When I think of integration, of course I think of full integration into all of my life. But it also helps for me to think in categories, so I like to use these five areas of human flourishing: Relational, Vocational, Financial, Spiritual, and Health, which covers mental and physical.
Discipleship is a process that requires intentionality, commitment, and perseverance. It’s a life-on-life journey that leads to transformation. Discipleship brings us fully into the presence of God and His Kingdom work.
Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” And I found myself in a season where I needed a friend. Nathan suggested that we spend a few weeks studying Lamentations and listen to Rob Bell’s sermon series on it—going chapter by chapter. I don’t think Nathan fully knew everything that I was going through in that season. I was experiencing so much loss around me—loss of relationships, dreams, identity, and the overall sense of control around me. It was like my who...
Now, I want you to pause for a moment and think about the best birthday or Christmas you’ve ever had as a child. Let’s be honest, it was probably so great because of a gift or toy you received, just waiting for you by the cake and ice cream or maybe it was under the Christmas tree. What was the best gift you’ve ever received? I hope this is bringing joy to your face and you’re going down memory lane for a moment.
Jesus said "Go make disciples." Too often, we allow Jesus' last command to become our least concern. We have replaced being a follower of Jesus for simply being a fan of Jesus. We think we are following Jesus but in reality, we have asked Jesus to follow us. Disciples are students of the words of Je
Discipleship is one of the many ways to demonstrate the word of God. It’s the loss of words when you can’t explain your gratitude, it’s the loss of words when you can’t explain your love for God.
I’m really happy to be able to share a quick story about my journey as a disciple of Jesus and the way that I found myself helping others along their journey as a disciple.
We continue our series on discipleship—the process of learning to live our lives as followers of Christ and inviting others to do the same. Before I share a discipleship experience, let me start with a bit of background. My view of God was shaped during my formative years. I was part of a legalistic church environment, and most of the elders I looked up to were bound by chains of religiosity. In addition to that, I experienced childhood trauma and family dysfunction.
Discipleship is relational. Building and cultivating relationships is at the heart of discipleship. The ultimate relationship starts and ends with Jesus and the love He has poured into us is also poured into our relationships. Jesus’ love is the glue when it comes to building relationships with others. The Church is stronger when relationships are cultivated in love.
Go make disciples. In the last command recorded in the book of Matthew, Jesus looks at his followers and invites them on a journey. A lifelong pursuit of learning to live their lives from him and inviting others to do the same. Becoming people who are students of the words of Jesus, imitators of the ways of Jesus and partners in the mission of Jesus. In the original language, the word “follow” means “to share the same road.”
Jesus told his followers, "Go make disciples of all nations." Against all odds, this small sect of Judaism attracted Gentile followers and began to spread throughout the entire Roman Empire. As those early followers studied the words of Jesus, imitated the ways of Jesus, and partnered in the mission of Jesus, the early church offered a way of life that stood in stark contrast to the power of the empire. Two thousand years later, Jesus still invites us on a journey, empowered by the Holy Spirit w...
Today wraps up the last day deep-diving as a community in the book of Philippians, in our series called Joy. Where have you experienced joy in this season? What have you learned or been challenged by in the sermons or in NCC Daily? I want to challenge and encourage you to create space at some point in your day to go back and reflect on this season and how God has moved in your life through this series.
Paul doesn’t extend any greetings by name. In other letters, we see Paul extend personal greetings, 2 Timothy for instance, “Eubulus greets you.” But in this letter in particular, it is just a greeting from “God’s people.” There is an awareness to the importance of anonymity in this present moment for Paul. He has counted the cost of following Christ as he sits in jail writing this letter, and he takes care to not mention other believers by name.
To be honest, I often read over these greetings in Paul’s letters without giving it much of a thought. Okay Paul, thanks for saying hello! But I am glad I was asked to share on this particular verse because it led me to ask God what I should be focusing on, and He brought a couple of experiences in my life to mind. These two experiences relate mostly to the second half of the verse where Paul or possibly the people with him specifically wanted the Philippians to know that they had family that th...
This verse is Paul concluding the body of his letter to the church of Philippi with a doxology. This word comes from the Greek term “doxa,” meaning “opinion” or “glory,” and the suffix “-logia,” which refers to oral or written expressions. The online dictionary defines doxology as, “a liturgical formula of praise to God.”
The phrase “Upstream reciprocity” has to do with the effect that happens on those in your path, as a result of your actions. Do you know there is a physical effect—a release of endorphins and serotonin—in an act of kindness? The person receiving, experiences gratitude, and the person giving, experiences “helper’s high.”
This passage feels like one of those standards that can't be met, but Paul is responding to the fact that it had been a minute since they had last supported him, and he's saying, "Don't worry about it. It’s not the money. I've been riding this roller coaster for a long time—up and down, plenty and in want—I'm good." He's more concerned about the relationship and the connection.
After removing my own filters and gathering more context, I think what we are actually seeing in Paul’s letter is an example of putting into practice his teaching from verses prior. He just told them to rejoice always and think about things that are worthy of praise. Throughout this series, I’ve been reminded in prayer that I actually need to intentionally practice rejoicing and mindfulness in the Lord.
If you’ve been following along with the series this summer, then you know that the “me” here is Paul. And he’s speaking to the church in Philippi. In this particular verse, Paul urges his listeners to put into practice, or live out the things they’ve learned. So if you’ve ever heard the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do,” that’s not what Paul is saying here. Rather, he’s saying, “Do as I say, and as I do.”
In Paul’s writings he talks about God’s involvement in every aspect of the life of the believer, but also that believers are commanded to do the work too. We have a saying at NCC: pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you. In Philippians 4:8 Paul is telling the believer these are the things that should be filling our minds and this is the work we should be doing.
This letter we call Philippians is a master class in theology, but it’s also a master class in psychology. The positivity with which the Apostle Paul writes is unparalleled in any of this other letters, which is pretty amazing considering the fact that Paul is writing from prison. I would suggest that the key is prayer.
These verses are Paul's appeal to the Philippian Christians to have an attitude of joy. Our English word for "attitude" comes to us from the Greek word that meant "to fasten." Our attitude is a reflection of what has fastened itself to our minds. Rejoicing in the Lord always is our way to fasten our minds to the blessings we have in Him.
A theme that runs through the entire book of Philippians is the idea of the church being of “one mind.” He wants the church to live in harmony with one another, and these two ladies are allowing some sort of disagreement to distract them from the mission of the church they worked at with Paul.
As a child does not question the beauty of their artwork, I will not question the beautiful signs of God that are clearly all around me. Let us choose to come to our God with a childlike faith.
Instead of reinforcing the stereotypes out there about Christians, we can do the real work of citizens of heaven: by breaking barriers, crossing cultures, and strengthening a beloved community.
In the full context here of these verses that we just read, the Apostle Paul, who is the writer here, is talking about mindset and focus. In the verse before, or the verses before, he is using a racing metaphor, or a runners metaphor, when he’s talking about being focused on the finish line and winning a prize. The best way, he says, to do that is to look ahead. And he says the prize of the believer is God's calling.
In this Scripture, Paul is not saying “follow the things I say” but follow my example. Paul was very sure of his identity in Christ and of the ways he was living his life. He was so sure of this that he had told others to follow what he was doing and how he was living. He wasn't just teaching, his actions matched his words, he was living a life modeling Jesus and honoring the call and gift of salvation.
Friends, we’re all going to find ourselves in disagreement—both internally and externally. Paul is calling us to not lose the forest for the trees. Instead, remember the spiritual ground you stand on. Christ loves you and died for your sins. From this known point, plot your course balancing your consultation between Scripture and prayer to hold fast to the progress you have already made.
The passage of Scripture we just read today should challenge us to think, “What aspects of yesterday must I forget if I want to fulfill my kingdom purpose?' Are there things in your past that you are allowing to be a controlling factor in your life today? May we have the courage to choose to have a forward focus, to press on and to look at the future and not on our past.
In these Scriptures the apostle Paul is sharing his experience in a way that helps to calibrate the people in Philippi and even us today as it relates to our approach to life, particularly during challenging seasons. These verses can serve as a solid foundation for us. Paul shares that he gained a lot in life but it is all worthless compared to knowing and walking in relationship with Christ.
