The idea of fully submitting to either a person or an institution is quite the challenge to most people. Whether it's to the leadership of government or management in the workplace, we all have a natural sense of autonomy. In today's message, Pastor Ed asks us a very important question. How far will our obedience to Christ go? Reflecting on Paul's letter to the Philippians, Pastor Ed reminds us of the humility and obedience that Christ displayed towards The Father. Are we willing to take up our cross for Christ?

One of the quickest ways for discord to take place amongst the brethren is through pride and ambition. When we continually focus on ourselves we oftentimes leave the heart of humility behind. In today's message, Pastor Ed reminds us of the importance of humility by reflecting on the words of Paul to the Philippians. Using Christ as the ultimate example, Pastor Ed encourages us to follow in the footsteps of our Lord. By emulating the humility of Christ, we're better equipped to guard our hearts against pride.

It doesn't take much to notice the division that occurs when taking a look around at the world. Whether it's social, political, or racial, division is an unfortunate reality in our current fallen state. Addressing this very issue, Pastor Ed reflects on the importance of maintaining unity within the body of Christ. Those that have been beaten and bruised by the divisions of the world want unity more than anything else. As Pastor Ed teaches us, what better place to find unity than within the Church of Christ!

Many of us are familiar with the analogy that each believer is an individual stone in a single structure. Once we've put our faith in Christ, each of us becomes a part of something much bigger than race, nation, or background. In today's message, Pastor Ed will teach on the importance of the unity we're to have in Christ. Although our enemy seeks to divide us, Pastor Ed encourages us through the words of Paul to stand strong and strive for unity. Just as the saying goes, united we stand, divided we fall.

Paul’s charge to the church in Philippi, and to us today, is this: live your life in a way that reflects Jesus. In today’s message, Pastor Ed reiterates this and encourages us to remember that we are not just people of the world. We are citizens of Heaven, and have been given a great privilege that we should share with the world! However, sharing this good news is not done just by words, but also by our actions: if we are not living a life set apart from worldly values, our words will mean little to nothing.

In today’s message, we are faced with a bit of a challenge. Pastor Ed reminds us that we are people living temporarily in a sinful world but looking to our eternal home in a sinless place. We must live a life set apart from our current habitat, but still interact within it. However, this means that we can’t just sit back and let sin happen, and say nothing. We should also not simply spout Bible verses and condemn every person of the world for their wrongdoing. Instead, we must approach sin and sinners as Jesus did: with LOVE.

In the first verses of the book of Philippians, Paul makes several statements about how he is living his life that we as Christians many times aspire to mirror. One that Pastor Ed explores today is this: “To live is Christ and to die is gain”. What would it look like if we truly embraced this outwardly radical lifestyle? Not living for our personal gain, but to spread Jesus’s love every moment, and then to look forward to death? If you think about it, that is the Christian life, and our reward awaits us in Heaven!

The apostle Paul had a tough life as he sought to follow Jesus with all his heart. In today’s message, Pastor Ed points out that though Paul found hardship and misfortune as he spread the good news of Jesus, he never seemed to lose his joy. He never let the situation turn his attitude, and even continually remained hopeful despite outward appearances of hopelessness. Paul’s joyful confidence, as Pastor Ed describes it, is an attitude that we as Christians can adopt and convey to the world, no matter our circumstances.

Many of us have thought at some point that the world would “be a better place” if things went how we see fit. Thankfully thats not the case and God is still in charge. Unfortunately it's easy for many of us to treat our prayer life in the same fashion. In today's message, Pastor Ed addresses the issue of expectation. More often than not, we find that God responds to our prayers and requests differently than we expect. Today Pastor Ed will remind us that when we desire to further the Kingdom, often times trials are quick to follow.

In both the Old Testament and the New we read and learn about the hardships that come to those who are faithful to God. In the Epistle to the Philippians we discover that Paul the Apostle wrote the very letter itself while in chains for preaching Christ. In today's message, Pastor Ed addresses the issues of a false prosperity Gospel which causes many to stumble. Although we're promised every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places, the Scriptures warn of the adversities in this life. Today Pastor Ed encourages us to look to the hope we have in Christ to better guard ourselves against false desires.