Down in My Heart! Where?

Tonight we resume meetings for our small group Bible study. This quarter we are looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians using the Serendipty small group resources (Great resources to get students talking through the scriptures and growing together).

As I reread the letter last week, I was stuck at how hopeful Paul’s words are. Although our group wont’t get to it until next week, I think that the well worn statement in v 21 gives us the reason behind Paul’s joy. I love how poetic the Message staes this: “Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.. As I’m typing this I’m listening to “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own”. Very fitting for the letter to the suffering city. Compare Paul’s words of encouragement to Bono’s words to his father.

Philippians 1:3-14
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being 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; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God 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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God. Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Tough, you think you’ve got the stuff
You’re telling me and anyone
You’re hard enough
You don’t have to put up a fight
You don’t have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Can you hear me when I sing
You’re the reason I sing
You’re the reason why the opera is in me.

Tonight we are going focus on this passage. My prayer is that it will encourge our students to rely on God and each other. I pray also that these words, Paul’s and Bono’s, my encourage you today. Peace.