The First Cast

Tolkien once wrote, 'It’s a dangerous business, going out of your door. 'You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.'" It is easy to be swept off course! There are so many deceptive ideas and false teachings. At the close of Philippians 3, Paul reminds us that we run with other believers, run from evil, and we run toward Christ!

If you are in a race, you run to win! The Christian life is not a passive endeavor. The Apostle Paul challenges us to strive daily, keep our eyes on the prize, and run to win!

Are you a list person? There is something about making a "to-do list" and checking the boxes that is just so satisfying! In Philippians 3:4-11, the Apostle Paul shares his testimony. He creates two lists. One is a list of losses and the other a list of gains. When He became a believer, He traded everything he was for everything Christ is. The gain far exceeded the loss!

What does it mean to be a Christian? In Philippians 3:1-3, Paul gives us some of the characteristics of genuine Christianity.

What is a deacon? What are the qualifications of a deacon? In this message, we take a brief excursus from Philippians and examine the role of the deacon in the local church, and hopefully learn a few practical things along the way. 

(9-25-22)

Who is your example? Who do you look at and say, "Now, there is a Christian I want to emulate"? The Bible frequently points us to people that serve as an example to us. In this message, we take a specific look at 3 such examples, Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. As we are challenged by these three men, we must also remember that we, too, are providing an example for others. The question is, what kind of example will we be?

The darkness is uncomfortable. We tend to stub our toes or bang our knees when we move around in the dark. Scary things often hide in the dark. We live in a world completely immersed in darkness. However, as Christians, we have the light. We are to shine in the darkness. The world needs to see the light of Christ. Let's burn brighter and brighter. 

(9-11-22)

The King will return. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. The question is, will we confess it in the present or when He returns?

What kind of title is n ty??? Well, you can't have UNITY without U and I! In this message, we receive a reminder from Paul about the importance of unity within the church. We will notice what motivates unity, how to achieve it, and also examine the perfect example, Jesus!

Paul challenges us to live in such a way that our lives our worthy of the Gospel. It is a call for self-examination. It is a call to "check ourselves." Is my life worthy of the Gospel? How do I live such a worthy life? Paul lets us know in Philippians 1:27-30.