The Prize Is Still Ahead
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 (NIV) You have not come this far just to stop here. Paul ends this passage with his eyes…
Christ Took Hold of You First
“But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12b (NIV) You did not find Christ. He found you first. Paul presses on to take hold of what Christ already took…
Suffering Is Part of the Deal
“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 (NIV) Nobody warned…
The Power Behind Your Rising
“I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:10 (NIV) “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead…
I Counted It All Loss
“But 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…
What Happens When the Whole Room Prays
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 (NIV) Something shifts when God’s people pray together. The early church gathered after the threat, prayed, and the building shook. Nobody planned that or…
Silence Has Become the Harder Option
“For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 (NIV) Some things simply cannot be contained. Peter and John did not walk out of that council meeting having decided to be bold. They walked out…
Filled People Spill
“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31 (NIV) Nobody planned what happened next. The early church had just…
The Resurrection Has a Loudness to It
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:33 (NIV) What fills you will eventually come out. The apostles had just…
A Resurrected Life Is Not a Quiet Life
“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You…