Paul’s Thanksgiving

Paul is thankful for the Church in Colossae and for the way God has worked in the lives of the Colossians.

We are thankful for the Redeemer Day School and the way God is working in the lives of all the people associated with the school (students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the school).

Colossians 1:3-8 NLT
Paul’s Thanksgiving
³ We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, ⁵ which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
⁶ This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
⁷ You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. ⁸ He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

Examine the Scriptures:

Colossians 1:3-8 NLT

Note:  These six verses are all one sentence in the Greek text.

Paul’s Thanksgiving 

³ We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God,

We refers to Paul and Timothy.

“Thanks” is an important theme in the book of Colossians.  (Verse 1:3, 1:12, 2:7, 3:15-17, 4:2)

• Paul not only teaches but he also prays regularly and gives thanks to God for those he shepherds.

• Scripture tells us to be persistent in our prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:18 NLT
¹⁸ … Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

How can you apply this to your life? 

the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

God is the Father of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus is Lord.

• Paul emphasizes the lordship of Jesus Christ in his letter to the Colossians.

In verses 15-23 we’ll learn about the preeminence of Christ.

Paul talks about the deity of Christ in chapter 2.

Colossians 2:9 NLT
⁹ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 

John 14:6 NLT
⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 

Your faith in Christ Jesus.

Faith is directed vertically, toward Christ.

Your love for all of God’s people.

Love is horizontal, toward others.

God’s people, Christians, Saints, people who have been set apart by God as His own holy people.

Colossians 3:12 NLT
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,

• Paul thanks God for the Colossians spiritual growth, their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all of God’s people. 

Bottom line:

We all want all of our students to have a growing faith in Jesus and a love for others. 

⁵ which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. 

Faith in Christ Jesus and love for all of God’s people, comes from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.

• Reflecting on the hope of an eternal inheritance awaiting believers can inspire faithfulness and love in our daily lives.

Your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.  An eternal inheritance awaiting believers not yet fully revealed.

1 John 2:25 NIV
²⁵ And this is what he promised us—eternal life. 

Hebrews 10:23 NLT
²³ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Our hope is not just wishful thinking but a firm assurance of something that will happen.

• Three great Christian virtues, faith, hope, and love are foundational to the Christian life.

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
¹³ Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
³ As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT
⁸ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

Hebrews 10:22-24 NLT
²² let us go right into the presence of Go with sincere hearts fully trusting (faith) him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
²³ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. ²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 

Faith is the soul looking upward to God,

Love looks outward to others,

And hope looks forward to the future.

Faith rests on the past work of Christ,

Love works in the present, and

Hope anticipates the future. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) 

You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

The confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.

The hope of heaven should inspire faithfulness and love in our daily lives. 

⁶ This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world.

Refer to a Bible map.  (This is primarily the area around the Mediteranea Sea.)

Romans 1:8 NLT
⁸ Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.

Within three decades of Pentecost. 

It (the Gospel) is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives,

See verse 10

¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. 

• Lives are transformed by the dynamic power of the Gospel.

Romans 1:16 NLT
¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

The gospel’s impact is both personal and communal.

We are a part of this global movement of the gospel, both by living transformed lives and by sharing the message.

Think about the lives of your students being changed by the dynamic power of the Gospel. 

⁷ You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 

Paul did not start the church at Colossae.  The people heard the gospel from Epaphras, a fellow Colossian.  (Colossians 4:12) 

Note: You are God’s faithful servant, sharing the Good News with your students. 

⁸ He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

The Holy Spirit is the source of all Christian love.

This love is a divine gift, reflecting the Spirit’s work in their lives. It serves as evidence of their genuine faith and connection to God.

1 John 4:7, 11, 19 NLT
⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 

¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.

• The love we have for others comes from God.

• We are commanded to love each other.

John 13:34-35 NLT
³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 

Romans 13:8 NLT
⁸ Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 

---

Greetings From Paul

Paul wrote this letter to the Colossian Church to address some false teaching that was taking place in the church.

• • • Paul feel a pastoral responsibility for the church at Colosse (and Laodicea). He wants to help them deal with the dangerous teaching threatening their spiritual health.

Colossians 1:1-2 NLT
Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
² We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
May God our Father give you grace and peace.

Examine the Scriptures:

Colossians 1:1-2 NLT

• The church at Colosse was not founded by Paul.

The Apostle Paul did not visit Colosse as far as we know from the Bible. While Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians, it is widely believed that he had never been to the city.

In Colossians 2:1, Paul mentions that he is writing to people who “have never met me personally,” which indicates he had not personally visited them. However, Paul had a deep concern for the church there and wrote the letter to address doctrinal issues and encourage their faith.

Colossians 2:1 NLT
^2:1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

• Paul felt a pastoral responsibility for the church at Colosse (and Laodicea). He wants to help them deal with the dangerous teaching threatening their spiritual health. (bullet point repeated)

Paul wrote to correct doctrinal errors that threatened the Colossian church. 

Laodicea was located just north of Colosse.

It appears that the false teachings in Colosse had spread to Laodicea.

Laodicea is one of the churches mentioned in Revelations.

Revelation 3:14-16 NLT
The Message to the Church in Laodicea
¹⁴ “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:
¹⁵ “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! ¹⁶ But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

The church in Colosse was likely established by Epaphras, a co-worker of Paul who was from that region (Colossians 1:7-8; 4:12-13).

• During the time when Paul spent three years in Ephesus, Epaphras may have heard Paul sharing the gospel, was converted, and took the gospel message to Colosse.

Acts 19:8-10 NLT
Paul Ministers in Ephesus
⁸ Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. ⁹ But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.

Colossians 1:7-8 NLT
⁷ You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. ⁸ He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.

If Paul was the spiritual father of Epaphras, that would have made Paul the spiritual grandfather of the church at Colosse.

• It appears that Epaphras was concerned about some false teachers at Colosse. He was so concerned about the false teaching that was occurring in the Colossian church that he had traveled to Rome to discuss this matter with Paul.

Epaphras would have been with Paul when Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians.

Colossians 4:12-13 NLT
¹² Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. ¹³ I can assure you that he prays hard for you …

This letter was written by Paul while he was in prison in Rome sometime between A.D. 60-62 and is referred to as a prison epistle (along with Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon.)

7 of Paul’s letters (Galatians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) address false teaching, false teachers, or the misunderstanding of Christian doctrines within the church.

Colosse was a small city in Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia.  It was on the Lycus River about 100 – 120 miles east of Ephesus.  At one point in time, Colosse was on a trade route. When the trade route changed, Colosse was diminished to a second rate market town. It was known for its wool production.

• Colosse was a small city whose population was mainly Gentile with some Jews.

The church itself was likely made up of both Gentile and Jewish Christians.

• Paul’s emphasis on the unity of believers in Christ (Colossians 3:11 NLT) suggests that the church was ethnically and culturally diverse, united by their faith in Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 NLT
¹¹ In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

 

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, 

chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,

Paul considered himself to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.

He was not one of the original 12 Apostles, but he did see the risen Christ

1 Corinthians 9:1 NLT
^9:1 … Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn’t it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?

1 Corinthians 15:8-9 NLT
⁸ Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. ⁹ For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

And he did possess special miraculous powers given to authenticate apostles.

2 Corinthians 12:12 NLT
¹² When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 

• It was God’s plan, not Paul’s plan, for Paul to be an apostle.
  • • Paul was commissioned and sent by God.
    • Paul’s authority comes from God.

Application for us:

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Philippians 2:13 NLT
¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 

and from our brother Timothy. 

² We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Look at Colossians 3:12 NLT

¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,
or
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, (NIV) 

Christians are holy in the eyes of God because of what Christ has done for them.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Ephesians 1:4 NLT
⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

 

Some translations say:

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: ESV

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: KJV

Those who have been separated from sin and set apart for God’s purposes.

Paul addresses the Colossian believers as faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul addresses the Colossians as God’s holy people.

Paul addresses the Colossians as people who have a personal relationship with Christ. 

The phrase “in Christ” is used 6 times in the book of Colossians.

The phrase “with Christ” is used 6 times in the book of Colossians

• Paul is writing this letter to God’s holy people.
• God’s holy people (Saints) are set apart for God’s use.
• The recipients of this letter are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
• The recipients of this letter are “believers” in Christ Jesus. 

May God our Father give you grace and peace.

Imagine knowing that people were praying this for you.

Discuss grace.

Grace is unmerited favor and kindness of God toward humanity, freely given despite our undeserving nature.

Grace enables us as believers to live godly lives and overcome sin.

Grace empowers us as believers to grow in holiness and fulfill God’s purposes.

Grace provides strength, guidance, and hope in our spiritual journey.

• Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.
• Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Paul Thanks the Philippians for Their Gifts

Introduction:

There are a number of “Biblical Principles” in this passage for us to consider.

Philippians 4:10-23 NLT
Paul Thanks the Philippians for Their Gifts
¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. ¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. ¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
¹⁵ As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. ¹⁷ I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
²⁰ Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

Paul’s Final Greetings
²¹ Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. ²² And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
²³ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Examine the Scriptures:

Philippians 4:10-23 NLT

Thanksgiving for the Philippians Gifts 

¹⁰ How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 

• Paul is praising the Lord because the Philippian Church was demonstrating their concern for him.

Galatians 6:10 NLT
¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

1 John 3:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

• Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:10 NLT 

¹¹ Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 

• Paul certainly appreciated the Philippians’ gift, but he knows that he doesn’t need their money. Paul has learned to be content in any situation. 

¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 

• Learn how to be content with whatever you have.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT
⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

Matthew 6:25-26 NLT
²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 

³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

Hebrews 13:5 NLT
⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.” 

¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

• God gives believers the strength to do whatever He asks them to do.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT
⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. ⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 NLT
⁷ We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT
⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Galatians 2:20 NLT
²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Psalm 37:3-5 NLT
³ Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
⁵ Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.

¹⁴ Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

• Even though Paul did not need the Philippians money, it was a good thing for them to share their money with Paul in his time of trouble.

God doesn’t need our money, but He does want us to experience the blessing of giving.

Hebrews 13:16 NLT
¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. 

¹⁵ As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. ¹⁶ Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 

¹⁷ I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

Paul clarifies that he seeks not the gift itself but the spiritual reward that will benefit them.

Notice this verse does not mention money.

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-12 NLT
⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” ⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
¹¹ Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. 

• God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 

¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 

Offered with the correct attitude.

The Philippians’ gift was a spiritual sacrifice

• Gifts given with the correct attitude are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 

Matthew 25:34-40 NLT
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Proverbs 19:17 NLT
¹⁷ If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!

Exodus 29:18 NLT
¹⁸ then burn the entire animal on the altar. This is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the Lord.

Lev 4:31
a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 

¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

• Paul assures the Philippians that God will also meet all their needs, both physical and spiritual, from his glorious riches.

Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT
⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
¹⁰ Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine. 

Luke 6:38 NLT repeated
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” 

An example of God’s spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT
¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

²⁰ Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

• God alone deserves the glory. All provisions, blessings, and honor come from Him.

Paul’s Final Greetings

²¹ Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. ²² And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.
²³ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Introduction:

A Challenging “To Do” List.

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.

Philippians 4:4-9 NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Examine the Scriptures:

A Challenging “To Do” list.

Philippians 4:4-9 NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  

Many translations say:

Rejoice in the Lord always

Other verses to consider:

Philippians 2:18 NLT
¹⁸ Yes, you should rejoice,

Philippians 3:1 NLT
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. 

Psalm 32:11 NLT
¹¹ So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! 

Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT
¹⁸ … be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Scripture tells us to rejoice in the Lord always.

Paul is not saying “be happy”.

There are many circumstances in which we cannot be happy, but we can always rejoice in the Lord and delight in Him.

• Rejoicing in the Lord is an act of faith.

Do you need a reason to rejoice?  Consider the following.

*Start by knowing that you are loved, chosen, and holy. (Colossians 3:12)

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

John 14:1-3 NLT
^14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 

What verses do you want to add? 

Reflect on the following translations of Philippians 4:5a

⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  NLT 

⁵ Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. CEB 

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.  ESV 

Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. ERV 

Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. NASB

Let your moderation be known unto all men. KJV

Let your gentleness be known to all men. NKJV 

Let everyone know how considerate you are. NOG 

Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. TLB 

Let your gracious attitude be known to all people. ISV 

Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. GNT 

Let your patient mind be known unto all men. GNV

Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. LSB 

Be kind and patient in a way that everyone can see.  EASY 

Let your modesty be known to all men. DRA 

What did you hear?

Matthew 5:43-44 NLT
⁴³ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 

Philippians 2:3 NLT
³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

• Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. 

Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 

Live with an active sense of purpose, love, and readiness.

Matthew 24:42 NLT
⁴² “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

Leave justice in God’s hands.

Romans 12:19 NLT
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. 

• Be ready for the coming of the Lord. 

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; 

Don’t be anxious about anything

Scripture tells us not to worry or be anxious about anything.

We can care and be genuinely concerned, but we should not worry or be anxious.

Worry indicates a lack of trust in God’s wisdom, sovereignty or power.

• Don’t worry about anything. 

instead, pray about everything. 

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done. 

• Pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.

Romans 12:12 NLT
¹² Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷ Never stop praying.

1 Peter 5:7 NLT
⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 

⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

• The peace of God surpasses all understanding.

John 14:27 NLT
strong>²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Colossians 3:15 NLT
¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

Isaiah 26:3 NLT
³ You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

Colossians 3:2 NLT
² Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

• Think about the things of heaven. 

⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.

Focus on what you know to do.

Do not focus on the things you don’t understand.

Don’t focus on the hypothetical.

• Do what you know you should be doing.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

 

Introduction:

Live Together in a Manner Worthy of Christ’s Gospel.

Stay true to the Lord.

Love others.

Settle your disagreements with others.

Be available to help others resolve their conflicts.

Philippians 4:1-3 NLT
¹ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
² Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. ³ And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Examine the Scriptures:

Philippians 4:1-3 NLT

¹ Therefore,

Therefore applies to the content in chapter 3.

Following Paul’s example (3:17)

Straining Toward the Goal. (3:14)

Setting their minds on heavenly things (3:20-21)

Sanctification

Etc.

my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. 

• Stay true to the Lord (or Stand firm in the Lord.)

Paul exhorts these Philippian believers to “stay true to the Lord”. 

Stand firm in the Lord (the wording used in numerous translations)

This is an exhortation I would give to you and hopefully you would all give this exhortation to me.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

• We ought to encourage each other to “stay true to the Lord”.

Stay true to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT
¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

Philippians 1:27 NLT
²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

Colossians 1:22-23 NLT
²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. …

Hebrews 10:23 NLT
²³ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT
¹² Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. ¹³ You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. ¹⁴ For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Galatians 6:9 NLT
⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 

for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

These saints were to their spiritual father Paul what victory wreaths were to runners in the Greek races.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NLT
¹⁹ After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! ²⁰ Yes, you are our pride and joy.

Leading others to Christ gives Paul hope and joy.  Helping believers develop, grow to maturity, produce and reproduce is what Paul lived for.

Their continuing faithfulness to Christ was a deep source of joy to Paul and the crown for his hard work.

ASK:

Who (or what) is your joy and crown?

Your own family?

Your students (and their families)?

Other? 

I love you and long to see you, dear friends,

Paul is addressing a group of brothers and sisters in Christ that he loves and longs to be with.

Paul does the following well:

Mark 12:30-31 NLT
³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

John 13:34-35 NLT
³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

• Love each other.

 ² Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 

• Settle your disagreements with other believers.

Mark 3:24-25 NLT
²⁴ “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. ²⁵ Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 

James 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

This is important! (Scripture is filled with verses similar to the following verses.)

Refer back to:
Philippians 2:2
² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 

1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
¹⁰ I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT
^4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 

Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

How important is reconciliation?

Reconciliation needs to be a priority.

Matthew 5:23-24 NLT
²³ “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, ²⁴ leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

A Biblical example of working out differences.

The Matthew 18 principle

Matthew 18:15-17
¹⁵ “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. ¹⁶ But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 

³ And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women,

This person is unknown

• Be available to help resolve conflicts. 

 for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News.

• Christians are not immune to conflict.

At one point in time Euodia and Syntyche worked hard with Paul telling others the Good News.

They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Euodia and Syntyche had also worked along with Clement and the rest of Paul’s co-workers.

Introduction:

Do not be Led Astray by False Teachers

• Do not be deceived when people try to trick you with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

A lesson about Heaven and Hell.

For or against:

Matthew 12:30 NLT
³⁰ “Anyone who isn’t with me (Jesus) opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

 

Philippians 3:17-21 NLT
¹⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. ¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. ²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Examine the Scriptures:

Pressing Toward the Goal (continued)

Philippians 3:17-21 NLT
¹⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine,

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT
 ¹ And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

We know that Paul desired to live a Christlike life.

Pattern your lives after believers who are less imperfect than you and know how to deal with imperfection and who can model the process of pursuing the goal of Christlikeness.

• Pursue Christlikeness.

Christlikeness refers to the process by which believers are conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. It involves obedience to and trust in God, and through the Holy Spirit, God refashions believers in the image of his Son. 

and learn from those who follow our example. 

Imitate other mature Christians.

Hebrews 13:7 NLT
⁷ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

This would certainly include Timothy and Epaphroditus. 

Philippians 2:19-20 NLT
¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. ²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 

Philippians 2:25 NLT
²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

• Pattern your lives after believers who model the process of pursuing the goal of Christlikeness.

Is your life a good model for your students?  Many will be imitating you. 

¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 

• Many of the people around us are enemies of the cross.

Here these could be Jews or Gentiles.  They might be in the church or outside the church.

Acts 20:28-30 NLT (Paul speaking to the Ephesian Elders.)
²⁸ “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. ²⁹ I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 

Ephesians 4:14 NLT
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

• Be careful who you imitate.

Do not be deceived when people try to trick you with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

¹⁹ They are headed for destruction.

• Eternal destruction (Hell) is the ultimate judgment of God for those who reject Christ and live self-centered lives.

John 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 NLT
⁷ And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 

Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

Enemies of the cross of Christ described:

Their god is their appetite, (serving their own personal interests)

they brag about shameful things, (living immoral lives)

and they think only about this life here on earth.

Romans 16:18 NLT
¹⁸ Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

2 Peter 2 (selected verses)
¹² These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. ¹³ Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. ¹⁴ They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. ¹⁵ They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. ¹⁶ …
¹⁷ These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. ¹⁸ They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. ¹⁹ They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.  

Jude (selected verses)
⁸ In the same way, these people—…—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. ⁹ … ¹⁰ … these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. ¹¹ What sorrow awaits them! …
¹² When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. ¹³ They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

Remember who you are.

²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.

Philippi prided itself on being a Roman colony.

Roman citizenship was considered a significant honor and privilege in ancient Rome.

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

1 Peter 1:1-5 NLT
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to God’s chosen people …
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. ⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

John 14:1-3 NLT
¹ “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

• We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. 

And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.  

• We are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Romans 8:23 NLT
²³ … We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 

1 Corinthians 1:7 NLT
⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

1 John 3:2 NLT
² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT
⁸ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 15:53 NLT
⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT
⁴³ Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. ⁴⁴ They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

• The best is yet to come.

 

The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ

Introduction:

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

A warning against confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:1-9 NLT
The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ
^3:1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
² Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. ³ For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, ⁴ though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
⁵ I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶ I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Examine the Scriptures:

Philippians 3:1-9 NLT
The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ 

^3:1 Whatever happens,

Paul’s circumstances.

^2:23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.  

• Paul was uncertain of his future. (As we all are.) 

my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.

Philippians 4: NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

James 1:2-4 NLT
² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

• Always be joyful. 

I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

• Repetition of Biblical truths is a good thing.

We need reminders.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NLT
⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children.  

² Watch out for those dogs,

Here Paul is describing Judaizers, not Gentiles.

those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 

Warning.

Judaizers.

In the early church, those who taught a combination of God’s grace and human effort were called “Judaizers.” The word Judaizer comes from a Greek verb meaning “to live according to Jewish customs.”
A Judaizer taught that, in order for a Christian to truly be right with God, he must conform to the Mosaic Law. Circumcision, especially, was promoted as necessary for salvation. Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes first, and then they could come to Christ. The doctrine of the Judaizers was a mixture of grace (through Christ) and works (through the keeping of the Law). (Got Questions)

Think about:

• • • Judaizers were teaching what they had been taught when they were growing up.

2 Peter 2:1 NLT
^2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.

2 Timothy 4:3 NLT
³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

• Beware of false teachers. 

³ For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised.

• True circumcision is an inner transformation, a cutting away of sin and selfishness from our hearts, allowing us to fully love and obey God.

Colossians 2:11 NLT<¹¹ When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Not performed by human hands, but by the Holy Spirit.

not “outward and physical.”

Deuteronomy 10:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. ¹⁶ Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.

Truly circumcised – a changed heart. 

We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

• Those who put their trust in Jesus Christ are the ones who are truly circumcised.

Romans 2:28-29 NLT
²⁸ For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. ²⁹ No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. 

Warning against confidence in the flesh.

• Do not put your confidence in human effort. 

 ⁴ though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

Paul had a strong Jewish background.

⁵ I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶ I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

• Paul had practiced the strictest obedience to the Jewish law and was extremely zealous for the Jewish religion.

Galatians 1:14 NLT
¹⁴ I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

Salvation does not come through power, position, or performance.

 ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 

• When it comes to salvation, power, position, and performance are worthless. 

⁹ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

• God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

John 6:28-29 NLT
²⁸ They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
²⁹ Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  

Romans 10:9 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus tells us to abide in Him. 

John 15:4-5 NLT⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

1 John 5:11-13 NLT
¹¹ And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
¹³ I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

1 John 5:20 NLT
²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 

• Apart from Christ you can do nothing.

 

Note: 

After we are made right with God, we do have work to do. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Galatians 6:9 NLT
⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul “Practiced What He Preached”

Paul’s plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus.  Two men who were very important to Paul.

Introduction:

• Paul “practiced what he preached”.

Do the things that you advise other people to do.

Paul taught:

Philippians 2:3 NLT
³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Romans 12:10 NLT
¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT
²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5 NLT
⁵ … . And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

• Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

• Paul had a genuine concern for the Philippians.

Note how Paul treats these two men in this passage.

Paul was not certain of his own future.

How did Paul die?

The Bible does not say how the apostle Paul died.

It is universally accepted that he died a martyr. Based on historical events, the Romans beheaded him. (Christian.net)

The accuracy of this tradition is impossible to gauge. Again, the Bible does not record how Paul died, so there is no way to be certain regarding the circumstances of his death. (gotquestions.org)

Paul knew that his release or death could come at any time.

Notice how Paul put others before himself.

Philippians 2:19-30 NLT
Paul Commends Timothy
¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. ²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. ²¹ All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. ²² But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. ²³ I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. ²⁴ And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Paul Commends Epaphroditus
²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. ²⁶ I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. ²⁷ And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
²⁸ So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. ²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. ³⁰ For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. 

Examine the Scriptures:

Plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30 NLT

Paul Commends Timothy 

¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, 

If the Lord Jesus is willing.

Paul was not certain of his own future.

• Paul knew that his release or death could come at any time.

James 4:13-17 NLT
¹³ Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” ¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. ¹⁵ What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 

I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit.

Paul is planning to send Timothy to Philippi so that he can encourage the believers at Philippi and report back to Paul how the Philippian Church is doing.

• If Paul ever needed Timothy it was while he was there in Rome under house arrest. Yet he was willing to sacrifice Timothy’s companionship so others could be helped. 

Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 

• Paul’s letter and Timothy’s visit would encourage the believers at Philippi.

• Good news about the Philippians would be an encouragement to Paul. 

²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, 

Several translations use the word “likeminded”.

• Timothy was one in thought, feeling, and spirit with Paul in love for the church. 

 who genuinely cares about your welfare. 

• Timothy has a genuine concern for the welfare of the Philippians.

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

²¹ All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 

Living for self vs. living for Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Did Paul mean to include everyone he had ever known, or did he mean those who were with him in Rome?  Most likely the latter. 

²² But you know how Timothy has proved himself.

The Philippians knew Timothy.

Timothy’s qualities were unexcelled. 

Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 

Timothy “served” with me …

Most translations use the word “served”.

Some translations use

toiled

labors

slaved

worked

Paul and Timothy had a father son relationship.

• Timothy was Paul’s beloved son in the faith.

1 Timothy 1:2 NLT
² I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.

Philippians 1:1 NLT
Greetings from Paul
^1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

Timothy had a servant attitude.

²³ I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.  

This may be referring to the outcome of Paul’s trial. 

²⁴ And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

Paul most likely wrote this letter to the Philippians during his first Roman imprisonment (A.D. 60-62). It is believed that Paul also wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, the other Prison Epistles during this same time period.

It is possible that Paul never saw the Philippian Christians again (but see 1 Timothy 1:3, about AD 63.) (also see Acts 28:30)

Paul Commends Epaphroditus

This is a story of selfless affection.

²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you.

• Little is known about Epaphroditus.

Epaphroditus was from Philippi.

• Epaphroditus was the messenger who had delivered gifts to Paul from the Philippian church.

Philippians 4:18 NLT
¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Epaphroditus was most likely delivering Paul’s epistle (Paul’s Letter to the Philippians) to Philippi. 

He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier.

• Paul described Epaphroditus as a brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier.

Fellow soldier suggests the difficulties, opposition, and dangers encountered in Christ’s work.

Epaphroditus is an example of genuine Christian love.

• Paul loved and needed Epaphroditus. 

And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 

The messenger sent by the Philippian Church with gifts to the imprisoned Paul. 

²⁶ I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. ²⁷ And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died.

While in Rome, Epaphroditus had become seriously ill and almost died.

Epaphroditus was distressed about the Philippians hearing that he was ill.

• Epaphroditus longed to return to Philippi.

He was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 

But God had mercy on him—and also on me,

God’s healing was a result of God’s mercy on both Epaphroditus and Paul.

 so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 

²⁸ So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 

Paul did not want the Philippians to be worried about Epaphroditus.

• Paul had the best interests of the Philippian believers and Epaphroditus at heart. 

²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 

People like Epaphroditus deserve honor.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT
Paul’s Final Advice
¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

³⁰ For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

Epaphroditus could do things for Paul that the Philippian believers living in Philippi could not do.

Paul was indeed selfless.

Galatians 5:22 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love …

 

Introduction:

Let Your Light Shine

This lesson is a repeat of the last lesson we had last school year with some revisions.

Scripture is full of passages telling us how we should live our lives.

            Lessons for us as well as lessons for our students.

As we begin another school year remember that your faithful service is an offering to God.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Paul’s Final Greetings
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 2:14-17 NLT
Let Your Light Shine
¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, ¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. ¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life; … ¹⁷ … your faithful service is an offering to God. …

 Examine the Scriptures:

Lessons for us as well as lessons for our students.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Paul’s Final Greetings
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

As we are beginning another school year a good component to our prayers could/should be to ask God to help us to:

Be joyful.

Grow to maturity.

Encourage each other.

Live in harmony and peace.

• Be joyful.
• Grow to maturity.
• Encourage each other.
• Live in harmony and peace.

Expect the God of love and peace to be with you.

Philippians 2:13-18 NLT
Let Your Light Shine
¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

• God empowers and energizes believer’s lives.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 

John 15:5 NLT
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 12:6 NLT
⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

• Among other things, God uses scripture and the Holy Spirit to work in us.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
For the word of God is alive and powerful.

John 16:13 NLT
¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, 

More specific instructions for Christians.

Here Paul is speaking to the church at Philippi, but the same principles would apply to us.

Do everything

Without complaining.

No complaining.

No muttering or grumbling.

Complaining about our circumstances could be seen as a contradiction to recognizing God as sovereign and all powerful.

Without arguing

No arguing.

No disputing.

No questioning.

No criticisms.

• Do everything without complaining and arguing.

2 Timothy 2:23 NLT
²³ Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.

 Titus 3:9 NLT
⁹ Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.

Replace complaining and arguing with:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:8 NLT (Later in Paul’s letter)
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

• Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you.

• It’s hard to have an effective testimony for Christ when you are always arguing with the people around you.

Philippians 2:2 NLT
² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 

• Christians need to show themselves as united and as one in Christ. 

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God,

Become blameless and pure … without fault. (NIV)

Not perfection, but wholehearted devotion to doing God’s will.

Above reproach – undiluted, not weakened.

(Don’t be like wine that has been diluted or metal that has been weakened)

Romans 14:13 NLT
¹³ …. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

• Relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.

Go back to Paul’s prayer (1:9-11)

Philippians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Progress in your spiritual maturity.

• Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Matthew 10:16 NLT
¹⁶ “Look, I (Jesus) am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 

shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Ephesians 5:8 NLT
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.

We too are living in a world full of crooked, unscrupulous, and perverse people.

For the most part, our nation has turned it back on God and on Biblical principles.

• We should shine as lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life;

Believing God’s Word and following it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Share God’s Word with the lost and the dying.

• Believe God’s Word and follow it.
• Share God’s Word with the lost and the dying. 

¹⁷ …  your faithful service is an offering to God. 

• Our faithful service is an offering to God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Welcome Back (2024-2025 School Year)

We all know the importance of spending time in the Word.  We need to act on what we know.

We all know:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

• The Word of God is alive and powerful. It is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

• God uses scripture to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

This morning, I want us to focus on a phrase found in Hosea chapter 4.

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

 This verse communicates a powerful message to all of us who are living in the 21^st century. 

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me.

 These are God’s words directed to his chosen people, the Israelites.

These words certainly apply to the 21^st century church.

• God’s people are being destroyed because they do not know God.

• The next generation will be destroyed if they do not know God.

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

As parents and teachers we have an incredibly important and challenging, and at times seemingly overwhelming, God given assignment.

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) starts out by saying:
Train up a child in the way he should go:

Proverbs 22:6 NLT
⁶ Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it. 

• Train up a child in the way he should go.

Where do we start?

Scripture tells us:

Proverbs 1:7 NLT
⁷ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

ESV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Scripture also says:

Mark 12:30-31 NLT
³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 

We need to:

• Create an atmosphere where children have the opportunity to “fear the Lord”.

• All of us here have a part in this ministry.

We are One body with many parts.

1 Corinthians 12:18 NLT
¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

• God has put each one of you just where He wants you.

Look at:

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NLT
⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 

• Some of us plant the seed, some of us waters the seed, but what’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

God’s people are being destroyed because they do not know God.

The next generation will be destroyed if they do not know God.

You can be used by God in this ministry.

Acts 4:13 NLT
¹³ The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. 

They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (More on this later.) 

• God uses ordinary people with no special training in the scriptures.

• God is equipping each one of us for this ministry.

• Resources available to each of us here today include the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 NLT (A promise to the apostles)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

John 14:26 NLT
²⁶ But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Acts 2:38 NLT
³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 ³⁹ This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

(Baptism is an act of obedience, not a requirement for salvation.)

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:9-11 NLT
⁹ But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) ¹⁰ And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. ¹¹ The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 

• The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. 

God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He also gave us:

The scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The Word of God is alive and powerful.  It is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

God uses scripture to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

What happens when we spend time in the Word?

2 Peter 1:2-4 (NLT)
² May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 

• Knowing God better should be a number one priority in our lives.

• As we come to know God better, God is giving us everything we need for living a Godly life.

• As we learn to know God’s promises, we are able to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Acts 4:20 NLT
²⁰ We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

We are all

Changed lives changing lives.

 

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

God’s people are being destroyed because they do not know God.

The next generation will be destroyed if they do not know God.