Bent Oak Church

As David prepares today, questions of succession began to spread amongst his family. Adonijah seems the frontrunner, but Solomon will take the crown. But where is God in this process?

Many are familiar with Paul's famous line, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." But what catches our attention is "I". Paul was not describing a superhuman ability that Jesus grants us, he was describing how the glory and riches of Christ so shifts our perspective as to change the things that matter most to us. What we are left with is a deep contentment.

As Paul reaches the end of his letter, his attention turns to known people and the reality of existing conflicts. But Paul turns those involved inward to consider their own anxiety and our struggle with finding peace.

In the second half of chapter 3, Paul continues to describe how knowing Christ is more valuable than all of his previous accomplishments. Paul turns now to an analogy of a runner pressing for the finish line. Paul calls the Philippians to continue pressing to know Christ.

Having urged the Philippians to sacrifice their self-interest for one another and having shown them how Christ was their example, Paul now turns to his own life and offers the Philippians his greatest desire: that he might know Christ more.

Brad Lombardi shares a special Easter message with us as we reflect on the death and resurrection of Christ.

Paul has offered some of his most moving language to describe the incarnation of Christ and his own willingness to sacrifice his life. But Paul also wants to offer the Philippians examples of how Christ's humility can be lived ou tin the everyday world of Philippi. Paul offers them the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus. 

"It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.” — Flannery O'ConnorPaul knows how difficult Christian community can be. Our tendency to reach for our own benefit constantly poisons the possibility of true friendship and love. But Paul offers another way.Paul offered the Philippians the example of Christ, who didn't count his Godhood something to take advantage of but humbled himself to take on the most humbling of human experiences. This is what Paul calls the Philippians to work out, their salvation offered through Christ's self-emptying.

Chris Lamberth takes a look at Paul's call for the Philippians to live "worth of the gospel."Chris helps us understand how the gospel reshapes our motives and how it teaches us to deny ourselves and live for him.

In this introductory sermon, we cover the background of Paul's letter to the Philippians as well as his prayer for this church.