Would you rather serve or be served? Serving is the sweet spot of joy. The apostle Paul said that this joy is discovered at the intersection of serving Christ’s interests, our unselfish interests, and the interests of others. Arthur Ash, the great tennis player who gave his live to serving both on and off the […]
Joy in Serving Christ’s Interests (Philipians 2:1-2)
Chains of Suffering: Link Our Perspective with Christ (Philippians 1:18b-26)
What do you see when you look at the chains that are holding you back from joy? Usually, we focus on our personal discomfort that often stems from advancing our own agendas. Paul offered something different. He taught that we could experience joy amidst suffering by first linking our passion with Christ (Philippians 1:12-18a). This […]
Chains of Suffering: Link Our Passion with Christ (Philippians 1:12-18a)
What chains are holding you back from joy? Typically, the answer to this question is one that deals with our personal discomfort rather than Paul’s chains referenced in Philippians. Paul was imprisoned for advancing the kingdom of Christ. Our chains are often a result of advancing our own kingdoms. Paul’s paradigm shift links our circumstances […]
Joy in Suffering: Joy Prays for Ministry (Philippians 1:9-11)
Are you allowing God to use your suffering to minister to others? Recognizing that despair, anxiety, and sorrow comprised the natural response to suffering, Paul taught that it was possible to experience joy, to take pleasure in Christ, even when we struggle. First, Paul demonstrated that joy begins with humility (Philippians 1:1-2). Second, Paul communicated […]