D-Groups Blog

Subscribe to the RSS Feed
  • Featured Posts
  • All Posts

A gentle, gracious spirit can be elusive when a contentious, even angry, world finds the message of the cross foolish. Yet the message of Paul and the life of Jesus call us to selflessly illustrate the wisdom of God and the beauty of the cross.

In a world filled with sin, heartache, and loss the scripture's repeated refrain to rejoice can often seem incongruous. Yet the Lord calls us to always rejoice, because we have an unchanging God whose promises are true and whose love endures forever.

Unity and harmony can be elusive. Even the fellowship of believers is sometimes beset by squabbles and disagreements threatening to weaken her testimony. The members of God's family must jealously guard the unity of the church!

A believer's true citizenship is not in an earthly kingdom. His or her allegiance is not to an earthly government. Paul tells the Philippians that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil 3:20). Stand firm and long for your true home!

Shine like stars!

Following Jesus' humiliation, the Father exalts the Son, re-elevating Him to His rightful place. God bestows on Him a name that stands above all others, that requires all of creation to bow its knee and acknowledge His identity.

The humility of Jesus, the Son of Man, is a shocking lowering. From glorious splendor, to a roughly hewn manger, a towel and a basin, a criminal's cross, and a borrowed tomb - Jesus humbled Himself. All for the glory of the Father and the rescue of His people. What selfless love! He is our example in putting others first.

Grace is truly amazing. It enables born-again believers to act in ways that they would never be capable of on their own. By nature sinful, they have the capacity to live righteously. Inclined to selfishness, they are able to humbly put others first. Tuning into the the grace of God brings joy and harmony among believers.

In a broken and hostile world, the church is to function as a safe haven for its flock. This requires unity among the sheep. According to Paul's words to the Philippians, nothing binds the church together more securely than its union with Christ, encounter with the Father's love, and its Spirit-given purpose.

Believers are to live a life that is worthy of the gospel. It is to be their aim to live in such a way that their life is "in balance" with its life-changing message and power. A worthy testimony is evidence supporting the transformative power of the good news to a lost world.

In a culture that celebrates the rugged individualist and emphasizes looking out for number one, putting Christ first and serving others sacrificially is a glorious departure from the norm and the great calling for every believer.

God is worthy of unrivaled love and devotion. Yet how can the stone cold hearts of sinful humanity show affection? The only way for our heart to be changed and love to be formed in us is if God first demonstrates His love toward us. He acts for our good and His glory so we might exclaim, "I love the Lord!"

Paul claims that for him , "to live is Christ and to die is gain." A Christian's life is to be spent knowing Christ and making Him known, while death is to be sweet release that finds rest in the presence of Jesus. Yet navigating the tension between these two realities is what we, like Paul, must learn to balance and appreciate.

Suffering, others' ill intentions, and the certainty of death - Paul considers all three to be powerless and no match for the gospel. As a matter of fact, they are simply means a sovereign God uses to advance the good news.

Prayer connects us to God and to fellow believers. It shows a deep bond shared through a common Savior, common partnership, and common care. Most importantly, it is a product of love that pleads for growth in one another.

God always finishes what He starts. He is doing a good work and is faithful to complete our full transformation, because He is the Justifier, Sanctifier, and Glorifier of His children.

Partnering together for the advancement of the Gospel unifies a community of believers. It connects them in shared joy and gratitude.

Paul's epistle to the Philippian church is a letter that communicates great joy, genuine friendship, and the hope for spiritual transformation. The first church planted on European soil is testament to the fruit that God can produce even in the harshest of environments.