Posts tagged Lance Augsburger
Develop Unity In The Church. - Philippians 2:1-4

Have you had a strong relationship fall apart? A close friend realizes you don't see eye-to-eye on everything. We've all experienced unity in relationships beginning to crumble. What is true unity?  How do we develop it and protect it? Even a healthy church, like the church in Philippi, was experiencing some disunity, so Paul gives them clear instructions on how to develop unity in the church.

Live Worthy Of The Gospel. - Philippians 1:27-30

Whether we realize it or not, we’re concerned about our reputation. We wonder what people think of us. Home is different than in public. We worry about how others see us. But Paul calls the Philippians to live for a greater purpose. Rather than worrying about their reputation, he calls them to live worthy of the gospel. Living this way frees us from fear and brings unity to the church.

Make Christ Your Life. - Philippians 1:18-26

What do you live for? As Christians, we say, "Jesus!" We may think so, or feel obligated to say it, but often our lives tell a different story. Things creep in and nudge Jesus aside. We drift into living for work, sports, family, money, good health, pleasure, comfort...for me. But Paul's testimony in Philippians 1:18-26 is a wakeup call. As believers, everything should be for and about Jesus.

In Adversity, Focus On Our Mission To Advance The Gospel. - Philippians 1:12-18

Few things are as frustrating as adversity! Just when we are making progress, something hinders us. Worst of all, sometimes the affliction comes from those closest to us. But when Paul faces adversity - even from believers - he rejoices in the advance of the gospel! His focus on our mission keeps him from getting derailed by hardships.

Ask God To Help You Live Like Jesus. - Philippians 1:9:11

What do you want most in life? Ask yourself, "What do I pray for?" Our prayers reveal our strongest desires. Paul said, "to live is Christ." The most important thing was to live like Jesus, so that's how he prayed for the Philippian believers. The greatest desire believers ought to be to glorify God by growing into the image of Christ, and it ought to be the way we pray for one another.

Praise God For His Faithful Love, Which Is Greater Than Our Unfaithfulness. - Psalm 106

There's nothing heavier than the weight of sin. Our sin hurts others, destroys relationships, and worst of all, cuts off our fellowship with God. The guilt of it all turns our stomachs and weighs heavily on our shoulders. But Psalm 106 reminds us that God's steadfast love is greater than our sin. Because of His steadfast love, we must turn to God, confess, and restore our relationship with Him.

Praise God, The Creator And Sustainer Of All Things. - Psalm 104

Is your world falling apart? Maybe it's the circumstances around you - politics, family, employment. Maybe it's within you - health, emotions, or spiritual life. When we feel this way, it's time to worship the One who holds it all together. Psalm 104 reminds us that God made everything, and He holds everything together. He is the King of the universe, and all creation declares the glory of God.

Devote Yourself To The Lord. - Psalm 101

Integrity is a sought-after virtue. While we want to be known as people of integrity, we must admit that we have things hidden in our hearts that we don’t want people to know. King David wanted to be a man of integrity, and in Psalm 101, he wrote about his desire to walk faithfully with God. The psalm gives us practical ideas on how we can both walk in integrity and devote ourselves to the Lord.