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.
Fall 2025 Equip Class: God Who Dwells in You - Understanding and Living by the Holy Spirit
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.
Fall 2025 Equip Class: God Who Dwells in You - Understanding and Living by the Holy Spirit
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.
Fall 2025 Equip Class: God Who Dwells in You - Understanding and Living by the Holy Spirit
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.
Fall 2025 Equip Class: God Who Dwells in You - Understanding and Living by the Holy Spirit
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.
Fall 2025 Equip Class: God Who Dwells in You - Understanding and Living by the Holy Spirit
"I have you in my heart." I'm sure you can say that about some people in your life. But could you say it about everyone in the church? In his opening to the letter Philippians, the Apostle Paul says that he loves them all in this way. What created such love and affection? Paul's relationship with them was rooted in the gospel.
Fall 2025 Equip Class: God Who Dwells in You - Understanding and Living by the Holy Spirit
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.
We can't see the future. It is just one big question mark to us - a fuzzy unknown - and that can leave us feeling anxious and afraid. Instead, Psalm 105 teaches us to look at the past and to see the faithfulness of God. When we remember His faithfulness, we replace worry with worship. Praise the Lord Who Keeps His Promises.
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.
Do you ever find yourself forgetting things like your keys, your to-do list, or where you placed something important? Just as we forget everyday details, it’s also easy to forget the character of God and the many ways He blesses us. Psalm 103 invites us to pause and remember. This beautiful passage reminds us of God’s unending mercy, His compassion, and His faithfulness to those who love Him.
"Time flies!" You may have said this when facing project deadlines or when you’re heading home from vacation. But it’s true every day. Our days on earth are vanishing quickly. This is the lament of the afflicted man who prayed and sang Psalm 102. When facing our last days on earth, we must pray to our eternal God. Because Jesus died and rose again to save us, we have hope and fellowship with Him.
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.
Big truths produce big responses. "You're a dad!" "You won!" "You're free!" Psalm 100 points us to some of the biggest truths of all for the believer: "God made you!" "God cares for you!" "God is good, loving, and faithful!" In response, the psalm calls us to offer big praise. It is called a "Psalm of Thanksgiving." Because God is our good Maker and Shepherd, we should give joyful thanks to Him.