Joy
June 26 | Online & In-Person
“Living with Joy” | Philippians 4:1-9 | Rev. Barrett Owen
Once you find Deep Joy, there’s a new set of rules in which we are more willing to live by that become quite helpful in our attempt at imitating Christ: “Let your gentleness be known to everyone. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” You can know you’re living with joy if you are consciously living from these scriptural truths.
ONLINE WORSHIP (Activates 6/26)
June 19 | Online & In-Person
“Pressing on Towards Joy” | Philippians 3:12-21 | Rev. Barrett Owen
Paul’s words in Philippians 3 speak to why we must pursue joy: “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.” In other words, we must press on towards joy. It’s how we move beyond our pain.
ONLINE WORSHIP (Activates 6/19)
June 12 | Online & In-Person
“Great Suffering & Great Love” | Philippians 2:5-11 | Rev. Barrett Owen
Philippi was a military city in which many theologians believe Rome’s top officials retired. It was a perfectly nationalistic city that paid significant tribute to Caesar. This detail matters when you think of the dangerous proposition that Paul gives the Christians that they must live as Christ denouncing Caesar and declaring Christ as Lord. So how will they be able to do such a thing? They humble themselves with joy.
June 5 | Online & In-Person
“Deep, Deep Joy” | Philippians 1:27-2:4 | Rev. Barrett Owen
How we operate in the world matters. How we associate with one another (like loving our neighbor) should be godly. Paul understands this reality and delivers an impassioned letter to his friends and church community in Philippians to remind them of what he already knows to be true: “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Phil 2.1-2)
