The joy and thanksgiving for God’s work in and through the Philippians makes this text an opportunity to express your pride and love for your congregation.
I regularly hear this phrase in my head and heart: Somebody has to tell them. Someone must speak this truth into their situation, and there are a lot of occasions when I wish it were not me.
The reality is Christ will come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead. We do our people and our communities no favor by hiding the truth of this coming Day.
On this last week in the church year, we are to awaken our congregations to Christ's return and fix their drowsy eyes on the salvation promised by our glorious, crucified Lord.
The imagery of a worship service in scripture is not one of consumers being entertained, but of God’s people being gathered around the Throne of the Lamb, joining the heavenly chorus of saints and angels to sing God’s praise and receive Christ’s benefits.