https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pTQ9zN8NP2CwwhaYnUofK?si=376c1cdfa3c943bf Study Guide I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3–5 (ESV) Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi is quite unique from …
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WYRKCJxABGBVPu21WVHDM?si=567750ea4d9a4f86 Study Guide Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:1–2 (ESV) The letter of Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul to the …
Back in 2012, I taught through the books of Ecclesiastes and Philippians together, attempting to show how they both present that true joy is only found in Christ. Since I am now preaching through them again (finishing Ecclesiastes this Sunday), I'm sharing the essay that I wrote in 2012 to explain the connection between these …
Continue reading Depressing Joy: a thousand year search for meaning
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. …
SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION Ecclesiastes 4:6 | Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But …
Continue reading The Vanity of Community Under the Sun | Ecclesiastes 4
I recently preached this text again, which you can read here. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with …
SUGGESTED VERSES FOR MEMORIZATION & MEDITATION But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or …
We have now arrived at the Source of a content life. We have discovered that God alone, through Christ, is able granted us the satisfaction that our souls desire. However, if we stop merely at the Source of our satisfaction, then I believe that we will miss an opportunity to see the glory and goodness …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part four
Yet even if hedonism and religious legalism are both truly dead ends, we are forced to ask once more why people pursue these ends. Why do we relentlessly chase after the pleasures of hedonism to the degree of ignoring our God-given conscience? Why practice the asceticism found within religious legalism so that precious little happiness …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part three
A belief that I hold is that there are two paths to hell. If eternal judgment is your desired destination, rest assured that you have at least two choices to take: the road of the “sinner” or the road of the “religious.” You see, the only method of actually securing the eternal wrath of such …
Continue reading The Unity of Ecclesiastes & Philippians | part two
B. C. Newton 