According to Paul, rejoicing in the Bible must be more than a religious commitment and favorable circumstances, because he's writing from prison. That said, what does it mean to rejoice?

While Paul doesn't bring up egregious issues with the church at Philippi, he does write about points of tension, to include one conflict in the church. This text is about leaders helping people live in forgiveness so that the church can stay on mission and not be distracted.

Our Christian life is not just about getting heaven. Jesus wants to grow us in our faith while we're on earth, so that we're fit to be citizens of heaven. How do we grow? Paul says we press on; we stand firm.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. In Philippians 3:1-11 the Apostle Paul beautifully unpacks to the church at Philippi where their treasure should ultimately be.

We all need Christian examples. Paul gives us three role models to look up to; all three men show us what happens when the gospel really transforms us from the inside out. We begin to look, be, and act like Jesus.

We can obey God out of duty or delight. Paul is trying to get into our motivations and desires. He’s trying to get the us from a surface level obedience to the heart level; that we would begin to obey not out of obligation/duty but out of joy.

A unified church is a humble church, and a humble church is a church that continually beholds the beauty and wonder of their humble Savior. Philippians 2:5-11 is a call to the church at Philippi to adopt the mindset of Jesus Christ, the ultimate portrait of humility.

Pride-like character has the potential to undermine unity and can ultimately divide a church. What's the key to being humble? Be like Jesus. True humility is treating others as if their needs and concerns surpass my own.

The basic idea of this text is a command; a duty that falls on all those who call themselves citizen - soldiers of heaven. Paul says a lot about the courageous solidarity we’re to have as Christians, but what he undergirds that with is the gospel.

The core of the gospel is that we're a people who are set free because of our faith. God calls us to participate with Him in the work of freedom in the world. Freedom Sunday is an effort by IJM to make Christians aware of the injustices that exist around the world and the justice of God.