Lesson from May 17, 2009

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Philippians 2: 5-11

This section of the letter is directly tied to the first four verses of chapter 2 where Paul commands the believers in Philippi to be unified as a church, based on their common experience and standing in Christ.  Here he turns to Christ as an illustration and example of what they must do in order for this to take place, which in a word, is to live with a selfless and sacrificial attitude rather than a selfish one.  The passage is also interesting and highly important because of what it teaches about the incarnation and the person of Jesus.  Thus, today we will discuss both the theological and practical implications of this section.

Several weeks ago I shared some blog posts from a friend of mine whose father had a bleeding ulcer in his stomach.  The situation was tragic and most believed fatal.  It took 41 units of blood to keep him alive.  By the grace of God, he is recovering beyond his doctors’ understanding.  You can read his story here. Out of thanks to God and as a response to the blessing of those that donated blood to support his life, his church recently held a blood drive.

On June 7, 2009, Riverside will be hosting our own blood drive.  I hope you will consider giving the gift of life.  Please sign up here or on the signup sheet available on Sundays. I am on the list.

Lesson from May 3, 2009

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Philippians 1:27

“Taliban workers said they killed Williams [Gayle Williams] because she was spreading Christianity. But SERVE Afganistan said she was following the organization’s policy against proselytizing. … A 2008 UN report stated that there were more than 120 attacks targeting aid workers in the first seven months of 2008 alone” (Christianity Today, January 2009, p. 12)

Lesson from April 26, 2009

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Philippians 1:19-26

In this passage, Paul describes being what we commonly refer to as “between a rock and a hard place.” The word, sunexo, was commonly used of a place where a traveler had to go through a narrow passage, unable to turn to the left or to the right, they could only go straight ahead. Perhaps we can imagine going through a cave or a narrow passage down at Turkey Run or ShadesState Park. Both sides are pressing close against us, in this case, the sides are positive, he desires them both: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (v. 21). Paul’s attitude in this passage can seem a bit out of reach for us. After all, if we imagine being chained to a Roman guard all the waking hours of our day, under house arrest awaiting trial, we might imagine the top concern on our mind might be getting out! In fact, we might be tempted to describe Paul here as something of a fanatic, out there, and beyond us. His chief goal is that Christ “be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (. 20).

This week I was reading Jesus’ words in Luke 13:18-19. I was thinking about how insignificant a mustard seed seems, yet it turns into something so substantial. Looks are deceiving. God takes the insignificant and makes them significant. And we hope that this is true in our own lives, because we often feel so small and simple. That is why when we hear stories like the below that we can’t help but stand up and cheer . . . or cry with a smile on our faces.