The Passover Meal When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:14-16 The unusual
Your True Identity I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for
Three Prayer Points ‘And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more’ Philippians 1:9 We’re pretty familiar with this kind of prayer, aren’t we? “Yes, I should be a more loving Christian. Yes, I should care more about other people than I do. Yes, I shouldn’t ever get angry …” This
Paul’s Love of Jesus ‘For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with
Wanting Unity ‘If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion …’ Philippians 2:1 I’ve jokingly preached that if I could remove one passage from Scripture because it seems impossible to live, it would be Philippians 2:1-11
Paul’s Sort of Unity ‘…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose’ Philippians 2:2 Paul rightly saw that to have true unity we have to focus on something far greater than ourselves. Only Jesus the King and the gospel that turns heart allegiance back to
Practical Unity ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others’ Philippians 2:3,4 Paul rightly saw that to have true unity we have to focus on something far greater
Christ’s Main Interests ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God…. did not consider equality with God……something to be grasped…….But made himself nothing,….taking the very nature of a servant…..being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7 In Paul’s world, great human leaders, like the Greek leader, Alexander,
Are You Growing? ‘Therefore , my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure’
Timothy’s Qualities ‘I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ’ Philippians
