Sunday Messages - Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages

The church at Philippi was characterized by “different.” These differences included the perspectives of poor and wealthy, women and men, Jews and Gentiles, and those who were political opposites (Acts 16).

Through real and substantial differences, one of the great hallmarks of the church of Jesus Christ must be unity. Though we come from different cultures, backgrounds, experiences, and preferences, in Christ, “citizens of heaven” have the “same mind” and the “same love” (2:2

The people of Philippi remembered how Paul was publicly flogged and how afraid the local authorities were when they found out that they had mistreated a Roman citizen (Acts 16:35-39). Some people view their citizenship in Rome (or the USA) as their highest value.

Not Paul. His highest loyalty is not to Caesar but to Christ. Instead of counting on our citizenship in this world as our highest value, he instructs believers to live a manner of life in ‘Rome’ that is ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ.’

Paul uses the word “joy” 14 times in Philippians and ‘rejoice with me’ two other times. (See 1:4, 18, 25; 2:2, 17, 18, 28, 29; 3:1; 4:1, 4, and 10.) Despite jail, mistreatment, separation from his friends, the end of his career, and the threat of death, joy is not only possible in Jesus; Paul says it is required.

Joy is a happy contentment of the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22) when we see the beauty of Christ in our circumstances, or in spite of them.  

The world around us makes light of the cross of Jesus Christ by claiming that Jesus has not fully proven himself or that there are many other ways to live a fulfilling life. We are here today to refute those assertions.  As we commemorate the Lord’s Table, we are reminded that Christ’s death reveals to us the power of God and the wisdom of God. He is the Son of God, and his ways alone produce lasting joy.

The mission of the church is to faithfully proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ in every generation until Jesus returns. This church gets the privilege of “multiplying committed followers of Jesus” in our generation (check out Matthew 28:18-20). In our passage today, Paul emphasizes the verbal communication of the good news about Jesus in every verse. He gives us some coaching on how to think about the real   afflictions that the church faces when we speak clearly and confidently about Jesus.

It was an extraordinary discovery. While excavating a burial site at Ketef Hinnom, just south of Jerusalem, the archaeologist Gabriel Barkay spotted something that seized his attention. In the ground were two small, rolled plaques of thin silver. Unrolling them, Barkay was astounded to be holding a shortened version of Numbers 6:24-26, known as the Aaronic Blessing.  These plaques, dated from the late seventh century B.C., are the earliest written citations of Scripture.

Three times in the Aaronic Blessing the name of God is  mentioned, emphasizing the fact that all blessing comes from the LORD.  The blessing is phrased in the singular you, which means that it is a personal blessing, being communicated in a corporate setting. As we examine the Aaronic Blessing, let’s give praise to God, “from Whom all blessings flow.”

In Joshua 1, God is making good on a promise first made to Abram (Gen 12:7) 600 years prior. He is bringing his people, Israel, “into the land that I am giving them” (Josh 1:2). God has every right to do this because “the earth is the Lord’s” (Psalm 24:1) and he can give it to whomever he    desires.

As God works in human history, we experience changes, resistance and great personal fears. He holds people responsible to know and believe his Word and puts all his people in situations where believing him requires both strength and courage (Josh 1:8-9). Through it all (let this truth astound you), he goes with us.

With the cold days of winter fast approaching, the Apostle Paul begins to conclude his second letter to Timothy. When Paul writes Do your best to come before winter, he demonstrates an awareness that the shipping lanes were generally closed to traffic from November 10 to March 10. The potential for martyrdom seemed close at hand, so Paul exhibits a sense of urgency that Timothy come to his side. Chapter 4 discloses a sense of legal awareness on Paul’s part.  In verse 1, Paul wrote I charge you, which had a legal connection and can be understood to mean to “testify under oath.” In verse 16, the Apostle recounts his first defense. Clearly, a Roman legal verdict is on his mind.  Note Paul’s last words. The phrase the Lord be with your spirit is singular.  When he ends with grace be with you, the pronoun you is plural.  Clearly, his words are meant for all believers. They are meant for us today.

The Apostle Paul had an extraordinarily wide-ranging network of personal relationships. There was Barnabas, who created an avenue for the former persecutor to be accepted by the Jerusalem church. Aquilla and Priscilla served with Paul while working as tentmakers (Acts 18:1-4). Silas was jailed with Paul while ministering in Philippi (Acts 16:15-40). Luke, a physician, joined Paul on the Apostle’s second missionary journey. Both John Mark and Titus were young associates, connected with the books the Gospel of Mark and Titus. Of course, Timothy, referred to by Paul as “my beloved child”, became the pastor in Ephesus. As we examine Paul’s life, it is clear that he had a great capacity for relationships. Yet, as a follower of Jesus Christ, Paul’s life reminds us that it is not enough to be highly relational. We also need to be relationally wise. As we examine 4:9-15, let’s ponder how to be relationally wise followers of Jesus Christ, as we seek to honor our Lord.