Pastor’s Corner February 2010

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

I hope our recent overview of the tools God has given us for spiritual growth has encouraged you in your walk with Christ. In the context of our fellowship with each other in this church family, we have the word, sacraments and prayer to help us grow. We just had an exhilarating missions conference with challenging speakers to inspire us to share Christ. We’re ready for 2010, right?
Diving in to another expositional study of one of Paul’s books will keep the momentum going. I will take the next 4 months to lead us through a study of Philippians.
It is difficult to name just one key verse for the book of Philippians, but if pressed I would say 1:21 is it-
Philippians 1:20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…
Philippians is a dynamic “thank you” note to the Philippians for a generous gift they sent the Apostle in his time of need. Paul takes this thankful occasion to address several matters. We’ll see several intriguing and relevant themes show themselves as we study. The themes of (1) thanksgiving for God’s provision, (2) regarding one another as more important than oneself, (3) rejoicing over their salvation in the face of opposition, and (4) trusting God for his care are all found in this letter from Paul. Some bible teachers say Philippians is ultimately about contentment. I think that’s true.
The Church is an ever-changing, dynamic community rooted in the never-changing, always trustworthy Word of God. Philippians is a great book for us to be studying afresh at just this particular time in our church life. Don’t you think we all need to learn contentment? Philippians will help us with this. Would you pray for God’s Spirit to minister to our church as we open this portion of Holy Scripture together. Specifically, will you pray for 5 things? Here they are:
Pray that we would become a deeply thankful people- for all of God’s gracious provisions.
Pray that we would practice genuine selflessness, putting each other before ourselves.
Pray that we would grow in the habit of praising God in all circumstances, with great joy!
Pray that we would trust God more deeply, to meet all our needs, and to always love us.
Pray that we learn true contentment

Philippians addresses all these things. If you will pray with me for God to open our hearts to His Word in a special way, there’s no telling what might happen.

In the Lamb,
Pastor Tony Felich