Holy Hypocrites

Philippians 1:18-30.  One line in today’s passage summarizes Paul’s entire existence… What have we learned this season, from Galatians and Ephesians? I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me? So, what does that new life look like?

Philippians 1:12-18. If you were praying for someone, and trying to find a chance to share Jesus with them, and someone else did before you… would you be happy? Did Paul suffer for his own glory?

Philippians 1:1-11. 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...

Psalm 39. My hope is in you, Lord. When we consider that, it takes such a weight off. Our lives aren’t hinging on our own aptitude, our own success or failure. If you WANT a challenge for weekend, commit Psalm 39:7 to memory. Cherish it and let is lighten your load. As we like to say in our youth group, he's G-O-T-C-H-U… He’s GOTCHU. And that’s wonderful.

Ephesians 6:10-24. Today we conclude the book of Ephesians, and the tone here is urgent. I dont think I have taken this passage seriously enough in the past… but Paul is not using war terminology lightly.

Ephesians 6:1-9. What if we treated every interaction as if it was with Christ? How would you treat your son or daughter differently? How would you treat your mom or dad differently? How about your boss or your employee? People society expects us to disrespect, people society ALLOWS us to disrespect… What if it was Christ?

Ephesians 5:22-33. Paul says in verse 30, we are members of his body, Christ’s body. For all of us, married or single, let’s stop fighting over our own little corner of control. Let’s stop being eyes trying to hear or noses trying to see. Let’s embrace the roles God created and equipped us for, and celebrate how he made us all to fit together for his glory and the spread of the gospel.

Ephesians 5:1-21. In Christ, we find the color we want to be… and the rest of our lives as his disciples should be spent holding up different things against what scripture tells us about Christ, and whittling down what matches.

Psalm 38. Simple. You need God. I need God. We need God for every single thing… Don’t mourn that fact but celebrate who God is, that he does provide, and instead of banging on the doors he has closed, look forward to the doors he is opening for you this very week…

Ephesians 4:25-32. When we realize its all for God’s glory, and we aren’t fighting for every scrap of glory for ourselves, then we can live honestly, and build others up. We first needed grace and forgiveness and tenderness, and the very one we rejected and disobeyed with our sin, he gave freely.

Ephesians 4:17-24. What sets you apart from the world? How are we reflecting the world, with its sensuality, greed, and impurity… or how are we reflecting Christ? 

Ephesians 4:7-16. Let me say this clearly. The mission you have been given as a follower of Jesus - to go and make disciples - have been fully planned and supplied by God. So any success we have is not to our credit. It’s not because we are awesome, and God wants to use us because of what we can do but what he can do through us.

Ephesians 4:1-6. You were called into fellowship with Christ… that’s permanent, eternal calling, regardless of jobs that come and go, relationships that come and go, money, possessions that come and go… How do you walk in that?

Psalm 37. Easier said than done, but trust and wait. I think of the disciples in the boat during the storm, and Jesus was sleeping, and their panic as they woke him with “dont you care that we are perishing?!?!” He cares. He knows, he delivers and he saves…

Ephesians 3:14-21. On Tuesday, I asked you to pick a person and start praying for them intentionally. Did you do that? Because today, we take it up a notch. I challenge you to pray these verse over that person.

Ephesians 3:1-13. God’s grace was a gift. Paul’s preaching even is a gift of grace, from God. As he says in 11, this is all according to God’s purpose, realized in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 2:11-22. Remember, you were once separated, alienated as Paul says, cut off from God. And by no action of yours, you were given the opportunity to know him… 

Off Topic. GO OUTSIDE! Maybe just a walk around the block. Maybe just put a chair in the back yard, or walk to the grocery store if you can. Find an excuse! In many places, March-April is the absolute perfect time to go outside and witness evidence of the creator in his creation!

Psalm 36. Webster’s dictionary defines “steadfast” as resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. In other words, the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever, the Lord who never changes and will stand forever, apparently his love fits those same characteristics.

Ephesians 2:1-10. This is one of the most important passages Paul ever wrote, in my humble opinion. Paul comes back to the core of the gospel message many times, but in my time studying, never more clearly or mind-blowingly stated than it is here.

Ephesians 1:15-23. So if the church is a work of God, then Paul can be thankful even in their current unfinished state, and he can join them in prayer for increasing completion. So we can be thankful for the work God is doing in you, and every other believer around you. We can root for each other and pray for each other.

Ephesians 1:1-14. If you read Paul talking about “to live is (by definition) Christ and to die is gain” and you ask “why,” well, Paul’s letters are filled with the answer. It’s right here. He has done all the work, Paul tells the Romans that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Galatians 6:11-18. Closing Paul's letter to the Galatians, he says, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." 

Psalm 34. Our God is also our Father. He sees and hears and knows everything… I like to say when God says yes he is providing for us out of infinite grace and love and when he says no he is protecting us out of infinite grace and love.

Gal 6:1-10. Paul picks up in chapter six, right where he left off in chapter five. Remember the last couple days. 5:1, For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Verse 13, For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve...