Elements City Church
Joy Full - Greatest Hits of Philippians
Today, we’re turning an eye to the greatest hits of Paul in his letter to the folks in Philippi. We’ll do a quick flyover - filled with reminders of the gospel truth we’re to hold onto in this letter and the principles and passions we’re to adopt in following after Jesus. This letter is packed with rich theology of Christ and His truth for each of us to live out, empowered by God’s grace in our everyday life. May you be refreshed often by the reminders locked up in this text as the Holy Spirit anchors you to God’s promises and perspectives.
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 pray for you?
If you have a prayer request you'd like our Elders and Prayer Team to pray for, click the link below to share it with us.
https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fWhen Paul prayed for the Philippians, he thanked God for them, and he prayed with joy. 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 4 chapters.
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.
The Bible talks about joy as a choice—as an attitude we are to cultivate.
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.
The Bible talks about joy as a choice—as an attitude we are to cultivate.
Philippians 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Ever person who is a follower of Jesus - is a work in progress still!
When God starts a project, he completes it!
As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. He is always up to something in our lives! Sometimes we can slow down that work by not cooperating - but He will never stop working…
Philippians 1:9
"And this is my prayer: 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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness.”
We want to be guided by a KNOWING, GROWING and OVERFLOWING love from God… then we’ll be able to discern and live blameless and be filled with the fruit of righteousness - we’ll be becoming more and more LIKE JESUS…
WE ARE TO BE JESUS FILLED, not just Jesus flavored.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Ever person who is a follower of Jesus - is a work in progress still!
When God starts a project, he completes it!
As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. He is always up to something in our lives! Sometimes we can slow down that work by not cooperating - but He will never stop working…
Philippians 1:9
"And this is my prayer: 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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness.”
We want to be guided by a KNOWING, GROWING and OVERFLOWING love from God… then we’ll be able to discern and live blameless and be filled with the fruit of righteousness - we’ll be becoming more and more LIKE JESUS…
WE ARE TO BE JESUS FILLED, not just Jesus flavored.
Philippians 1:12-13
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.
When hard times came, Paul's response wasn’t to pout, but to yield to God’s authority and sovereignty by humbly saying “your will be done, Lord”…Not I, but Christ in me.
instead of a whoa is me attitude -- he’s got a WOW, look at God attitude.
Philippians 1:19-21
…with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.
When hard times came, Paul's response wasn’t to pout, but to yield to God’s authority and sovereignty by humbly saying “your will be done, Lord”…Not I, but Christ in me.
instead of a whoa is me attitude -- he’s got a WOW, look at God attitude.
Philippians 1:19-21
…with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
according to the way of Jesus:
a life of preference giving > a life of privilege seeking
Philippians 2:14-15
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world…
WE ARE TO SHINE — THERE’S TO BE SOMETHING THAT MARKS US A DIFFERENT AND IN CONTRAST TO DARKNESS IN OUR WORLD…
"Windows of excellence."
We need to be men and women who will create windows of excellence to let the kingdom light of JESUS —into the darkness of this world.
A window of excellence may not be dramatic, but it will be potent.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people...
a life of preference giving > a life of privilege seeking
Philippians 2:14-15
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world…
WE ARE TO SHINE — THERE’S TO BE SOMETHING THAT MARKS US A DIFFERENT AND IN CONTRAST TO DARKNESS IN OUR WORLD…
"Windows of excellence."
We need to be men and women who will create windows of excellence to let the kingdom light of JESUS —into the darkness of this world.
A window of excellence may not be dramatic, but it will be potent.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people...
I need God’s grace > more than My grit
Philippians 3:10-11
10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
Philippians 4:4-7 (maybe one of the most anchoring passages in Scripture)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Vent to God - not to others
"let be known."
In verse 5, Paul says let your gentleness be known to all humanity.
In verse 6, he says let your requests be known to God.
Prayer combats worry but taking the energy we give to anxiety and inviting us to give it to trusting God - seeking His provision and presence….
Secret of Contentment and Promise of God’s provision
Philippians 4:12-14.
12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
The secret to true contentment is not in WHAT you have, but in WHO has you.
Philippians 4:14 & 19
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. …19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:10-11
10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
Philippians 4:4-7 (maybe one of the most anchoring passages in Scripture)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Vent to God - not to others
"let be known."
In verse 5, Paul says let your gentleness be known to all humanity.
In verse 6, he says let your requests be known to God.
Prayer combats worry but taking the energy we give to anxiety and inviting us to give it to trusting God - seeking His provision and presence….
Secret of Contentment and Promise of God’s provision
Philippians 4:12-14.
12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
The secret to true contentment is not in WHAT you have, but in WHO has you.
Philippians 4:14 & 19
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. …19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
There is no human need that God is unable to meet — Christ’s grace is sufficient for every need (2 Corinthians 12:9)
==Yet he often sends “vertical” help through people helping one another on the “horizontal” level.
Philippians 4:19 says, "My God will supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." - this verse is the believer's insurance policy, for it guarantees God will care for you (in this life and the one to come).
The Bible says those who trust and delight in him and put their faith in him, our heavenly Father will care for. The scope of that promise is huge!!
==Yet he often sends “vertical” help through people helping one another on the “horizontal” level.
Philippians 4:19 says, "My God will supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." - this verse is the believer's insurance policy, for it guarantees God will care for you (in this life and the one to come).
The Bible says those who trust and delight in him and put their faith in him, our heavenly Father will care for. The scope of that promise is huge!!
We are grateful for your financial partnership!
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?!
There's power when we gather together to worship in song and in the Word! We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Join us next Sunday as we launch a brand new series all around growing in the Way of Wisdom...
Check out the Elements up to stay up to date on upcoming events, including:
- Chili Cook-off potluck October 20th
- Roadrunners Hockey Night November 22nd
There's power when we gather together to worship in song and in the Word! We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Join us next Sunday as we launch a brand new series all around growing in the Way of Wisdom...
Check out the Elements up to stay up to date on upcoming events, including:
- Chili Cook-off potluck October 20th
- Roadrunners Hockey Night November 22nd