Philippians 4:1-5 "Taking Out the Trash"

Resound
9/18/11

Bryne Palmer

“Taking out the Trash”

Philippians 4:1-5

    Barbie has reinvented herself over 100 times, she’s gone through a major identity crisis. Sometimes we act like that. We forget who we are in Christ.

1.       Recognize VS 1
He tells us, reminds us of who we are. Recognize what God has done for you. Quit trying to reinvent yourself. Stand firm, don’t forget who you are. You don’t doubt your citizenship if you were born an American or whatever. So why doubt your citizenship in Christ. You even have proof: 1- The Holy Spirit, 2- Christ –Romans 5:8-

2.       Harmonize VS 2-3

In verses 2 & 3 we have a disharmony going on, there was some disagreement. They were called by Paul to harmonize, to be on the same page. To sing the same song even if they are singing different parts. They had this problem and they weren’t addressing it because it didn’t seem like the “Christian” thing to do. –Matthew 18:15-20- So it just kept building up until Paul heard about it while he was in jail. It’s a loving thing to bring up issues instead of just sweeping them under the rug.

3.       Realize VS 4-5

-Philippians 2:17-18- -Philippians 3:1- -Philippians 4:4- Rejoice! When you rejoice especially together, you won’t be focusing on your own problems with each other, Solve the problem by singing the same song, by rejoicing! Knowing that we’re all sinners but we’re all saved by grace. Your own opinions get you nowhere fast, but rejoice that we have Christ! When you approach one another about something, be gentle about it. Christ took out the trash. He’s not asking us to do anything he didn’t do already. We need to take out the trash and do so lovingly.    

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Resound Fridays
September 2, 2011

Bryne Palmer

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

VS. 17 “A New Creation” you change, He makes you new, the old you is no longer. Vs. 18-19 Reconciliation: Being made whole, being brought into Christ’s family. When We are born in this world we are broken but once we accept Christ he reconciles us to Him, He fixes us and makes us whole.
When you become part of His family you find your identity you no longer need to be so whishy washy doing what the world says, you know who you are in Christ and ultimately you need to act like it (it doesn’t happen overnight and you need to be in a constant relationship with him, in His world and talking to Him). You’re taking steps daily.

Philippians 3:8-12 "Take the World"

Christ Community Fellowship
August 28, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Take the World”

Philippians 3:8-12

1.       What we (he, Paul) lose VS. 8

a)      His Linage

The favorite tribe of Israel was Benjamin (because that was Israel’s favorite son) and Paul was of that tribe.

b)      His Status

As a Pharisee he knew what to do and what not to do and how to “get right” with God. Now Christ has come to fulfill the law, Paul can no longer do anything to make up for his wrongs.  

c)       His Control

All these things we need to let go of also. All these things are rubbish, we need to let go of it. Some things of this world might be good but they are like those little taste test spoons of ice cream, they only have a little to offer, but Jesus is like the big waffle cone filled with yummy ice cream and all the amazing toppings. Why would you only taste test if you could have the whole shebang?

-Isaiah 51:6- -Luke 14:26- -Matthew 16:24-26- What do we have to lose for Jesus? Absolutely everything! But in return we gain Christ!!! We’re found in Him, We’re found to be righteous.

2.       What We Gain VS. 9

We trade our worthlessness and nastiness for his glory and righteousness and resurrection from the dead (VS 11).

3.       What We Go Through VS 10-11 “Fellowship of suffering, being conformed to His death.” You cannot love holiness without hating sing, love life, hate death, love light, hate dark,. See sin put to death, that might even be through suffering. The closer you get to Christ the more you want to see sin put to death even if it calls for suffering.

4.       What We Become VS 12

There is always more to learn about Christ, we are yet to obtain perfection. Righteousness, eternal life etc. is ours we just haven’t grown into it yet. But pursue it till the day we finally do grow into it (when we’ve died and receive eternal life and meet Him).

"Beware of Dog" Philippians 3:1-7

Resound
August 21, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Beware of Dog”

Philippians 3:1-7

The Pharisees were like old dogs who couldn’t and didn’t want to learn new tricks. Paul used to be one of them. –Romans 8:4- but Paul was an old dog who did learn a new trick.

1)      Beware VS. 1-2

Again Paul is telling then to rejoice because they already know it, it’s a safeguard, an anchor. –James 1:6- If we let our eye wander to things other than Christ we eventually drift over to it and before you know it you’re there. So beware of the people who try to drag you astray.

a)      Dogs

Dogs back then were more like the hyenas from the Lion King. They were dirty, honor-less, disgusting creatures. The dogs he’s referring to here are the Judaizers.

b)      Evil Workers

They try to drag you away

c)       False Circumcision

Circumcision was to be an outward sign that they were Jews (it was primarily the parent’s responsibility to make sure they stayed on the right path). –Deuteronomy 6:16- Jesus wanted it to be an inward thing, circumcise the heart (not the physical heart). But the Judaizers were telling people they had to be outwardly circumcised to be a Christian. But Paul is warning against them and their false teaching. Christ had already come to fulfill the law.
Gentiles were referred to as dogs. Christ has taken us dog as hyenas and brought us in and cleaned us up and made us His. This warning isn’t just for the Philippians it’s for all of us.

2)      Be Blameless VS. 3-6

As believers of Christ we’ve been circumcised in the spirit. –Galatians 5:5-6- All the bad things have been cut away. We have an inward change and it’s the inward change that matters.

Paul’s list of outward things: He’s…

·         Circumcised on the 8^th day (He’s like a pure bread dog)

·         Of the tribe of Benjamin (Israel’s favorite, good tribe)

·         Hebrew of Hebrews (A leader, top dog)

·         AS to the law; a Pharisee (a law settler and contender)

·         As to zeal a persecutor of the Church (part of what the Pharisees did)

·         As to righteousness which is in the law, found blameless (it’s been paid for)

Paul is saying is physical outward things could get you saved he’d be close to perfect, he really followed the law.

3)      Be Loved VS. 7

But he’s willing to trade all of that to follow Christ. It doesn’t matter what I can do, there’s nothing we can do to gain salvation. It’s not about what we can do for Jesus, it’s what He did for us.

Philippians 2:19-30 "Better Than Facebook Friends"

Resound
August 14, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Better Than Facebook Friends

Philippians 2:19-30

-Proverbs 17:17- -Proverbs 18:24- -Proverbs 27:6- If we choose to follow Christ with everything we’ve got, that includes our friends. Friends have a major influence on your life.

1.       Fair-weather Friends Vs. 21

When you wanna know what a good friend looks like Paul will show what a bad friend looks like. Vs. 21 a fair-weather friend only sticks around when times are good. A true friend sticks by always. (Paul was in jail for two years and can speak from experience about friendship)What a good friend doesn’t look like: Me monster, fun in the moment when it’s what they want to do, they don’t care about others. A good friend is someone like Timothy who helps you in your walk. Fair-weather friends will draw you away and make your walk harder.

2.       A Faithful Friend VS 22-27

Surround yourself with these people.

a)      Genuine concern for you

Your wellbeing and your walk with Christ.

b)      Friends will serve with you VS 22

They go through stuff with you.

c)       They have a common goal with you

Your main goal should be Christ. Don’t disown the world but be careful what/who influences you.

d)      They will go the extra mile for you.

They will take time for you, they want to see good things for you.

               We want to influence the world and out worldly friends but we don’t want/need to influence us. The kinds of people Paul had in his life are the kinds of people we should have too.

3.       Fellowship Vs. 28-29

This should be a joyous thing, having a desire for fellowship and these people. Paul’s friendship blueprint is Jesus. 

Mark 8:22-30

Resound
August 12, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Mark 8:22-30

There are two Caesarea’s and this particular town Caesarea Philippi is another paganville town, they worshiped a lot of Greek gods. Who do you think this town thought Jesus was? What do you hear about Jesus from the people you’re around daily? The world says He’s a nice guy, crazy, liar, etc.  But who do you say He is? Who He said He was: the Savior. What different religions say about Jesus: Hindus – everything is God; Islam – Jesus was just a prophet; Buddhists – Jesus and Buddha are the same; Atheists – Jesus was just a crazy man.

Caesarea’s Philippi was just like our world today, they had all kinds of different beliefs, similar to our beliefs today. Who is Jesus? And what does that mean to you?

VS 22-27 They’re in Bethsaida, back in Churchville. He gives this man special attention, HE takes him by the hand and brings him outside the town and gives him special attention. VS 24 maybe He only heals him halfway at first to test his faith, to see is he’d stick around and pursue Him. He does stick around and VS 25 his vision is fully restored.

If you’re searching for Christ your vision is still blurry. Until you believe in Him and trust Him your vision won’t become clear.

Philippians 2:12-18 "Life Application"

Resound
August 7, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Life (App)lication

Philippians 2:12-18

Lemmings (like little hamsters) are known for following the crowd. We’re all lemmings. They are known for running and jumping off cliffs (when trying to migrate somewhere). That’s us,  we’re living in sin, running and jumping off a cliff. –Romans 3:23-

1.       iWork Vs 12-13

He’s encouraging them to continue to obey even though he’s not there with them. Don’t do the things that you do in secret. “Just because I (Paul) am not around doesn’t mean you should act any different.” We should be mindful and do the same, just because God isn’t physically here with us doesn’t mean we should act any different (plus He’s omnipresent so He’s always with you). He’s also telling them to work and grow in their salvation. You don’t have to work for your salvation because it has been given to you as a gift. But you need to work on your salvation with fear and trembling (work on being a better Christian, work with God’s strength).  When you receive salvation it’s like going from Morris Code to an iPhone. You’d spend time figuring out what your new phone would do, do the same thing with your salvation. Fear and trembling – He’s there with you working it out.

2.       iDifferent Vs 14-16

If you claim to be a follower and not a fan, you’re different, so act like it. We’re all lemmings running toward a cliff, PCs with viruses popping up every day, but Christ came to save us, we don’t have to run toward the cliff, we can be a Mac.

How can we be different?

a)      Don’t grumble or dispute

That’s what everyone does; it’s easy to do that, so don’t. Live for the glory of God, be different, turn the other cheek.

b)      Be blameless and innocent

Don’t cause trouble just because, stay out of it. Be above reproach, be different.

c)       Be God’s children

Be different, be a light amongst the dark world.

d)      Hold fast to God’s word

Trends and things change but God and His word is unchangeable. Verse 13 we are called to do this because out God is different. –Isaiah 44:6- -John 1:11-14- Our God wanted to hang out with us, what other God does that? Especially to come from Heaven to earth willingly. Our God is different so be different then everybody else, mirror Him. We are different so act like it.

3.       iRejoice Vs 17-18

People get excited about things of this world (and sometime line up for days for it, like a game or movie), we should have an excitement that is bigger than that!

Ephesians 5:1-7

Resound
July 31, 2011

Chris Williamson

Ephesians 5:1-7

The Bible is a mirror for us. VS 1 We’re supposed to mirror Christ as His children. Just like children in our lives imitate and mirror us, we need to mirror Christ. (A saint in the Bible is a Christian) Imitate in Greek is mimic. Therefore = look back to what was immediately written before that. In this case look back to VS 32. We need to love one another even in forgiveness. Therefore = looking back, it gives the word context. Don’t try and take it out of context, the only way you can really understand it is to read it in it’s context. How do you imitate Christ? You have to learn more about Him and how He lived, thus you must be in the word and study Him and His life. VS 3-4 are the consequences that come if you don’t imitate Christ (VS 1-2). Greed, filthiness, silly talk, immorality is what the Devil wants you to fall for. (There are no wasted words in the Bible, it’s all there for a reason) Filthiness in Greek text means dirty vulgar language. Silly Talk is foolishness, wasted words (something said to make fun but is not funny), not wholesome. In the Greek it’s stupid foolish talking. Coarse Jesting is harsh joking, talking about something with a sexual implication to try and make it funny. There is a serious consequence for not imitating God VS 5

Romans 8:38-39 you can never lose your salvation. Here Paul is referring to a lifestyle of choice, someone who walks like VS 3-4 and is not affected or convicted -2 Corinthians 5:17- -Titus 2:12-

Goodness in Goodness out. Paul’s final warning VS 6: Sons of disobedience, those who live that lifestyle by choice.

Philippians 2:1-11

Resound
July 24, 2010

Bryne Palmer

Philippians 2:1-11

“The Others”

Our culture says to think about yourself, God says to think of others.

1.       Everyone Else VS 1-4

What Paul probably means is “since then” instead of “if.” These are obvious questions. He’s in jail and he’s already happy but he tells them how to make him happier. VS 2, not meaning to be like clones, he’s pointing out that we all came from the same background; sin, and now we have the same goal; God. View others as more important that yourself. This is what we’re called to. Don’t only think about yourself, don’t hoard stuff. Look out for others interests not your own.

2.       Every Attitude VS 5-8

He’s not telling us to do this on our own he tells us who our example already is (Jesus) and to strive to be like Him, plus he’ll be there with us.

7 things Jesus did to humble Himself:

1.       From Heaven to Earth

He came down from His place of glory to this desolate earth.

2.       He Emptied Himself

He was still fully God but He chose to play by our rules. –John 17:5- He emptied Himself of His glory. “…whether playing with a thunderstorm or playing with a lion, Lucy could never decide.” – C.S. Lewis “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”

3.       He Came To Serve

He was a carpenter’s son; he probably built or fixed things for others.

4.       He Was Made in the Likeness of Man

-Isaiah 6:1-7- that’s where He came from, who He is. –Psalm 24- -Job 38-39-

5.       He Humbled Himself

Being humbled and humbling yourself are two different things.

6.       Obedient to Death

-Philippians 2:8- He allowed (decided) something that had zero authority over Him to overtake Him. We don’t have a choice in death but Jesus did.

7.       Obedient to Death on a Cross

-Philippians 2:8- A cross was not a glorious thing, for us nowadays it would be the equivalent of the electric chair (though probably way more painful). He did it for the others, He came and met us. We should do the same, let’s go out and meet others where they’re at.

“If I could be the servant of all, there’d be no further place to fall” – mewithoutyou

3.       Every Knee VS 9 – 11

God exalted Him (Jesus), gave Him the name of all names, will make every knee bow (Jesus = Savior), everyone will bow and confess that He is Lord. Even those in Hell, they’ll confess He’s Lord but it will be agonizing for them because they missed they golden opportunity. Are you going to take the opportunity to confess the truth (Jesus is Lord) now and eventually be with Him or be forced to tell the truth in Hell.   

Paul's Background

Resound
July 17, 2011

Chris Williamson

Paul’s Background

“The greatest Christian who ever lived.” Paul wrote 13 out of the 27 books in the New Testament. Paul didn’t start out as somebody who would make a difference for Christ. -1 Timothy 1:15- Paul identified himself as the worst sinner of all time, and he meant that. Paul was a Jew who later became a Pharisee. He also had Roman citizenship that gave him special privileges that actually ended up assisting him in his ministry at times. But as a Pharisee he was like a bible police, their head is smart but their hearts are dead, he was a legalist.
Paul was born around 2 A.D. so he and Jesus were kind of in the same generation. Paul and Jesus were around the same age (Jesus was born around 0 A.D.).
So what make Paul (his claim) the #1 sinner? He persecuted men, women, and children who were living for Christ. –Galatians 1:13- (He expands upon this). Jesus’ death was around 32, 33 A.D. and Paul, around 36, 37 A.D., was still killing Christians. However at this time he asked for special permission to go out of his way to go to Damascus and capture as many Christians as possible and bring them back to be tortured and killed. From Jerusalem to Damascus was about 135 miles. He was so filled with rage that he was willing to walk on foot 135 miles (and back). But then –Acts 9:3-5- (read the story). It says as he was approaching Damascus, he could have been really close, maybe only 5 miles away. Paul would have been around 35 years old at this time. Now being converted and finally shown the truth he realized that 30 years of his life of learning was wrong. But Paul takes that same work ethic as he had before (striving to kill Christians) and applied it to his new ministry. His new ministry lasted about 30 years until the time he was martyred.
Paul made 3 different journeys during his ministry. On his second journey was when he encountered Philippi. At the church of Antioch was where Christians were first called Christians. Philippi was one of the places where they didn’t have a synagogue so Paul couldn’t go straight to the synagogue as he had in many other places and start to teach (he went straight there because he knew that where a majority of people would be gathered, most of which to hear about Christ). He visited Philippi around 50, 51 A.D. roughly 15 years after he was converted. Philippi was the first church in Europe, the first church in the Roman territory. Philippians was written 62 A.D. The church in Philippi was about 10 years old when he wrote this letter to them. He wrote this in prison, in Rome, and this was his first Roman imprisonment. The second time he was imprisoned in Rome he was executed. He wrote 4 letters in prison. The only time he really had time to write was when he was imprisoned. –Philippians 1:13- Pretorian Guard = about 10,000 men, paid double and even emperors had to make favor with them.
Epaphroditus (Philippi) –Philippians 2:25, 4:18- visited Paul and helped him/supported him in his imprisonment. Philippians is like one really long thank you note full of encouragement. The second time Paul was imprisoned in Rome he was put in the Mamertine prison (very awful prison). Now, there is actually a church on top of the prison. The first time Paul was imprisoned in Rome he was able to rent his own quarters and was chained to a Pretorian Guard. -2 Corinthians 11:24-27- All that Paul has gone through. How can he have so much joy? –Philippians 1:21- 7 of the books he wrote he wrote in prison. Paul surrounded himself with people who encouraged him. Don’t limit God on what He can do in your life.

More on the Mamertine prison: in this prison Paul would have been lowered into a hole in the ground, where there was so sunlight and it was very damp, cold, and probably smelly down there. The ceiling was short, approx. 6ft if I remember correctly, so if you were taller than that you could never stand up straight There was only one flat spot to lay on. If you were lowered into this hole you probably were not coming out. I believe there was one door down there that lead you out to be executed. Many Christians were killed there. There is a plaque on the wall of all the names of Christians who were killed there.  

Prison below, Church above

The only flat spot to lay was the rock in the corner

The hole in the ceiling they were lowered through

the top of the hole that they were lowered through