Sermons by:

John McFarland

Jesus Christ Humbled Himself

Paul in the Spirit could think of no greater example of humility-for-purpose than our Lord Jesus. He did not give up divinity for even a moment, but deprived Himself of its glories & privileges, for a time. He is worthy of our praise, long before we get to the eternal exaltation.

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The Attitude Which Was in Christ

We are called to have the mind or attitude of Christ Jesus, which is equivalent to being a healthy tree which produces good fruit for God. Humility & others centeredness are two aspects. All this, only if we have experienced ANY encouragement from Christ!

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This Gospel-Worthy Life

An early, practical application in this letter is to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. We do so by sending away all hypocrisy, standing firm in the gospel together, staying alert, and suffering for our faith. Our conduct is one way to measure the gospel’s worth to us!

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Not Ashamed in Life and in Death

Once the great fear of death is resolved (getting to the point we are at peace about God making the choice plus all the circumstances of timing & details), we can focus on Paul’s main concern, that he will be faithful to God & His gospel in life and in death. And we WILL be faithful because God is faithful to us.

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Anything For You, Gospel!

Often the world shows more zeal for terrible ideas than Christians devote to the truth. Paul shows us otherwise, a commitment to gospel advance which surpasses all his comforts, logic, and rights. Then, not sulking in what’s lost, he revels in the joy of salvation and mission.

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How I am Praying for You

Concluding his opening prayer, Paul shares his heart (better, his guts!) for these saints & siblings in Philippi, asking God to increase their love exponentially via discernment, ever aiming for what is excellent, to better praise & glorify God. This is how we must be praying for one another in our gospel koinonia, until the Day of Christ Jesus.

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Grace & Peace from Father & Son

This great epistle of joy opens with a reminder of God’s grace which produces God’s peace, leading from “the first day” to our full partnership, or koinonia, in the gospel. This sense of mission informs our prayers and overwhelms any discouragement we have in being apart. It assures us all the more that God will finish all His good work in & through us.

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All Salvation is of the Lord

Acts as a whole (Church History’s First Chapter) shows that Lydia of Philippi was not alone in needing God’s sovereign grace to open her heart, to cause her to pay fruitful attention to the preached word, and to believe & repent. This is the consistent view of personal salvation and Kingdom progress in the New Testament.

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The Lord is Opening Hearts to Respond

The back-story for the ‘first Euro church’ includes the dramatic conversions of Lydia, a slave-girl, and a jailer … with supernatural wonders plus the clear news that GOD must open territorial doors AND the doors of our hearts … but that is what He does!

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Nailing This Down

  •   7/29/2024
  •   Psalm 40:6-8, Colossians 2:6-15
  • Preacher: John McFarland
“Nailing it down” is a figure of speech about confidence and commitment. The nail by which a bondservant was formally dedicated to his master’s lifelong service matched the nails by which Jesus was affixed to the cross. These give sinners confidence if the record of our sins was nailed to that same cross with Christ (acc. to Colossians 2).

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