I loved getting back into the rhythm of our first Sunday meals. We don’t get nearly as many opportunities to spend time together as we’d like. So, I relish those chances to sit down at a table together! They’re just a gift.
I was telling the deacons in our recent meeting that a repeated theme coming up in my morning devotions has been how God’s hand was with His people in their exile. And, as we’re discovering from Philippians, that same power is now with us through the Holy Spirit’s presence. So, as we heard last week, let me encourage us all to pray and specifically ask God to increase our faith in Him and in the glorious Gospel. That’s a prayer He is pleased to answer.
His work through us is always going to be shaped by His work in us. So, what a joy it’s going to be to see Him do what only He can do. The hand of our good God is with us!
Counterpoise - Christian life in today's world.
The Promise of Jesus
As the news cycle continues to churn this week, I can’t help but be reminded of Jesus’ promise to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” As believers in Him, everything hinges on that reassuring truth. Indeed, that’s exactly why we gather on Sundays and that’s what our Philippians series is all about. Please continue to pray for that peace to be supernaturally growing in our hearts week by week!
Also, don’t forget about the children’s ministry interest meeting today! (9/12/21) This will be an opportunity to talk about the strategic opportunity we have, the vision for passing the Gospel on to the next generation, and an overview of the plan. I’ll work to keep it short!
Pastor Bart on Philippians
God intends to do God size things as we open Philippians each week. And certainly, there is no greater miracle in the human soul than to experience genuine joy in the person and work and presence of Jesus Christ. That’s the greatest miracle that there is for a human soul — to rejoice in the person and work and presence of Jesus.
That’s the “Joy in Jesus.”
I ask you to be praying that the Holy Spirit would make Jesus more glorious in our eyes, that our bond together as those who are bound together in him would only deepen and strengthen and that our witness to an outside world that we belong to Jesus Christ would only be emboldened.
Witness to Our World
“Counterpoise,” he said.
“The title of a column!” he declared!
“What do you mean by that?” I replied.
Photo by Ron Frazier
Pastor Dan went on to explain the definition and significance that “counterpoise” (the noun) might have as the primary position we, as Christians, so often are called to take in our American lives — standing in opposition to cultural norms. Nothing has changed in the decade or so since our initial conversation.
The world is still depraved and we are still biblically called to stand in firm opposition to that depravity.
We are also called by Christ to boldly go into our world and proclaim the “good news.” Given that reality, the word “counterpoised” (the adjective) aptly describes the life of Christians in today’s society. We live counterpoised against the normal picture of American family life by “loving our enemy.” (Matthew 5:43-48)
It is in the spirit of that conversation with Pastor Dan a decade ago that we begin our discussion. It is a discussion about how we are to live out the “Great Commission” text of Matthew 28:16-20. It is a discussion about biblical truths lived out daily.
So, in the spirit of that conversation with Pastor Dan so long ago, we’ll begin our conversation about how we stand in opposition to many of today’s forces challenging the gospel. It need not always be boisterous opposition, although that is also called for on occasion.
The simple reality of continuing brotherhood in a local church (like Christ Church) over the years while learning and hearing and living out biblical truths week after week, year after year, witnesses to our neighbors that we are sincere and lasting in our faith. That silent witness will, over time bear fruit.
Counterpoise!
Let us raise our communal glasses to it! Let us raise our congregational voices in song! Let us live our individual lives in witness to biblical truth!