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

Mark 8:1-21

Resound
July 14, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Mark 8:1-21

The first time he fed the 5,000 it was by the Sea of Galilee but this time He’s in the Decapolis where all the gentiles are. He came for the Jew first and then the Greek. The significance of the number 7 in VS 5 & 8: to be full and completed, satisfy, plenty, etc. The world was completed in seven days. If authors in the bible go through the trouble of telling you a number then that number means something, pay attention. What is he trying to say? When He is there with them they are complete (and when he later sends the Holy Spirit to them they are complete). That He came to earth to save everyone completely. He came to fill everything. All parts of you. Let Him take control of all of all parts of you to fill you till you’re overflowing (like the 7 remaining baskets). He’s also saying with the left over baskets that He is more than enough. Also He met the Gentiles where they were at, He didn’t wait till they came to Him, He went to them, He went into paganville.

He has no beginning and no end, unlike everything else in the world, books , movies, life, etc..

Philippians 1:21-30 "Catch Phrase"

Resound
July 10, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Catch Phrase”

Philippians 1:21-30

1.       Catch Phrase VS 21

Paul’s catch phrase is VS 21: “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” –Galatians 2:20- -1 Corinthians 13:2- (talking about going to heaven). Paul’s catch phrase is saying he gets to live a life representing Christ, to be part of His body on earth but when Paul dies he will get to see Christ, face to face, no more looking though a dimly lit mirror -1 Corinthians-. It’s either Jesus or more of Jesus (in heaven). What drives you, what do you live for, what is your catch phrase/tagline?

2.       Confidence VS 24-26

Paul has a confidence that Christ lives in him/us. He’s confident in that he will glorify God, he will preach the gospel and people will come to know Christ. He was so confident in his God. He knew that as long as he was alive Christ would bring people to Himself. Paul knew who he was in Christ. You can’t have a catch phrase/tagline unless you know who you are, who you are in Christ. In our would, our culture, we change with the times and sometimes we allow that to influence our view of Christ (this especially happens during college). But Paul was someone who stands firm, we need to strive to be like him. Stand firm, don’t be wishy washy. He is so confident in Christ that he gave himself one choice: Christ (on earth) or Christ (in heaven). It was kind of hard for him, if he stays for Christ more people come to Christ but if he dies he’d be with God face to face (remember that this was probably one of the last book he wrote, so death was probably on his mind).   

God should be our main focus, if you want something to happen before Christ comes back (like learning to drive, getting married, flying to the moon, etc.) then you love that thing more than God, He’s not your main focus. –Deuteronomy 6:4-5- (Israel’s Catch Phrase).

VS 26 Paul still have this hope (that comes from his confidence) that he might eventually be free. This comes from having his confidence in God not in his surroundings, or else he’d probably have given up. Everything has a purpose and a plan to glorify God. You have a purpose whether you know it or not.

3.       The Calling VS 27-30

He’s encouraging the Church of Philippi (and all believers) to stand firm and live out the gospel. Live like you’re saved! No longer like the life you lived before. To live out the gospel is to stand firm in it to strive to have a better faith. Seek to be like Christ, to be confident in Him and His word. Rely on God and one another and help each other. –John 15:18-21- You can tell a lot about someone by who their enemies are. If your enemies belong to Satan then it proves your faith/foundation. VS 29 “…it has been granted…” granted = gifted, privileged, honored. It’s a gift to suffer in Christ’s name. You can rejoice in that, it proves who you are. If you wanna be like Christ, suffer and become sanctified through it.

Resound’s mission statement/tagline thing J

The Call

Adapted from Roger Fields

I am a minister.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach those far from God. It is too serious to be lightly, too urgent to be postponed, to vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the Church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. This is who I am. This is what I do.

Philippians 1:12-21 “No Matter What”

Resound

July 3, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“No Matter What”

Philippians 1:12-21

-Acts 28:16- Paul wrote this letter while chained to another human being. This is suspected to be the last letter he wrote before he was beheaded. He didn’t die a free man.

1.       Progress VS 12-14

Vs 12 – more than seeing the silver lining, than seeing the glass as half full. He’s been put in prison specifically to reach a people who wouldn’t normally hear the gospel. Those hours when he’s chained to each guard he was probably talking their ear off about Christ. His imprisonment was an encouragement to other believers. If Paul’s in prison and still effectively preaching why can’t I do it in freedom? Paul is seeing his imprisonment as doing nothing but good. He’s seeing the glass as overflowing. Like the story of Joseph, his imprisonment lead to good, saving his family’s life and providing food to the surrounding countries (story in Genesis). Paul is saying it doesn’t matter what’s happening to me, God is being glorified. Sometimes we focus on our circumstances rather than Him and His glory. Focus on the progress that God is making.

2.       Purity VS 15-19

There are people who are preaching Christ but they’re not doing it with the right mentality, they’re doing it to one-up others. It’s their selfish ambition, their motives are not pure. Are yours?

3.       Power VS 18-21

But then he follows up with I don’t care how or why it’s done but that it’s done. (either way Paul wins J). Good motives or bad motives rejoice because His name is being proclaimed. God does good despite us. There is a power to that. Our God is moving! That might be what drives Paul, knowing that ultimately it’s not up to him it’s up to God.

VS 21 – whether in life or death Christ will stand to gain. Sometimes we care more about our social standings and that holds us back from proclaiming Him and we miss an opportunity. But Paul was willing to die for it. Continually pray for this, continually participate. Why not give our #1 and our very best to the Lord? This power that Paul is talking about is yours also.    

1 Peter 2:1-12 "Livin' The Life We're Given"

Resound
July 3, 2011

Bryne Palmer

“Livin’ The Life We’re Given”

1 Peter 2:1-12

Peter here is addressing Christians.

1.       The spiritual house VS 1-5

Peter is telling them that you’re supposed to go for the word but before you do that you must let go of the old ways then go on to the new. When Peter is talking about the spiritual house he is talking about the church. VS 2 We become built into the body.

2.       The Spiritual Foundation Vs 6-8

Being built into His temple we cannot be built on ordinary sand. Our foundation is the rock; it needs to be the rock so that when the storm comes the house doesn’t crumble. That rock, cornerstone is Jesus, the most important rock that could ever exist. Jesus = rock, world = sand. There’s an old story about a man who builds his house upon a rock and a man who built his house upon the sand. When the storms came and it rained down the sand was moved and that man’s house was washed away but the man’s house that was built upon a rock stayed because the rock was a firm, unmovable foundation.

(the following is a quote, though not exact) “You win over people like you win over a dog. You don’t try and take the bone he’s chewing on away, he’ll just growl at you and maybe even bite you. Instead present the dog with a big juicy stake so he’ll release his grip on the bone and come for the stake.” VS 7 The world is offended by Jesus. But all we have to do is present them with the gospel and God will do the rest. Don’t get mad and try and force it on them, it only pushes them further away.

3.       VS 9 & 10

-Galatians 2:20- He no longer sees the person we once were, we don’t have to be our old ugly sinful self anymore. He sees Christ. We were no body (before Christ), but now we’re somebody (after Christ). VS 11-12 Peter urges us to remember who we are. We are God’s people. You know who you are, act like it. Be yourself, be who Christ wants/made you to be.