Be Encouraged and Encourage others
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We hear so many sermons and bible lessons – 154 (if you count FBS, Growth BS, and Sunday Service) a year. That is about 500 exposures to the Word of God in a little over 3 years. We hear so much and expect so little. This has not even taken into account our own devotions. So we need to hear the first point.
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We get discouraged and sometimes think there is nothing good in us or that we are failures in our Christian lives. So we need to hear the second point.
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We pray aimlessly or pray things that are not in line with gospel priorities (love, knowledge, holiness, and God’s glory) and worse, we don’t see when the gospel is fleshed out in those we pray for because (1) we don’t pray for it and (2) we don’t know what it is or look like. We need to refocus our prayers according to point 3.
Be encouraged by God and his people and then turn around and encourage God’s people yourself.
I. Listen and expect grace and peace (vv. 1-2)
II. Thank God for partners and pray for them (vv. 3-8)
III. Abound in love and pray others do too (vv. 9-11)
Click on this link for the full word document of the sermon: Philippians 1:1-11 – Friday Night Bible Study
