Dumping Pride, Pursuing Humility, Finding Joy!

Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World - Part 5

Self esteem. Self improvement. Self help. Self actualization. Self love. Self pride. It's all self delusion...

The most joyful person to ever walk the planet was also the most humble. This Sunday, in one of the most important, Jesus-centered passages in the New Testament, we'll discover the joy and fulfillment that comes from cultivating and pursuing humility.

Want to dig deeper? Check out Philippians 2:1-11 at youversion.com. We'll dive in this Sunday @ a2 Church!

PS: Before we dive into God's Word, don't miss a great cup of coffee, Krispy Kreme donuts and an amazing time in worship! The actions starts @ 9:45 am this Sunday @ a2! Invite a friend to join you.

PREPARED TO DIE. READY TO LIVE! Extended Notes

Another amazing day @ a2 Church!

Here's the overview of yesterday's worship experience...

Kicked off with a Scripture reading from Mary Elizabeth featuring passages from Psalm 103, Psalm 100 and Psalm 150 and a challenge to "praise God!"

Set list included:

Dancing Generation by Matt Redman
God Is Love by Hillsong
We The Redeemed by Hillsong
I Will Exalt you by Hillsong

Followed this portion of the worship experience with the message. Extended message notes are included below...

The worship experience culminated with Holy Communion and a time of focusing on Christ, and the following worship response.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Our own version)
Center by Charlie Hall

There was a beautiful awareness of God's presence upon the worship experience. Absolutely love worshiping with the "a2 fam." God is awesome!

Already pumped about this coming Sunday. We'll be in Philippians 2 and one of the most Christ-centered texts in all the New Testament!

For now, here are the extended notes from yesterday's message.

PREPARED TO DIE. READY TO LIVE!
Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World – Part 4
Philippians 1:20-30
September 26, 2010 • Chris Goins

INTRODUCTION: The book of Philippians is one of the “prison” epistles. Paul wrote it to encourage the church at Philippi… This church loved Paul. They were struggling with questions… They couldn’t figure out why the life of Paul had been turned upside down…

They were wondering, “God, why would you take the best player on your team, and sideline him by putting him into prison? Why would you turn him over to an unjust, totally whacked out psycho like Nero? It doesn’t make sense…”

Philippians 1 contains Paul’s response… Paul is attempting to answer the questions racing through the minds of the church at Philippi… And he basically says, “Guys, everything that has happened to me has to be factored through these three important factors:

- the providence of God…
- the progress of the gospel…
- the purpose of my life…"

In Philippians 1:20-30 Paul describes the purpose of his life.

Philippians 1:20-30 (ESV), …it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Philippians 1:27-30 (ESV),
 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.


The Secret to Life and Death:

1. To Live is Christ.

Philippians 1:21 probably contains the mission statement of Paul the Apostle…

Philippians 1:21 (ESV), For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.


According to John MacArthur, the original Greek doesn’t even doesn’t contain a verb. It literally reads like this, “…to live CHRIST, to die GAIN…”

LIVING = CHRIST
DYING = GAIN

In the mind of Paul, life is Christ… His person… His purpose… His plan… His agenda… His glory… His honor…

J.B. Lightfoot described Paul’s statement like this: “I live only to serve Him, only to commune with Him; I have no concept of life apart from Him…”

This passage describes the magnificent obsession of Paul’s life… Paul’s life was wrapped up in loving Christ, knowing Christ, worshiping Christ, serving Christ, obeying Christ, following Christ, preaching Christ and being devoted to Christ… Paul basically said, “Anything worthy of the name ‘life’ is wrapped up in Christ…” Christ was the CENTER and the CIRCUMFERENCE of Paul’s life…


Dissecting Paul’s statement:

• For to me…

Paul is making a personal statement about a decision He has arrived at… It’s a decision every one of us have to make…

QUESTION: How would you complete this statement?

“For to me to live is __________...”


James Montgomery Boice was right when he described Philippians 1:21 as a “…text that cuts like a surgeon’s scalpel to the heart of Christianity…”

“For to me to live is __________…”


• to live…

The word “live” refers to daily life… Paul is describing the day in, day out, moment-by-moment experience that was His life... Living was Christ…


Paul described the same thing in Romans 12:1. I love the way the Message reads…

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG), So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.

Everything filtered everything in his daily through the grid of his relationship with Jesus Christ.

THOUGHT: When we live the reality of Philippians 1:21 we filter every activity, relationship, responsibility, attitude, etc. through our relationship with Jesus Christ.


• Is Christ…

Paul doesn’t beat around the bush… His life was wrapped up in Christ…

THOUGHT: The word “Christ” was the title that marked Jesus as Savior, “anointed one” and Messiah… So when Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ…” He was aligning Himself with the mission and redemptive work of Christ that was accomplished on the cross and through Jesus mighty resurrection…

Paul was defining his life through “the cross of Christ.”

IMPORTANT: Unfortunately, several years ago, Wilbur Rees accurately described the majority of Christians when he wrote the following words with penetrating sarcasm:

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."


2. To die is gain.

Dissecting Paul’s statement:

• and…

The conjunction is crucial… In this passage, it means that Paul is defining his life in two parts: LIVING and DYING…


• to die…

Paul doesn’t shy away from the inevitable reality we will all eventually face… He wrote these words from a prison cell… Death was a real possibility… But he doesn’t allow it to define or overwhelm him…


• is gain…

To “die is gain” because in Paul’s mind, dying means to be “absent from the body and at home with the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NIV), We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him…


Paul understood this important truth: “...if you’re not ready to DIE, you’re not ready to LIVE…”


IMPORTANT: For the believer, this life is as close to hell as you will ever get… In other words, all the pain, suffering, heartache, loss, rejection, you name it, is as close to hell as you will ever get…

Unfortunately, for the person who hasn’t placed their faith in the finished work of Christ… This life is as close to heaven as you will ever get…

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…”


How death can be gain?

Alexander McClaren desribed it like this:

(1) We lose everything we don’t need…

Pain, loss, rejection, tears, fears, anxiety, sickness, dysfunction, depression, sin, failure, mistakes… You name it! We lose it all!

(2) We keep everything that matters…

We keep our identity… Our fruitfulness or productivity for the kingdom of God… Even our personality…

(3) We gain realities we only dreamed of before…

Heaven… The actual, literal, physical, constant presence of God… Fellowship and relationships like we’ve never experienced them before…

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT / ESV), Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Joy That Breaks Through! - P2

Great day at a2...

Here's the set list from this morning's worship experience:

Where The Spirit of the Lord Is by Chris Tomlin
Dancing Generation by Matt Redman
I Want The Joy by Rita Springer
Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King by Gateway

This morning's worship experience also included a special time of commissioning for Nick Johnson who will be leaving this week for DTS (Discipleship Training School) with Youth With A Mission in Ensenada, Mexico. You can follow Nick’s journey @ NickIsInMexico.blogspot.com.

On Our Side by Chris Tomlin

At the end of the service we went back into a reprise of "On Our Side."

Here are the extended notes from this morning's message...


Joy That Breaks Through! (Part 2)
Philippians: Finding Joy In A Broken World – Part 3
September 19, 2010 • Chris Goins

“Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!”

THOUGHT: Joy is a choice… It flows out of a person’s deep and abiding, sometimes even quite confidence in God… That God is at work… That God is in FULL CONTROL… And that God is smack dab in the middle of whatever has happened, is happening and will happen… Regardless of what’s going on in your life, you can CHOOSE JOY…


Joy That Breaks Through:
Philippians 1:1-19

1. Joy begins with an understanding of our identity.

Philippians 1:1-2, This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

Chuck Swindoll says the word it means, “One bound to another…by the bands of constraining love… One in such close relationship to another that only death could break the bond… Someone whose will is swallowed up in the will of God… And someone who serves Christ…with reckless abandon, not regarding his or her own interests…”


Philippians 1:1-2b, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, including the elders and deacons. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Greek word translated saint means "separated," "unique," "different," or "set apart," and could be translated "holy."

Paul wasn’t writing to dead martyrs, canonized saints, or a group recognized as the super spiritual or radically pious. He was writing to everyday, ordinary, normal people like you and me who had experienced the amazing grace of God…


2. Joy thrives when I choose gratitude and thankfulness over preoccupation with self.

Philippians 1:3-5 (NLT), Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.


3. Joy is sustained by firm confidence in God and His extravagant grace.

Philippians 1:6-7 (ESV), And I am sure of this that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.


Stuff That Can Steal Our Joy:

• The influence of Satan and spiritual warfare (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8).

John 10:10 (ESV), The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV), Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• An inadequate understanding of the sovereignty of God.

Example: Genesis 32 (Jacob Wrestling with an Angel)

Genesis 32:31, The sun rose as he left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Genesis 47:31, …Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Hebrews 11:21, It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

• The lingering presence of unconfessed sin (Psalm 51).

Psalm 51:7-9 (NLT), Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. 9 Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.

Psalm 51:10-11 (NLT), Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirits from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

• Emotional and physical exhaustion (Elijah – 1 Kings 18-19).

• Giving in to worry, stress, anxiety and fear.

• The tendency to fall back into a “works based righteousness” instead of “betting the entire farm” on the extravagant grace of God (Philippians 1:6-7).

Philippians 1:6-7 (ESV), And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.


4. Joy is strengthened by God-honoring, life-giving, “tried-in-the-trenches, been-through-the-fire” relationships.

Philippians 1:7-8 (ESV), It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:7a (NLT), So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.

Philippians 1:8 (NLT), God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.


5. Joy increases when prayer becomes more than my personal “to do list” for God, but is also focused on seeing God’s activity in the lives of other people.

Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT), I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.


Praying For Other People:

• Pray that their love will overflow (v. 9).

Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT), I pray that your love will overflow more and more…

• Pray that they will make wise decisions (vs. 9-10).

Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT), I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters…

• Pray that they will do the right thing (v. 10).

Philippians 1:10 (NLT), For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return.

• Pray that they will become the right kind of person (v. 11).

Philippians 1:11 (NLT), May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

• Pray that they will live for the glory of God (v. 11)!

Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT), …this will bring much glory and praise to God.


6. Joy resists discouragement and sideline, “not-even-in-the-game” distractions. It stays focused on what ultimately matters.

Philippians 1:12 (ESV), I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel...

Philippians 1:13-14 (NLT), For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's messages without fear.


E. Stanley Jones, missionary to India, made the following statement:

“Don’t bear trouble. Use it. Take whatever happens: justice and injustice, pleasure and pain, compliment and criticism. Take it up into the purpose of your life and make something out of it. Turn it into a testimony.”


Philippians 1:15-19 (NLT), It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.

Philippians 1:18-19 (NLT), But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

joy that breaks through extended notes

What an amazing day at a2! I've really felt such an intense passion to deliver this series of messages on the subject of joy, and pray that God is helping me communicate the truth of His Word in a way that brings Him glory and challenges our people...

For those of you who've asked, here's an overview of the entire worship experience.

Music Set List:
Say So, Michael Gungor Band
You Are Good, Lincoln Brewster
God You Reign, Lincoln Brewster

Mary Elizabeth G. did a great reading from Mike Yaconelli's book, Messy Spirituality. This song perfectly set up, "Rejoice!"

Rejoice!, Audio Adrenaline
Yes, that "Rejoice!" The band absolutely rocked and Stephanie T smoked the vocals!

Dancing Generation, Matt Redman

Loved hearing our people sing, "We'll be a dancing generation... Dancing because of Your great mercy, Lord! Your great mercy, Lord! It's the overflow... Of a forgiven soul... Now, that we've seen you God... Our hearts cannot stay silent!"


Here are the extended notes from this morning's message.

joy that breaks through!
Philippians: Finding Joy in a Broken World - Part 2
September 12, 2010
Chris Goins

In the brief 104 verses that make up the brief book of Philippians, Paul uses the words “joy”, “rejoicing” or “be glad” at least seventeen times.

Joy is never inauthentic. It can coexist with pain, suffering, loneliness, rejection, setbacks, poverty, temptation and even the possibility of death.


Here's the definition we are using for joy:

“Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!”


At the time Paul wrote Philippians, he was separated from his closest friends, under house arrest, chained to a Roman guard... He was the victim of criticism from people who were supposed to be his comrades, but were attempting to exploit his confinement for their own personal benefit… And don’t forget, he was facing the real possibility of death...

But despite it all, joy breaks through every page in this short book! Despite Paul’s suffering, pain, loneliness, rejection, fear, temptation and looming death, the guy maintained his JOY!


An Overview of Philippians:

• The book of Philippians is personal.

The church in Philippi was about 10 or 11 years old at the time Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians… The back-story on how the church got started appears in Acts 16.


Acts 16:6, “…the Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia…”

Acts 16:9, “That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!"

Acts 16:14 (NLT), One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.


Acts 16:16-18 (ESV), As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.


1 Thessalonians 2:2 (NIV), We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi...

1 Thessalonians 2:2 (ESV), "...though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi..."


QUESTION: How do you respond when you've experienced this kind of pain?


Acts 16:25 (NLT), Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns [of praise – NAS] to God…

Acts 16:25 (MSG), Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God.


The word hymn means, "...songs of testimony, triumph, exaltation, adoration and celebration in which celebrate the greatness of God and specifically focus on the person, work, ministry and Lordship of Jesus Christ."


Acts 16:25 (NLT), Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.


Illustration:
There’s an incredible scene in the movie, The Shawshank Redemption…

In the film, Ellis Boyd Redding or “Red” played by Morgan Freeman tells the story of Andy Dufresne played by Tim Robbins. Andy was a young, successful banker wrongly convicted of murdering his wife in 1947 and sentenced to two consecutive life terms at Shawshank prison.

At one point in the movie, Dufresne is given the task of sorting through a whole load of classical records that were donated to the prison. In the process he finds and plays a beautiful operatic piece, even though it’s against prison regulations. The guard hears him and asks what’s happening. Dufresne locks himself in to the sound booth and switches on the PA system that reaches the whole prison – the cells, the yard, and the hospital. He plays the music full blast through the speakers, and everyone in the entire prison stops just to listen. Remember that scene?

At this point Morgan Freeman comments:

“I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about… Truth is, I don’t want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I’d like to think they were singing about something so beautiful it can’t be expressed in words. It makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you those voices soared. Higher and farther than anyone in the great place dared to dream… It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away. And for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free…”


That’s exactly what happened in Acts 16:25… All of a sudden a place where pain and shame were prominent was filled with beauty and grace… That’s what music at midnight does to a watching world… When a believer is able to retain their joy and worship God even in the middle of pain, the world has to pay attention…


Acts 16:26 (NIV), Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.

Acts 16:27 (NLT), The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Don’t do it! We are all here!”

Acts 16:29 (NIV), The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Acts 16:40 (ESV), Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia’s house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.

NOTE: This was the raw material God used to launch the church in Europe: A guy named Paul; a businesswoman named Lydia and some of her friends, servants and business associates; a formerly demon possessed, fortune telling slave girl; and the prison guard and his entire family…


• The book of Philippians is practical.

One of the issues Philippians deals with head on is the issue of suffering and pain.

You don’t have to live long before you realize that the truth about life is that life hurts. It hurts emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually.

The question is not, “IF” you’re gong to suffer. The question is, “WHEN you suffer, will you suffer in a way that is purposeful – in a way that somehow allows God to accomplish His purpose and plan in your life?” Or, “Will you suffer in a way that is purposeless? Will you waste your suffering and pain on stuff like bitterness, anger and junk?”


G.K. Chesterton said that, “Joy in the book of Philippians is a defiant, ‘Nevertheless!’” In other words, the book of Philippians is a treatise for how joy functions and flourishes in the face of mayhem and the best “hell” can dish out…


THOUGHT: There are basically two kinds of people – (1) those who choose joy, and, (2) those who don’t…

The world is filled with people who don’t… You can make a decision to live joy as a lifestyle regardless of what life brings at you…


NEXT SUNDAY: Philippians 1:1-19

why joy is possible - Extended Notes

why joy is possible
philippians: finding joy in a broken world – Part 1
Extended Message Notes from September 5, 2010


“Fundamentally sound, sure-fire, top five components” for happiness:
1. Be in possession of the basics: food, shelter, good health, safety
2. Get enough sleep.
3. Have relationships that matter to you.
4. Take compassionate care of others and of yourself…
5. Have work or an interest that engages you…
~ Amy Bloom, New York Times, February 2, 2010


Problem: Most of the people on this planet can’t meet this criteria... The Apostle Paul didn’t meet this criteria…


Paul's Bio:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NLT), In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 7 We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are, still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

2 Corinthians 11:23-30 (NLT), I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not. 27 I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along.


Joy Defined:
Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!


“Joy in Philippians is a defiant, ‘Nevertheless!’” ~ Karl Barth


John 15:11 (NIV), “ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

“Happiness turns up more or less where you would expect it to – a good marriage, a rewarding job, a pleasant vacation. Joy, on the other hand, is notoriously unpredictable…” ~ Frederick Buechner

John 10:10b (NIV), I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.


“To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.” ~ Lewis Smedes

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” ~ C.S. Lewis

“What is the chief end of man?”
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
~ Westminster Catechism


“Spiritual joy is: The settled conviction that God sovereignly controls the events of life for the believers’ good and His glory. Spiritual joy is not an attitude dependent on chance or circumstance. It is the deep and abiding confidence that regardless of one’s circumstances in life, all is well between the believer and the Lord. No matter what difficulty, pain, disappointment, failure, rejection, or other challenge one is facing, genuine joy remains because of that eternal well being established by God’s grace in salvation… Scripture makes it clear that the fullest, most lasting and satisfying joy is derived from a true relationship with God. It is not based on circumstances or chance, but is the gracious and permanent possession of every child of God.” ~ John MacArthur


Why Joy Is Possible:

1. Because joy is a gift from God.

Psalm 4:7-8 (NLT), You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

Psalm 16:11 (ESV), You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.


2. Because I can count on the unchanging character of God.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT), Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer’s able to tread upon the heights.

Psalm 16:8, I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices…

Psalm 68:1 (NAS), Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before Him.

Psalm 68:3-6 (NLT), But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy.


3. Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for me on the cross.

Romans 5:6-8 (NLT), When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 5:9-11 (ESV), Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


4. Because the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in me and He refuses to give up on me.

Romans 14:17 (ESV), For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23a (NLT), But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control…

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV), And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.


5. Because there is no end to the spiritual blessings that are available to me in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 (NLT), All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.


6. Because I can bank on the providence of our great God. Even when I can’t see it, God is always with me. He is always for me, and He always works everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory.

Romans 8:28 (NLT), And we know that God causes everything to work togethers for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.


7. Because all the junk that happens earth side can’t compare to the future glory waiting! The best really is yet to come!

Romans 5:2b (ESV), …we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 8:18 (KJV), I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Jude 24-25 (NLT), Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.


8. Because of the miracle of answered prayer.

John 16:24b (ESV), Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.


9. Because of the life-changing power of the Word of God.

Psalm 19:8 (NLT), The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.

Jeremiah 15:16 (ESV), Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart…

1 John 1:4 (NKJ), …these things we write to you that your joy may be full.


10. Because of the God-honoring, life-giving, deep level relationships God has placed in my life.

Philippians 1:6-7 (NLT), And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.

Philippians 4:1 (NLT), Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.


Joy Defined:
Joy is a deep, abiding sense and the confident expectation that God is with me, that God is for me, and that our sovereign God is working everything together for my ultimate good and His great glory!

COMMUNITY 101 - Part 4 Extended Notes

Worth The Fight
Community 101 – Part 4
Extended Message Notes from August 29, 2010


Special Acknowledgement: I want to acknowledge John Ortberg and an insightful chapter titled, “Community is Worth Fighting For” in his excellent book, “Everybody’s Normal Till You Get To Know Them” for providing the framework and many of the insights contained in this message.


Acts 2:42-47 (NIV), They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.


Examples of Conflict in the 1st Century Church:

• Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira

• Acts 6 – Greek-speaking believers / Hebrew-speaking believers

• Acts 15 – Conflict regarding Gentiles who are converting to the faith. Demands that these Gentiles follow the Jewish rite of circumcision…

• Acts 15:36-40 – Conflict between Paul and Barnabas


Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT), If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV), If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.


Six Steps for Resolving Conflict

1. Acknowledge it. Conflict is part of what it means to be alive.

Matthew 18:15 (NIV), If your brother sins against you…

“Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.” ~ Max Lucado


2. Take responsibility for it.

Matthew 18:15 (NIV), If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault…


Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT), So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.


Two Primary Barriers:
• Pride
• Fear


3. Approach, don’t avoid, the person you’re experiencing conflict with.

Matthew 18:15 (NIV), If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault…

“Anger produces what might be called the Jim Carrey effect: As you get mad and madder, you get dumb and dumber…” ~ John Ortberg

Proverbs 29:11 (NIV), A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.


Two Questions To Ask:

• Why am I angry?

Anger is not a primary emotion, it is a secondary emotion usually created by one of three things: 1) fear, 2) frustration and/or, 3) hurt.

• What do I want?

Ephesians 4:26 (ESV), Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger…


4. Keep it personal. Resist the urge to needlessly involve others in the conflict.

Matthew 18:15 (NIV), If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.

Proverbs 25:9 (NCV), If you have an argument with your neighbor, don’t tell other people what was said.

Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT), Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.


5. Display wisdom and tact, but don’t beat around the bush. Get to “the last ten percent.”

Matthew 18:15 (NIV), If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV), …speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,


A General Framework for saying "the Last 10 Percent:"

• Describe clearly what the problem is... Describe what you observed: “You didn’t appear to be listening…”

• Share how it hurt you: “It just feels like what I have to say doesn’t matter to you…”

• Tell them what the consequences to the relationship have been: “This is probably the reason I feel distant from you…”

• Ask for the change you would like to see: “I want to connect and communicate when we’re together…”


6. Keep the ultimate goal clearly in view: reconciliation.

Matthew 18:15-17 (NLT), If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

John 17:20-23 (NLT), I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
22 "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.