Pastor's Corner: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?

  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

  Shine Christian, Shine! (or, “God’s Cure for Spiritual Myopia”) Philippians 2:14-18 Introduction: Before our granddaughter got glasses a few years ago, for some time we had noticed her squinting to see things in the distance. She was hesitant about the idea of glasses at first, but when she put on her new glasses, she just couldn’t stop smiling! She said, “Everything looks so clear!” Myopia is a common eyesight problem, and figuratively speaking, it is common in the Christian life as well. We can get so distracted by the struggles of life in a fallen world that are right in front of us, that we can easily lose sight of the bigger picture . Paul used that imagery as he prayed for the Ephesians in Eph 1:16-20, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,   17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,   18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened , that