Seek to honor Christ, and you will live and die well.

Outline:

1. How to honor Christ when we face death.

2. How to honor Christ with our lives.

A gospel-first mindset causes Christian joy in adversity.

Outline:

1. Paul's adversity

2. Paul's response to adversity

To live rightly, we have to love rightly.

Outline:

1. Love & knowledge

2. Love & wisdom

3. Love & Christ

Partnership in the gospel prompts affectionate prayer for the church.

Outline: What mindset should shape our prayers for our church?

1. Joy in our gospel partnership (1:3-5)

2. Confidence that God will accomplish His plans through our partnership (1:6)

3. Affection for those with whom we are in gospel partnership (1:7-8)

God's plan to grow you includes those sitting around you.

Outline:

1. Growth begins with Christ, the head

2. Growth works itself out in the body, the church

3. Growth results in Christ-like maturity

God matures us through preaching about Jesus.

Outline: 3 reasons why Word ministry should be the church’s priority:

1. It reveals God’s purpose for us.

2. It’s how He achieves His purpose in us.

3. It’s worth suffering for.

We are made new through the Word of God.

Outline: What does God do through His Word?

I. New State

II. New Life

III. New Love

IV. New Longing

V. New Clothes

VI. New Face

VII. New Tastebuds

VIII. New Purpose