PHILIPPIANS 1:19-26

This passage shifts the focus from the insincere hearts of certain preachers in Rome to the earnest outpouring of Paul’s heart in prison. He discloses two great ambitions that seem to be at odds but actually spur the other on. More than anything, he’s desires to depart and be with Jesus. He wants to reach the finish line of life. Yet, he also wants to get out of jail, go back to the Philippians, and give himself to their progress in the race. He’s hard pressed between the two. But, as he opens up a window into his heart, we see that his ambition to go and be with Jesus, fuels his ambition to stay and build something for Jesus. Having been freed from the fear of death and ready for his reward, he’s ready to run as hard as possible to the very last second of his life on earth.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

PHILIPPIANS 1:12-18

In Phil 1:12-18, Paul rejoices because Jesus doesn't lose. Even though it might seem like his imprisonment has taken him out of the race, or stalled the progress of his mission, that couldn't be further from the truth. Because while Paul could be arrested, the progress of the gospel cannot. God has used the circumstances of his chains to set his captors free! He’s even working through the preaching of insincere brothers to advance the truth of Jesus Christ! Causing the outcome of Paul’s seeming “setback” to be more, not less, gospel proclamation. Through all this the Lord makes it clear he's never designed a single meaningless detour for his people to travel down. So we can rejoice that God is always working good for us, and always advancing the good news of the gospel through us. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

PHILIPPIANS 1:3-11

Paul’s “church friends” were his “real friends.” One major way Paul experienced the joy of Jesus was through his relationships with other believers. He begins his letter by thanking God for what he gets to share with the Philippians. We should follow his example. Because God wants us to treasure Jesus by taking joy in our friends. To make our “church friends” our “real friends.” To really love one another, run the race of the Christian life together, and share in something special here at Cross of Grace Church. To share in Jesus himself - the prize that the pressures and pains of this life cannot take away. To share in the mission of making him known. Confident that waves of suffering will come and go, but what we’re doing to advance the gospel of Christ will last forever.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2

On Sunday, we began a new sermon series in Philippians. A letter commonly called, “The Epistle of Joy.” A letter the Apostle Paul wrote from a jail cell to a young church in Philippi facing all sorts of pressures. Which teaches us that the joy that’s found in Jesus is one that exists side by side with suffering. It’s not a light-hearted happiness that refuses to deal with the dark parts of life. Instead, the gospel according to Philippians is the good news that we can face real challenges with undiminished joy and real Christian courage.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EPHESIANS 2:19-22

Are there still sacred spaces today? Tabernacles and temples? Holy structures built for encountering God? Do you long for something like this? Are you looking for majesty and reverence? Do you want to encounter God’s presence in a “thick,” “tangible” and “pervasive” way like Israel did in the Sinai wilderness? Then go to church. Because, on the other side of the greater exodus accomplished by Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to bring the presence of God home to our hearts. To make us a living, breathing, ever-expanding tabernacle and temple to our God until our Savior returns for us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 40:34-38

What is the highest good of the gospel? Is it the defeat of enemies? The experience of peace? The entry into a new and better way of life? The unspeakable blessing of personal forgiveness? The end of Exodus offers another answer. What is the highest good of the gospel? That God himself would dwell among us. That our Creator would become our Redeemer and be to us the true Treasure and Satisfier of our souls. That God would be ours. At the end of Exodus, God is with Israel in a way greater than he's ever been before. And as we come to the end of this story, we believe that God is with us and for us wherever our stories are headed next.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 35:4-40:33

God commanded. The people obeyed. They were blessed. That’s the summary of what’s happening in this section of Exodus. Chapters that describe the construction of the Tabernacle in painstaking detail. Emphasizing all throughout how God’s people listened to him, back then, so that we’d take great care to listen to him today. Stressing the importance of obedience in our lives. Because, while there is grace for our disobedience to God, grace does not take away our need to obey God. The grace God gives in the gospel not only comes to forgive us for sin, but to fuel us for faithful service to him. And when we do what he commands us to do, we are blessed.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 34:29-35

As Moses came down the mountain to tell the people the covenant had been renewed, his face was radiating glory. The people saw his shining skin and they ran away in fear. They saw glory and it was scary. Why? Because even though God fixed the covenant they broke, there remains something broken in them. They need to be changed so they can gaze upon glory without fear. But this change won’t come through beholding the face of Moses. It only comes through beholding the face of Jesus. When sinners like them, and us, behold his glory in the gospel, we become glorious as he is.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 34:10-28

Through the golden calf rebellion, Israel broke her covenant with God. Amazingly, in Exodus 34:10-28, God renews his relationship with them. We come to an ancient vow renewal ceremony and the promises and terms of the covenant are rehearsed and restated all over again. God repeats himself. He says what Israel already knows. And he does so because they are a people who need constant reminders of what is true. And we are, too. In our lives, it’s so easy to forget even the most important things. Not that the facts of the gospel just go flying out of our heads. But that the reality of who God is, who we are, and all he’s done for us fails to be felt, cherished, and central in our hearts. So we come to this scene in the Exodus story to remember what are lives are all about. Being reassured, above all else, “God is ours and we are his.”

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EXODUS 33:18-34:9

The story resumes and the mediator's prayer requests keep on coming. Having received God’s assurance he would go with the people, Moses asks for one more thing. And it’s the greatest thing he - or anyone else for that matter - could ever ask for. He says, "Please show me your glory." The one who spoke with God "as a man speaks to his friend," prays, "Lord, disclose even more of yourself to me!" The one who pled with God to maintain his presence among the people asks to experience that presence in a way he never has before. God says, "Yes," his glory passes by, and Moses catches a glimpse  while sheltered in the rock and covered from the full sight. But, a day would come when that glory would shine forth most fully in the face of Jesus Christ. A day that has dawned for us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE