Walkersville Brethren In Christ Church

Commit to a Life of Rejoicing.
"1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again..."

Dig in:
-The instruction "rejoice in the Lord" is given as a command.
-This command is given as something to do "all the time".
-Rejoicing is a motion and not an emotion.

Take out:
What do you have to lose by rejoicing in the Lord always?

Avoid the Pitfall of Religion.
"2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh."

Dig in:
-Notice the term "dog" Paul uses to describe these people.
-Note the three traits in verse 3 of following Jesus.
-Religion has a way of inverting these traits.
-Religion is to the heart what cataracts are to the eyes.

Evaluate Life Through Eternal Lenses.
"7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

Dig in:
-Notice how Paul evaluates and reevaluates life.
-Look at how he views Jesus Christ.

Take out:
What word would you use to describe Paul in the verses above?
What word would you use to describe yourself?
How can we eliminate a "been there, done that" attitude?

Remember that Resurrection Power Awaits You.
"10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Dig in:
-My Passion + God's Promise leads to God's Power.
"And if the Spirit of him who has raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your motal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." Romans 8:11

Take out:
Where are you most in need of resurrection power?
What freedom is there in not having to "white knuckle" it?