1/14 Sermon on Philippians, Part 1

At The Family Church here in Gainesville, senior pastor Philip Griffin began his series covering the New Testament book of Philippians, which is a letter that Paul sent...from prison...to the Christian community there several years after he had first visited and lived among them.  Back then Paul had been persecuted, beaten, whipped, and imprisoned for doing no more than healing, through the power of Christ, a fortune teller who was demon-possessed.  One might think that he would be resentful of his earlier treatment there, but instead he was filled with joy...and that is where Pastor Philip began, as he discussed the meaning of Philippians 1:1-11 in this message he titled Joy in Relationships.  You can click on the following link to read it for yourself through Bible Gateway: [link]...

Speaking of joy, what steals from it?  Pastor Philip listed four ways: resentment, a critical spirit, walling off our heart, and looking for joy in our circumstances and not from God. The act of forgiveness plays a crucial role in fighting off these counterproductive attitudes. Philip brought up a very good point: when you forgive others for how they treated you in the past, you still remember...but without the pain: that's a good way of assessing whether or not you actually did forgive.  So forgiving combats resentfulness...as for the rest, Philip noted that a critical spirit cannot dwell in you if you see people for who they can become instead of who you think they are or were.  The impulse to wall myself off is the toxic "joy thief" that pertains most to me: letting people in is the antidote.  And as our pastor had stressed in earlier weeks, you find temporary happiness in your circumstances...but joy comes from focusing on God and letting him enter your heart, regardless of what's happening around you...

You can view this sermon using this [link] to the church's YouTube video site. The Family Church meets for its weekly Sunday morning services at 9 and 10:30.  Besides the illuminating message, there is beautiful, inspirational praise music, very friendly people, prayer and discipleship opportunities, and a warm hospitality center...with that complimentary good-tasting coffee...