Lessons for Living (Audio)

I don’t know about you, but thinking about my future death at some unknown time can sometimes makes me sad. Even though I know that when I die I’ll be with Jesus, the process or circumstances of my death don’t bring me happiness. Pastor Mark is teaching about the attitude of the apostle Paul, which was 180 degrees different. Even though he knew he faced imminent death, it was the last thing on his mind. He was concerned with the spiritual health of his readers as well as keeping his focus on serving Christ. His is the example we should strive to follow every day.

I don’t know about you, but thinking about my future death at some unknown time can sometimes makes me sad. Even though I know that when I die I’ll be with Jesus, the process or circumstances of my death don’t bring me happiness. Pastor Mark is teaching about the attitude of the apostle Paul, which was 180 degrees different. Even though he knew he faced imminent death, it was the last thing on his mind. He was concerned with the spiritual health of his readers as well as keeping his focus on serving Christ. His is the example we should strive to follow every day.

One of the problems the Church has is with the walls put up by the individual church assemblies. Differences in style and culture are used to create a “we vs. them” attitude. This is completely contrary to what Jesus prayed for in His famous John 17 prayer – the opposite of the unity Jesus wanted for His Church. Pastor Mark is teaching about the Apostle Paul’s focus on having the Gospel advanced throughout society. He didn’t care about getting credit or whether he even knew the individuals who were taking Christ to the people – he only cared that the name of Jesus was being spread.

One of the problems the Church has is with the walls put up by the individual church assemblies. Differences in style and culture are used to create a “we vs. them” attitude. This is completely contrary to what Jesus prayed for in His famous John 17 prayer – the opposite of the unity Jesus wanted for His Church. Pastor Mark is teaching about the Apostle Paul’s focus on having the Gospel advanced throughout society. He didn’t care about getting credit or whether he even knew the individuals who were taking Christ to the people – he only cared that the name of Jesus was being spread.

Jesus said to take the Gospel to the whole world. The original apostles and the emerging church did just that in their time. They did it without any of the technology we have. They did it by each believer sharing with their friends and neighbors. We seem to have largely left the job to the clergy, to the preachers, and wonder why it seems so few of our friends know about or are interested in Jesus. Pastor Mark is teaching that just like in the first century, the Gospel is spread by individual believers living Christlike lives in front of their friends and then sharing the Truth with them.

Jesus said to take the Gospel to the whole world. The original apostles and the emerging church did just that in their time. They did it without any of the technology we have. They did it by each believer sharing with their friends and neighbors. We seem to have largely left the job to the clergy, to the preachers, and wonder why it seems so few of our friends know about or are interested in Jesus. Pastor Mark is teaching that just like in the first century, the Gospel is spread by individual believers living Christlike lives in front of their friends and then sharing the Truth with them.

It’s hard to imagine being in the Apostle Paul’s position – held in prison and chained to a Roman guard 24 hours a day for 2 years. It’s even more remarkable to know that most of the letters we have from him were written while he was imprisoned. Pastor Mark is teaching from the book of Philippians and will share with us the attitude that Paul was able to have and maintain that allowed him to have such a positive outlook. He had learned to transcend his physical situation and focus on his true responsibility which was sharing the Gospel. This certainly is an example we need to learn to follow.

It’s hard to imagine being in the Apostle Paul’s position – held in prison and chained to a Roman guard 24 hours a day for 2 years. It’s even more remarkable to know that most of the letters we have from him were written while he was imprisoned. Pastor Mark is teaching from the book of Philippians and will share with us the attitude that Paul was able to have and maintain that allowed him to have such a positive outlook. He had learned to transcend his physical situation and focus on his true responsibility which was sharing the Gospel. This certainly is an example we need to learn to follow.

One thing that people tend to underestimate is how much God actually loves them. We hear about Jesus’ sacrifice and brutal death and kind of understand how that was a significant thing for Him to do. It seems that we don’t really believe that God is concerned about the minutiae of our lives. Pastor Mark reminds those of us who have become followers of Christ that we can look back on our lives and see instances where someone was in the right place at the right time and who pointed us toward Jesus instead of our going the other way. God indeed loves us so much!

One thing that people tend to underestimate is how much God actually loves them. We hear about Jesus’ sacrifice and brutal death and kind of understand how that was a significant thing for Him to do. It seems that we don’t really believe that God is concerned about the minutiae of our lives. Pastor Mark reminds those of us who have become followers of Christ that we can look back on our lives and see instances where someone was in the right place at the right time and who pointed us toward Jesus instead of our going the other way. God indeed loves us so much!