Monday Sermon Notes.

Chaotic Joy – Dustin Willis

Philippians 1:1-6

 

How can Paul have joy in crappy situations? (He mentions joy 16 times throughout the letter)

-       v. 5 – Partnership with others who get it (the gospel)

o      Partnership here implies financially partnered

§       more than just words, but actions in the partnership

o      Romans 1:12 – “Mutually encouraged by each others faith”

§       It is encouraging when people are going for the same thing we are going for

o      Not a passive partnership

§       The Philippians were bringing the Kingdom of God to earth.

·      We should be encouraged by Christians all over the world who are doing this. Christ is using them

-       v. 6 – Looking towards the end.

o      We have joy from having confidence in God’s promises, mainly that he will fix us and the world.

§       We should get joy from knowing that the battle is won, and that the work will be fruitful

On Location III

Last night at Midtown, Dustin spoke for the third and final time in the On Location series. He talked last night on Acts 1 -5, about Peter, The Holy Spirit, and all the amazing stuff that happened in Acts happening in Columbia.

I look at Acts and see it as something in the past. What made last night for me is that I could tell Dustin reads Acts and sees it for today. Throughout my notes I have little notes about faith and boldness. I like to think that I have faith, but I don’t have faith like the believers in Acts do. I wish I did. I hope I will soon. But I also lack the boldness of them.

I think a lot of people aren’t bold because they feel like they can’t answer every question ever posed of the gospel. Step in line. But look at this, Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived hat they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.” Part of it is our faith that gives us boldness. And we (me) need to step this up.

I just pray that God changes my heart to give me the faith and boldness to step outside of the comfort zone and to seek to bring the gospel and all if its glory to Columbia. Maybe my plans of moving away are getting delayed. Who knows.