PHILIPPIANS 2:1–11 Do nothing out of selfish ambition, or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3). Paul spoke of the Christian’s privilege of joining in the sufferings of Christ, to His glory. His argument then moved to the impact this should have on our life in community. Our love for … Continue reading “THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST”
THE CHRISTIAN’S DEATH WISH
PHILIPPIANS 1:21–30 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Paul encouraged the Philippians to mature in their insight and love for Christ. The more we mature in this way, the more we come to understand two things. First, we come to see the beauty of Christ Jesus, and … Continue reading “THE CHRISTIAN’S DEATH WISH”
THE PRISON PERSPECTIVE
PHILIPPIANS 1:12–20 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel (Philippians 1:12). In prison, Paul could look back at Joseph. Joseph was imprisoned for being faithful to God, just as Paul was. Joseph did not know it at first, but when the baker … Continue reading “THE PRISON PERSPECTIVE”
FROM LOVE TO DISCERNMENT
PHILIPPIANS 1:9–11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (Philippians 1:9). As he usually did, Paul began this letter with a prayer for the people to whom he was writing. There is a chain in Philippians 1:9–11 that we want to look at … Continue reading “FROM LOVE TO DISCERNMENT”
THE HEALTHY CHURCH
PHILIPPIANS 1:1–8 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers [bishops] and deacons (Philippians 1:1). We turn today to another of Paul’s prison epistles, this one to the Philippians. The church at Philippi must have been one of the happiest of the early … Continue reading “THE HEALTHY CHURCH”
THE ARMOR OF GOD
EPHESIANS 6:1–11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). Just as the old Israel existed to be a priest to the nations, so the new Israel (the church) exists for the purpose of mission to the world. Paul has not completed his … Continue reading “THE ARMOR OF GOD”
CRITICISM AND COMPLIMENTS
SONG OF SONGS 4:1–15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead (Song of Songs 4:1). Several times in the Song of Songs, the husband pays extended compliments to the bride, or vice versa. This … Continue reading “CRITICISM AND COMPLIMENTS”
MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
SONG OF SONGS 8 Come away, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains (Song of Songs 8:14). Sexual problems sometimes cause problems for Christian marriages, and today we want to consider some of the reasons for this. The first is that since the early days of … Continue reading “MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY”
KNOWING ONE ANOTHER
GENESIS 4:1–2 Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and gave bare to Cain (Genesis 4:1a nkjv). The Bible uses the verb know to refer to physical relations in marriage. In the Bible, “knowing” speaks to the deepest levels of human intimacy, and for intimacy to be possible, there must be knowledge. We see … Continue reading “KNOWING ONE ANOTHER”
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE?
EPHESIANS 5:22–32 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife (Ephesians 5:31a). Ephesians 5 brings us to Paul’s advice to husbands and wives regarding life in the unity of marriage. With this in mind, we are now going to take six days to consider the biblical … Continue reading “WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE?”