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I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippines 3:8). As soon as we're born, people start to clothe us. After a few years, we learn to clothe ourselves. I think this is how it is with identities. First others put them on ...
Keep ReadingBut 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). Ever held on to something you knew wasn't good for you? We likely all have at some po...
Keep Reading"If anyone thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the fleshconsider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christand be[ing] found in Him" (Philippians 3:4,8,9). Resums aim to secure our acceptance and security. They document our worth to ourselves we want to be seen as important and valuable and to others since they gain admission to a co...
Keep ReadingPhilippians 3:1-14 In this next week of our True ID series, we'll continue to explore how that glorious and spiritually dense phrase in Christ shapes how we think about identity (who am I, really?). This week, a dive into Philippians 3. Is your identity just something you're born with, something that was given to you? After all, you didn't choose your genes, gender, pare...
Keep ReadingYou are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of youwho were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-27). Who am I "in me" who am I when I measure and define myself using myself as the standard? Or when I allow myself...
Keep ReadingFor all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27-29). Pro-Biden signs, MAGA caps, anti-maskers, right wing this, left wing that, anti-vaxx protestors, Black Lives Matter signs. We expect such division in society as a whole, but wh...
Keep Readingthat we might receive adoption to sonship (Galatians 4:5b). Picture a city inhabited by scads of street kids. These poor miserable urchins run rampant through the streets, dig through garbage cans for food, pick pockets, bully and are bullied, cower in dark alleyways and whimper in the night. Why is this happening? Because they are orphans with no one to parent them. To...
Keep Reading...to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:5-6). What does that really look like, to be His "sons?" What does it look like to actually live life as these "sons" (and daughters) who are free to know Him as Father?In th...
Keep ReadingNew series: True ID It is not a hostile question, this "Who do you think you are?" It's not asking to you to defend or justify your existence, or prove your worth. Honestly: who are you? We're beginning True ID, our new sermon series, which will help us explore what Scripture says about our identity, who we really are or better, whose we are. "Tell me about yourself." ...
Keep ReadingNehemiah 1:1-13:31 We're approaching the end of Let's Rebuild!, a sermon series that has immersed us in the Book of Nehemiah. As we prepare to wave farewell to Nehemiahbut not to the necessary and continuous hard work of building, rebuilding and maintaining healthy and robust communities of faithlet's give thanks together. Thank you, Nehemiah, for showing and reminding u...
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