Wilderness Wanderings

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Matthew 13:1-23 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministr...

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. (Philippians 4:14-16)   Yesterday we talked about the ne...

*For those who listen: a note of apology for poor sound quality! We'll aim for better tomorrow! I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.   (Philippians 4:13-14)   Paul has learned contentment in all things through his reliance on Christ, but that doesn't mean he's unwilling to receive support. There can be a rather stoic attitude that we...

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)   Our circumst...

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. (Philippians 4:10)   Hot off the heals of Paul's invitation to practice what they have learned and seen, Paul immediately begins to talk of how the Philippians have indeed practiced what they have seen Paul live and teach!   Unsurprisingly, their practice...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings (a day late due to a technical mishap)!  The text is Galatians 6 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping communi...

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)   We're doing the same text again today as we did on Friday, as there's more to it than just the list of virtues that I talked about Friday.   Paul offers two other tidbits as well.   We are to think about that which is excellent or praiseworthy to fe...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)   The whole of this letter to the Ph...

Rejoice in the Lord always…The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4a, 5b-7) . "I have everything I need for joy!" Robert Reed proclaimed. Amazing! His hands are tw...

The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:5b-7) . Today, we return to these verses to reflect on the discipline of Christian prayer. This text joins a host of others...

The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:5b-7) . Many Christians have lived this text. You may know some of them. However, you may struggle with the guilt induced by...

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Leviticus 23:23-25 from the New International Version of the Bible.  Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelministries.ca...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:4-5)   We are back to finish off the letter to the Philippians now that our Vibrant Weekend and Prayer Guide have finished up!   We find ourselves flipping a new page in the Philippian letter.    Paul has taken the first few chapters to tell us of the mindset of Jesus (...

The folks leading the Vibrant Conversations in our congregation this weekend did not prepare a devotion for us to share with you today. Instead, I want to pray Psalm 72 with you. It is likely that David prayed this prayer as he handed over the kingdom of Israel to his son Solomon. When we Christians use this psalm, we are praying for Solomon's descendent, Jesus Christ. The prayer, 'your kingdom co...

Day 4 Reflect 1. What were a couple of things that caught your attention since you prayed yesterday? 2. How has God or how might God deepen your desire for our congregation to be a scout in the world of God's shalom?                                                Imagine… Being an Ambassador "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way,...

Day 3 Reflect  1. What were a couple of things that caught your attention since you prayed yesterday?  2. How has God or how might God deepen your desire for our congregation to be a foretaste to the world of God's shalom?                                                   Imagine… Being a Scout "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An...

Day 2   Reflect  1. What were a couple of things that caught your attention since you prayed yesterday?  2. How has God or how might God deepen your desire for our congregation to be a picture to the world of God's shalom?   Imagine… Being a Foretaste "[Jesus] went to Nazareth… and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue… He stood up to read…: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has...

Vibrant Prayer Guide - Day 1 Leading up to the Weekend of Discernment: Friday June 2, 7-9:30pm & Saturday June 3, 8:30-Noon   Intro # 1 The Basics: Pray|Reflect|Connect  This prayer guide from Vibrant Congregations follows a threefold pattern: Pray: On day one, there is a short meditation with prayer ideas. Along with this are thoughts to carry with you through the day keeping you aware of ways Go...

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names a...

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring every...

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.   Only let us live up to what we have already attained.   Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. (Philippians 3:15-17)     Do these verses sound a bit...

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in...

An extended Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is Galatians 2:11-3:14 from the New International Version of the Bible.   Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it  here on YouTube .  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC:  immanuelmi...

But whatever were gains to me… I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, a...

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ… (Philippians 3:7-8). The first half of Philippians 3 is difficult to break up. There is a single thread that runs through it. Righ...