The United Church of Canandaigua

Paul writes from prison as a man mid-race, not yet at the finish line, pressing on toward the goal Christ has called him toward. This sermon follows his movement from honest concession to forward-leaning hope, and challenges the congregation to forget what is behind, fix their eyes on their heavenly citizenship, and come to the Lord's Table as fellow runners still running the race.

Paul has the most impressive religious resume imaginable, and he calls it garbage. This sermon follows Paul’s journey from confidence in his own achievements to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, and challenges the congregation to honestly examine what they are trusting for their standing before God.

As Paul sends Timothy and Epaphroditus back to Philippi, he offers the church two real-life examples of what it looks like to put others first and keep the gospel at the center. The sermon challenges the congregation to honor those who have poured into them and to consider how God is calling them to pour into others.

Paul's call to work out our salvation with fear and trembling raises a question at the heart of the Christian life: how much is our effort and how much is God's? This sermon holds that tension and invites the congregation to faithful, joyful cooperation with God.

Paul completes the Christ Hymn by announcing that because Jesus humbled himself to death on a cross, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. Rooted in Isaiah 45, the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord is both a cosmic declaration and a daily posture, one that calls the congregation to seek neither power nor prestige but to humble themselves as Christ humbled himself.

As citizens of heaven, we are to live our lives in a way that is characteristic of those of the kingdom. Our humility as Christians should cause the world to pay attention to the humility of Christ. Let us strive for an honor, not understood from the world, that embodies love and service toward others.

In his first command to the Philippians, Paul calls the church to conduct themselves as worthy citizens of the gospel: united, unafraid, and expecting that suffering is part of the journey. Grounded in all they have already received in Christ, the congregation is challenged to live counter-culturally, putting others first in humility rather than seeking status or self-promotion.

Facing an uncertain future in prison, Paul models what it looks like to trust God when you don't know how things will turn out. This sermon explores the tension Paul holds between his own desires and God's purposes, calling the congregation to place Christ at the center of life and hold everything else with open hands.

Paul writes from prison not with bitterness but with joy, because his chains have only served to advance the gospel. This sermon explores how God uses our most difficult circumstances as conductors of his power, and calls us to the same gospel-centered freedom Paul modeled.

Paul's opening to the Philippians is a letter of deep affection and confidence, not in circumstances, but in the God who finishes what he begins. This sermon launches our summer series through Philippians by grounding us in partnership, joy, and Paul's prayer that our love would abound more and more in wisdom and bear fruit through Jesus Christ.