BIG IDEA: Jesus’ concept of true prayer includes principles and a pattern.*Six principles of true prayer in Jesus’ response:1) Regular prayer can be counted on. (v.5a)2) Performative prayer must be condemned. (v.5,6)...

BIG IDEA: To be a witness you must see.* Five sights for witnesses:1) See the tomb— Accept Jesus has died and was buried. (v.1)2) See the angel— Admit something supernatural has happened. (v.2-4)3) See the place— Ack...

BIG IDEA: It wasn't the particular kind of physical pain Christ endured or the particular extent of physical suffering He endured that made His death particular.What made Christ’s death unique was 1) Who He was,2) How ...

BIG IDEA: Christians should remember the importance of Palm Sunday.*7 reasons Palm Sunday is important:Because it teaches us that Jesus knew beforehand the disappointment and rejection that was coming, but “we...

BIG IDEA: All true Christians are connected to each other in Christ Jesus.*Four parts of Paul’s connecting closing words:A greeting for each one in the Philippian church community. (v.21a)A greeting f...

BIG IDEA: Any gift, whether to the Lord’s work or to the Lord’s workmen, is of greater worth and higher significance when viewed as a gift to God.1) Paul’s commendation to the church for the gift. (v.14-16)2) Paul’s motivation for...

BIG IDEA: Christ gives strength sufficient for any situation. * “Contentment” = Christ-sufficiency.Christ-sufficiency to face situations of lowness. (humiliation, poverty, suffering, persecution, opposition, sickn...

BIG IDEA: Every-“thing” that is excellent and worthy of praise belongs to God.*Two connected commands that summarize Paul’s letter:Carefully consider “these things” (cultivate a Christ-like mindset)…so as to

BIG IDEA: Think and Act like Christians— as those known by their LOVE, JOY & PEACE.*Three questions answered by the mature Christian life:What LOVE looks like. (v.2,3)How JOY is always possible. (...

Big Idea: For the citizen of heaven, Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord.*So / Therefore / In light of that…Stand firm in the Lord (v1)In the face of persecutionIn the face of temptation...

PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL, Pt. #16 Philippians 3:15-21BIG IDEA: Finish well. Paul’s four pointers for finishing well: 1) An exhortation about how to think. 2) Two commands about who to follow.&n...

BIG IDEA: Pursue the final prize of salvation in its fullness— knowing Christ in the glorified state. *Three parts of presently pursuing that final prize:Forget what lies behind. (v.13a)Strain fo...

BIG IDEA: Anything other than Christ alone as the grounds for acceptance by God = another gospel.*6 safeguards against getting sidetracked by another gospel:Rejoice in the Lord. (v.1)Recognize (v.2)

BIG IDEA: Anything other than Christ alone as the grounds for acceptance by God = another gospel.*6 safeguards against getting sidetracked by another gospel:Rejoice in the Lord. (v.1)Recognize (v.2)

BIG IDEA: The greatest honor among the people of God should be shown to the greatest servants among the people of God.*Christ’s greatest servants are…Christ’s greatest servants are those who are submitted to t...

BIG IDEA: We’re to serve the God of the impossible, whether He does the impossible thing we want or not. But whether He does the impossible thing or not, He is with us.*7 segments of our story:The unreasonable...

*Four stages on the way to Naaman’s cure:       1)    Needing the Lord. (v.1-3)2)    Seeking the Lord. (v.4-10)3)    Resisting the Lord. (v.11-12)4)  &n...

BIG IDEA: Trouble isn’t the end of the story.*Four facts about trouble:1) Freedom from bondage isn’t freedom from trouble. (v.10)2) God doesn’t free us from bondage to abandon us in our trouble. (v.11-12)3) God can make a way th...

BIG IDEA: Nothing will be impossible with God.God is an eternal Being.God is a self-existent Being.God is a self-revealing Being.

*Five facets of application: Follow the pattern of Christ, (v.12)By the power of God, (v.13)For the profit of the world, (v.14-16a)For the prize of boasting, (v.16b)And for the perfe...

*Five facets of application:Follow the pattern of Christ, (v.12)By the power of God, (v.13)For the profit of the world, (v.14-16a)For the prize of boasting, (v.16b)And for the perfection ...

BIG IDEA: Be like-minded in Christ-mindedness.  The basis of Paul’s’ appeal: Their relationship to Christ and to him. (v.1)The concern of Paul’s appeal: Them being a like-minded people. (v.2)T...

BIG IDEA: Be like-minded in Christ-mindedness.The basis of Paul’s’ appeal: Their relationship to Christ and to him. (v.1)The concern of Paul’s appeal: Them being a like-minded people. (v.2)The right ...

BIG IDEA: The opposition and suffering Christians face is not for nothing— it’s ultimately for thesake of Christ.*3 encouragements in the face of opposition for Christ:1) To suffer for the sake of Christ is a proof of faith in Chris...