2/18 Sermon on Philippians, Part 6

I missed church this past Sunday morning as I was running in the local half-marathon then and soon afterwards had to go to work.  No problem, I watched the sermon later on The Family Church YouTube video website...here's a link to it: [link].  The message was a continuation of senior pastor Philip Griffin's series about the New Testament book of Philippians, focusing on Chapter 2 Verses 19-30...you can read it for yourself through the following link via Bible Gateway: [link]...

In Sunday's message, Pastor Philip presented three choices that believers need to make in order achieve joy and majority in their lives as they reflect the light of Christ on a dark world: choosing service over self, growth over comfort, and sacrifice over security.  What defines us: our hurts and hurdles or our acceptance by Christ?  The passage referred to Timothy as someone who had proved himself...the Greek work for "proved" can also be read as "refined", such as gold being refined to a pure state with the impurities taken out...in Timothy's case, through his service.  As for growth, Philip listed three truths: (1) growth happens when we make maturity, not comfort, our goal, (2) growth never happens overnight: time plus discipline equals growth, and (3) growth happens through mentoring...both by others and to others.  Discussing sacrifice, our pastor gave as an example the brave, heroic high school coach in Parkland last week who sacrificed his own life by putting his own body between students and the murderous gunman.  God wants us to be living sacrifices as well, putting Christ ahead of all things...

Pastor Philip concluded this message by saying that each and every believer needs three special relationships in their walk with Christ: a mentor to speak truth to them, a brother or sister alongside them in the faith, and someone...like how Timothy was to Paul...to mentor and for whom to be a source of wisdom, knowledge, and encouragement...

The Family Church meets each Sunday at 9 and 10:30 for its services, which include praise music, the weekly message, prayer and discipleship opportunities, lots of friendly folks, and a hospitality center with coffee and other assorted goodies.  It's located at 2022 SW 122nd Street...I'm planning on being there this Sunday...