Project: Philippians

 (Phil 1:6) Who are you, really? When most of us tend to think of ourselves and our "identity" -- who we truly are -- as the person that we are right now. "I just am who I am," we assume, "nothing more, nothing less." The problem with that mentality is that it is all too short-sighted. If you want to think of yourself from a biblical standpoint (i.e., from God's perspective), then you'll need...

(Phil 1:6) Quiverring knees or quiet confidence -- which best describes your heart when the storms of life overtake you? One of the many things I admire about Paul is the way he had learned to exude quiescent trust in the middle of circumstances that would have me quaking in my boots. I'll be honest: I'm a long way off from attaining apostolic levels of confidence in my life. But I think I've at l...

(Phil 1:5) The greatest news ever reported is wrapped up in one of the greatest words ever spoken: "Euanggelion". This ancient greek word may not sound familiar to you, but I'm sure you know the English translation. It is a word that has a history that reaches back thousands of years and stretches all the way to the end of time. It's a word that brought life-changing joy both to Paul and to the Ph...

An old man sits shackled, imprisoned in a Roman dungeon, with the very real possibility of execution in his near future. But what is bursting out of this man's heart is not grief and anxiety. Instead, he is filled with genuine, grateful Joy. What could he possibly be so thankful about? In today's episode, we will get a glimpse into one of the most priceless and valued things in Paul's life: his co...

"If God decided to grant a giant miraculous YES to all the prayers you've prayed for the last 6 months, how different would the world be?" This question challenges me to really take stock of how BIG my prayers are. Paul's example challenges me in the same way. Listen in today as we remind ourselves just how big and "ALL"-encompassing the prayer life of this Apostle were on behalf of those he loved...

(Phil 1:3) I firmly believe that one of the main reasons the Apostle Paul had such a profound and lasting impact on this world was because of his extraordinary capacity to love. If you have any desire to follow in his great example, I encourage you to lean in today and listen as he reveals the secret of two foundational pillars by which his love was so firmly established. ~~~~ I'd love to hear fro...

(Phil 1:2c) Do you know what your name means? Do you care? If you don't, I don't blame you, because names these days typically don't have significant meanings. Most parents choose names for how they sound, or for someone else who shared that name. But in Bible times, things were different. Back then, people's names very often reflected something intrinsically important about their character or the...

(Phil 1:2b) Sometimes the smallest words can conceal the most explosive, life-changing power. We're going to look at a word like that today -- a tiny little three-letter word that literally changes everything. The more I think of it, the more it explodes my heart with joy. And I pray that it will do the same for you -- that it will open you up to a relationship that you have always longed for, and...

(Phil 1:2a) "Hi, how ya doing?" "Fine. How 'bout you?" "Good, thanks." The obligatory greeting ritual. When you really think about it, it has to be one of the most shallow and meaningless parts of any conversation. But, of course, everyone uses it (out of habit, if nothing else). Everyone, that is, except for the Apostle Paul. In today's episode, we will take a look at how Paul takes the standard...

(Phil 1:1c) Have you ever noticed how many different types of leadership postions we have in churches today? Pastors, bishops, elders, deacons, presbyters, priests, and on and on. Have you ever wondered how we ever got so many different roles? Which ones are "right"? Which ones are "Biblical"? And why do we need them in the first place? In this episode, we will take a look at how Philippians gives...

(Phil 1:1b) Most of the time, when you hear someone described as a "saint", you imagine the person to be some sort of "super spiritual", upper-tier Christian. It's a term we usually reserve for the "highly holy" folks, certainly not every day Christians like you and me. But it that's so, what could Paul possibly mean when he describes all the Phillipians (and by extension all of us) as "saints"? T...

Today we launch into what may be the deepest study of a book of the Bible that some of you have ever attempted. Over the next 100+ episodes, we will be scrutinizing every sentence in this Epistle, every verse... quite nearly every word. It is my earnest prayer that the Spirit of God will draw us deeper into His Word and into the heart of God than we have ever gone before. I am confident that it is...

If you haven't heard of the Project:Philippians podcast yet, let me give you just a little taste of what it's all about. And if you're already a regular listener, tune in for the next real episode when it drops at the normal time on Sunday afternoon. Until then, consider sharing this "trailer" with someone you know that might be interested in the type of "deep-dive Scriptural analysis" that Projec...

Study a man under pressure or privilege and you will see what he is made of. The true character of a man is revealed both by troubles or triumph. The Apostle Paul claimed, later in his life, that he had "learned the secret of being content... whether living in plenty or in want" (Phil 4:12). In today's episode, we will have the opportunity to see what to make of that claim. Today we're going to wa...

There's nothing like the joy you see on the face of someone whose life has just been turned right side out. When God transforms a man, every aspect of his life gets painted with new colors. But sometimes, in this weary world, the paint on our own transformation can begin to fade and crack. If you find the colors on your soul growing dim today, perhaps what you need is to spend a few minutes leafin...

So often in our world, the aftermath of an earthquake can seem like nothing but a scene of destruction. But sometimes, our almighty God uses traumatic events to turn our lives upside down (or right side up). In today's episode, we get a front row seat to witness a hardened Roman warrior whose life and beliefs got thoroughly upended in a dramatic, middle-of-the-night encounter with the Gospel. Main...

When your situation is dark and cold and painful and hopeless, where does your heart go? If you're like me, situations like that can tend to push us toward captivity. But there's another path available. Today, I'm reminded that my circumstances cannot dictate my mood, unless I allow them to. And the great privilege of every Christian is that we can defeat the powers of Darkness itself by bringing...

In today's Western society, it's easy to take the existence of Christianity for granted. It's so woven into our culture that it's hard to imagine a world without it. But we forget that it came at great cost to those who planted its first seeds. In today's episode, we're going to take a look at some of the earliest opposition to the gospel, and I hope you will be inspired and sobered by the powerfu...

In today's journey with Paul and the boys, we'll take a look at how ancient Greek mythology and demonic attacks threatened to disrupt the fledgling mission in Philippi. And along the way we'll be reminded of the devious schemes that the enemy still to this day uses to try to divert us from the Kingdom path. Main Passage: Acts 16:16-8 The music for this podcast, "Most Holy Place," was graciously cr...

Join Paul and his companions as they bring the Gospel to Europe for the very first time and light a spark that will set western civilization on fire for over 2000 years. It all starts in a city called Philippi -- a city that has a fascinating history of its own: from massive gold mines to epic Roman battles, it's a city with a large and diverse population . . . including one spiritually thirsty la...

Today, our study of Philippians begins a detour into an entirely different book of the Bible as we examine the "who, what, why, and where" contextual background that will set the stage for Paul's ministry in Philippi. Main Passage: Acts 16:1-10 The music for this podcast, "Most Holy Place," was graciously crafted by Doug Beiden. Listen to more of Doug's beautiful work at https://www.beidenmusic.co...

Did you enjoy treasure hunts as a child? I certainly did. Which, perhaps, explains why I consider Bible study to be so captivating: it is an unending exploration of a spectacular treasure mine filled with the most breath-taking gems ever discovered. Join me in this introductory episode, as I explain why I am embarking on this journey, and why I'm so excited to to share it with you. Special Note: T...