Confidence in Christ: The True Gospel Unveiled

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity Reflects God's Love

Generosity is a powerful testament to God's work in our lives. When we give, we are not just providing material items but sharing the hope and love of Jesus. This is evident in events like Backpack Sunday, where the church comes together to meet the needs of the community. Our giving is an intentional act of trust in God, enabling us to serve others and say yes to opportunities that reflect His love. Generosity is not just about the act of giving but about the heart behind it, demonstrating our faithfulness and trust in God's provision. [40:01]

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: Think of a recent opportunity you had to give or serve. How did it reflect God's love and provision in your life? How can you be more intentional in your generosity this week?

Day 2: Confidence in Christ Alone

Paul teaches that our confidence should not be in our human credentials or achievements but in Christ alone. He considers his impressive Jewish credentials as garbage compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This challenges us to evaluate where we place our confidence and to ensure it is rooted in our relationship with Jesus. Our human achievements, while valuable in a worldly sense, pale in comparison to the eternal value of knowing and being known by Christ. [45:14]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have placed confidence in your own abilities or achievements. How can you shift that confidence to be rooted in Christ alone?

Day 3: Staying Clear on Our Mission

Life's demands can cause us to drift from our initial clarity and passion for following Jesus. Paul warns us to stay clear on our mission and avoid the slow drift from passion to apathy and from service to selfishness. This is crucial in maintaining a vibrant and effective faith. Staying focused on our mission requires regular self-examination and a commitment to the core values of our faith, ensuring that we do not lose sight of our purpose in Christ. [47:56]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: Identify one area where you feel your passion for Jesus has waned. What practical steps can you take this week to reignite that passion and stay clear on your mission?

Day 4: The Gospel is Jesus Plus Nothing

Paul strongly opposes adding human requirements to the gospel, such as circumcision in his time. Today, this could be equivalent to imposing certain behaviors or traditions as necessary for salvation. The gospel is Jesus plus nothing, and any addition to it is a rejection of the true gospel. We must resist the temptation to judge others based on external markers and instead focus on the transformative power of Christ in our lives. [53:56]

Galatians 5:1-2 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you."

Reflection: Reflect on any traditions or behaviors you might have added to the gospel in your own life. How can you return to the simplicity and purity of the gospel message of Jesus plus nothing?

Day 5: Sharing Our Stories of Transformation

We are called to share our stories of how Jesus has transformed our lives. This is not about boasting in our achievements but in what Christ has done for us. Sharing our stories can be a powerful way to witness to others and demonstrate the love and grace of Jesus. Our testimonies are unique and can reach people in ways that sermons or teachings might not, as they provide a personal and relatable account of God's work in our lives. [01:12:53]

1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

Reflection: Think of a specific instance where Jesus has transformed your life. How can you share this story with someone this week to encourage them and point them to Christ?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today is a significant day at New Life Church as we celebrate Backpack Sunday, an event where we provide backpacks, supplies, haircuts, and clothing to hundreds of students in our community. This event is a testament to God's work through our generosity and faithfulness. As we transition into our sermon, we delve into Philippians 3, where the Apostle Paul addresses the church in Philippi, urging them to rejoice in the Lord and beware of those who distort the gospel by adding human requirements to salvation.

Paul emphasizes that our confidence should not be in our flesh or human credentials but in Christ alone. He recounts his own impressive Jewish credentials, which he now considers garbage compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This passage challenges us to maintain clarity in our faith, avoiding the drift from passion to apathy and from service to selfishness. Paul warns against adding human requirements to the gospel, which can lead to confusion and division within the church.

We are reminded that our relationship with Jesus is not about adhering to cultural markers or human traditions but about genuine faith and obedience. The gospel is Jesus plus nothing. We must resist the temptation to judge others based on external markers and instead focus on the transformative power of Christ in our lives. Our mission is to share the love of Jesus with others, not to impose additional burdens on them.

As we prepare to serve our community today, let's remember that our actions should reflect the love and grace of Jesus. We are called to be a light in the world, sharing our stories of transformation and the hope we have in Christ. Let's pray for the courage to use our stories for good and to reach out to those who need to know the love of Jesus.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Generosity and Faithfulness: Our Backpack Sunday event is a powerful example of how God works through our generosity. By providing for the needs of our community, we are not just giving material items but sharing the hope of Jesus. This event reminds us that our giving is an intentional act of trust in God, and it enables us to say yes to many opportunities to serve our community. [40:01]
2. Confidence in Christ, Not in the Flesh: Paul teaches us that our confidence should not be in our human credentials or achievements but in Christ alone. He considers his impressive Jewish credentials as garbage compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This challenges us to evaluate where we place our confidence and to ensure it is rooted in our relationship with Jesus. [45:14]
3. Avoiding the Drift from Clarity to Confusion: Life's demands can cause us to drift from our initial clarity and passion for following Jesus. Paul warns us to stay clear on our mission and avoid the slow drift from passion to apathy and from service to selfishness. This is crucial in maintaining a vibrant and effective faith. [47:56]
4. The Danger of Adding Human Requirements to the Gospel: Paul strongly opposes adding human requirements to the gospel, such as circumcision in his time. Today, this could be equivalent to imposing certain behaviors or traditions as necessary for salvation. The gospel is Jesus plus nothing, and any addition to it is a rejection of the true gospel. [53:56]
5. Sharing Our Stories of Transformation: We are called to share our stories of how Jesus has transformed our lives. This is not about boasting in our achievements but in what Christ has done for us. Sharing our stories can be a powerful way to witness to others and demonstrate the love and grace of Jesus. [01:12:53]
### [72:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:01] - Introduction to Backpack Sunday
[42:15] - The Importance of Generosity
[43:47] - Transition to Philippians 3
[45:14] - Confidence in Christ, Not in the Flesh
[46:32] - The Challenge of Maintaining Clarity
[47:56] - Avoiding the Drift from Clarity to Confusion
[49:32] - Paul's Warning Against Adding to the Gospel
[50:56] - The Background of Circumcision Debate
[52:27] - The Danger of Human Requirements
[53:56] - Modern Equivalents of Adding to the Gospel
[55:20] - Paul's Credentials and Their True Value
[56:19] - The Problem with Cultural Markers
[57:45] - The Importance of Expanding Our Circles
[58:52] - The Issue with Worship Preferences
[60:33] - Standing for Truth and Love
[61:04] - The True Value of Knowing Christ
[62:18] - The Profoundness of Paul's Message
[63:36] - Relationship Over Rituals
[64:18] - The Righteousness from God
[65:23] - Letting Go of Idols
[66:43] - The Temptation to Add to the Gospel
[67:20] - Different Journeys to Jesus
[68:37] - Bedrock Beliefs in Salvation
[69:15] - The Rejection of Additions to the Gospel
[70:11] - The Importance of Sharing Our Faith
[72:53] - Using Our Stories for Good
[75:12] - Closing Prayer and Response

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What event is being celebrated at New Life Church, and what does it signify about the church's values? [[40:01]]
According to Philippians 3:1-11, what does Paul consider as "garbage" compared to knowing Christ? [[45:14]]
What warning does Paul give to the church in Philippi regarding those who add human requirements to the gospel? [[49:32]]
How does Paul describe his own credentials and achievements before he knew Christ? [[55:20]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that our confidence should be in Christ alone and not in our human credentials or achievements? [[45:14]]
How can adding human requirements to the gospel lead to confusion and division within the church? [[49:32]]
What does Paul mean when he says that everything he once considered valuable is now "garbage" compared to knowing Christ? [[55:20]]
How does sharing our stories of transformation help in witnessing to others about the love and grace of Jesus? [[01:12:53]]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life: Are there any human credentials or achievements you have been placing your confidence in instead of Christ? How can you shift your focus to Christ alone? [[45:14]]
Have you ever experienced or witnessed the addition of human requirements to the gospel in your church or community? How did it affect your faith or the faith of others? [[49:32]]
Think about a time when you drifted from your initial passion for following Jesus. What caused this drift, and how can you regain clarity and passion in your faith? [[47:56]]
In what ways can you avoid judging others based on external markers and instead focus on the transformative power of Christ in their lives? [[57:05]]
Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about the love of Jesus. How can you share your story of transformation with them this week? [[01:12:53]]
How can you ensure that your actions reflect the love and grace of Jesus as you serve your community, especially during events like Backpack Sunday? [[40:01]]
What specific steps can you take to expand your circle of friends to include those who are not yet believers, and how can you be a light to them? [[57:45]]

Sermon Clips

1. "Giving is an intentional act of a believer. I don't believe tithing is giving. I believe it's returning. It's the biblical way that we tell God we trust you with our finances. What God is doing in new life just a little bit of what God has done in your new life when we first started doing this backpack sunday 12 or so years ago for the first five years we would have the students they would have to come to the service and we could fit all of them in here now God has brought so much increase that's not about the people it's about what God is doing in so many lives and thank you for your generosity." [42:15] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Most of us in this room that are followers of Jesus when you made this proclamation I'm going to live for him you were clear you were clear about your mission you knew what you believed you knew what God had laid on your heart but eventually life happens and what used to be clear is now no longer clear it's because we all face the pull from clarity really matters and what we really should be doing." [47:56] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Paul had the right upbringing, the right nationality, the right family background. He had the right inheritance. He had the right activity. He had the right morality. He had all the right credentials, but instead of bringing him closer to God, they got in the way. What had happened? The advantage became the disadvantage. What everyone looked at is this is a good thing. Paul realized this is not this advantage had become a disadvantage. His credentials and advantages led him to persecute the church and oppose what God was doing." [55:20] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we get so comfortable with the things of God that we aren't in awe of his glory, of his glory, what he's done in our lives. When we lose sight that the creator of everything chooses to have relationship with us, the advantage has become a disadvantage. And we take for granted the things that matter the most. I think about this. When we become Christians, he begins to change us. We understand that there's nothing more, right, that he can do, but then we begin to confuse change." [57:05] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you look at your circle of friends and every one of them are believers, you need to widen your circle. God did not call us to have clubs. He called us to make disciples. God did not call us to just insulate ourselves in the church and oh my goodness, the world, they're gonna get our kids. No, your kids were made for this. Hear me this today. Your kids, God had them on this earth to be a difference in this culture. We can't hide them from culture. We send them the culture so full of the Holy Spirit and full of the word of God that they are gonna help change culture." [57:45] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Our best human efforts, the markers we invent to define who's in and who's out. They're not important. It's not that there's something wrong with them, but compared to the gospel. They're worse than garbage. What's the alternative? Paul says it's his priceless gain of money. It's the priceless gain of knowing Jesus. In other words, it's about relationship. It's not only an intellectual thing. It's acknowledging him and obeying him. It's not just knowing it. It's living it. It's not just knowing about it. It's being about it." [01:03:36] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God and I are not partners in salvation. Jesus did it all. There's nothing I could add, even if I tried. Jesus did it all. The Bible says if we made it about us, but we boast in our own works. But what does Paul say? By no means. You were not essential in salvation. He was. Sorry. I know some of you. A lot of times I act like the world can't revolve. How would my family's life go on without me? I think they could figure it out. But we can't make it without Jesus. Come on. You can't make it. That's the first bedrock. You need to understand that without him, it's pointless." [01:09:15] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "How much do you have to hate someone if we believe in a literal hell that separates us from God for eternity? And we don't even tell the people around us how amazing Jesus is. You don't have to lead with the hell part, but you can lead. How do you lead with that? What has God done in your life? You have a story. You have a story to tell. You were dead to sin and Jesus made you new. You were destined for separation from God for eternity in hell. And Jesus died on a cross. He was your mediator." [01:11:43] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Let's begin to share with the world what we're about. We're not about telling gay people they're going to hell. We're not about screaming in everyone's face, you know, that this and that. Right. We are about sharing the love. And then we're going to let the Holy Spirit begin to work on people's hearts. It's like we did this thing and we gave away a thousand. You won't believe it is the most amazing. Oh, that's great. Right. They're not going to be. I don't even believe in Jesus. I didn't talk about Jesus. I talked to what it's like to serve like Jesus. And then conversations begin to happen. And then your story matters." [01:12:30] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You have a story to tell. Let's bow our head and close our eyes. And I want to pray over you. And then we're going to pray one for another. But God, we love you today. We are so thankful for you. What a day. And literally just less than two hours. Sitting up on this campus is going to be thousands of people that need to know the love of Jesus. But don't let us leave this service without that. So God, move on our hearts." [01:13:34] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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