The Age of Fear

Fear is increasingly shaping life, decisions, and community.

"Constant defense is not strength; it is a costly pattern that robs you of clarity and connection." — Caroline Leaf

Advent invites us to slow down, examine our hearts, and prepare for Christ’s arrival, where the theme of joy speaks directly into fear.

Biblical Theology

God announces Christ’s birth into a world marked by fear and political unrest.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." — Luke 2:8–9

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." — Luke 2:10–12

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." — Luke 2:13–14

God chooses humble shepherds as the first recipients of the good news, elevating the marginalized.

Angels—Messengers from God

Angels appear throughout Scripture as God’s messengers, pointing humanity back to Him.

Their message to the shepherds reflects the pattern seen in Hagar, Moses, Zechariah, Mary, and others: “Do not be afraid.”

God Enters the Real World

God meets humanity amid fear, unrest, and uncertainty.

"The Christmas story, like Isaiah’s prophecy, isn’t about an escape from the real world of politics and economics, of empires and taxes and bloodthirsty wars. It’s about God addressing these problems at last, from within, coming into our world – his world!...Christmas is about God acting in the real world." — N. T. Wright

The opposite of joy is fear, not sadness; joy is anchored in the eternal nature of God.

"To find joy in the midst of pain, we have to stop caring only about ourselves and to find our own purpose in the context of a large world…The good of someone else is our own good; the harm of someone else is our own harm. We are connected; we are one." — Anne Robertson

"Joy is the ultimate gift of God. We find this enduring joy when we commit our deepest fears, aches, and pains to God’s hands, trusting that every minute of it all can be used for God’s good." — Anne Robertson

Creative Proclamation

The shepherds respond with proclamation, worship, and praise.

"And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them." — Luke 2:16–20

Mary’s song, the angels’ praise, and the shepherds’ witness reveal joy expressed creatively in a fearful world.

Artists are Birth Givers

Humanity bears the image of God and carries a spark of divine creativity.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." — Ephesians 2

"Beauty is God’s goodness manifested to the senses." — Dallas Willard

"An act of art is an incarnational activity." — Madeleine L’Engle

“If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing - it doesn't matter. As long as we're creating, we're cultivating meaning.” - Brene Brown

“What other time or season can or will the church ever have but advent.” - Karl Barth

Those who create—write, sing, dance, act—participate in God’s ongoing work of bringing beauty into a fearful world.

A Weary World Rejoices

Make creation a priority as a practice of joy.

Cultivating creativity slows us down, opens us to God’s presence, and helps us anticipate Christ’s return.

Creating becomes a way of joining God in the continuation of His work on earth.

Peace

The peace of Christ is not sentimental nostalgia; it is revealing, discerning, and changing. Advent teaches us to remember Christ’s first coming so we may wait faithfully for his second.

The Nature of Christ’s Peace

Modern Christmas peace is shallow sentimentalism, but Scripture presents peace as wholeness, reconciliation, and the renewal of creation. Christ’s peace comes through truth-telling, justice, and transformation.

Preparing for Christ’s Peace

John the Baptist calls God’s people to repentance as the kingdom approaches.

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
  ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
  “Prepare the way for the Lord,
  make straight paths for him.” ’ ” —Matthew 3:1–3

His message disrupts sentimental expectations and prepares us for the true peace of Christ.

Revelation

Peace begins with truth coming to light.

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” —Matthew 3:7–10

Judgment

Jesus comes as the righteous judge who restores what is broken.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” —Matthew 3:11–12

His judgment is good news for the vulnerable.

“Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor…For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” —Psalm 72:1–7, 12–14

“God’s disciplines [or judgements] turn humans away from their idolatries and sins and toward allegiance to the Lamb [or Christ].” —Scot McKnight

Transformation

Jesus continues John’s call to repentance as the response to God’s nearness.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” —Matthew 3:1–2

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ” —Matthew 4:17

Repentance is the willingness to change and surrender.

“Repentance… means to think about your thinking… to ask who is currently king or queen in our lives… If I am running my life, I’m not going to serve other people.” —Dallas Willard

God makes us new through repentance.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” —Ezekiel 36:26–27

This transformation extends to the whole world.

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse… The wolf will live with the lamb… They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” —Isaiah 11:1–9

The Peace of Christ

Christ reconciles all things by his self-giving love. We prepare for his peace by allowing our sin to be revealed, judged, and transformed.

Prayer of Examen.

Saint Ignatius’ prayer for reviewing a day with GOd.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.

2. Review the day with gratitude.

3. Pay attention to your emotions.

4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. (A simple reflection is: where did I see Christ, and where did I miss Christ?)

5. Look toward tomorrow.

The Human Longing for Hope

The deep ache for hope persists across every era.

  "whether the world is anchored anywhere." —Herman Melville

American life felt unmoored; political conflict, violence, and global panic stirred uncertainty.

The Promise of a Coming King

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." —Isaiah 9:2–7

Israel longed for a ruler who could end oppression and restore peace.

The Failure of Human Kings

Israel’s leaders continually faltered, including Hezekiah, whose trust shifted from God to political alliances. The hope for a true King remained unmet.

The Servant Who Brings Justice

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth I tell you of them." —Isaiah 42:1–9

God promises a Servant who brings justice with gentleness and divine power.

The Unexpected Messiah

"For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed." —Isaiah 52:2–5

Jesus comes not with majesty but with suffering love, carrying the world’s sorrows.

Biblical Hope

"Optimism is about choosing to see, in any situation, how circumstances could work out for the best. But biblical hope isn’t focused on circumstances. In fact, hopeful people in the Bible often recognize there’s no evidence things will get better, but you choose hope anyway." —Tim Mackie

Hope is patient, expectant waiting; a binding-together toward God’s future.

Hope as Trust in God’s Character

Biblical hope remembers God’s proven faithfulness and trusts Him beyond visible outcomes.

“Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions. It is not compelled to work away at keeping up appearances with a bogus spirituality. It is the opposite of desperate and panicky manipulations, of scurrying and worrying.
And hoping is not dreaming. It is not spinning an illusion or fantasy to protect us from our boredom or our pain. It means a confident, alert expectation that God will do what he said he will do. It is imagination put in the harness of faith. It is a willingness to let God do it his way and in his time. It is the opposite of making plans that we demand that God put into effect, telling him both how and when to do it. That is not hoping in God but bullying God. "I pray to GOD-my life a prayer-and wait for what he'll say and do. My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning.”—Eugene Peterson

Hope as Spiritual Practice

Hope remembers God’s unchanging character.
Hope trusts that the story is not yet finished.

God’s Unified Family

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” —Colossians 3:11

“The ancient world, just like the modern, was an elaborate network of prejudice, suspicion, and arrogance, so ingrained as to be thought natural and normal…” —NT Wright

“Participation in Christ, who is all and in all, means that social barriers and ethnic distinctions cannot be allowed to separate the followers of Jesus from each other.” —Dennis R. Edwards

Committed to One Another

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” —Colossians 3:12–14

“To love the Lord your God… and to love your neighbor as yourself.” —Mark 12:30–31

“[Family is] a group that possesses and implements an irrational commitment to the well-being of each other.” —Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Participating in the Gospel

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” —Colossians 3:15

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” —Colossians 3:16–17 (NIV)

Generosity and the Heart

“Some of our ideas overlapped, but many of their suggestions were ones I had admittedly not entertained: passing out socks or hand-warmers, donating items like sleeping bags to local shelters, or giving office supplies and bus passes to nonprofits serving unhoused people.

The reporting left me uneasy. Why did I think only about structural change and disregard more immediate help? And why don’t I do more of those day-to-day charitable things, or know many people who do, either?”—Rachel Cohen Booth

Have we become so cynical that we have forsaken engaging in generosity entirely?

Are you hoarding resources from your neighbor out of fear, or simple apathy? Are your resources, like time, finances, or emotional energy only being spent on yourself?

As Jesus observes-where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:5-11

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”—Philippians 3:7-11

Sharing in Need

“Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.”—Philippians 4:14

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.”—Philippians 4:11-14

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:17-19

When we engage in generosity we allow ourselves to be shaped and molded into the image of our selfless Christ.

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:19

Trust and Provision

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”—Luke 12:22-31

“Some of us try desperately to hold on to ourselves, to live for ourselves. We look so bedraggled and pathetic doing it, hanging on to the dead branch of a bank account for dear life, afraid to risk ourselves on the untried wings of giving. We don’t think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, and the longer we wait the less time we have for the soaring and swooping life of grace.”—Eugene Peterson

Spiritual Practice

1. Identify what area you may hold onto too tightly.

2. Choose one area to take a small, practical step of obedience in.

3. Commit to consistency.

Divine Strength for Contentment

Paul rejoices not because of what he received, but because of what generosity produced in others—a sign of spiritual life flourishing within the community. Their gift was “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God,” revealing worship through generosity.

Contentment Defined

Paul redefines autarkes—contentment—not as self-sufficiency but as sufficiency in Christ.

“A sweet, inward gracious spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition… It is the work of the Spirit indoors.” —Jeremiah Burroughs

Christian contentment is not independence, but trust.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” —2 Corinthians 4:7

Strength is not willpower but divine dependence. Our weakness becomes the place where God’s strength is revealed.

Contentment Is Learned

Paul learned to be content. The life of faith is a continual posture of humility and teachability. To be a disciple, a learner, is to grow in trusting Christ through every circumstance.

Learning contentment comes through relationship: remembering God’s past faithfulness, noticing His present presence, and trusting His future activity.

We learn to trust Christ through:
1. God’s Word
2. Gratitude
3. God’s Grace
4. Generous Community

God’s Word — Learning to Trust God’s Presence

“My peace I give to you; I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” —John 14:27

Scripture reminds us of God’s faithfulness throughout history. When our attention drifts to lesser comforts, the Word reorients us toward eternal reality and anchors our trust in Him.

Gratitude — Practicing Seeing God’s Faithfulness

Gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to sufficiency, from what we lack to the One who provides. It is a spiritual discipline that reveals beauty under the surface of our circumstances and reorients our hearts toward resurrection hope.

God’s Grace — God’s Empowering Presence

“For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” —John 1:17

Grace is not only unmerited favor but God’s empowering presence for daily life.

“My (empowering presence) is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” —2 Corinthians 12:8–10

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of (God’s empowering presence) in its various forms.” —1 Peter 4:10

Grace is both received and shared.

“You are all partakers with me of grace.” —Philippians 1:7

Generous Community — Practicing Contentment Together

We are not spiritual consumers but partakers in God’s empowering presence. Contentment grows in community as we share our lives, resources, and burdens, reminding one another of God’s faithfulness.

Generosity becomes worship, a fragrant offering to God, and a visible reminder that He has not forsaken us. Together we become embodied signs of His grace.

Spiritual Practice

“It is tempting to imagine that, given a different lot in life, circumstances other than those in which we find ourselves, we would make much greater strides in holiness. The truth is that the place where we are is God’s schoolroom, not somewhere else. Here we may be conformed to the likeness of Christ.” —Elisabeth Elliot

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” —Elisabeth Elliot

Hypocrisy

“There may not be a more commonly hurled criticism in today’s divided society than hypocrite… this is the human condition: We are a collection of aspirations and failings, from which we try to be who we think we should be but constantly fall short.” —Lydia Polgreen

“I like your Christ, not your Christians.” —Mahatma Gandhi

Hypocrisy is the chasm between who we are and who we want to be, the gap between us and Jesus. It is a human problem generally, but a Christian problem specifically. Far too often, hypocrisy becomes the barrier to others encountering the beauty of Jesus. Yet while we cannot escape inconsistency, we can close the gap through confession, humility, and a commitment to do better.

Paul uses the language of family in his address to the Philippians- like a loving parent to a child or a favorite teacher to a pupil.

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” —Philippians 4:1

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” —Philippians 4:9

Conflict

“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” —Philippians 4:2–3

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” —Philippians 4:9

Paul urges the Philippian church to reconcile, modeling humility and unity. Disagreement is not hypocrisy; hypocrisy is allowing pride to divide. The way Christians handle conflict—refusing to belittle, remembering our shared mission, and arguing humbly—reveals our witness to the world.

Anxiety

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:4–7

“It has been said that the way to stop worrying about anything is to pray about everything. Prayer with the attitude of thanksgiving is a stress-buster, or in a more formal vein as my spiritual forebear John Wesley put it, thanksgiving is the surest evidence of a soul free from anxiety.” - Ben Witherington III

“Prayer like that will mean that God’s peace—not a Stoic lack of concern, but a deep peace in the middle of life’s problems and storms—will keep guard around your heart and mind, like a squadron of soldiers looking after a treasure chest.” —N.T. Wright

“In a post-Christian, postmodern world… our privilege is to live out the gospel of true shalom, wholeness in every sense of that word, and to point others to its source.” —Gordon Fee

Prayer, both thankful and petitioning, transforms anxiety into peace. God’s nearness guards our hearts like a garrison. The world is longing for that kind of peace, a witness of true shalom.

Virtue

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” —Philippians 4:8

“Hardly anything shows more obviously that our world is out of joint than finding stunningly beautiful human beings who are incredibly unwise about their behavior and live anxiety-filled, miserable, immoral lives as a result… We hardly ever see most of these things in one human life, except that is, in the life of Jesus.” —Ben Witherington III

Paul calls us to dwell on whatever is true, beautiful, and good. Wherever truth and beauty are found, God is found. The call is to be cultural sifters, finding God’s goodness even in unexpected places and to recognize both beauty and brokenness within ourselves and the world.

Spiritual Practice: Confession

“Perhaps if we embrace our inevitable inconsistencies, we can have a more generous, less purity-focused politics of practical good aimed at actual persuasion and real change.” —Lydia Polgreen

The Christian response to hypocrisy is not denial but confession. Confession trains us to close the gap between who we are and who we long to be, both in worship and in everyday life.

We confess not just for our sake but for the world’s, to bear witness to the grace of God that meets us in our inconsistency and makes us whole again.

Paul’s Cruciform Example‍ ‍

“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters…” —Philippians 3:17

Paul invites the Philippians to imitate his life patterned after the cross.

“Paul’s mission in life was to seek to order the lives of Christian congregations by pulling everything into the tremendous gravitational field of the Cross.” —Michael Gorman

The Enemies of the Cross‍ ‍

“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” —Philippians 3:18–19

These are those who embrace victory without suffering, faith without the cross.

Heavenly Citizenship‍ ‍

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” —Philippians 3:20–21

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” —Matthew 6:10

“Live faithfully now as a colony of citizens of that heavenly imperial city, in the midst of this colony of Rome. Your lord and savior—your emperor—is Jesus, whose cruciform pattern of faith, love, power, and hope is the city charter of your colony.” —Michael Gorman

“If Roman citizenship required a lifestyle of honor and glory for Rome, then how much more is necessary for a heavenly citizenship to the Lord, Jesus Christ?” —Sydney Park

Book Recommendations:

1. Scandalous Witness by Lee Camp

2. Jesus and the Powers by NT Wright & Michael Bird

3. Compassion & Conviction by  Chris Butler, Justin Giboney, and Michael Wear

4. The Liturgy of Politics by Kaitlyn Schiess 

1. Christ Is Lord‍ ‍

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” —Abraham Kuyper

Jesus is our primary allegiance; all others are secondary. We approach the table not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Christians.

2. Christ Is Savior‍ ‍

He alone redeems, heals, and saves the world. Political parties cannot accomplish what only Christ can.

3. Citizens of a Different Kingdom‍ ‍

Our true homeland is the Kingdom of God.

We live now by its culture and values even as we await its fullness.

This citizenship may leave us politically homeless but not disengaged.

4. Christ Guides Our Political Engagement‍ ‍

litmus test for Christian faithfulness is the Cross; the cruciform life; the willingness to suffer for others. (Philippians 3:17–19 )

Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging in Politics by Eugene Cho

Cruelty and callousness are not Christian virtues. Our engagement seeks the good of all through humble service.

5. Christ Invites Us to Be an Example‍ ‍

“…follow my example, brothers and sisters…” —Philippians 3:17

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” —1 Corinthians 11:1

Each believer bears the responsibility of showing others the way of Christ through a life of self-sacrificial love.

A Stagnant Faith

“Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The contented soul is a stagnant soul.” —A.W. Tozer

Complacency halts spiritual growth. Busyness, comfort, and routine distract from the pursuit of Christ. Faith becomes a checklist rather than a relationship. The journey of following Jesus begins at salvation and continues daily as we deny ourselves and take up our cross.

Eyes on the Prize

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” —Philippians 3:12

Paul presses on—not from ambition, but in response to grace. Because Christ has made him His own, Paul runs the race with focus and gratitude.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3:13–14

Paul leaves the past behind, fixing his eyes on Christ. Freedom comes not from dwelling on failure, but from pressing forward in faith.

“After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfect.” —C.S. Lewis

Running the Race

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” —1 Corinthians 9:24–27

Paul uses athletic imagery to describe faith: disciplined, intentional, and persevering. Like an athlete training for a crown, believers pursue an eternal prize.

“Would you be a victor in the Olympic games? So would I, by the gods, and a fine thing it would be. But consider the price you must pay... You must live by rule, eat by measure, avoid delicacies... Then, in the contest, you may sprain your wrist, twist your ankle, swallow quantities of dust, be whipped... and after all that, lose.” —Epictetus

The Christian race requires endurance and focus. We must not grow complacent before the finish line, but press on with perseverance.

The Imperishable Crown

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” —2 Timothy 4:6–8

The victor’s crown given at ancient games was perishable, but the prize Christ offers is eternal. The stephanos of thorns placed on Jesus’ head became the true crown of victory. The Lord Himself will place the crown of righteousness upon those who remain faithful to the end.

Press On Toward Christ

“It is finished.” —John 19:30

Jesus finished His race victorious through the cross. Paul echoed that same faithfulness: “I have finished the race.” Like Paul, we press forward with endurance, surrendering our past and setting our eyes on Christ.

Spiritual Practice

What holds you back from running your race well?
Where have you grown complacent or distracted?
Christ still pursues you and invites you to run with Him.

The race is not over. Press on toward the prize—the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

No Confidence in the Flesh
Paul once placed his confidence in ancestry, achievement, and religious zeal, yet writes:

“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” —Philippians 3:7

Paul’s Audit
Paul reworks the balance sheet of his life: everything he once counted as gain is now loss compared to knowing Jesus. His life becomes Jesus on one side—and everything else on the other.

Is Jesus Worth It?
Jesus calls,

“Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me.”
“Sell everything and give it to the poor.”
“To lose your life is to gain your life.”
“Let the dead bury the dead.”
“Love your enemies.”

To follow Him risks comfort, reputation, and control. Yet Paul declares that Jesus is worth it.

Paul’s Loss

“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” —Philippians 3:7–8

Everything sacrificed or surrendered is nothing compared to life with Christ.

Paul’s Gain
Paul finds that knowing Christ gives significance, being in Christ gives cohesion, and becoming like Christ gives purpose.

To know Christ gives significance.

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” —Philippians 3:8

To know Christ is to enter an intimate friendship with Him—a love that surpasses knowledge.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.” —Ephesians 3:18–19

“To know God is to love God.” —A.W. Tozer

“God is family, God is community, God is shared existence, and whoever shares his or her existence inside community and friendship is participating in the very flow of life and love that is inside the Trinity.” —Ronald Rolheiser

To know Christ is to be loved as you are—wholly and completely. God loves you, and He likes you.

“To surrender to love is to allow yourself to be loved as you are—mistakes, regrets, flaws and all.” —David Brenner

To know Christ is to live daily out of this love, finding your true significance as His beloved.

To be found in Christ gives coherence.

“I consider [my accolades] garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” —Philippians 3:8–9

To be in Christ means His righteousness becomes ours. His story becomes our story.

“[Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant… Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” —Philippians 2:5–11

Being in Christ gives coherence to life—our joys and sufferings are drawn into His larger story.

To be Like Christ gives purpose.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11

“To live is Christ and to die is gain.” —Philippians 1:21

“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” —Philippians 2:12–13

To become like Christ is to join His mission to renew the world, beginning with our own transformation.

“Being a Christian doesn’t require any particular education because being a Christian is an education.” —Dallas Willard

Following Jesus is a lifelong learning of love—loving God fully and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Becoming like Jesus becomes our singular pursuit, shaping all other ambitions.

The Resurrection Hope
Easter was not a one-time event but a preview of what’s to come.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings… attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” —Philippians 3:10–11

A Life Centered on Christ
In a world full of options, Paul’s answer remains clear: Jesus is worth it.

To know Christ gives significance.
To be in Christ gives cohesion.
To become like Christ gives purpose.

The life centered on Jesus is not the easiest—but it is the best and most joyful life available to us. It calls for a radical reorganization of our lives, saying one great “yes” to Christ that reorders everything else.

Rejoice in the Lord

"Legalism is believing or practicing rules that add something to the gospel." —Scot McKnight

"For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also." —Philippians 3

Worship by the Spirit of God

"But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code." —Romans 7

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father by the Spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." —John 4

"There are no wrappings and disguises which are proof against the gaze of Christ. It is his power to see into the depths of the human heart. It is not that he sees only the evil there; he sees also the sleeping hero in the soul of every man. He is like the surgeon who sees the diseased thing, but who also sees the health which will follow when the evil thing is taken away." —William Barclay

Glory in Christ Jesus

"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." —Romans 5

Put No Confidence in the Flesh

"If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." —Philippians 3

Spiritual Practice

Take Inventory: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where faith has become mechanical or routine.

1. Where have you followed a "Jesus-plus" faith?

2. Where have you been proud instead of humble?

3. Where have you put burdens on others or complicated the simplicity of Jesus’ invitation?

The Mindset of Christ

"Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man in His external form,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—even to death on a cross.
For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." —Philippians 2:5–11

Risk More

“Epaphroditus’s service on behalf of the Philippians to Paul would already require sacrifice of time, income, and energy, given the distance between Philippi and Rome.” —Dr. M. Sydney Park

“Due to illness, this ‘service’ becomes ‘sacrifice’ as he nearly died for the work of Christ. In his willingness to risk his life on behalf of both the Philippians and Paul, he mirrors Christ’s extreme humility that extended to death on a cross.” —Dr. M. Sydney Park

Reflect More

"For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father." —Philippians 2:20–22

"My brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need." —Philippians 2:25

"Welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor." —Philippians 2:29

Do More Things That Will Live On

"Because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me." —Philippians 2:30

"But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father." —Philippians 2:22

Is the world getting better or worse?

“While challenges certainly remain, we must avoid tending to catastrophe bias — the tendency to focus solely on worst-case scenarios while ignoring progress and potential — that often overshadows progress.” — Gaurav Khrishnan

“Living in this fallen world will either make a person bitter or better.” — John Wimber

Philippians

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” — Philippians 2:14–15

Behaving Bitterly

“Grumble against Moses saying ‘What shall we drink?’” — Exodus 15:24

“And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’” — Exodus 16:2–3

“At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord.” — Exodus 16:6–7

Becoming Better

“Be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” — Philippians 2:15–16

“Paul sees the church as the people of the new Exodus: brought out of the Egypt of sin and death through the Passover action of God in Jesus, and now on the way home to the real promised land. And this time they are going to get it right. That remains the challenge before the church today just as in the first century.” — N.T. Wright

“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” — Philippians 2:17–18

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” — Habakkuk 3:17–18

“This is not ‘sour grapes,’ nor making the best of a bad situation, nor ‘delight in feeling bad’; this has to do with true faith, and thus perspective, based as it is on the unshakable foundation of the work of Christ, both past and future.” — Gordon Fee

“The second chapter of Philippians puts us in touch with the ancient worship of the earliest Christian and the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus. When Paul wrote this letter of comfort to the brothers and sisters in Philippi, he pointed to Jesus as their and our example. The Lord’s example does not require of us miracles and supernatural signs and wonders. These things are wonderful and certainly possible, but they are not a requirement for following Jesus, nor are they the biggest proof of His presence or power in our lives. No, friends, the heart of our faith is to follow the humble example of Jesus, especially in times of trial and persecution.” — Brad Wickersheim

Summary

So when the suffering of this fallen world comes your way, what will be your response—will you behave bitterly like the Israelites or will you become better like Paul and the Philippians?

Spiritual Practice

Which have you become over the years—Bitter or Better?

Do you find yourself identifying more with the Israelites than with Paul or the Philippians?

What would it look like to transform your grumbling into joy?

What kind of witness could we be by choosing to trust in the unshakable foundation of the work of Christ, past, present, and future?

Who are you becoming?

Humans are dynamic creatures, constantly in a state of change, development, and growth.

This dynamic change is effected by an amalgamation of influences.

Every human is in the process of becoming someone.

The question is who?

Christian Spiritual Formation

For the Christian, Jesus is the aim of our formation; to reconstruct our life from top to bottom in the pattern of Jesus.

To become like Jesus.

“Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.” –Luke 5:27–28.

Jesus uses the phrase “follow me” twenty times throughout the Gospels.

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you.” –John 15:14–15.

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” –Romans 8:29.

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” –1 Corinthians 11:1.

“...just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” –1 Corinthians 15:49.

“…if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” –1 John 2:5-6

The aim of salvation is not simply to get to heaven when I die.

Salvation’s aim is to be made into a new type of human– “to be born again.” (John 3:5)

Becoming Like Jesus.

Paul in his writing to the Philippian Church, sees his life as a retelling of the Jesus story: suffering, imprisonment, conflict, divine intervention, and joy.

And his desires for the Philippians to see their lives the same way, that they may become like Jesus.

According to Paul, we become like Jesus by (1) intentional effort (2) with God, and (3) with others, (4) for the sake of the world.

Intentional effort

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation…” – Philippians 2:12-13

Paul is calling the Philippians to put intentional effort and work into the life of salvation.

Paul’s text isn’t about earning salvation; it is all about participating in salvation.

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.” – Dallas Willard

Working out our salvation is living in obedient response to what God has done for us in Christ.

“...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” – Philippians 2:12b

Paul encourages the Philippians to approach their lives with God with great respect and intention.

Spiritual Practices

Spiritual practices are activities that repeatedly appear in the life of Jesus and seem to be practiced by his disciples.

1. Prayer

2. Scripture

3. Fasting

4. Solitude

5. Sabbath

6. Generosity

7. Service

8. Witness

9. Community

“acts of loving obedience we offer to God steadily and consistently, to be used for whatever work God purposes to do in and through our lives.” – Robert Mulholland

With God

“...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:12-13

As we put intention and effort into practicing the stuff of Jesus, God will be faithful to act in us.

“The English poet William Henley captured the spirit of our culture well when he wrote, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” But spiritual formation as “being formed” will reveal that God is the initiator of our growth toward wholeness and we are to be pliable clay in God’s hand.” – M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

In theological terms, this is the process of sanctification.

It describes God’s ongoing work in our lives to form the character and conduct of Jesus.

With Others

One of the translation challenges of this passage is that we often overlook the fact that it is addressed communally.

Every pronoun in this passage is plural.

We are making an effort to practice the way of Jesus together.

We refer to these communal efforts to practice the way of Jesus as liturgy.

liturgy | “the work of the people”.

“The task of liturgy is to order the life of the holy community following the text of Holy Scripture.”– Eugene Peterson

This pattern of being together serves as scaffolding and support in our transformation into Christ-like individuals.

For the Sake of the World

“...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13

“Spiritual formation as a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others.” – M. Robert Mulholland Jr

If Jesus is the most genuine human who has ever lived, He has taught us the way to love, serve, and make the world a better place.

“The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who … are identified as “Christians” will become disciples—students, apprentices, practitioners—of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.” – Dallas Willard

Exercise Intentionality.

Main Character Syndrome

Main Character Syndrome is to view oneself as the main character in the story of the world. 

“You have to start romanticizing your life. You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character. ’Cause if you don’t, life will continue to pass you by.” – Ashley Ward

Rather than looking to be the main character, Paul encourages believers to–

1. Be Christ-minded in your relationships 

2. By being a servant 

3. So that all may confess Jesus as Lord. 

Be Christ-minded in Your Relationships.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”– Philippians 2:5

To understand how Christ navigates relationships, one must be close enough to understand. 

“Remain in my love…” – John 15:9

By Being a Servant 

“[Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” –Philippians 2:6-8

Huparchein | unchanging in essence

Morphe | unaltering form

Schema | changing form

“God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus. We have not always known what God is like— But now we do.” – Brian Zahnd

So that all may confess Jesus as Lord.

“Therefore God exalted him [Jesus] to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11

Make Jesus the Main Character

We are simply being invited to look to Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)
¹ Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

As I begin, I believe it's important to acknowledge the land we sit on. The land that the Delta sits on, the land where we make our homes, and the land in which we work and care for, Kansas City, had inhabitants before we arrived. The land we sit on today was once home to the Kaw, the Osage, the Otoe, the Kickapoo, and the Lakota.

One of my favorite authors and theologians is named Richard Twiss. We belong to the same tribe - the Sicangu Lakota Oyate, or the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. He wrote a book in 2000 called One Church, Many Tribes in which he shares two responses from Chiefs in the Native American community to Christianity and the White man’s way of life. Twiss shares these responses not to show hostility from Native Americans, but to highlight their willingness to trust, befriend, and believe the White man while noting the White man’s weakness in cross-cultural communication.

Richard Twiss’ first example is from Sinte-Gleska, a Sicangu Lakota tribal chief who lived in the 1800’s. According to Twiss, “Sinte-Gleska at first counseled his tribe to accept the White man’s way of life. But many questions disturbed him as over the years he observed the Whites’ contradictory behavior and broken promises.” At some point in his lifetime, Sinte-Gleska is known to have said the following about the contradictions of Christianity to a U.S. infantry soldier:

I am bothered what to believe. Some years ago, a good man, as I think, came to us. He talked me out of all my old faith. And after a while, thinking that he must know more of these matters than an ignorant Indian, I joined his church and became a Methodist. After a while he went away. Another man came and talked and I became a Baptist; then another came and talked and I became a Presbyterian. Now another one has come and wants me to be an Episcopalian. What do you think of it? All these people tell different stories, and each wants me to believe that his special way is the only way to be good and save my soul. I have about made up my mind that either they all lie, or that they don’t know any more about it than I did at first. I have always believed in the Great Spirit, and worshipped him in my own way. These people don’t seem to want to change my belief in the Great Spirit, but to change my way of talking to him. White men have education and books, and ought to know what to do, but hardly any two of them agree on what should be done.

In Twiss’ second example, a missionary addressed the tribe of Chief Red Jacket at a meeting in Buffalo, New York in 1805. Chief Red Jacket responded to the missionary with these words:

You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to His mind, and if we do not take hold of the religion which you White people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter; you say you are right and we are lost. How do you know this to be true? We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us as well as for you, why has not the Great Spirit given it to us; and not only to us, but why did He not give us, and our forefathers, the knowledge of that book, with the understanding it rightly? We know only what you tell us. How should we know to believe, being so often deceived by the White people? Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there be but one religion, why do you White people differ so much about it? Why not all agree as you can read the book?

Chief Red Jacket went on to become one of the fiercest opponents of the White man and his ways. Richard Twiss goes on to say this:

These views of these two great chiefs capture the failure of one people to legitimately try to understand, value, and make room for another people of another culture, all in the name of God. The real issues had little to do with God or the Bible. The real issues stemmed from clashing worldviews, cultural biases and prejudices and an unwillingness to choose the path of humility - an unwillingness to esteem others of different cultures as though higher than themselves. This was hubris (spiritual pride) in the name of and for the cause of Christ.

Dare I say this is the kind of spiritual pride Paul is addressing when he instructs the Philippians to be humble in our Scripture today.

Are we at the point of no return? Has the Church been involved in enough cooperation with evil that it’s doomed? Well, spoiler alert, Paul thinks otherwise, and yes, for him, the answer most definitely has to do with Jesus. As Richard Twiss puts it again:

Jesus made the greatest cultural leap of all time just for us! He gave up and left behind the unlimited joy of paradise - the culture of heaven - to be born into human culture. He left the daily face-to-face fellowship with the Father to face the frailty of sin-marred human relationships, knowing that His new friends would disclaim and abandon Him and that one of His closest associates would betray Him for a mere 30 pieces of silver. Jesus was the ultimate and perfect example of cross-cultural ministry.

Paul says in Philippians 2:2 that the Philippians would make him “truly happy by agreeing (key word) wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

Unity on its own is not the end goal for Paul. As the theologian N.T. Wright states: “Unity by itself can’t be the final aim. After all, unity is possible among thieves, adulterers and many other types. Those who commit genocide need to do so with huge corporate single-mindedness, as the Nazis showed when killing millions of Jews and others.” 

When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we lose sight of ourselves as the main character of the story. It’s at that moment that we are able to find ourselves in a divine drama, acting with other followers to reveal the Kingdom of Jesus together - this is true unity. I believe this is the vision of Paul for the Philippians in verses 3 and 4. For us today at Midtown it can be as simple as this: when we follow Jesus, the most important person in this room is the one you’re sitting next to!

Did you know there is even such a thing called “potluck theology?” In her blog, Decentering White Theology with Potluck, Dr. Joyce Del Rosario, a Filipino theologian, says: “Potluck theology is about bringing our best to the table and partaking of all of each other’s best offerings. There is a fullness that happens when we share our best with one another and try things that aren’t natural or familiar to us. There is discovery and delight that happens. There is a joy when we know that what we bring to the table matters.”

"For those who have found joy in Christ, let us learn to make room for one another. To constantly pull up chairs to our tables and to our hearts. To humbly introduce ourselves to strangers and get invested in their lives. To practice potluck theology – messy and joyous moments where we defy the sadness in our world.”

You matter at the table.

Revealing the Kingdom of Jesus, together, in Kansas City. 

The Kingdom of Jesus | “Your will be done, your Kingdom come, on Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10)

Together | common commitments

1. Reveal the Kingdom of Jesus.

2. Belong to a microchurch.

3. Gather on Sunday.

4. Serve.

5. Be Generous.

Places Shape Us

The places we live are not simply neutral settings in our history. Places are active and essential characters shaping our story with their landscape, pace, and people.   

In an increasingly mobile world, we experience a sense of rootlessness, dislocation, and restlessness. 

“[Ours is an] age of the…,the refugee, the stateless, and the wanderer. Never before, have so many human beings fled from so many homes.” –Elie Wiesel

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” – Augustine

History of the Babylonian Exile. 

Following the death of King Solomon, Israel was split in two; the northern kingdom was known as Israel and the southern kingdom was known as Judah. 

In 587 BC, the southern kingdom of Judah was destroyed by Babylon, and many of its inhabitants were taken into captivity. 

After a few years, these Israelites found themselves homesick, which led to feelings of self-pity, discontentment, and restlessness. 

The Prophet Jeremiah writes a letter to challenge this. 

A Theology of Place

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: – Jeremiah 29:4

Much of the biblical narrative revolves around place and location. 

Instructions to the Exiles. 

1. Build homes.

2. Plant gardens

3. Start families and lay down roots.

4. Seek shalom.

Shalom is wholeness.

“God’s wholeness where… nothing is missing and nothing is broken.” – Adam Gustine 

“Christian spirituality means living in the mature wholeness of the gospel. It means taking all the elements of your life—children, spouse, job, weather, possessions, relationships—and experiencing them as an act of faith. God wants all the material of our lives.”– Eugene Peterson

God in our Midst

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood…”– John 1:14 (The Message)

The Christian Gospel is that we’ve all found ourselves displaced, homeless, and restless. Yet the Creator of the Universe refused to leave us that way– so he moved into the neighborhood and offered to make his home in us and with us. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you” –Jeremiah 29:11–14.

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”–1 John 4:15–16.

Vow of Stability.

In monastic traditions, monks often tak a ‘vow of stability’; they commit to live their entire life in a particular community, rather than moving from one place to another. 

Will you commit to Kansas City?

“an increase in the wrong kind of Christian does nothing, but an increase in the right kind of Christian means everything.” - Pastor John Tyson 

COMMITMENT 1: Reveal the Kingdom of Jesus 

“the Lord daily adding to their numbers those who were being saved.” - Acts 2:47

COMMITMENT 2: Belong to a microchurch 

COMMITMENT 3: Gather on Sunday 

“The synagogue was intrinsic rather than incidental to Jesus’s life and career.”- Dr. Jordan Ryan, 

“For Jesus, the church was never optional. Jesus was not anti-institutional. He regularly led his disciples and himself into the church of the first century, which was the synagogue and temple…. [Jesus] immersed himself in the relationships at the temple, he went to the temple for prayer, and he added his voice to the teaching of that temple.”  - Pastor Tyler Staton 

“they continued to meet together in the temple courts [and] they broke bread in their homes.” - Acts 2:46

“Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan.” - Albert Schwitzer

COMMITMENT 4: Serve 

“And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:44-45

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” - 1 Peter 4:10 

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Galatians 5:13-14

COMMITMENT 5: Be Generous 

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” -Mark 12:41-44

“They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” -Acts 2:45

“an increase in the wrong kind of Christian does nothing, but an increase in the right kind of Christian means everything.” - Pastor John Tyson 

4 American Gospels

1. The Gospel of Prosperity. 

2. The Gospel of Church Attendance.  

3. The Gospel of Social Justice. 

4. The Gospel of Evangelicalism. 

Many have received a gospel that is not so good news.

Jesus’ Preaching.

If we don’t start with the Gospel Jesus preached, we may very well end up with a Gospel Jesus did not preach. –Scot McKnight

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” – Luke 4:43 (ESV)

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)

The Gospel of the Kingdom.

1. In Matthew, ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is mentioned fifty-two times. 

2. In Mark, “Kingdom of God” is mentioned twenty times.

3. In Luke, “Kingdom of God” is mentioned forty-five times.

4. John uses ‘eternity’ as a substitute for ‘Kingdom’. 

To rediscover the good news as good news, Jesus’ understanding of the ‘Kingdom’ must be re-centered.

1. The Kingdom Created. 

2. The Kingdom Betrayed.

3. The Kingdom Come. 

4. The Kingdom Reign.

1. The Kingdom Created

“ …God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:26-27

In His wisdom, God decided to create beings with whom He would have a special relationship, beings that would be made in his image; to be a royal delegate, a steward, a representative, a manager of the divine. 

“[work] is rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular, thrive and flourish.” – Tim Keller

2. The Kingdom Betrayed.

“…you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”– Genesis 3:5.

The humans betray the God-King and work against his Kingdom of life. 

This betrayal runs so deep that it becomes one of the defining features of humanity; a theological concept that the bible calls sin. 

“The Human Propensity to [muck] things Up.”– Francis Spufford

“…the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19.

Sin puts humans on a trajectory toward death.

3. The Kingdom Come. 

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15.

Jesus was restoring an ancient Kingdom of royal sons and daughters, who cultivate the earth and walk in the cool of the day with their God-king.  

“And [Jesus] was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And [Jesus] was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”–Mark 1:13.

Where the first Adam failed, the Second Adam succeeds.

“He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe [sin, satan, and death] of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.” – Colossians 2:15 (the Message)

This is good news because Jesus is the only King who is worthy of our full trust.  

Discipleship is the path of being assimilated into Jesus’ Kingdom; it is how we learn the ways, culture, and language of the Kingdom.

"We are built to live in the kingdom of God. It is our natural habitat." – Dallas Willard

4. The Kingdom Reign.

“I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” –Revelation 21:3-4.

God’s new creation is Eden remade. 

Inaugurated Eschatology is the theological theory that in Jesus, the foundation for the Kingdom has been laid, but its full reign and power have yet to transform the earth; an already/not yet Kingdom.

The Church’s task is to demonstrate and display what God’s kingdom will look like. 

“Every act of love, gratitude and kindness; every work of art or music inspired by the love of God and delight in the beauty of his creation; every minute spent teaching a severely handicapped child to read or to walk; every act of care and nurture, of comfort and support, for one’s fellow human beings, and for that matter one’s fellow non-human creatures; and of course every prayer, all Spirit-led teaching, every deed which spreads the gospel, builds up the church, embraces and embodies holiness rather than corruption, and makes the name of Jesus honoured in the world—all of this will find its way, through the resurrecting power of God, into the new creation which God will one day make. That is the logic of the mission of God.” –Tom Wright

Conservation of Religion. 

Political theorist Samuel Goldman has theory called “The Conservation of Religion.” Goldman’s theory posits that human society possesses a certain amount of religious energy, which will always be expressed, even if not in traditional religious environments. 

Americans are less involved with religious institutions today than years past,  but that does not mean they are less religious. 

Religious energy has shifted into politics. 

“As Christianity’s hold, in particular, has weakened, ideological intensity and fragmentation have risen. American faith, it turns out, is as fervent as ever; it’s just that what was once religious belief has now been channeled into political belief. Political debates over what America is supposed to mean have taken on the character of theological disputations. This is what religion without religion looks like…We are a nation of believers.” – Shadi Hamid

 Caesar’s Gospel in Philippi.

The city of Philippi was established roughly 400 years prior to Paul’s letter, and refounded as a Roman Military colony 300 years after that. 

All of Philippi’s citizens were given Roman citizenship, and it was repopulated with Roman military veterans.

“In a city like Philippi, this would have meant that every public event (the assembly, public performances in the theater, etc.) and much else within its boundaries took place in the context of giving honor to the emperor, with the acknowledgment that (in this case) Nero was ‘lord and savior.’” –Gordon Fee

“The birthday of the God (Caesar Augustus) was the beginning for the world of the good news [Euangelion] that have come through men through him.” –9 B.C. Priene Inscription

The Gospel of Christ.

“The beginning of the good news [Euangelion]  about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God…” – Mark 1:1 

The earliest Christian believers Jesus was the rightful King of the world. 

In Philippians, Paul refers to  Jesus as “Lord” 15 different times.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” –Philippians 2:9–11.

The Christian Gospel is that the one true God has taken charge of the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus; And that he is establishing a nation, a kingdom, where death is defeated, sin is no more, and life is unending. 

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” – Matthew 6:10

The Gospel of Jesus is a threat to those who think their will is supreme. 

Jesus wasn’t crucified because he said ‘love your neighbor’; that is a radical ethic, but it's unlikely to get you executed.

Jesus was executed because he was a threat to the powers that be. 

Paul is writing from a Roman prison because he was touring the Roman countryside, ‘Defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, [named] Jesus” ( Acts 17:7).

The Philippians weren’t experiencing opposition because they were worshiping privately. 

Honestly, Rome was incredibly tolerant of religious diversity as long as that religious loyalty came second to Roman loyalty. 

The Philippians were experiencing opposition because they refused to bow a knee; because they insisted that ‘Jesus is Lord, and Caesar is not’.

In a city charged with Roman Patriotism, holding loyalty elsewhere caused problems.

This could have been due to a lack of work, economic restrictions, social rejection, a tarnished reputation, or family disapproval. 

“…believers in Christ could no longer join in as citizens of Rome in Philippi. Their allegiance was to another [Lord], Jesus Christ, before whom every knee would someday bow and every tongue confess, including the citizens of Philippi who were causing their suffering, as well as the emperor himself. The Philippian believers in Christ were thus citizens of a greater dominion, and their allegiance was to another [savior], whose coming from heaven they awaited with eager expectation.”– Gordon Fee

Kingdom Citizenship (1:27)

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” – Philippians 1:27

Conduct | Politeuomai – ‘to be a good citizen’. 

“If Roman citizenship required a lifestyle of honor and glory for Rome, then how much more is necessary for a heavenly citizenship to the Lord, Jesus Christ?” – Sydney Park. 

“Live in the Roman colony of Philippi as worthy citizens of your heavenly homeland.” (Philippians 1:27, Gordon Fee paraphrase)

“...our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”–Philippians 3:20.

This makes Christians those with dual citizenship. 

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors…” –1 Peter 2:13–14.

“We must obey God rather than human beings! –Act 5:29.

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” –Jeremiah 29:4–7.

Paul instructs them to live gospel-shaped lives– let your life be a reenactment of the story of Jesus.  

1. Strive together

2. Live without fear

3. And to suffer well

Strive together (1:27) 

“Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel…” – Philippians 1:27

Paul wants the Philippians’ conduct to be consistently Kingdom-oriented.

Spiritual tenacity is forged in faithful community.  

Living without Fear (1:28)

“... without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.” – Philippians 1:27-28

“Shunning, public embarrassment, non-recognition of personal honor and status, discrimination in the patronage system because of their beliefs—these would be sufficient factors to cause a great deal of discomfort on the part of new believers who have heard words about persecution but not experienced it for the first time.”– Carolyn Osiek

Paul is rightly concerned about how fear and intimidation might affect this tiny Christian minority. 

Suffer Well (1:29-30)

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” –Philippians 1:29-30.

Disciples of Jesus follow the way and pattern of the one called ‘Son of Suffering’. 

The Christian faith doesn’t offer ideal conditions for life; it offers the presence of God and the pattern of Jesus so that one might suffer well. 

Ultimate Allegiance. 

Our primary identity is Christian. All other identities are second.