West Lynchburg

Holiness of God

1) Chains (v12-14)

Chains gave Paul contact with the lost (v12-13)

2) Critics (v15-19)

3) Crisis (v20-26)

Finding Joy – Philippians 1:3-11

3 ways thankfulness for others leads to joy

Finding Joy – Philippians 1:1-2

Finding Joy Established (Acts 16 – p 870)

When Plans Change: Paul (16:1-12)

When Lives Change:

Lydia (16:13-15)

Slave Girl (16-21)

Jailer (16:22-34)

Finding Joy Encouraged (Philippians 1:1-2 – p921)

The joy of service (the writer of the book)

The joy of saints (the recipients of the book)

The joy of salvation (the results taught in the book)

Seasons of Life – Season of Loss

Life can be sobering when you realize that nothing in life is permanent

You can lose your finances, job, health, marriage, loved ones who’ve died.

Ecclesiastes 8:14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

How to respond to life’s losses

HOW?

Seasons of Life – Living in the Season

Facts about the Seasons of Life

1) Seasons are beyond my control

2) Seasons are often confusing

3) Seasons are displaying God’s purpose

4) Seasons include both good and bad times

How to Live in the Season – 4 Questions to ask yourself

1) Ask - What can I learn in this season?

2) Ask - What can I enjoy in this season?

3) Ask - What is important in this season?

4) Ask – How can I help in this season?

The Christian life is not just a matter of believing, it also includes belonging

Believing - > Belonging - > Becoming

A Church family helps me… (in at least 5 ways)

1) Focus on God

Psalm 34:3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

2) Face life’s challenges

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 [Jesus] who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

3) Fortify my faith

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity…

4) Find my ministry

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

5) Fulfill my calling

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

In order to make sure we understand the question, let’s consider it’s inflection...

1) Jesus’ question is..Personal  Do YOU believe this?”

2) Jesus’ question is...Pointed  Do you BELIEVE this?”

3) Jesus’ question is... Precise  Do you believe THIS?”

Jesus makes 4 claims that He asks you to believe:

A) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Deity  “I am the resurrection and the life...”

B) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Death  Whoever believes in me, though he die

C) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Destiny  yet shall he live

D) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Deliverance  everyone who lives & believes in me

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

1 Corinthians 1:23

1) Reality

Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once”

2) Result - SIN

3) Remedy

This leaves us with only one of two responses to death

1) Reject God as Savior and Creator to live our own way, damaged by our rebellion, facing death and judgment on our own account

2) Receive God’s Salvation and become an Adopted Child of God - submit to Jesus as and believe in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Be forgiven & receive eternal life!

* Invest in the lives of others for the gospel

* Inspire others by living the gospel by loving them toward the gospel

* Invite people through the gospel to a relationship with Jesus and His church

The wells that leave you thirsty

1) The well of relationships – many try to fill their emptiness with relationships

2) The well of appearance   – look right, big/small; short/tall;blond/brown/red/hair

3) The well of performance– not relationships (no date) but GPA, raise, trophy

4) The well of possessions– just gotta have it. Stuff mart

Inviting people to Jesus - Love * Forgiveness * Acceptance * Security * Significance

Following Jesus’ method of inviting

1) Natural realm - v7

2) Spiritual realm - v10

3) Conscience/law - v16

4) Invite to Jesus - v26