Back from Winter Camp!
We had an amazing, emotionally charged weekend learning from Paul's letter to the Philippians. There is so much crammed into that short little book and we covered so many things. It's more or less a complete overview of what the life of every christian should look like.
I know I was wonderfully revitalized and challenged by every message and I encourage you all to just read through and pray about what you see there. Hopefully I'll be able to get some of my notes up here. It really helps me to go over them again.
A short, incomplete review:
Hebrews 13
verses 5-7
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
We were urged to integrate ourselves more completely with our church family, to examine those who are more mature than us spiritually and follow their example where they are following that of Christ, remembering that others are looking up to us in a similar manner.
verses 8-12
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.
We have been spared the ultimate experience of pain and suffering in the next life through Christ. We have so many blessings that we often take them for granted and forget that the Son of God Himself died horrifically to give that to us while we were still His enemies. Suffering for our faith is a privilege in this life. It is guaranteed to happen at some point or another the more we imitate our Savior and proclaim salvation to the people around us. It builds character and produces spiritual fruit. It is also one of God's favorite ways to show off His grace in the lives of His children to the watching world.
verses 13-14
Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured.
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
This world is not our home, we're not supposed to get comfortable here. If we're still living and breathing, we should be seeking to honor God with every aspect of our lives - serving the church with whatever talents God has blessed us with, spreading truth and making a stand for Christ publicly so that more people will come to Him and be saved. We shouldn't be blending in and avoiding confrontation, as tempting as it is. We should join Jesus "outside the camp," unafraid of being rejected and ostracized as He was. These are hard statements. It is only by God's grace that we can have joy and peace in such circumstances. And it is only by obeying Him that we experience the greater part of this grace.
verses 15-21
Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
I know I was wonderfully revitalized and challenged by every message and I encourage you all to just read through and pray about what you see there. Hopefully I'll be able to get some of my notes up here. It really helps me to go over them again.
A short, incomplete review:
Hebrews 13
verses 5-7
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
We were urged to integrate ourselves more completely with our church family, to examine those who are more mature than us spiritually and follow their example where they are following that of Christ, remembering that others are looking up to us in a similar manner.
verses 8-12
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.
We have been spared the ultimate experience of pain and suffering in the next life through Christ. We have so many blessings that we often take them for granted and forget that the Son of God Himself died horrifically to give that to us while we were still His enemies. Suffering for our faith is a privilege in this life. It is guaranteed to happen at some point or another the more we imitate our Savior and proclaim salvation to the people around us. It builds character and produces spiritual fruit. It is also one of God's favorite ways to show off His grace in the lives of His children to the watching world.
verses 13-14
Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured.
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
This world is not our home, we're not supposed to get comfortable here. If we're still living and breathing, we should be seeking to honor God with every aspect of our lives - serving the church with whatever talents God has blessed us with, spreading truth and making a stand for Christ publicly so that more people will come to Him and be saved. We shouldn't be blending in and avoiding confrontation, as tempting as it is. We should join Jesus "outside the camp," unafraid of being rejected and ostracized as He was. These are hard statements. It is only by God's grace that we can have joy and peace in such circumstances. And it is only by obeying Him that we experience the greater part of this grace.
verses 15-21
Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.