Living After Sunday

When Jesus enters Jerusalem, He is declaring Himself as King. But why do we wrestle with the concept of a Savior? To truly talk about a Savior, we must first confront the uncomfortable reality that we need saving. A Savior not only rescues us, but also promises something new is on the way—a transformation that brings hope and renewal. This is why Jesus truly is the King we need.

Contentment is defined as being sufficient or adequate in one’s self, so what does Paul mean when he says he discovered the secret of contentment? Paul teaches that attachments themselves aren’t the problem, but that true contentment comes when our loves are rightly ordered, with Christ as our highest affection. This kind of contentment grows as we find our strength in him

What wouldn't we give for peace of mind? The Bible is clear that our thinking shapes our peace and true peace isn't just the absence of conflict; it’s the fullness of life that comes from being made whole in Christ. The scripture encourages believers to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. It outlines practical steps for dealing with anxiety, including prayer, changing thought patterns, and practicing gratitude. Through this approach, believers are reminded that peace can be achieved, even when faced with uncertainty.

Anxiety doesn’t just erode peace; it can completely destroy it. So, how do we confront the anxiety that holds our hearts and minds captive? The Bible tells us that through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God, healing our relationship with Him. Anxiety often focuses on future uncertainties, clouding our ability to live in the present. But God’s peace transcends our understanding and serves as a protector, guarding our hearts and minds like a military patrol. The Apostle Paul encourages us to tap into this peace through Thanksgiving and petitions in our prayer and fighting to maintaining this peace in our lives.

Paul encourages believers to follow his example as he follows Christ. In doing so, we recognize that we are headed in a direction together as a true community of believers. Paul also calls us citizens of Heaven, and this citizenship should inspire us to function like a colony, united in service and community. Being citizens of Heaven gives us great hope, knowing that when we see Jesus, our bodies will be transformed. What an incredible hope it is to live in light of this future! Because of this, we should stand firm in the Lord.

The Christian life is like entering a race, one full of twists and turns that can sometimes feel discouraging. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages believers to press on, no matter the challenges they face. In this discussion, we’ll explore some of the struggles that can cause us to stumble in our journey and why it's crucial to keep running the race.

Paul is telling the church in Philippi that they will encounter visitors who will claim they are lacking in righteousness. Paul himself, however, could boast more than anyone—he was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, and had incredible zeal for God. Yet, he considers all of these things as garbage compared to knowing Christ. The same applies to us: we often try to earn righteousness on our own, often by telling others, "I’m a good person." Paul wants us to recognize that the issue isn’t with righteousness itself, but with where we think it comes from. We continuously seek approval, whether from others or from within, approval that only God can grant. So, how do we secure righteousness from God? Christ became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God. Through this, we are made right with God, which empowers us to live out the good works we are called to do, all because of our standing with God through Christ and this is what he wants the church to understand. They are righteous already because they know Christ!

When you think about giving, what comes to mind? For many people in the church, financial giving isn't something we engage in for various reasons. However, we can learn from the church in Philippi, which gave a collective gift and sent it to the Apostle Paul through Epaphroditus. Because of the Gospel, we are encouraged to give, as Jesus gave to us.

When Paul informs the church in Philippi that he is sending Timothy, he does so to provide them with an example of how they should live in a way that is worthy of the Gospel. As believers, it’s essential for us to both have an example to follow and be an example to others.

Grumbling is a natural part of life, but should it be? Paul instructs us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, a process known as sanctification. As we engage in this journey, we come to realize that it’s God working in us, and as a result, we begin to grumble and complain less. In this discussion, we explore the reasons behind our grumbling and how we can shift our focus to the work God in turning us into children of God.