Pauline Epistles (9)
  1. The story is not over, however, when they put Jesus in the tomb. The sacrifice is complete, and Jesus is still active.
  2. He does what is central to God’s own essence: Jesus lives out the self-giving nature of God.
  3. When you see even the best of who you are apart from Christ, you are not only ready to give it up, but you cannot wait to flush it away.
  4. Death is a planting, but every planting has a purpose: More life than you could ever imagine.
  5. Both preachers and hearers are susceptible to a practical Sadducee-ism, which removes the proclamation and confidence of the bodily resurrection from the regular life of Christ’s Church.
  6. The edifice which the Church is being built into has a purpose: To be a dwelling place for the Spirit of God, a place of encouragement and consolation, of revelation and knowledge, of catechesis, and worship.
  7. God has you surrounded (in a good way). You have nothing to fear. Your heart and mind can be at rest.
  8. 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.
  9. Our waiting and longing for Christ’s return teaches us to long for real relationship with other believers, even when that relationship must be sustained at a distance.