This week Pastor Blaine preached from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. He took time to explain what it must have been like for Paul, chained to a guard in a Roman prison. Yet Paul’s disposition in his letter from prison isn’t sad or full of regret. On the contrary, Paul rejoices from prison; he even rejoices in the very chains he now wears because the gospel is advancing since he is in prison. Paul set in his heart to live each day as though it might be his last, and because this was so, he sought to live it for Christ. For Paul, “to live is Christ.” At the same time, Paul did not concern himself with what might happen to him, for if he died he knew he would go to be with his Lord. For Paul, “to die is gain.” Like Paul, God has placed us on this earth to do something. He has providentially ordained the number of our days. Our concern shouldn’t be how many days we have left, but what the Lord would have me to do today, with they day he has given me.

This week Pastor A preached about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Among other things, which we’ll look at in more detail below, he explained that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. God eternally exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and this God is one God. According to this definition, the Holy Spirit is a person, not that he has a body, but he possesses personhood. Therefore, the Bible can speak of the Holy Spirit as being grieved (Eph 4:30) and lied to (Acts 5:3). Pastor A then went on to answer the question “How do I get oil in my lamp”? We’ll look at the over four brief points.

Recently Pastor A has been highlighting Philippians 2:15, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” He’s driving home the point that Christian growth is necessary and expected. What he’s been talking about is sanctification, “a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives.” Philippians 2:15 falls within the context of 2:12–18. It will be helpful for us to explore how this passage relates to the immediate context. We’ll take a look at the second part of this passage this week. We’ll quickly review and pick up where we left off with verse 15.

Recently Pastor A has been highlighting Philippians 2:15, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” He’s driving home the point that Christian growth is necessary and expected. What he’s been talking about is sanctification, “a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives.” Philippians 2:15 falls within the context of 2:12–18. It will be helpful for us to explore how this passage relates to the immediate context. We’ll take a look at the first part of this passage this week.

Today Pastor A preached about fear and worry, in particular the command not to fear or worry. He notes that fear is something that isn’t just a personality flaw, but is sin. When we fear something or worry about someone we fail to trust God and his sovereign rule. This failure to trust him is sin. He also described fear as that which can enslave us. Just think of some of the better known phobias people struggle with today. These phobias can keep people from doing certain activities. They place limitations on some people, so much so, in some cases, that they are paralyzed with fear and thus a slave to their phobia. In Luke chapter 12, Jesus’ main line of thought to his disciples is putting ones trust in God for everything. In Luke 12:22–34, Jesus instructs us not to fear certain things and to focus our attention on other things. Let’s look at them now.

Today Pastor A preached about compassion, in particular God’s great compassion for us; sinner’s saved by his amazing grace. He then spoke about God the Father’s compassion as something we should dwell on. A day shouldn’t go by when we do not reflect upon God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ, who though he did not sin bore God’s just wrath against our sin, on our behalf, so that by his death, we might experience the love of God for eternity. To experience God’s love for eternity it must be appropriated or applied by faith or belief in the person and work of Jesus Christ. With this in mind, let’s turn our attention to some of the most well known words in Scripture.

Today Pastor A preached about how we can be a light, a witness of the gospel, to our families this holiday season. He relayed to us his own example of how as a young believer he witnessed to his father who eventually came to Christ. He closed the service with another story, one found in Exodus 18, in which Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came to see him following the Exodus of the nation. As we look at Exodus 18, let’s think about ways we can direct family discussions to the gospel during this season.

Today Pastor B (Blaine) preached about how the church is the “light of the world.” As such, the local church should have certain characteristics. We are obligated to be salt and light in the world, where unbelievers are. What this looks like might differ from situation to situation, but the point is to engage our world, our culture with our very lives. With this in mind, let’s turn our attention to Matthew 5.

Today Pastor A preached about the necessity for Christians to be Christians in both word and deed. Our actions should be congruent with what we say about Jesus. Jesus discussed this in his Sermon on the Mount. He told his disciples that they are to be salt and light in this world. What this looks like might differ from situation to situation, but the point is to engage our world, our culture with our very lives. With this in mind, let’s turn our attention to Matthew 5.

Today Pastor A preached about true freedom that is only found in Jesus. This freedom is not limited to any particular person, whether male or female, rich or poor, white or black. Jesus bore God’s just wrath against our sin, which Jesus bore on our behalf, so that by his death, we might receive true life and freedom in him. While this is available to all, it is appropriated or applied to the lives of those who repent of their sins and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. With this in mind, let’s turn our attention to a discussion between Jesus and some Jewish people who “believed in him.”