WEBVTT 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:09.919 Thank you for joining us for a sermon from Sojourn North. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:13.519 Well, I'm Chad Lewis. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:14.800 I'm a pastor here. 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:16.559 So thankful that you're here. 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.960 We are celebrating a lot of the change that's been going on around. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:22.320 I got a few slides for you. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.000 The first slide, this is what things looked like last week. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:36.799 Looked very different, but we found something as we when I say we, the company we contracted, but we'll just say we we pulled up the carpet. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:37.920 This next slide. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:41.119 So obviously there's a lot of glue. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:48.399 Um there were some uh I was gonna make a joke about something we found, but I can't think anything. 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:50.880 But we did find something very interesting. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:53.280 The next slide, it's gonna be hard to see. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:58.240 What was underneath the carpet, underneath the glue, were some scripture passages. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.399 This one's 2 Corinthians 5.20, we're ambassadors for Christ. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:09.200 And the next one is clear, Romans 8.39, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:14.560 Now, these scriptures have been where you've been walking every Sunday. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:15.840 I had no idea. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:20.159 There's probably people who are here for a long time that maybe maybe knew that. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:29.359 So as you were coming into the sanctuary, Romans 8.38 or 839 was on your feet. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:30.959 Isn't that cool? 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:37.439 And so then Marcy Haggard had the idea, we still haven't put up our soundproofing wall back here. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:45.200 And it's like, what if we after service Sunday and then uh with S2 tonight had people come up after the service? 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:56.799 I'll move these uh gray sound things out of the way, but I stapled up some uh Sharpies, and you can sign your name. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:04.159 I'll put a verse here for myself later, but usually you don't get to write on walls, but I think that's pretty cool. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:11.439 But we can write your name, you can write a scripture passage, uh, you could write a prayer if you want to. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:14.879 And I'll I'll I'll capture all those through some pictures. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:20.319 And then next week we'll have our sound paneling up, which will look really good. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:27.759 Uh it's already not yet again, so imagine that. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:29.039 Just everywhere. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:32.159 If you close your eyes, maybe you can see it. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:34.400 But that'll be sweet. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:36.719 We gotta get a curtain for the baptistry. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:44.639 Right now, that's just a drop cloth, some kicks, kicks, toe kicks for the uh stairs. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:54.400 And next week I'm gonna say some big thank yous to a lot of people who put in so much blood, sweat, and tears with this project. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:56.560 So those thank yous are coming next week. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:57.840 But praise God. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:59.120 This is sweet. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:03.039 This is just let's let's praise God for what he's done. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:16.719 When I put this before y'all some months ago, uh, I talked about how our desire, I gave you a handout that said form on it. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:21.039 Uh, we desire to be people that are formed in Christ. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:26.319 And what we were seeking to do with our Sunday gatherings is have formational preaching. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:39.840 I've been preaching a long time, but I talked about I still desire to grow, trying to make things more uh digestible in sermons and take away sentences and give you things to work on during the week like that. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:42.960 So that's a that's a portion we talked about open, engaging worship. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:48.960 Brian's been doing an amazing job planning and leading us, relational welcome and connection. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:54.479 That's the R, and that's that's going on, and minimizing hindrances with the new technology. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:04:00.560 So I just want to say, man, praise God for all the work that's been done as we continue to pursue those things. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:07.680 This summer, now that this is here, I'm gonna be sprinkling this idea, but I want you to be thinking about this. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:13.599 Uh, we met with the the elders, we met Thursday night and we were praying and said, okay, what's next? 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:20.639 And what we desire to do is to form two committees a committee for community groups and a committee for events. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:25.600 And so community groups, what we have community groups, but they're pretty much all filled. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:32.240 Um we need new community group leaders, we'll give you the information you need to be equipped for that. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:38.240 But we want anyone who comes into our body, especially new members who are saying, Yeah, I'd like to be plugged into a community group. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:40.399 We want to be able to plug them right in right away. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:48.079 So I'd like a committee of a few people that meet with me, pray with me, strategize with me, and then we'll recruit some things. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:50.399 Okay, so be praying about that. 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:56.959 Subsequently, what we want to do is build relationships in our community and with each other. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:11.680 So an events committee, we already have potlucks that we do periodically, but that would be part of that committee, uh, and just other events like uh maybe coming out here to play kickball, having a movie night, whatever it may be. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.879 But if you have interest in either of those committees, hit me up. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:25.519 You do have to hang out with me a little bit in some meetings, so it will be a uh a burden to do that, but just kidding, you know you'll like it. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:26.399 All right. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.160 I can't hear the laughs as much with the new carpet. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:32.079 It's I I don't know what it is. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:34.079 Something else. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.600 So okay. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:39.279 Hey. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:45.120 We finished Galatians, we're jumping into Philippians now. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:51.120 And so I have a huge heart as we've gone through Galatians thinking about this. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:06:05.120 Some letters that you read in the New Testament, they have a lot of correction, they have a lot of intensity, and it seems like everything's about to fall apart, and maybe Paul's just fighting for the gospel and saying, no, this can't be, this can't be. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:12.959 So Galatians is a letter like that, but then Philippians, as we get to it, it feels so much different. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:25.120 And it's not because the gospel has changed, it's because now we are applying the gospel to everyday life, and that's what the book of Philippians is all about. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:29.680 Uh Galatians asks, what sets us free? 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:35.519 Philippians begins to ask, what does that freedom look like in everyday life? 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:42.800 And it's interesting because Paul writes this letter to the Philippians while he's in prison. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:44.800 It's called a prison epistle. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:57.920 And so he is not writing in great circumstances, he's not writing in earthly comfort, he's not worldly successful because he's landed, but this is this was the plan of God. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:04.879 But his heart is overflowing with joy as he writes from prison. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:10.480 And so Philippians helps us ask the question as we look at it from an airplane view this week. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:15.199 We're just looking at the whole and trying to whet our appetites for the weeks ahead. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:21.199 And next week we'll parachute down and start looking at the first several verses of Philippians 1. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:29.279 But as we look at the whole, we see that how do you live the Christian life in suffering? 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:32.800 How do you live the Christian life in relationships? 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:36.720 How do you live the Christian life in the midst of conflict? 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:38.240 This is reality. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:40.160 There will always be conflict. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:42.639 What about when you're disappointed? 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:45.759 What about when life is ordinary? 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:49.439 Most of your life will probably be ordinary. 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.240 That's just what life is. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.000 Ordinary life. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:59.360 Philippians is a deeply human letter, and it's written from prison. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:09.279 And one of the first principles we'll continue to come back to is Christian joy is not the absence of difficulty, it is the presence of Christ within it. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:13.040 And a lot of us fall into the temptation sometimes. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.439 It's like once life settles down, then, then. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:23.199 I remember when I was a kid, it was like once I get out of high school, then I'll be able to breathe. 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:26.560 And then you got the pressures of college, the pressures of work. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:37.840 I remember working at UPS early mornings to help pay for college, 4 to 9 a.m., and they said, this is the best job because you can do it and it won't mess up your classes. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:40.879 Then they didn't realize, maybe they did, they didn't care. 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:44.159 But if you work from 2, 3 a.m. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:49.679 till 9 a.m., you're not very aware in classes, but hey, that's that's kind of how it goes. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.440 But then it's like, okay, if I can just get graduated, then I'll get my first job. 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:54.799 And you know the story. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:56.399 It continues to go go. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:58.480 Once life settles down, then I'll be okay. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:03.440 But what if the bigger question is this what if life never settles down? 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.799 How do you live in the midst of that? 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.320 Well, Philippians answers that question. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:23.200 So I have three quick points for us to go through here on this family Sunday, and then I'll have some assignments for you at the end of the sermon, encouraging you to do some things as we continue going through. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:37.279 But I want to start it and use kind of a similar outline to we did with Galatians, because every letter in the New Testament, you can read it very sterily, but each one is birthed out of a story. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:40.320 Each one is birthed out of relationships. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:44.000 And so the first point is we want to find ourselves in the story. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:48.080 We don't want to just study Philippians, we want Philippians to study us. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:10:01.360 We want to not just say, open your word to me, Lord, that's a great prayer, but open me to your word so that I can hear and Holy Spirit speak to me. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:07.519 So as we find ourselves in the story, let's see what story this letter is rooted in. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:39.039 Because Philippi was a real place, it was a Roman colony, it was in northeastern Greece, it's located on one of the major roads in that area of Rome and so of the Roman Empire that is, but many of the residents are retired Roman officers and officials, so they're wealthy, so it's a prosperous city, they're citizens of Rome, and so they are highest status. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:48.879 And so this is where Paul comes along with Silas and preaches, and a lot, a lot goes on. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:59.440 It's from this and the ordinary people of Philippi that the church is birthed, and so they're just like you and me, just like the Galatians. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:06.080 So we need to be reminded of that so we can come away from the drift. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.320 With the Philippian church, same way. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:11.440 They're trying to follow Jesus, remain faithful. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:13.759 They're trying not to drift. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:21.679 They're learning how to live differently in the midst of a culture that's consumed with wealth and status and popularity. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.240 Does that sound similar to our culture? 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.600 It does. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:33.600 And Paul, as he's writing the Philippians, he's writing 10 years after he was there. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.480 So a decade has passed since this church was launched. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.879 And you can still hear his affection. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:44.399 In Philippians 1, 3 to 5, he says this at the beginning of the letter, and we'll hit this again next week. 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:49.519 But he says, I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.279 Every remembrance. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:12:12.879 I can, in my holy imagination, I can just imagine Paul sitting in prison, remembering Lydia, remembering the slave girl who had the demon cast out, remembering Timothy, remembering all of these relationships that were birthed from this trip, the second missionary journey. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.000 And as he remembers them, what happens? 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.600 He gives thanks to God for that. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:26.399 And verse 4, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:33.039 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day a decade ago until now. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:36.639 So this is Paul's heart. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:44.639 So this isn't just a list of things that we want to read a book of Philippians and just write things down. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.240 I need to do this, this, and this. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:56.559 There will be some things, some action steps from it, but to be remembering, this is rooted in relationship, in the larger story, the redemptive story of God. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:00.720 So we have a map that'll come up. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:03.919 Paul first visited Philippi during his second missionary journey. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.480 Philippi's up there with the red circle. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:11.519 The starting point for his missionary journey, he ends up doing a loop over a few years. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:14.720 But he he starts around Antioch down there. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.159 There's a couple of Antiochs. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.080 The Antioch up north is a different one. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.840 And then starts going up. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:28.399 But I find it fascinating because this second missionary journey is told about in Acts 15 and 16. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:34.399 15 is the Jerusalem Council, where they come and say, hey, no, you don't have to be circumcised. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:41.679 And then there's a schism at the end of 15 with Barnabas and Paul about taking John Mark because John Mark had deserted at one point. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.840 And so Paul and Barnabas can't agree on it. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.759 It's such a sharp division that they decide to go separate ways. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.440 And so Paul takes Silas and starts this journey. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:56.559 And as they go up, Paul has in his mind what's going to happen. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:06.639 And I'm going to hit this in just a little bit, but what why Paul was rerouted and why that's important to us. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:16.480 But what happens in Philippi as they arrive, there's a woman named Lydia, and she's a seller of purple. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:18.480 She's high up in the area. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:26.080 And Paul meets a group of women gathered by a river, and so he shares the gospel, and salvation comes. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:30.639 And we know Lydia helped support Paul's ministry. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:38.480 In a short time, he's going, and there's a slave girl who's demon-possessed, and she's making a lot of money for her owners. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:44.399 But she keeps bothering Paul, saying, This is, look at them, these are servants of the Most High God. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:48.000 And then Paul gets so frustrated he casts the demon out. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:58.480 Now this was a big deal because now the girl is freed from the demon and she doesn't have whatever ability she had to make money for her owners. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:01.039 And so they get very angry. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:09.440 And so Paul and Silas are beaten, they're arrested and thrown into jail. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:13.360 And there's a famous scene in Acts 16. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.480 Paul and Silas in jail. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.320 What do they start doing? 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.080 They start singing. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:27.840 They're singing and they're praising God that they have the opportunity to suffer for the sake of Christ. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:33.039 And as they're singing, the earth shakes. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:36.559 An earthquake comes, they're freed. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:46.399 There's a Philippian jailer who's in charge who draws his sword because if you let prisoners escape, you would be executed, and he was going to take his own life. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.799 And Paul yells out, We're still here, don't do it. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:56.240 And an amazing thing, he goes with the Philippian jailer. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.639 And the Philippian jailer and his family. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:04.320 They treat his wounds, him and Silas, and they come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.919 Salvation has come to their home. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.360 This was God's plan. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:14.559 And it's amazing. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:27.279 Through all of this, what we want to see is the second point is that we are seeking to learn the way of Christ as we find ourselves in the story. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:32.720 And many of you, I know so many of you, you follow the way of Christ. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:38.639 But what I say all the time is that we can go more deeply down into what that means, what it means. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.519 And I use that illustration of knowing God. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:45.679 Could be like a young girl knowing the ocean because she read a book. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.000 And then you say, Have you ever been to the ocean? 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:48.799 And she says, No. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:51.200 It says, Let's take a trip to the ocean. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:55.679 She knows the ocean, but then she goes to the ocean and then she goes into the ocean. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:17:00.480 And the waves start knocking her about and she comes out and someone says, Do you know the ocean? 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:04.799 I say, Yeah, I've read a book and now I've been in the ocean. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:12.480 And then she has such love for the ocean that she decides to go and study the ocean in college. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.160 She knew the ocean. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:18.880 But her knowledge of the ocean grows deeper and deeper in her love. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:22.559 And she figures out so much stuff. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:32.400 And then she wants to go down deeper into the ocean, so she learns how to scuba dive, sees things underneath the coral reef, all those things. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:36.160 And then she gets in one of those pods that the pressure can't push. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:41.759 And that pod is so strong, and she goes down lower than anyone. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:47.759 Discovers, still, I know, I know, the signals. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.000 We're still working them out with the mic. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:52.000 It's like the last thing. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:56.079 Uh I'm gonna keep rolling with this illustration. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.200 It's one of my favorite. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.559 I made it up many years ago. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.000 She goes down to one of those little things. 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:02.799 She sees a fish that no one has ever seen. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:06.640 And she's amazed, and she comes home, and then she writes about it. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:12.319 She becomes an old lady, she becomes a professor, and she knows the ocean. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.039 Did she know the ocean as a little girl? 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.400 Of course she did. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:19.119 Does she know it as an old woman? 00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.400 Oh, yeah, she does. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.920 She's a world's expert. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:25.680 But still, 80% of the ocean has never been explored. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.119 The parallel is in our Christian life. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.920 Any of us can say, Do you know the love of God? 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.200 Say, yeah, yeah, and it's good. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:37.839 Do you know the depths of the love of God? 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.680 Not a chance. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:46.079 That can either discourage you or it can encourage you that there is more to see. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:52.160 If you sit and talk with Dawana and you say, Dawana, tell me about the love of God. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:57.039 You better have a couple hours on your plate because it's going to take a while. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:09.920 But can you imagine the depth of what she would share with you from life, from experience, from seeing her work and then seeing how he was always faithful. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:22.400 From the time she was a little girl, and how God brought a music man to come do some music at a revival. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:30.319 And I'm not going to tell too many details because I'll get them wrong, but 16, 17 years old, something like that. 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:32.240 Changed the trajectory of her life. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.759 That was God's plan. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:38.160 This is what God does. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.160 He's in our midst. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:46.319 And in the way of Christ, we want to learn to trust and obey, even when things are unclear. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.319 Let's go back to Acts 16. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.240 So hear the movement. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:53.359 Paul has an idea of what his life should be. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:59.920 Paul and his companions first were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go into Asia. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.200 That's what they thought they wanted to do on the second missionary journey. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:12.160 They attempted to go north into Bithynia and Bithynia, and that didn't work out because the spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:16.079 So we don't know the details to all these things, but it was closed door. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:21.200 And this is what happens to us sometimes in life: closed door, closed door, closed door. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:32.640 They eventually arrived at Troaz because of all these closed doors, and then Paul receives a vision, a vision of the Macedonian call. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:39.119 In this vision, he sees a man from Macedonia saying, Come, help us. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:45.279 And that is the reason why they are redirected to go up towards Philippi. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:53.599 Did Paul know what was going to happen when he got to Philippi and then go on to Thessalonica and all these areas? 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:55.039 He didn't know. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.240 He just knew that was the next step. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:02.640 The way of Christ is trusting and following. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:06.400 Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it's the Lord who directs the steps. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:08.400 It's Proverbs 35 and 6. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.559 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.720 Don't lean on your own understanding. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.200 Our understanding is so limited. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:22.559 We're acknowledging Him in all our ways, and He's going to direct our paths. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:31.519 So, an application for you here today, do you find yourself at this point in life with closed doors all around you? 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:35.440 Are you filled with anxiety because of it? 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.720 You're in good company. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:42.880 Because the closed doors are there and God is still working. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:44.960 He never sleeps or slumbers. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:53.039 Just like God closed doors to lead Paul and Silas to Philippi. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:59.599 He's closing doors in our lives, and quite often we don't see where he's going to take us. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:03.759 But he's still moving, brothers and sisters. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:08.799 We want to continue to learn this way of Christ. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:17.039 Philippians 2, one of the central passages for us that we'll think about. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:23.359 But Paul says this: adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:27.680 Have the same attitude as Christ Jesus. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:42.720 And we'll dive in and look at all of those things, what it looked like for him to not grasp hold of his power as God, but to relinquish that to come live on this earth for you and for me. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:58.559 Throughout this whole book, you're going to hear statements like stand firm, imitate this, practice these things, consider others, rejoice always, don't live under the yoke of anxiousness. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:02.880 None of this is about pressure or performance, but he wants us to live freely. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:18.000 And this takes time because we have so often, I talk about it with a friend that we we don't even necessarily know how much our culture is affecting us and the day that we live in. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:25.440 It's easy for us to look back at other cultures and times and say, hey, they were just affected by their affected by our culture. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:34.400 And for us to be able to step back and just let the word of God read us and hear how are we affected? 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:43.359 Because we can live in ways that just are about self-protection and we get hurried and we never slow down. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:51.039 We can compare ourselves to others, we can seek to control our lives, we want to prove ourselves. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.519 And all of these things are natural. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:59.440 But to be able to slow down and say, Lord, where is this true in my life right now? 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.640 Because I don't want to be driven by those things. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:06.640 I want to be led into your way in a deeper way. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:10.480 And all along the way we'll find greater freedom. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.920 Greater peace. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.920 Not necessarily change circumstances. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:16.640 Sometimes circumstances become more difficult. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.400 But I'll tell you what, the sweetness of life is this. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:25.519 When we can have peace even when there are storms around us. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.680 And that is a gift of God. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.599 So we hit the last point. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:35.200 We want to participate in this bigger story together. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:42.160 I think as we go through the book, it's just going to be beautiful because I want you to think about this. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:48.559 The differences of the people in Philippi, even the ones that we see in Acts 16. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:54.799 Lydia, a well-off business owner, prosperous. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:25:02.000 You got the jailer who's working for the government, who is about to take his life, and now him and his whole family are safe. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.279 You got the slave girl. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:07.519 What happened to her after the demon was cast free? 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:10.880 I mean, all of these people heard Jesus. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:13.839 They heard the message of the gospel. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:19.680 And then from the poor to the rich, they gather together in diversity. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:24.559 So it makes it more powerful when you hear Paul talking about humility. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.880 Have humility with one another. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.240 Be in unity. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.200 Be united. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:37.759 You're going to be a people that have different thoughts, different philosophies, but we come and we center around what is precious, which is the gospel message. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:45.440 And when he uses terms like this constantly, be together, be side by side. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:48.480 Have one mind in the midst of you all. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:51.279 Have one mind like that of Christ Jesus. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:55.440 Have one love that you share with each other. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:00.160 This is a communal life that we have. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:05.680 So we learn the way of Christ by being beside each other. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.440 We learn it through encouragement. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.880 We learn it through patience. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:13.680 We learn it through forgiveness, through showing up, through bearing burdens. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:16.799 And here's my application for you today. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:21.200 This is just a real surface look at the book of Galatians. 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:24.480 I'm going to go back to Galatians, Philippians. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.839 Surface look. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:29.279 We've flown over, saw a tree here or there. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:31.759 My goal for you this week is this. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:38.799 I would like for you to read Acts chapter 16 this week and the first chapter of Philippians. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:42.640 Acts 16, Philippians 1. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:45.680 And find yourself in the story. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:54.400 You reading, Mark, write out some verses that mean something to your heart. 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:58.319 Acts 16, Philippians 1, immerse yourself. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:03.039 And this summer my desire is that you would immerse yourself in the book of Philippians. 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:08.480 God is at work in our midst. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.720 I promise you that. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:26.000 And what we want to do is slow down and have ears to hear and eyes to see and follow in obedience. 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:29.839 That's a beautiful life. 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:33.279 That is a beautiful life. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:37.839 So your first assignment, Acts 16, Philippians 1. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:40.079 Second assignment's on your bulletin. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:43.440 This book is going to talk to us about encouraging one another. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.720 I want you to do this. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:47.119 And I want you to put some effort into it. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:50.799 I've been giving you simple practices on your bulletin. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.640 Call this simple practice side by side. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:28:03.920 I want you to pray about someone, just say, Lord, who needs encouragement from me this week? 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:08.799 It might be someone who lives in another state, another part of the world. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:15.440 It could be your neighbor, it could be, but to pray first and let the Lord lay someone on your heart. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:26.799 And in the simple movement, you can send a text, you can write out a prayer, do a phone call, a quiet act of care. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:30.640 Move towards them with something small. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:40.559 And the beauty of it is this the smallest of encouragements rooted in prayer, God can use in amazing huge ways. 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:48.240 I have received encouragements over the years that have kept me going for months and years. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:55.119 And if the person heard that, or when I did tell them later, they'd be like, oh, I didn't even realize. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:57.359 I just wrote you a note of encouragement. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:00.880 Note of encouragement from God's hand. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.039 Amazing things can be done. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:07.519 Don't underestimate it, but make a movement this week towards that. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:20.480 Our sentence to carry for today, and as we move into this series, is this Christian maturity is learning the way of Christ together. 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:25.279 Christian maturity is learning the way of Christ together. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:30.240 So as we embark on this, I'm excited. 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:35.039 And we'll jump into the first part of Philippians 1 next week. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:59.759 But we're reminded again, week after week, that we have this encouragement because we have all this modeled, because Christ Jesus came emptying himself, living a life of a man, fulfilling the law perfectly, laying down his life so you and me could have eternal life. 00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:04.079 So if you're a Christian here today, after I pray, I'd invite you to come up. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:08.400 You can take some juice and some bread back to your seat and just hold on to it. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:11.599 And just reflect on the song that's being sung. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:14.960 You can sing along or just close your eyes and reflect. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.799 But just listen. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:19.920 What is the Spirit speaking to you today? 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:30.160 And then after everyone has their uh the elements at their seat and the song ends, I'll lead us to take communion all together. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.079 Become expectant. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:36.240 God is at work and He hasn't forgotten your address. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.559 Let's pray together. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:48.160 Father, I thank you so much for this journey into Philippians. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:59.599 I thank you for all the grace of what we found in Galatians, the life that we found there, the reminders to not drift. 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:19.359 And as we jump into the beauty of Philippians, Lord, I pray that you would teach us to be a people of joy, Lord, a people that aren't bound by our circumstances alone, but that in the midst of whatever is going on, that we find joy and peace in you, and that we do this together. 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:25.200 And I pray that this summer, by your grace, that we be knit more closely together. 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:30.640 As a people, as we love you, that we grow deeper in loving each other. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:50.720 And Lord, that whatever you're doing here, that it would be, it would catch fire, and people would come and be part of a community that's seeking you humbly, who does real life, who messes up in life, and who just want to be together. 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.799 So, Father, move in our midst. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.519 We love you, and it's in Christ's name we pray. 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.240 Amen.