordinary program of building His church.
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The Fellowship of the King, Part 1: A Son and a Servant - Philippians 2:19-24

  THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE KING, PART 1: A Son and a Servant Philippians 2:19-24 Introduction : In the epic trilogy; The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkein told a story of the battle of good against evil. A team was assembled to strike a blow against the forces of darkness and cast the ring into the fires of Mordor, “The Fellowship of the Ring.”  In that epic each one who had a part in the fellowship had a role to fulfill. They were all different, but they were all needed, and each had a part in the unfolding story. We have a part in a far greater story, a true story planned by God Himself. Instead of “The fellowship of the ring,” I’ve titled our next two sermons in Philippians, “ The Fellowship of the King .” I’ll call part 1, where Paul speaks of Timothy, “ A Son and a Servant .” Of course, Jesus is Lord, and The Lord is our King!         Shockingly, the King came as a servant, gave his life for us, and was exalted to the right hand of the Father.  We’ve seen Paul’s humility as he just
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