River of Life Church Sauk Centre (Audio)

In Philippians chapter three, Paul talks about people who have traded the good news of Jesus for the things of this world, and he weeps for them, longing that they would come to know God. In the same way, we are challenged not to trade the things of God for the world, and to long for those around us to know Him.

Because of Jesus, even the parts of our past we’re not proud of can remind us how far His grace has brought us. When we see our story through the lens of Christ, everything looks different.

It's easy to lose sight of all that God has done for us—and even easier to take His blessings for granted. Philippians reminds us to do everything without grumbling or complaining so that our lives shine as a testimony of God's work in us. It's a call back to gratitude and a heart posture that reflects His goodness to the world around us.

Today we welcome Todd Marshall from Worship Is Life as our guest speaker. In this message, Todd unpacks how worship goes beyond Sunday morning—it's a way of life. True worship flows out of our relationship with God and impacts how we live, love, and connect with others every day.

It’s easy to reach for what we think we deserve—to chase recognition, status, or being first. But Jesus calls us to something different. As we grow in faith, we begin to see that true maturity looks like humility—putting others above ourselves, because that’s what Jesus did.

Paul was deeply committed to his calling, yet he still faced moments of struggle. We see his resolve to honor Christ no matter the outcome. He also didn’t walk that path alone—he relied on prayer, the Spirit, and the support of his Christian community. His life reminds us that we stand firm together, striving side by side for the gospel and exalting Christ in all we do.

As we begin studying the letter to the Philippians, we see Paul expressing deep gratitude for the way the church has supported him—both spiritually and physically. Paul is clearly dedicated to God’s mission, and he’s backed by a church that is equally committed to helping him carry out the calling God has placed on his life.

As believers, we have the Holy Spirit—but how often do we actually seek Him and rely on His power to move in and through us? We don’t just want Him to show up in our struggles—we want Him to empower us to boldly share the Gospel with those around us.

At some point in life, we will all experience grief. It might come through the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or even the loss of a dream, a sense of security, or our health. Grief takes many forms, and how we respond to it can shape us deeply. In the midst of our pain, it’s important to remember that God is near—walking with us through our hardest moments.

Life gives us plenty to worry about—money, kids, the house, the car, work, even our own self-worth. But God doesn’t just command us not to worry; He calls us to seek Him first. Peace doesn’t come from having everything under control—it comes from trusting the One who is.