Philippians 3:17-21

Among other pleasurable things created and given by God as good gifts to His creation, food is particularly delightful, delicious – and dangerous. Food is necessary for our survival and thriving. We depend on it. But the indulgence of excess food becomes an idol that replaces the One we ultimately need to depend on – our loving Creator and His Son, Jesus Christ – spiritual food and drink who alone truly satisfies and gives eternal life.

Philippians 3:19-21

Paul contrasts the vice of gluttony with the virtue of temperance, showing that self-control is not about restraint or denial, but about redirecting our desires toward Christ. Scripture teaches that God designed us to hunger. Not for excess, but for Him. True satisfaction is never found in overindulgence but in Jesus, the only one who can truly fulfill our deepest needs.

Colossians 3:8-13

What do we love enough to be angry about?  Anger is an emotional response to something we love being threatened.  In our sin, the things we love are often focused on ourselves and we can be swept away in the emotion.  But the forgiveness of Jesus changes what we love most and in His grace we can be patient trusting that God is in control. 

Colossians 3:8-13

Anger is a destructive sin that damages our relationships with others and with God. Jesus came not only to show us the better way of patient love, but to take upon himself the weight of our sinful anger as well as the wrath of God which we rightly deserved.

Colossians 3:1-5, 8-13

One of the most insidious vices, that we easily fall into is that of anger or wrath. Often disguised in pseudo-righteousness, anger quickly morphs into wrath and a litany of other manifestations as human nature takes over, and we seek justice on our own terms. In Colossians, Paul reminds his audience that we are new a new creation because of the Gospel, that believers are “in Christ” and as such are called to put off worldly practices and put on the virtue of godliness. Patience, the willingness to suffer long even in the face of provocation, is both a fruit of faithfulness and the antidote to wrath.

Colossians 3:1-5, 8-13

One of the most insidious vices, that we easily fall into is that of anger or wrath. Often disguised in pseudo-righteousness, anger quickly morphs into wrath and a litany of other manifestations as human nature takes over, and we seek justice on our own terms. In Colossians, Paul reminds his audience that we are new a new creation because of the Gospel, that believers are “in Christ” and as such are called to put off worldly practices and put on the virtue of godliness. Patience, the willingness to suffer long even in the face of provocation, is both a fruit of faithfulness and the antidote to wrath.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 

Sexual sin is a challenge practically every Christian believer wrestles with at one time or another.  What does God's Word have to say about this...and what kind of help will that give when we're in the middle of a moral battle?  

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Lust is a sin which twists God’s good invention - sex - into a pale imitation of his original design. Lust corrupts sex to make it more about personal pleasure and self-fulfilment than glorifying God. But because of what Jesus has done and will do for each of us, our sexual desires can be cleansed from Lust to glorify God, just as he created them to do.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Sexual desire was created by God and given to us as a beautiful gift. But the inappropriate or excessive desire for sexual gratification – lust – is a destructive path that leads to death. However, God has made it possible for us to win the battle with lust and to maintain sexual purity through the redeeming work of His Son, Jesus, and by the indwelling presence, power and work of His Spirit.Sexual desire was created by God and given to us as a beautiful gift. But the inappropriate or excessive desire for sexual gratification – lust – is a destructive path that leads to death. However, God has made it possible for us to win the battle with lust and to maintain sexual purity through the redeeming work of His Son, Jesus, and by the indwelling presence, power and work of His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

This week we are working on killing the vice of lust and growing in our practice of the virtue of chastity. It is neither a cultural view of sexual liberation nor a negative view of sex (often associated with the church) that leads to human flourishing but, rather, a healthy view of God’s vision for sex and a healthy self-control (chastity) around everything outside of God’s vision for sex (lust) that leads to human flourishing and God’s glory.