sermons

We end our 90 Day Commitment to Pray, Fast, and Give, and our 3-month study in Paul's letter to the church at Philippi by returning to the main theme: Gospel Partnership. Paul's joy in the Philippians is directly connected to their faithfulness to both receiving the gospel and giving themselves to the advance of the gospel. He ends with an encouragement to stay at it, for the long haul. We'll see that becoming a long-term disciple-making and church planting presence requires a deep contentment in Jesus, a shared commitment to his mission, and a trusting conviction in his provision. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

The Bible’s big, life-changing truths meet us in the everyday messiness of life. Paul shows us what it means to live as citizens of heaven — people shaped by Jesus’ reign and values— while dealing with the ordinary struggles of relationships and community. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Paul is going to finish his chapter 3 thought to his beloved friends and family. Please, brothers and sisters, don’t be distracted by the rubbish of the world. But rather, press in to all that Christ has accomplished for you. Let go of all else. It is all trash, “skubala”, in comparison to the greatness of who Christ is and what He has for you. Let go and grab a hold of Him. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

“Rejoice in the Lord" is a command we need to obey, and about which Paul is deadly serious. We lose our joy when we shift our confidence from Christ to our own efforts, forgetting or neglecting all that is ours in Jesus, and that's a deadly shift. A joyful church counts everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus -- But how do we do that today? We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

God has placed his affection on a bunch of nobodies and has declared them to be His cherished possession. The New Testament's picture of the church is a place of mutual honor, where God's people honor and encourage each other regularly. But what do we honor in one another, and how do we become a community of honor? We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Becoming a long-term disciple-making and church planting presence in our region and beyond is no small task, and it requires engagement from every member of the body. In today's text, Paul is urging a deep and ongoing formation in the life of the disciples at Philippi, calling them to work out their salvation in real-world holiness of life. We're looking at the what, why, where, and how of Sanctification, the process of being formed into the character and way of Jesus. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Becoming a long-term disciple-making and church-planting presence will require us to maintain unity. It is no secret that most churches that have been around for long have experienced disunity and division, often resulting in church splits. Even Paul's favorite church -- the Philippians! -- had a growing rift, and in 2:1-11 Paul is trying to get ahead of it. He reminds the church of all they've shared together in Jesus, and calls them fight for unity through the the pursuit of humility. Ultimately, humility is the fruit of seeing and savoring the self-emptying, self-sacrificing, saving love of Jesus! We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Paul has just shown he is “All in” and is now calling the Philippians to life through being all in themselves. His directions for how to be all in are: Together, strive to stand firm in the Spirit, and together, strive to embody a faithful life to the gospel. The world will either reject or embrace Jesus followers, but resistance to this way of life is a gift that gives us more of Jesus Himself. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Writing from a Roman Prison, Paul is uncertain of his future, but he is certain of a couple of key things. First, in life or death, in suffering or celebration, Paul knows that life and joy are found in Christ. There is abundant and overflowing Joy in Christ! Christ is life. Second, from the deep life and joy found in Christ, we may give all for Christ and his mission. In fact it's the overlap of these two ideas is our aim - to find our life in christ, and give our life for Christ. "to live is Christ and to die is gain". We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Our study in Philippians will explore 10 Marks of Long-Term Mission, learning how we can continue to enjoy and share the grace of God for years to come. Paul begins his letter with great joy, gratitude, and affection -- he's remembering how the Philippian church began, and he's celebrating God's work among them and through them. God started a good work among us, God is sustaining that work, and God will bring that work to completion, and this is the grounds for our assurance. As we partner to make disciples, multiply communities, and plant churches in our region and beyond, we, too, need to Start Strong. We need a Sturdy Assurance, a Heartfelt Alliance, and Abounding Affections. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially. Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

Philippians is about gospel partnership, how a local church community can enjoy the grace of God and commit together to take that grace to their neighborhoods and the nations. Partnership -- the Greek word "koinonia" -- means so much more than friendly conversation around a cup of coffee on Sunday morning! It means a risky commitment to Jesus and his Kingdom, and a gritty commitment to one another and our disciple-making mission. As we study Philippians for the next 90 days, we're challenging the whole church to a focused season of Prayer, Fasting, and Generosity in light of our desire to become a long-term disciple-making presence in our region and beyond. We are praying Philippians 4:19 every day at 4:19 pm (follow along in #prayer), fasting for 24 hours each week (as you are able), and giving sacrificially (to increase recurring giving by 25%). Are you in? #gospelcenteredtillwedie

As Soma turns 20, we’re looking back at the ways God has faithfully written our story and leaning forward to all he still wants to do in and through us. God has richly, abundantly, and freely given to us, over and against what we have earned or deserved, and has chosen in his kindness to cause this work to be fruitful -- and we are grateful! Over the month of September we’re looking at a key text — Ephesians 4.1-16 — and asking God to do it again, doing what only he can do as we get low, dependent, and go ALL IN for Jesus and his mission. This week we explore our Shared Maturity, considering the call on each of us and our whole church to grow up in to the fullness of Jesus.