For those obsessed with external manifestations of power and glory, Paul demonstrates how the Gospel is communicated in and through our weaknesses, frailties, flaws, and cracks. God hides the “treasure” of the Gospel in common, ordinary, fragile “clay jars”. With this awareness, Paul encourages the Corinthians by speaking of the extraordinary power of God revealed in very ordinary people. Join us for…
Wednesday’s Through the Bible Study is now live and streaming. The passage we are studying includes my favorite verse in Scripture: “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit”…
Wednesday’s “Through the Bible” Study is now online and streaming. Grateful that his “Letter of Tears” was positively received by the Corinthian community and the trouble-maker had been disciplined, Paul now encourages the Corinthians to forgive the trouble-maker and welcome him back, so that he’s not “overwhelmed with sorrow”. He then defends his apostolic authority by speaking of his integrity, and calling…
Wednesday’s “Thru the Bible” Study is now online and streaming. In today’s reading, the Apostle Paul feels compelled to defend his decision to delay his visit to Corinth since their are strong voices in Corinth accusing Paul of fickleness and untrustworthiness. Paul writes honestly about how he had to make difficult decisions that he hoped would demonstrate his love to the Corinthians…
With his credibility in question by the new “super-apostles”, Paul writes a painful letter to encourage the Corinthians that in spite of his physical weakness, poor rhetorical skills, and emotional troubles, he remains a legitimate apostle who is simply sharing “the sufferings of Christ”. In his opening to the letter, he writes of a specific situation that pressed his faith to the…
Paul concludes his “Epistle of Joy” by thanking (sort of) the Philippians for their financial support while also speaking of his “contentment in Christ” and his joy in the spiritual fruit of the Philippians expressed in their generosity. Join us for the “After the Thru the Bible Chat” at 7:30 p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84419651180 Email Rich or Jenny for the Password
After updating the Philippians on his situation and sharing his testimony, Paul now concludes his letter with admonitions to the church to “stand firm in the Lord”. They are to carry on by pursuing love, rejoicing in the Lord, dwelling in the peace of God, and reflecting deeply on the “good, true, and beautiful” in their lives and culture. This is a…
As Paul concludes his testimony to the Philippians he reminds them that “he has not arrived” but “presses on” to the prize. He then offers himself as an example to follow in order to be “mature” (which in the Greek is “perfect”). Incredibly, for Paul, a mature Christian stance is to “live perfectly in imperfection” – or more simply, to be “perfectly…
We continue our “Wednesday Night Through the Bible Study” of Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians by studying his testimony concerning his greatest passion – to know Christ. In his mind, nothing compares to the “surpassing value of knowing Christ” and he desires that the Philippians would share this value that they might know God’s joy. Join us for an “After Through the…
Usually following our Wednesday night “Through the Bible Study” we have time for questions and comments. In this video, Pastor Rich entertains questions from Mike Mattek concerning the message “The Shining: A Life Poured Out” (https://youtu.be/iqMmeW6-twg). We hope this clarifies the message and makes it more applicable to your life.