Living The Jesus Life: Part 1

Philippians 1:1-11

Living The Jesus Life

This series is the next in an annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

Philippians is a letter that speaks to living life as a disciple of Jesus in 2023. That’s why we’ve entitled the series, ‘Living the Jesus Life’.

Our journey begins today in Philippians 1:1-11.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭11‬‬

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul is saying, “You are pure and blameless when you are filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus.”

Living the Jesus Life means to be filled with HIS righteousness. Not just His righteousness, but the fruit that comes from being filled with HIS righteousness.

1. God’s Righteousness is not earned-We are talking about a standard that we don’t measure up to

More importantly, we can’t measure up to this standard.

-Trying to earn His righteousness is a life destined for frustration, for legalism, and for bondage.

-It’s true that you can’t earn this. But it’s also true that you don’t have to.

2. God’s Righteousness is not bought-Just as it cannot be earned. God’s Righteousness cannot be bought.

-God’s righteousness doesn’t cost you anything, but it cost Jesus everything.

-We receive His righteousness through an exchange: our sin for His righteousness.

-We are declared righteous and justified because of the blood of Jesus Christ. No other reason.

3. God’s Righteousness is not temporary

-God’s declaration over you is not temporary. It is over and done, once and for all.

-We don’t live our lives seeking to be more righteous, you already are.

-We now walk surrendered – in step with His Spirit.

Bottom Line:Self-righteousness isn’t righteousness at all – only that which is found through Christ.

Verses for further study/reflection:

1 John 3:7

1 John 2:29

Philippians 3:9

1 Corinthians 1:30

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving

https://www.bible.com/events/49071083

Church of the Nazarene – East RockLiving The Jesus Life

Philippians 1:1-11

Living The Jesus Life

This series is the next in an annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

Philippians is an ideal manual for living life as a disciple of Jesus in 2023

Our journey begins today at verse 1 of Philippians.‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬‬

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What we call the book of Philippians, is really a personal letter written by the Apostle Paul.

The city of Philippi was a thoroughly Roman city, very loyal and patriotic to the Roman government as many retired Roman military lived here.

It’s believed there weren’t enough Jewish men present to start an official synagogue, so those wishing to pray simply went outside the city on sabbath to gather and pray.

When Paul and his companions went out to pray on Sabbath, they encountered a wealthy woman named Lydia and some others praying.

Beginning with Lydia, then her whole household, the Holy Spirit used that encounter to establish what would become Paul’s favorite Jesus Community.‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭6‬‬

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

As we will see in the coming chapters, the church had commissioned a man named Epaphroditus to carry a gift to Paul while he was in prison.

The text we have today is Paul’s response to that gift. Epaphroditus would deliver back to them as an encouragement in their faith. You can already tell that the savor of this letter is different from some of the others that we find of Paul.

In Verse 4 he makes it clear that as he prays for them, he does so with Joy. Throughout this letter joy or rejoice will appear more than a dozen times.

Think about that- a man in prison, under arrest, possibly even chained to a Roman guard, unsure of his future, goes on and on about JOY.

During his first visit to Philippi Paul was harassed by a demon possessed woman, he was arrested, beaten with rods, thrown in prison, and then told to get out of town.

Within the first few verses of this letter, we see that Paul thinks a little differently about things- He is making the choice to view everything through the lens of Jesus and his Kingdom. His confidence is placed entirely in Christ.‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬‬

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

Paul likens his affection for them to the love that Christ himself would have.

You can only imagine how encouraging and heartwarming this portion of the letter was for them. To know that their gift was received, that they were not forgotten, even though it had been so long.‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11

‬‬And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

He asks the Lord that the Philippians Love would abound more and more.

Paul is asking the Lord that they would be people known by, or characterized by their Love.

He concludes his prayer asking the Lord that as the Philippians would be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

It may seem too simple, or too obvious, but the only way to live the Jesus life, is in and through the person of Jesus. Yet there are Christians all around us who are trying to live their lives with Christ as only an after-thought, or a Sunday morning visit.

There is never any doubt for Paul- The righteousness of Christ- right standing with God and right living- are only found through the person of Jesus.

The secret to living the Jesus life, is turning it all over to Him.

That’s what Paul is praying- That we would be filled with the fruit of righteousness (right relationship to God and right living) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God

The focus of the letter of Philippians is on Christ- His righteousness, His mind, His love- Its about living the JESUS life. That’s the book of Philippians.

That’s the journey we are on together- to seek out and live the Jesus life, that only comes through faith in Him.

Will you commit to living the Jesus life?

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving

http://bible.com/events/49067587

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

Stories of Your Life Part 4: Peter

Great desperation is met with great forgiveness.

Welcome back to our Sunday morning teaching series “Stories of Your Life”.

As a church family we are seeking to understand the meaning and the impact of Passion week through the perspectives and stories of key people involved.

As we continue in our teaching series today, we will look at the story of a man who probably experienced many feelings of guilt, shame, and regret following his great failure.

To be a disciple of Jesus doesn’t prevent us from failing-even failing historically- for all the world to see.

As common of an experience as failure can be in our story-It doesn’t have to be final. As we will see in the story of Peter, your failure doesn’t have the power to define your future- Only your savior can do that!‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭54‬-‭61‬‬

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

Peter denies the Lord, not just once, but three times. He betrays Jesus completely.

This was a complete and utter failure. There’s no other way to describe it. Peter had failed.

The truth is, we all can relate to failure. Failure is a reality in this world.

But this is not a story of failure.

This is a story of how we respond when we fail, and even more important, how our Father responds when we fail.How would Peter respond to failure?

How would Jesus respond?‭‭

John‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭17

‬‬Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

There is a clear parallel between Peter’s 3 denials and Jesus’ 3 questions. For each of the times Peter had denied Jesus, he now affirms His love.

Once we examine what Jesus is commanding Peter to do (‘feed my lambs’, ‘take care of my sheep’, ‘feed my sheep’ ) we see that Jesus is not just forgiving Peter, rather Jesus is commissioning Peter for ministry.

Peter is never the same:-He’s there on the day of Pentecost as the Spirit of God moves in a powerful way.-He’s there as the church is born and as he immediately begins to preach and 3,000 people were saved and baptized.

-Peter is there, healing and preaching.

-He’s thrown in jail and keeps preaching.

-He’s persecuted and he keeps proclaiming that Jesus is Lord.

Before when Peter faced opposition, he folded and ran away. But now, in the face of opposition, he is bold, he is obedient. And he becomes one of the most influential leaders the church has ever known.

Peter knew Jesus. Did Peter fail? Yes. But even in the midst of his bitter weeping, it’s clear that He knew Jesus.

Peter knew Jesus well enough to know His grace.

He knew enough to know that if he came running after Jesus, he would not be rejected.

Peter knew His grace.

The question is: Do we?Bottom Line:

Peter’s story isn’t so different from ours – great desperation met with great forgiveness.

Scriptures for future study/reflection:

Matthew 18:21-22

1 John 1:9

Hebrews 8:12

Acts 10:43

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving

https://www.bible.com/events/49067558

Church of the Nazarene – East Rock

Stories of Your Life Part 4: Peter

In the story of Peter we see that your failure doesn’t have the power to define your future- Only your savior can do that!

I want to welcome you back to our Sunday morning teaching series “Stories of Your Life”

As a church family we are seeking to understand the meaning and the impact of Passion week through the perspectives and stories of key people involved.

This series is about learning from their lives so that we too can know the forgiveness and life of Christ

As we continue in our teaching series today, we will look at the story of a man who probably experienced many feelings of guilt, shame, and regret following his great failure.

To be a disciple of Jesus doesn’t prevent us from failing-even failing historically- for all the world to see.

As common of an experience as failure can be in our story-It doesn’t have to be final. As we will see in the story of Peter, your failure doesn’t have the power to define your future- Only your savior can do that!

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭54‬-‭61

‬‬Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

Peter was in the inner circle of disciples. Often called to go farther with Jesus, to see more miraculous things than the others.

Hours ago, he was willing to die if necessary- now he denies even knowing Jesus at the pressure of a servant girl. Not just once but three times. He betrays Jesus completely at the questioning of a servant girl.

been there before?

You’ve lapsed on a promise to the Lord, or to yourself?

Maybe living in the moment, you really messed up big time.

Maybe you failed in a way you never even thought was possible for you

I’m pretty sure we have all been there in the story of our life- Let me ask a follow up question- What did you do? Or perhaps it’s present tense for you- What are you doing?

That’s a crucial question to consider because what makes some failure final and some just a distant memory- is what we choose to do in this moment.

Here’s the truth we see in Peter’s story today friends- Failure doesn’t have the power to define your future-Jesus does.

Peter in the depths of his despair, under the weight of guilt and shame- he had a choice

He could allow it to crush him-to drive him into hiding or despair

OR

He could put all of his trust, all of his hope in the grace and mercy of Jesus

And friends that’s the same choice you and I have today. The choice is yours- What will you choose?

Despair, hopelessness, guilt, shame, the voice of the enemy that says it’s over? Or will you press into Jesus?

That decision can change everything for you- Just like it did for Peter.

John‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭17

‬‬Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

A 3-fold denial turned into a 3-fold affirmation of his Love of Jesus.

In Peter’s reply, we begin to see a bit of the humility and repentance he had experienced. No bold claims, no bravado, no affirmations of loyalty this time- he simply says “Yes Lord, you know that I love you”

In these moments, Jesus receives Peter’s devotion- and he gives him a commission. Feed my sheep!

“Don’t stay here son- don’t stay in your failure, don’t stay in hiding- GO- you have a purpose as my child- Go- serve others for my glory.”

“Your failure is not your future now- GO- tell others about me.”

The greatest failure in all of history didn’t define Peter’s future- Jesus did. And the same can be true for you today!

So what’s the difference between Judas and Peter? It’s the difference in response to failure.

What’s your response going to be?

Feeling the guilt, feeling the shame, the regret, the pain of kicking yourself- Or

Running to Jesus?

The story of your life does not have to be defined by your failure- no matter how bad or how many times it’s happened- Only God has the ultimate authority to define your future- But you must make that choice.

Just as Peter jumped in the water- we must decide to leave failure and sin behind and pursue Jesus. That’s called repentance. We turn from sin, and we turn to him.

Jesus is longing for you to return to him. He is longing to embrace you, to redeem and restore you as a son or a daughter.

Will you take that step today?

Failure doesn’t have the power to define your future- only God does.

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving

http://bible.com/events/49064689

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
Stories of Your Life Part 3: Mary

Mary- With Jesus at the beginning, with him until the end.

Welcome back to our Sunday morning teaching series “Stories of Your Life”

As a church family we are seeking to understand the meaning and the impact of Passion week through the perspectives and stories of key people involved.

They are not stories of “our lives” of course, but stories that undergird the new life available to us in Christ.They are the stories that challenge us, encourage us, and point us to the Life.

Augustine

Him whom the heavens cannot contain, the womb of one woman bore. She ruled our Ruler; she carried Him in whom we are; she gave milk to our Bread.

Warren Wiersbe

“The first time we meet Mary in the gospel of John, she is attending a wedding (John 2:1-11); now she is preparing for a burial. The hour has come!”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭23‬-‭25

‬‬When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

If you pay attention, Mary’s life will teach you FAITH

‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭38

‬‬In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

MARY’S STORY DEMONSTRATES F.A.I.T.H.‭‭

John‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭5

‬‬On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭14‬‬

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Vickie Kraft

She had known the presence of God all through these years. She knew what it was to raise a large family, to economize on a tight budget. She experienced slurs on her reputation. She knew unbelief in her own family as her other sons rejected her firstborn all their lives until after his resurrection. But now that Jesus’ earthly life was over, she asked for no special place of honor. She was simply another worshipper of her Lord.

Faithfulness

Availability

Intimacy

Trust

Humility

ST. TERESA OF AVILA

God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.‭‭

Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20

‬‬I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving