Elements City Church
Joy Full week 1: Philippians 1:1-11
As the Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Philippians he is caught up with joy as he thinks about them. Joy is a major theme that runs through this book, despite the backdrop of where it’s being written from and all Paul is facing. We get insight that godly joy transcends circumstances. Paul is fueled by his ultimate trust in the work and ongoing activity of God, so he prays for God’s continued progressive transforming work within His people then and now. Paul’s praying that every believer be overflowing with the love of Christ; that we be Jesus filled, not just Jesus flavored.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Welcome to church!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new and want to get connected, we'd love to hep you do so! Click the link below to fill out our Connection Card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbHow can we be praying for you?
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https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fThe Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Philippi is a letter with profound biblical truths, great memorable verses and written to a group of people that were so dear to him. It has much to still teach us and to help us today as we seek to walk in the ways of Jesus.
When Paul prayed for the Philippians, he thanked God for them, and he prayed with joy. This is the first of many times that Paul used the word “joy” in this letter. The focus on joy sets this letter apart from all of Paul’s other letters; the word “joy” (in its various forms: joy, rejoice) is found 16 times in this short 4 chapter epistle letter.
Coming from a traveling preacher imprisoned for his faith, joy would seem to be the last attitude one would expect.
Coming from a traveling preacher imprisoned for his faith, joy would seem to be the last attitude one would expect.
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” --C. S. Lewis
Karl Barth, a key theologian of the 20th century, wrote:
“It is astonishing how many references there are in the Old and New Testaments to delight, joy, and rejoicing, and how emphatically these are demanded from the Book of Psalms to the Epistle to the Philippians.”
Over and over again, we are told to rejoice.
Some people think of joy like they think of the flu: it’s something you sort of catch. Others argue that it’s all in your genes: you’ve either got it, or you don’t.
But the Scriptures speak about joy as a choice—as something we are to go after and as an attitude we are to cultivate. Joy from the Lord transcends our circumstances and is not hindered by our situations or surroundings.
Karl Barth, a key theologian of the 20th century, wrote:
“It is astonishing how many references there are in the Old and New Testaments to delight, joy, and rejoicing, and how emphatically these are demanded from the Book of Psalms to the Epistle to the Philippians.”
Over and over again, we are told to rejoice.
Some people think of joy like they think of the flu: it’s something you sort of catch. Others argue that it’s all in your genes: you’ve either got it, or you don’t.
But the Scriptures speak about joy as a choice—as something we are to go after and as an attitude we are to cultivate. Joy from the Lord transcends our circumstances and is not hindered by our situations or surroundings.
No In-completes in the Kingdom of God.
When God starts a project, he completes it!
We as believers are each a work in progress - we're all "under construction" and if we're not dead, God's not done with us yet. Each of us has continual next steps of faith...
one of our values: PROGRESS > PERFECTION
When God starts a project, he completes it!
We as believers are each a work in progress - we're all "under construction" and if we're not dead, God's not done with us yet. Each of us has continual next steps of faith...
one of our values: PROGRESS > PERFECTION
While Paul’s travels were hindered by his imprisonment, his prayers were not.
Sometimes it's our prayers that are some of our best contributions into others...
Sometimes it's our prayers that are some of our best contributions into others...
He prayed that the Philippians would have both knowledge and discernment so that, in their Christian lives and in their dealings with one another, they would be able to discern what is (God's) best.
They should have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, healthy and dangerous, vital and trivial; but they should also have the discernment to decide between acceptable and right, good and best, and important and urgent—in other words, to know what really matters and what to let go and what really doesn’t matter as much...
Paul also prayed that they would be blameless - the greek word there means that they wouldn't cause others to stumble...
...believers ought to be blameless with God (keeping their relationship with him up-to-date and personal and right) and with people (that their behavior would not lead others into sin or trip them up as they follow after Jesus). This is about living in alignment with the way of Jesus.
Finally, Paul prayed that the believers would be filled with the fruit of righteousness, that “fruit” being all of the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God. (see fruit of Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
**inventory moment**
- How ya doing at those fruits growing and being lived out in your life?
Over the last couple years of following Jesus?
In the last month?
Is there a fruit that is lacking within you in this season/moment that you sense God is wanting to produce and grow more within you??
They should have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, healthy and dangerous, vital and trivial; but they should also have the discernment to decide between acceptable and right, good and best, and important and urgent—in other words, to know what really matters and what to let go and what really doesn’t matter as much...
Paul also prayed that they would be blameless - the greek word there means that they wouldn't cause others to stumble...
...believers ought to be blameless with God (keeping their relationship with him up-to-date and personal and right) and with people (that their behavior would not lead others into sin or trip them up as they follow after Jesus). This is about living in alignment with the way of Jesus.
Finally, Paul prayed that the believers would be filled with the fruit of righteousness, that “fruit” being all of the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God. (see fruit of Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
**inventory moment**
- How ya doing at those fruits growing and being lived out in your life?
Over the last couple years of following Jesus?
In the last month?
Is there a fruit that is lacking within you in this season/moment that you sense God is wanting to produce and grow more within you??
Look back at what Paul prayed for these people and personalize it for yourself. (see Philippians 1:9-11)
...that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
...that we'd overflow with love (abound more and more)
WE ARE TO BE JESUS FILLED, not just Jesus flavored…
...that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
...that we'd overflow with love (abound more and more)
WE ARE TO BE JESUS FILLED, not just Jesus flavored…
Thanks for partnering with us...
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings. They enable us to be the church, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveAren't you glad you came to church tonight?!
We're just getting started in our series so make plans to join us next Sunday for worship and stay up to date with all the latest events in the Elements City Church app. We're working on some events this fall that we'd love to have you participate in!
We're just getting started in our series so make plans to join us next Sunday for worship and stay up to date with all the latest events in the Elements City Church app. We're working on some events this fall that we'd love to have you participate in!