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[0:00] Father, we pause, Lord. And we just want to take a breath, Lord, and just stop. And we want to praise you. We want to thank you for your grace that allows us to live daily.

[0:13] We thank you for the breath that you give us. We thank you for the hope and the joy that we have in the midst of hard trials and hard circumstances in life.

[0:25] Father, we thank you that we can rest in you, that we find peace in you and comfort in you in the storms of life.

[0:36] So thank you for that peace that passes all understanding, Lord. For those, I think of Matt being on work travel, and I think of just so many that are working tirelessly, those that are in the line of duty and protecting and enforcing and the things that they just do, Lord.

[0:58] We pray that you would be their great provider in those situations, Father. And, Father, I even pray for the young moms that take care of their babies during the day, Lord, and change diapers and just are so faithful and diligent day in and day out.

[1:15] Thank you, Father, for the young families that we have in our church. And so, Father, for all the ways of life that you give us, Lord, from the visible and the big, Lord, to even what the world would consider the small and the unseen, Lord.

[1:31] Father, we know that you are sovereign over all things, Lord. And so we thank you for that, Father. And as we open up your Scripture tonight, Lord, would you teach us? Lord, would you teach us truths that we can know you more and that we can worship you more effectively, Father, that it would give us greater motivation and greater purpose in our life, knowing that as followers of Jesus Christ, that you expect us, Lord, you command us to walk in a manner worthy of Christ, Lord.

[2:01] So help us tonight to understand, Lord, what that means. And further, more than just understanding, Lord, that we could apply and put to practice, put to obedient practice, Lord, what we can do, Lord, to bring you honor and glory.

[2:14] So thank you for the night. In Christ's name, amen. All right, folks. So tonight I want to take just a couple of minutes to reset a little bit of where we are in the book.

[2:25] Since we're sort of taking the marathon route on this book versus the sprint route, it's always good to sort of step back, just like driving a road trip, right? Let's step back. Let's look at the map. Let's figure out sort of where we are, where we're going.

[2:37] And so let me get that on the slide here. So tonight, real quick, so we're going into lesson three, which is chapter three in the book. And the title of chapter three in this book is called Adopt Jesus' Death as a Test of Your Outlook.

[2:54] All right, well, what in the world does that mean? All right, so tonight and the next couple of times we go through this, hopefully that will unfold. I'm not going to explain what that means, but hopefully as we go, that'll make sense.

[3:05] Again, we're looking at, Carson has chosen to take a second chapter to look at verses 27 from chapter 1 through 18 in chapter 2.

[3:16] So if you recall from our previous three weeks when we went over these chapters, I did two of the weeks, then Mark did the last time we met, right? The focus was on chapter 2, verses 5 through 11, right?

[3:29] That was lesson two, if you would. A pretty long introduction, right? I spent two weeks sort of setting the stage, and I just followed Carson's lead as, you know, what is our view of the cross, right?

[3:40] And what's our perspective? What's Satan's perspective? What's God's perspective? And so that was leading up into Mark's teaching the last time on chapter 2, verses 5 through 11.

[3:51] For chapter 3, if you would, of the book, lesson 3, we're now going to look at the surrounding verses, the verses before 2, 5 through 11, and then some of the verses after verse 11.

[4:03] So tonight, we're going to be in chapter 1. Bottom line is, we're going to be in chapter 1, and we're going to look at four verses tonight. 27, 28, 29, and 30. The last four verses in chapter 1.

[4:13] So that's tonight. Now, stepping back, I put on this slide, basics for believers. So these are the five chapters in this book. And so you'll see where we've been, right? So chapter 1, put the cross first.

[4:25] Remember, we talked about partnership and what it means when we look at the cross. Again, how we are to behave, how we are to act, how do we order our lives. In chapter 2, which was the last three weeks, we focused on the cross.

[4:40] And specifically, chapter 2, verses 5 through 11. So again, tonight, we're encountering, we're embarking, if you would, into chapter 3 of the book. Adopt Jesus' death as a test of your outlook.

[4:52] And just looking ahead, yes, we will get through the book. I'm not sure when, but this spring, I actually thought maybe we could complete chapter 3 tonight. And the more I spent time in here, it's like, no, can't do it tonight. But maybe our next lesson, we'll finish up chapter 3.

[5:05] But chapter 4, emulate worthy Christian leaders. So we'll wrap, we'll finish up chapter 2 in Philippians and through chapter 3. And then we'll finish up in chapter 5.

[5:15] Never give up the Christian walk. This is the table of contents in the book. So that's sort of where we are. We're halfway through, through the book. Going a little bit slower than we thought. All right, so if we look at chapter 3 in the book, and you can go ahead and look at that and finger through chapter 3, there's three, Carson basically breaks down his book, chapter 3.

[5:37] Sort of confusing. Greg, are you thinking about chapter 3 of Philippians or chapter 3 of the book? Well, we're not in chapter 3 of Philippians, right? So if I say chapter 3, it's chapter 3 of the book. Less than 3 of the book. Okay, that's easy to remember.

[5:49] So here's the breakdown that we'll be doing tonight. We'll do number one. We are called not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for Him. And so again, we're looking at verses 27, 28, 29, and 30 in chapter 1.

[6:03] And then next time, we'll turn into chapter 2 and hit those other two points as well. So if you've read lesson 3 of chapter 3 in his book, this all should be familiar because this is how he breaks down the Scripture reference.

[6:17] Now, for this chapter, he doesn't spend a lot of time in introductory material. He sort of jumps right in. So we're going to jump right in as well. So we're going to be spending... We're just going to break down verses 27, 28, 29, and 30.

[6:29] We're just going to go... We're not going to go word by word, but we'll go phrase by phrase and get through those four verses and then have some application questions at the end.

[6:41] And so what I'm doing tonight, by way of format... So I've got six questions for you. So this is going to be... Instead of giving you an outline of these four verses, we're going to answer... Together, we're going to answer questions about what the text has to say.

[6:55] And we're going to look right at what Paul writes for the answer to those. All right. So without further ado, let's jump in. Let me read these four verses just to ground us in what we'll be talking about tonight.

[7:10] And so this is Philippians chapter 1, the last four verses, 27 through 30. So I'm reading from the ESV. By the way, I'm curious. I meant to ask this earlier. So I study with NASB, a little bit of LSB, but mainly with ESV when I teach and preach.

[7:29] What translations do you all use? And is it different from reading your Kerry Bible versus maybe what you study at home? We have NASB and study. Okay.

[7:39] So Eardley's, NASB, read and study. And then Michael, you have King James, KJV. Yeah. Okay. So you've got NASB, KJV. NASB, read it and study it typically?

[7:52] Yeah. Yeah. So that's the fun part of digital Bible versus carrying two armfuls of Ives. All right. So we've got NASB, ESV.

[8:05] What about you, Mona? Do you know your translation? NASB when we first started, that's what we were using. Uh-huh. Yeah. Way back when, NASB. So remember, so Jeff was in NASB.

[8:15] He tried for a little while to go to the legacy standard, right? And he gave it a good college try. But he, you know, just all, he spent so many years, you know, going through NASB.

[8:26] So I think he switched back to NASB. That's good. It's helpful to know because as we go through some of the words, like we're going to start out, it's going to be interesting. Different translations use different words for that very first word in verse 27.

[8:39] How about you, Alonzo? What do you? Well, I'm ESV. ESV. But I have a name that I've got. Okay. But you've got them all. But where do you find, like when you do your devotionals or daily studies at home?

[8:52] I have an author. ESV. ESV. ESV study Bible. Okay. MacArthur has study Bibles in multiple translations. I have that.

[9:02] Okay. No, I can hold most. Yeah, yeah. But I was up there yesterday and I'm going, oh, this one, how old, who final was this? Because it's falling apart. I go, oh, it's gone.

[9:13] Aw, aw, sweet. All right. So right in your hand right now. I have ESV. So you typically use ESV. All right. English and English. All right. Pike family. What do you all use? I'm just curious. I have ESV.

[9:25] ESV. Okay. And I think Matt said he uses NASP, I think, typically. Again, with studies, you sort of use multiple ones. Okay. How about you guys? ESV.

[9:35] ESV. Typically? ESV. Typically. All right. Derek, what do you got? Oh, I got what you use. So with the family, it's all about NASP. NASP. I use the NASP.

[9:47] Okay. Legacy standards. All right. So it depends. So have you all noticed? Do you know what D.A. Carson uses in the Scripture within this book? So none of you said it, huh?

[9:58] Yeah. The NIV. Right. NIV. Yeah. Yeah. NIV. He is because, and you know, at the beginning of this chapter, he puts the Scripture reference in there. And so what's noteworthy of that is, and let's just dive right into verse 27.

[10:12] So 27, did I read? I haven't read this yet, have I? Let me read it. I got sidetracked. Again, crazy few minutes before getting here, so getting calmed down and calibrated.

[10:25] All right. So let me read these four verses out of the ESV, by the way, tonight. So only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

[10:51] This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him, but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

[11:14] All right. So that's verses 27 through 30. We will, we're going to go again like verse by verse through this, and then at the end, we're going to camp out on suffering. So lock the door, Jeremy.

[11:25] No one can escape. I know we're going to talk about a hard topic tonight, suffering as well. All right. So by way of questions, here's your first question. So this verse starts out, only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

[11:39] All right. So let's not just blow through that word only, but let's figure out what that means because there's something a little bit significant here about, I mean, every word, right, that these Bible writers write and Paul writes are significant.

[11:52] So what do you think? So only is used in ESV and NASB and Legacy Standard. Interestingly, in the NIV, the NIV editors, the authors, they say, whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

[12:11] So what do you think Paul's getting out here at this point in chapter one when he says, only let your manner of life be worthy? Anybody want to take a stab at what the significance is of that word or that phrase?

[12:28] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. life isn't doing that.

[12:41] You're not supposed to be debating amongst yourselves as a Christian. You're supposed to be showing life the way that Christ is.

[12:54] Alright. So you're sort of commenting though on what he means by let the manner of life be worthy of gospel. You're spot on. That's all we're supposed to do. We're not supposed to do anything else.

[13:04] We're not supposed to do anything else? We're not supposed to live life and we're supposed to be our goal. Only. Alright. Alright. What else? You're not wrong. You're not wrong.

[13:16] But I think Paul has a different intention here in starting this sentence on only. But that's a good one. So hold that thought because you just gave the answer to a couple of the next questions. The NIV says whatever happens, that should be a hint.

[13:32] Doesn't matter the circumstance. Alright. You're getting warmer. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[13:44] Alright. Alright. So no matter what the circumstance you all let your manner of life be worthy. Alright. Let's get closer. The New Living Translation interestingly has the most literal words here for only.

[14:01] The New Living Translation the NLT says above all let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel. So above all or whatever happens or only.

[14:14] So what Paul's getting at here and again we started writing to verse 27 but if you were to start at verse 1 and read this whole chapter you'd have seen sort of the progression of his letter here.

[14:25] And so Paul here is saying hey you all another way of saying only is no matter what else no matter what the pressures or the distractions or whatever you're experiencing whatever has your attention right now there are certain things that are central that I want you to know.

[14:43] And that's sort of the long-winded way of translating only. Right. So Paul said hey listen up you all I'm writing here I'm still in chapter 1 of everything that's going on in your life with me in prison and remember the verses preceding that right he writes about the advancement of the gospel right to live as Christ right so in the trials of life I want you to understand church that you need to let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

[15:13] It's sort of like saying listen if you get anything from tonight I need you to get one thing out of this right or if you're teaching your kids you know when you're teaching your kids don't you listen you know we've talked about a lot today listen but I want these two things I don't want you to forget these two things from this lesson right it's sort of funneling the focus of the writing into this is the most important part here that I'm trying to convey to you and I think that's important because that's part of what we're going to talk about tonight is what in the world does it mean to let the manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ so here it is still in you know chapter there's no chapters in the original writing in the original letter but here early on in this letter he's sort of saying focus in y'all and I want you to focus in on the fact that this is what you need to be doing this is the commandment for you if you're a follower of Jesus Christ you need to be living like it alright so that's only now we're not going to go through each word you know tonight we'll be here too long but that's the first question so don't blow by that word

[16:15] I think all of your translations I think only is the first word if I'm tracking correctly since no one has the NIV but some other you may want to write in the margin there whatever happens is another way a literal way of saying that or above all so this is Paul calling to the attention of the reader he's about to say something that's pretty significant alright so that was question one now question two or above all else is another way of saying that alright question two well what does it what does this mean and what does it not mean let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ alright so there's there's there's some misinterpretations or misunderstandings that one could have of this command to let your manner of life your conduct I think some of your translations may say to be worthy of the gospel of Christ so I'm going to give you the option to either tell me what it does not mean that maybe some folks may misunderstand or you can tell me what it does mean here so what's Paul's intention here what's he communicating to the church in Philippi when he says let your manner of life and Alonzo sort of already gave us a preview of the answer to that one but let your manner of life let your conduct be worthy of Christ the gospel of Christ y'all want to take a stab yes it does not mean that you can earn your salvation it's not a works based sort of thing where live life live conduct so that you become worthy it doesn't say that but you can see how that could be easily maybe misinterpreted that way in scripture work out your salvation you've seen that's also in New Testament and again some folks misinterpret that ah right there works based salvation scripture says work out your salvation well that's not it doesn't mean work it out to the point that you earn it or in this case let your manner of life or your conduct be worthy right so it does not mean

[18:26] I think that's the next line here I have it yeah it does not mean that we can work our way to the point where we become worthy of the gospel all right now pause just a minute now if you're sitting here right now and thinking Greg that's obvious we know better we know better than to misinterpret that again I want to encourage you if you know and that's a pretty solid understanding again this book is called Basics for Believers think about conversations that you have with family and friends who may totally get that that verse all wrong right so be thinking about again this is equipping we're here together equipping one another so be thinking about how you can explain in your own words and help them move from a misunderstanding to a biblical understanding of this right so sometimes it's easier to explain what something doesn't mean and it'll help folks sort of get what it does mean so it does not mean let your manner of life be worthy let your conduct be worthy making you worthy of the gospel of Christ well why is that true why does it not mean that yeah yeah yeah keep going so keep keep keep let me draw that out a little bit more so other other places in scripture say works don't save us why can't works save us right we're chosen right but go back to but why before we're well we were chosen before the foundation of the world but but why will works not why can we not earn our salvation why couldn't we live in a manner where yeah yep that's true

[20:08] Jesus is in the only way huh yeah sin yeah we're not perfect there's sin yeah you there's no way we can earn we there's no way we can become worthy therefore Christ is the is the gate if you would that's right so the other point you know this does not mean this verse does not mean to try harder in order to secure something that that's what I was trying to get out is that and this something is our salvation right it why this can't mean work in a way that you become worthy what are you becoming worthy of righteousness right Christ righteousness well wait a minute don't we already have Christ righteousness through exactly through what Michelle said we're already righteous through the blood of Christ so there's a second reason why this verse can't mean work harder to become worthy to secure something or to achieve something because we've already got it we're already saved right and so a couple of reasons and when you think about it it's like well of course Greg that makes total sense right so there's a couple of ways that maybe you can explain to others why this verse does not mean a works-based work if you would a works-based salvation right we can never be worthy on our own but also we've already secured what we would be working toward and that's you know redemption salvation as well all right so that's that's not what it means and there's probably some other others probably you know all different ways permutations of misunderstanding of that verse what does it mean though what does it mean to let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of

[21:55] Christ in your own words God honoring make your life God honoring yep yep yep what about in your own words I mean this again we're trying to ferret out Paul's intent right I'm not looking for your opinions but in your own words what are some other ways in which in your own words would you explain what Paul is getting at what he's communicating when he's saying let the manner of your life let your conduct be worthy Christ should be seen in our lives all right yeah Michelle knowing that we were saved yeah that's close to what

[22:57] Carson says in here and that's the third bullet here again all those answers are correct our understanding of it but but when when Paul writes let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ what Paul is communicating to us is that because something has already been secured right we've already secured salvation just like I said we've already been saved right then we should try harder not to earn something not to become as worthy and become perfect right but out of gratitude gratitude and out of think what you were getting to just frank recognition that this is for what we were made right this is what the gospel has saved us for for good works right for that hard striving and so do you see how that totally changes the motivation of how when we read that let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ it's not it's like you know cause and effect it's not you're working harder to secure something you've already secured that right you're you're living a life you're working hard out of gratitude and frankly because you're saved that's what you were made for good works you were you were made to bring glory and honor to the Lord that's what Paul's saying when he's writing to the

[24:11] Philippian church listen don't you know don't don't don't follow the Jewish leaders that that have on top of you these mountains and mountains of laws like no no no through Christ you have been saved but you still walk in a manner worthy of the gospel out of gratitude and because that's how God made you when he saved you he saved you for these good works to do to bring glory to him all right does that make sense just in that little phrase right we want to make sure we understand what it does not mean but but also what it does mean and how that again I don't if I don't have motivations the right word but a clear understanding of when we wake up each day right what is it that that that propels you to live focused on the cross and live in light of the gospel some of the things we've we've talked about the past several Wednesday nights it's we live out of gratitude and we live because God has made us for a time as this to bring him glory and honor all right so that was question number two you got two questions down we got four to go that make sense all right let's move on to the second half of verses 27 and 28 all right so that so we'll continue in verse 27 so walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of

[25:43] Christ so continuing so that whether I come and see you or I'm absent that I may hear that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and not frightened in anything by your opponents all right that's a big chunk of this is still I think that's most of verse 27 with a little bit of verse 28 there in that in that segment so question three for us tonight what three aspects of our manner of life or our conduct right does Paul have in mind that is worthy of the gospel and the answer is in that verse right there that this is this is not a this is not an interpretation question this is a there's a question and the answer is up there right but there's three if you read that section of verses 27 the first part of 28 there's three aspects of our manner of life that Paul has in mind that's worthy of the gospel like how should we live right what are some characteristics maybe that's an easier way to ask what are three characteristics of our life at least three but three we see in these verses that would be considered worthy of the gospel from from those verses from those verses all right standing firm all right all right standing firm in one spirit in the body of Christ all right so we got standing firm in one spirit so in one spirit would be unity right is that another way of saying there you go so one mindedness you know when you're side by side with someone when you're yeah so like so I think unity sort of captures those different aspects right so I think unity would be one of the aspects all right that's that middle part standing firm and I even I even changed the font color for the answers right so so standing firm in one spirit with one mind striving side by side for the faith of gospel unity what about the first one though whether I come and see you or I'm absent what what does that hint toward another way in which we live in a manner worthy of the gospel of

[27:48] Christ all right there you go so what's what's a different way to describe that if we don't really if we're not concerned about how we're seeing right fear of man right we know that God's always watching what what is a what is give me some other words to describe that not conducting yourself as the world does all right integrity that's sort of what I was going toward yeah so what did Paul say whether I come and see you or whether I'm absent does he expect him to act differently when he's there versus when he's not there so it's sort of integrity right it's not living a duplicitous life right not living a hypocritical life right so you know if the apostle if pastor Jeff walks in tonight hopefully we're acting just the same as if you weren't here right love one another's you know whatever right the apostle Paul comes in if Jesus

[28:54] Christ were to come in he's with us anyhow right he with us he sees us he sees us in all things right so so yeah living a life of integrity no matter who's watching so there's that so that's one thing again you may have missed that but when Paul's writing to the church he says church whether I'm going to be there in person and seeing you whether I come and see you or I'm absent you should be acting the same way integrity a non-duplicitous life all right so we got to there so live in a life of integrity live in a life of unity and then what's that what's the third aspect that we see in these verses all right right not frightened in anything by your opponents all right let me come up with the answers here so first when we hit it live a consistent life non-duplicitous I I struggled with whether is this really hypocritical I mean hypocritical is saying one thing but doing something else and that's really not where

[29:56] Paul's getting to he's saying acting one way when someone's around and acting a different way so I think duplicitous is a better word than being living a hypocritical life yeah complete this sentence when the cat's gone the mice play right that's sort of what that's sort of what this what's his hinting toward what Paul's saying so so non-duplicitous living a life and I got integrity right here in my notes a consistent life so Paul that's one aspect of this manner of life that we're talking about unity that's the second one standing firm I sort of like the you notice how in that second line Paul writes standing firm and yeah he this is like a soldier standing at his post so it's interesting from that aspect it's sort of individually standing firm yeah yeah well get into the unity so standing firm in one spirit so the the individual aspect of it but then he continues striving side by side and so another hand it's like and that literally means to struggle alongside with someone so both aspects right so in your manner of life in your conduct individually stand firm right stand firm in one spirit but also you come alongside each other and you work together you struggle alongside each other together that that's being part of that that manner of life that's worthy of the gospel of Christ so I love that Paul he sort of he hits both right is it is it individually yes is it part of a group yes it's both so so that's pretty cool so unity and all your your everything you're doing it with one spirit and with one mind yeah yeah yep standing firm in one spirit so yeah whatever that gap is yep I like that third bullet again not frightened by our opponent I'm going to unpack that a little bit more in just a minute but that's the third part of this section of verses that again what's the question what are the three aspects of our manner of life or our conduct that Paul has in mind that's worthy of the gospel so again I'm trying to answer a very practical question when we read this command in scripture what does that look like in your life bottom line what's that look like in your life are you consistent are you non-duplicitous do you act one way when when your spouse is around and then when your spouse gets home you're doing something different I know none of you would sit and watch soap operas but are you sitting soap operas all day and then when a spouse gets home I'm talking about you men you men sitting home watching soap operas and then when your wife gets home for the grocery store or whatever what the woman's doing that's right I switch it on you right do you get up and start scrubbing the dishes or something right that's duplicitous that's a funny example but but integrity right so do we live a life that's consistent that's integrity do we live a life that's in unity right with a one in spirit with the gospel what scripture says scriptural truth now so far we're doing okay and everyone's smiling but I'm going to hit some hard things here near the end so so remember what we're talking about here so in unity and then not frightened by our opponents not frightened by our opponents now let me see what the next yeah so not frightened by our opponents Paul finishes up verse 28 here so not frightened in anything by your opponents and then Paul continues hey church this is a clear this being not frightened by anything by your opponents not living in fear of your opponents this

[34:00] is a clear sign to them of their destruction but of your salvation and that of God all right and so I don't think I have a question here this is just more observation as we unpack that third point of us not living a life that's frightened by the world by persecution right by evil right not frightened very sober and very aware yes but frightened no and then Paul continues by you by we not living a life frightened by our opponent I'm going to ask just in a minute why why is okay why how are we able to live a life that's that's consistent you know in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ by not how can we do that and not be frightened about some of the crazy things we see in the world right but I'll get back to that in just a minute but Paul writes hey by you living this way it's a clear sign to your opponents right to those who persecute you because of your faith in Jesus Christ is a sign of them to their destruction but also hey of your salvation salvation and that of God and so this is a sign from God of their destruction right so so look the Lord we'll look up a couple of scripture references in just a moment but but Paul's writing hey this is one way that God marks out his enemies right and this is also a way that God marks out his children his church and we and that's reflective in a manner of our life in our conduct all right so turn to keep your place in Philippians turn over to 2nd

[35:44] Thessalonians and we'll see another another passage where Paul gets to this point about how God marks out his enemies but also marks out his children 2nd Thessalonians 1 4 through 8 and when someone can someone read that loudly and clearly whenever you get there repeat that this is what this is evidence okay thank you this is evidence of the righteous judgment of God that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are also suffering since indeed God considered it just just to retain this affliction of those who afflict you and to grant relief the Lord Jesus and his dear to heaven that his mighty name can flame fire and put his vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus all right wow that's pretty clear that's pretty clear where God's enemies they're gonna get what's due to them right but it's also you know verse 5 right this is what's evidence going back to verse 4 therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and your faith in all your persecutions and all and and afflictions right hey church you're living life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ is another way to say that right what we're reading in Philippians and so I just pull 2nd Thessalonians out here just as another and there's more references that we could look into tonight where we see that that your righteous living demonstrates and gives testimony to the world about who are God's children and who are God's enemies right and and that's why we don't have to live frightened of our opponents if you would for those who persecute us for those you know because of our faith right because in the end we win right there there there's nothing that they can do to us as a believers and followers of Jesus Christ that is why we're able to live in victory and without being frightened that make sense so living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ means integrity right being consistent non-duplicitous it means living in unity with one another with your brothers and sisters in Christ and also not living I'll say generically in fear right in fear a fear especially of those who are who are against us because Paul explains going back to Philippians where's Philippians yeah because Paul explains there in verse 28 right that this is a clear you you not being frightened it's a clear sign to them to those opponents of their destruction but of your salvation that from God all right anything about verses 27 and 28 that we've left not unpacked trying to keep this pretty I mean this is pretty this is fairly straightforward again I sometimes it's hard to teach some of this basic stuff because we've been taught for those who have been believers for a long time we've been taught this right so so again this is why I sort of

[39:45] for those of you who are more mature in the faith we're going over some of these basics that's why I like to sort of frame it as this is equipping so that you can teach others and they're great reminders as well for us we're such a forgetful people right so it's good yeah Alanta yeah that's why we're yeah yeah yeah yeah that's he I mean who did Paul address this letter to the Philippians to the church to those who are saved yeah the sort of the the prerequisite that sort of goes without saying here is that you're filled with the Holy Spirit otherwise all this is but like a Christian that he's read this learn it but doesn't really understand to think to just be reassured that no you're not you're not alone you gotta realize that when you accept Christ he the Trinity is right there with you guiding everything yes yep now again we're going to get to some real world practical examples because I

[40:52] I really tonight and I'm getting to the point where you know when we think about persecution right we just we just live in a country right now where we're we don't experience the type of physical persecution right that much of the world experiences right so what so what's it mean Greg to we'll get to that I don't want to get ahead of myself but what's it mean to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ in our context today we'll get to that in just a minute because it's it's hard it's hard you all know it's hard but it's hard as we think about that so but I'm getting ahead of myself so let me let me move quickly on to the last two verses so Philippians 1 29 and 30 so we've got three questions down three to go so let me read verses 29 and 30 again for it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have remember Paul's writing from prison so they're seeing they're seeing this so question four again listen here's the puffball question if you're shy and you don't like raising your hand to answer this is the one you want to jump on because I've got the answer marked up here as believers in Christ what has been granted to us for the sake of Christ there's two things what are they somebody believe in him oh you're not shy you give answers

[42:19] I'm hinting towards who's the one with the shot who doesn't talk over here over here are you pointing to Karen I'm pointing to Mona are you pointing to Mona oh you're pointing back I haven't talked this is a great size group yeah everyone's everyone's talking Lucy what's the answer Lucy just read the stuff in orange yeah you got it yeah so hey as believers in Christ right as followers of Jesus what have we been granted the good news is well they're both good news but the good news is salvation right belief in him he's given us our faith right but so this is not bad news this is where we've got to change our attitude a little bit it's harder though but also we're also granted suffering suffering for his sake alright well what do you mean by suffering for his sake alright so what's the difference am I getting ahead of myself no no so let's talk about suffering now a little bit so here

[43:23] I'm starting to guide the conversation a little bit more so when we talk about suffering right so we we are being granted we have the privilege of suffering for his sake do you believe that let me ask you that do you believe that it's a privilege to suffer for his sake I mean intellectually yes it's a privilege to be a believer and that means to do to be able to do anything again not to earn it not to earn anything or secure some goal right but out of what would he say out of gratitude right because that's what God made us for right to bring him glory and honor and that includes the privilege to suffer for his sake now what's that real quick what's the difference between Christ's suffering are we somehow fulfilling anything lacking in Christ's suffering is that sort of what Paul's getting to and so I wanted to ask the question what's the difference between Christ's suffering for us versus our suffering for Christ so help me understand what the difference is

[44:31] Christ's suffering for us versus what we're being granted to our suffering for his sake y'all want to maybe take a stab and this isn't this isn't in the verse I just sort of thought let's unpack a little bit Christ's suffering what we understand about Christ's suffering and what we're trying to understand here about us suffering for his sake Christ's suffering is him going to the cross done for our sins alright we can't do that alright we can't do that so why can't we do that because we're not we're flesh alright you just gave the full answer thank you very much appreciate that so yeah so Christ's suffering right so number one Christ was the God-man right and then Mark taught about that we read about that in chapter 2 verses 5-11 right fully God and somehow fully man yeah if y'all grasp that let me know because it's it's an amazing thing so Christ's suffering none of us are the God-man right we're not 100% divinity right so Christ's suffering is different because he's Christ right he's God number two because of that in Christ's suffering he was the one who enjoyed equality of God right and hopefully you remember when Mark taught on this two weeks ago right do you understand what that phrase meant that Christ did not consider equality with God something to be grasped it's not that it's not that Christ was trying to grasp bingo right it's not what that and again but when you read it it's sort of like well what's that mean that if Christ didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped does that mean he didn't have it to begin with well no no that's not what that means right and again

[46:23] I'm thinking Mark went over this two weeks ago but it's Christ didn't leverage that privilege of being God right he set that he emptied himself right he set that to the side him being God one of the three Godhead right so he did not consider that equality something to be grasped means he didn't leverage it he didn't take advantage of that position to not be obedient to God the Father right he set that to the side and became man right so that that's again that's going on to chapter 2 verse verse 6 though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped so that's another one that on a quick reading of it it's like you could misunderstand what that means listen to that phrase yeah leverage it for his for his own personal purposes right right he didn't he he wanted to please the Father and remember obedience right that's again trying to weave some of the previous teachings right what was

[47:40] Christ's view of the cross obedience right and so he chose to obey his Father God the Father and set that equality to the side though he's still 100% divine so again it's one of those where our finite minds can't understand that yeah example of that in Matthew when they wanted the tax for the church and everybody had to pay it and Jesus asked did the king's children pay a tax to him no and then it's like the scripture says that he didn't want to cause a problem so that's why he had Peter go and give the gospel when I read that I thought yeah and I thought about when you're saying this I'm thinking that's what he did there and people didn't see it wasn't saying hey listen my church

[48:45] I don't have to pay tax to it yeah it's great to look back we live on this side of the cross to look back and why didn't they get it lots of things we don't get still right so the point being again Christ was the one who although he enjoyed equality with God do we enjoy equality with God no so that's the difference between Christ suffering for us and us suffering for him thirdly a little bit of a difference right is that the suffering that Christ secured right secured forgiveness for others right when we suffer for Christ do we secure forgiveness for others no no so that's a little bit different yeah and then lastly what's different again there's four things that are different is that Christ was guiltless and we are not we are guilty so when we think about us suffering for Christ's sake and Christ suffering for us big difference you all know that but it's sort of you know enumerated or listed some of the some of the things that are different with with Christ suffering all right so that's the fifth question go to

[49:55] Mark 8 34 jump over to Mark 8 34 as we continue to unpack this a little bit I'm watching the time we got down 10 minutes Mark 8 34 now zeroing in a little bit on our suffering right so so put yourself in the shoes of a follower of Christ in the church of Philippi and they're reading they're reading this letter from Paul and they hear or they they hear it being read that Paul Paul writes that it has been granted for me the sake for the sake of Christ that I should suffer for Christ put yourself in their shoes now someone read Mark 8 34 yeah so so if

[51:14] I'm if I've chosen to follow Christ and he he is and Paul has told me yeah I'm going to suffer for Christ then I can't help but think that that that I'm thinking echoing back perhaps some people are thinking about the whole crucifixion scene right we just celebrate Easter right and so it's like okay so I have the privilege I have the the honor of suffering for Christ but Christ you know he was crucified on a cross and then Christ is teaching if I'm to follow him denying myself taking up the cross and following him so taking up the cross think about literally that the the cross I can't remember what that's called right the cross beam think of physically putting that cross beam on my shoulder and dragging myself and that cross beam to the cross and so this is a very sober thing like like again nowadays does anybody

[52:26] I don't want to offend anyone who happens to have a cross necklace but you know the cross the symbol of the cross in our culture has become sort of you know there's crosses on cars there's nothing wrong with that we have crosses up as a reminder there's jewelry there's people get tattoos of crosses again no no no no judgment on any of that but but I feel like we sort of don't grasp unless we just sort of meditate on this Easter story this crucifixion and resurrection story the the horror the horror of the cross and and so when when Paul writes about suffering for the sake of Christ and we saw how Christ suffered that that's sobering right for us just to sit here and think yeah yeah well I I suffer for Christ do you really I and we'll talk about ways in which I feel like we do in our in our current context but anyhow so I just wanted to read Mark 830 834 did someone turn to Acts 5 if not can someone turn to Acts 5 40 and again just another sobering account of persecution and how the how

[53:38] Christ disciples have his apostles respond to that persecution so the context here Acts 5 is that the Christ they're drugged before the Sanhedrin the religious leaders they're arrested they're drugged before them and then if somebody can pick it up on verse 40 and read 40 through 42 so they arrested the apostles they called them in and then you can read the account earlier in chapter 5 but at the end of this and when they had called in they the religious leaders right the

[54:39] Jewish leaders when they had called to see and when they had called in the apostles they beat them all right so we know in other parts of scripture and just historical accounts right probably were flogged you know probably 39 times because there was you know a law that you couldn't fly it flog you know someone more than 40 times so 39 lashes right 39 lash 39 lashes on their back they beat them and they charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and they let them go and then again don't let this escape the significance here verse 41 then they left the presence of the council and what were they doing they were rejoicing that they were counted worthy there's that name again there's that phrase in verse 27 of Philippians 1 then they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name for the name of Christ for the name of Jesus wow wow that's pretty sobering and significant and just awe awe awe a student went to a mission field and was killed and their missionary now this is just one of the the week student missionaries increased like by 50% that wanted to go out and do as that died again it's a well recognized fact that when there's persecution the church grows under persecution suffering for Jesus sake so again putting yourself in the shoes of a

[56:39] Philippian believer a believer of Jesus Christ in the Philippian church and reading this from Paul suffering for Jesus sake extends beyond physical persecution so I'm sorry so I'm moving on now but with Mark 8 and Acts 5 do convey in other parts of scripture right do convey the horrific conditions that physical persecution occur right you know there's martyrs throughout history martyrs even current martyrs right that are being killed for one's faith bringing it back home though a little bit closer to home in the U.S.

[57:21] we're not exempt from suffering and this is what I want to sort of end on is that suffering for Jesus sake extends beyond personal or physical persecution so now sort of just because time is almost up and I want to draw us to a conclusion real quick but think about going back to the theme of this section right about suffering for Christ we have the honor for the sake of Christ to suffer for him what's that mean for us today right well we have countless occasions where to put aside our own self-interest for the sake of Christ right there's many occasions in our life now think about again be a little introspective here are there situations where you need to make hard moral decisions that cost you something resisting temptation to do something that we want to do simply because resisting it is the right thing to do right so something that you want to do that you resist it because you know in your heart that it's the right thing to do to resist that temptation and then doing all of this making the hard moral choices that cost you something putting aside self-interest denying yourself taking up your cross doing all these things that last bullet point cheerfully because following

[58:43] Christ demands it and what's not on there is because following Christ is worth it so the last question I have for you is a little bit of an application question and I have something to read to you what are some real life give me I'll look for maybe three people to respond what are some real life examples of suffering for the sake of Jesus today that don't involve physical persecution but that absolutely require dying to self you choosing obedience over comfort and doing it with a willing heart with a willing joyful heart are there any real life examples that come to mind I've got two pages of them I'm going to read to you but I'm just curious if you all have any top of mind that maybe you've encountered recently Alonza well when I lost my daughter in discomfort I could have I could have cursed

[59:46] God but instead I prayed I said Jesus Jesus I just prayed even as a Catholic hospital if even the father gave me because I've never seen any of a spot like you are wow alright And then being able to use it and show that, yes, it hurts, that God was the reason I got through, that other young couples don't have that happen to them.

[60:13] I just feel like no matter how much that hurts, it didn't hurt as much as what Christ took to me. All right. That's about as real as it gets. Right. So you choosing to rest in the Lord.

[60:29] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, when they're tested like that. Thank you for sharing that one. Any other examples that come to mind?

[60:40] I think it depends on the lone Christian in the culture. Like losing school, college campus, the workplace. You're the odd person out to be a believer and don't talk like they do, but do the things they do.

[60:58] Yeah, the lone Christian in your context, school especially. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Especially young when you're young. Good. Good. Actually, that's one of my examples there.

[61:09] I'm going to read in just a moment. All right. One more. One more. Being the lone Christian on a construction site. Being the lone Christian on a construction site. You're different. You're different.

[61:20] They may treat you different. I think it's all the persecution. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Again, it goes back. I mean, that's physical persecution where it could cost you your life. I was really impressed by my book that we're studying.

[61:35] So I had to say, I'm studying the church. Martha, please give me an example. When her pastor called her and asked her if she could take somebody from the church to adopt a defendant.

[61:54] And she really didn't want to. But she eventually got to the point where she repented and was willing to do it.

[62:04] Okay. Cheerfully. Yeah. Yeah. And she didn't want her day to be disrupted. Sure. So maybe a little selfishness or not wanting to be inconvenienced.

[62:17] So, again, it's that setting self aside to do what you know you should do. Right. Yeah. And doing it cheerfully, not grumbly. That's my challenges. I can be pre-obedient, but not with the right heart.

[62:32] Yeah. Right. Right. Right. Yes. Consider others more important than yourself.

[62:43] All right. So let me read some examples. So if you're struggling, and I'll give you this. I don't have this on the slide, but I'll give you some examples here. If you're having trouble trying to think of, Greg, do I really suffer for Christ's sake in my current context?

[63:01] Again, a little bit different than maybe we're not physically persecuted. But all right. So here's some real life examples of suffering for Jesus' sake that don't involve physical persecution, but absolutely require, as I put up there, require dying to self, choosing obedience over comfort, and doing it with a willing heart.

[63:18] So here's one example. Telling the truth when lying would protect your reputation. For example, a Christian employee admits a mistake at work that could cost them a promotion, or frankly, could cost them their job.

[63:32] They refuse to shift blame or hide the error because Christ calls them to integrity. Remember, integrity. They accept the consequences without bitterness.

[63:42] All right. So protecting your reputation. That's one. Refusing to participate in workplace gossip. And frankly, I put workplace gossip, but now that I think about it, gossip can happen right here in our church, in any church.

[63:58] It can happen in any context. But refusing to participate in it. A believer steps away, for example. A believer steps away from a conversation that tears down a co-worker. They lose social capital, right?

[64:10] They're seen as uptight, and they're excluded from the group. But they choose Christ-like speech over fitting in. So that's sort of that lone Christian context, right?

[64:22] So refusing to participate in workplace gossip. Here's another one. Remaining sexually pure when temptation is strong. Someone in a dating relationship chooses chastity, even though it costs them the relationship.

[64:34] They resist what they genuinely want because obedience to Christ matters more than what they desire. Again, setting aside that temptation of what you really want, because you know resisting that is what Christ would want.

[64:50] How about this one? Forgiving someone who never apologizes. A Christian forgives a family member who deeply wronged them. They give up the emotional satisfaction of resentment and the social advantage of being the victim because Christ commands forgiveness.

[65:12] Does that hit anyone right between the eyes? Woo! Forgiving someone who never apologizes. Anyone's a family member? Woo! That's hard, right? And they give up the emotional satisfaction of resentment.

[65:25] I hope I put that the right way, but I think we understand that, right? When you're wronged and you want to hold on to that, it's because you want to be in control. There's some satisfaction in having the upper hand with that, even though you've been hurt.

[65:40] Let it go. Christ commands forgiveness. How about returning good for evil in a hostile environment? A believer is mocked at work for their faith. Not violently mocked, but with sarcasm and exclusion or belittling.

[65:55] So instead of retaliating or withdrawing, the Christian responds with patience and kindness and consistent excellence. Who was the one, Alonji, you were saying, you can't do this without the Spirit, right?

[66:11] As I read each of these examples, can't do it with the Holy Spirit. Choosing generosity when finances are tight. A Christian gives sacrificially to someone in need or to their church, even though it means delaying a purchase that they really wanted.

[66:27] They feel the cost, but they give cheerfully because Christ calls them to. Refusing an unethical business practice. A salesperson declines to manipulate customers or use deceptive tactics, even though everyone does it, and it costs them commissions.

[66:45] They choose righteousness over financial gain. I think of, we've got a few men in our church that own their own business, and the temptation, without the Holy Spirit, the temptation has to be large, right?

[66:59] To do things unethically, you know. So let's praise the Lord. You be praying for our business owners that they stand in righteousness, even if that means costing a sale, maybe a lower profit or no profit at all, right?

[67:16] How about this one? Breaking off a friendship that pulls them towards sin. A believer ends a long-standing friendship because the relationship continually pressures them toward destructive habits.

[67:27] It hurts deeply, but they choose holiness over comfort. Do you notice in each of these examples, there's a description of how we tie it back to for the gospel of Christ, right?

[67:41] Living a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. We do these things, these examples, because we choose holiness. We choose what is right. We choose to honor the Lord.

[67:52] Standing up for biblical truth in a setting where it's unpopular. A Christian student respectfully voices a biblical conviction in class. So this goes back to your example, Jeremy, of our kids in school, right?

[68:04] They stand up. Let's see. They respectfully voice a biblical conviction in class, knowing it may cost them approval or grades or even opportunities. They do it humbly, not combatively, because loyalty to Christ matters more than acceptance of their peers.

[68:23] Another one, serving in hidden, thankless ways. A believer consistently cares for an elderly parent, a disabled spouse, or a difficult church member. Do we have any difficult church members?

[68:35] Don't move, don't move. I may be the difficult church member. No applause, no recognition, no visible reward. Just quiet, costly faithfulness, because Christ sees it.

[68:53] Starting to get a feel for, you know, there's lots of ways that we suffer for Christ's sake in our context. When we focus on family a little bit, you know, choosing patience with a difficult family member, right?

[69:06] A Christian consistently responds with gentleness to a parent or a sibling or an in-law who's demanding or critical or emotionally draining. They give up the right to snap back because Christ calls them to love.

[69:21] Anybody have any difficult family members? I don't want to make any eye contact because, yeah. Yeah. So choosing patience with a difficult family member because Christ calls us to love.

[69:34] Refusing to escalate conflict in marriage. All right, for those of us who are married here. A spouse chooses to remain calm, listen, and speak kindly during an argument, even when they feel misunderstood or wronged.

[69:46] Why? The satisfaction, I'm sorry, the spouse, they sacrifice the satisfaction of winning because Christ values peace and humility.

[70:04] Setting aside self, denying oneself. You see how these are, okay, okay, now Scripture's talking, now you're getting into my stuff. Honoring parents, even when they're imperfect.

[70:16] All right, Lucy. Sorry. You're the only one here that's a parent. All right. Don't mean to call you out. Honoring parents, even when they're imperfect. You're okay. Your parents are perfect.

[70:27] This doesn't apply to you, Lucy. A believer, let's see, an adult child, or not, continues to show respect, help with needs, and speak graciously to aging parents who may be controlling, ungrateful, or difficult.

[70:40] They do it not because the parents deserve it, but because Christ commands honor. See? Christ commands honor. We do these things to honor and glorify Christ.

[70:53] Setting godly boundaries with a loved one. A believer lovingly confronts a family member's destructive behavior. It could be addiction or manipulation or irresponsibility.

[71:06] They endure guilt and misunderstanding and relational strain because obedience to Christ requires truth and love, not enabling. That's like tough love, right?

[71:18] I mean, yeah. Again, choosing purity and faithfulness in marriage. A spouse resists pornography, emotional affairs, flirtations at work, what they're seeing either digitally or magazines or whatever.

[71:34] They deny real temptation because Christ calls them to covenant faithfulness, even when no one else would know. That goes back to living that life of integrity, right?

[71:46] When we choose to not do something that we shouldn't do and live a life of integrity, right? We are being obedient to Christ because we are standing for holiness.

[72:00] We're standing in the gap. We're standing firm. How all these scriptures come together. Forgiving a deep relational wound. A Christian forgives betrayal or harsh words or years in neglect.

[72:14] They surrender bitterness and the emotional leverage that comes from being the wronged party. Their suffering is the internal cost of releasing that debt.

[72:26] Parents raising children in the faith despite exhaustion. This is, again, suffering for Christ. A parent chooses to pray with their kids, bring them to church, discipline consistently, model a Christ-like behavior, even when they're tired, when they're stressed, and when they're discouraged.

[72:47] The suffering is the daily sacrifice of comfort for discipleship. Be encouraged, brothers and sisters. Be encouraged.

[72:59] Last one. Choosing reconciliation over estrangement. I think I already hit that one earlier, right? A believer reaches out to a sibling or relative after years of distance. They risk rejection or awkwardness or reopening of old wounds.

[73:17] Why? Because Christ calls them to be peacemakers. So in conclusion, each one of the above involves dying to self, choosing love over pride, obeying Christ when it costs something real, and embracing hidden, quiet faithfulness.

[73:43] This is the kind of suffering that forms Christ-like character. Often unnoticed by others, but deeply precious to God. And this is the manner of life or the conduct that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

[74:00] Going back to Philippians 1, 27. And that is the theme of tonight. Suffering for Christ and all the other things we mentioned tonight. But I would just pray that as we've studied these four verses, as I've read a bunch of these examples here at the end, that perhaps meditate on some of these.

[74:19] Maybe I mentioned something that triggered something that's like, ooh, I've got to think about that one. Or ooh, that was a blind spot. Or ooh, I don't know how to do that, Greg. And so this is when we come alongside each other.

[74:32] We struggle with another. Remember, in verse 127, we struggle with another. That's one of the ways we do things as a church. Again, for the glory of God. Questions, comments?

[74:44] Final thoughts before I close this in prayer. Suffering for Christ. Yeah, Michelle. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[75:04] Bingo. Right, right. In our context, right? I don't know that I could teach this overseas in a context where people are dying for their faith regularly, right?

[75:15] But, right, right. So I sort of, I wanted to personalize this a little bit and not just surface over it. But, you know, what's it mean? What's it mean for us in our context today to suffer for the sake of Christ?

[75:29] And that's hard. You've got to sort of think about it a little bit, right? Well, doing what's right. Okay. Well, yeah, okay. I'll do what's right. But hopefully we've unfolded a little bit some of the reasons why we do what's right.

[75:42] Right? For the honor of Christ. For obedience. Yeah. It's also doing what's right whenever they consider it wrong. Yeah. Courage. Courage. Stand firm, as Paul writes.

[75:54] Yep, yep. Yep. Something to think about. A lot to think about in those four verses. So I'll leave you with this. I'll reread and then I'll pray. I'll reread those last two verses.

[76:07] Philippians. Now that we've talked about all this, let's go back and read what Paul writes. Only let your manner of life or your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you're standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

[76:30] This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him, but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

[76:51] Let's pray. So Father, we thank you, Lord, for these verses. We thank you for the truths that you teach us. Oh, Father, where we are overwhelmed or where we're sort of, I think, of just deer in the headlights sort of look about all these ways in which we have opportunities, right, to suffer for your sake, Lord, that we would recognize those, that we would be aware of those.

[77:14] And Lord, you would give us the courage, that you would give us the boldness, Father, to stand in holiness for you, Lord, knowing that you see us and that we are a representative of you for all of us here, Father, who follow you, who call on your name.

[77:32] You call us to live a life in a manner worthy of you, Lord, the gospel of Christ. And so help us day to day, Father, and where we fail, Lord, please forgive us.

[77:43] Please help us to see that. Help us to seek you to restore relationship for forgiveness, Father, and then get back on our horse, Lord, and keep living for you, Father.

[77:55] We are so imperfect. We are so weak, Lord, and we know that. But we know in you through the Holy Spirit that you get a strength. May your strength be ours as we live our life and our context and our sphere of influence.

[78:08]  Thank you, Father, for your word. In Christ's name, amen.