Quick Overview of Philippians

Here’s a great, quick summary of Philippians.

Philippians is a letter in the New Testament in the Bible written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Philippi around AD 61.

The letter in a nutshell according to Willmington is this:

Paul presents Jesus Christ as:

1. The believer’s life-Purpose
2. The believer’s life-Pattern
3. The believer’s life-Prize
4. The believer’s life-Power

Outline Bible, Willmington Preview here

Link to the detailed outline from his book:

Outline of Philippians

Coaching Pastors (NEW)

I am starting something new.

I love starting things. :-)

I am starting coaching folks in the ministry. Pastors, associate pastors, etc.

For now, I'm open to 3. I can only do a few at a time.

I'll customize it for the individual but my thought is a monthly coaching phone (or Zoom) call (after 2 the first month) where we talk for an hour. My job isn't to tell you what should be doing either. My job is to listen to what is working (and what isn't) and ask questions so that you (the more informed person) can discover what it is God is saying to you and what you should do about it.

For that, I will charge $100/month. Pay as you go. No long-term commitments. Satisfaction guaranteed.

The first 3 are free for those in full-time or bi-vocational Christian ministry.

Darien.Gabriel@GraceToday.net

What do we call people who leave our church?

I don't like it when people leave our church. 

It grieves me. Even when they leave for legitimate reasons. Like when they move to Illinois. (Yes, that really happened. I know) I miss them. Admittedly, some more than others)

Then they officially become "former members." That means they used to be members of our church.

People I considered to one degree or another like family. More or less depending on how long they stayed, how connected they were, how much skin they had in the game, etc.

I don't like to call them former members. That feels like it minimizes what they contributed to our church family and the overall mission of the global Church of which they (in most cases) are still an active part of.

So I am trying on calling them "alumni" instead. 

I'm an alumn of Clemson University. I left after four glorious years. Ok, it was 4-1/2. But who's counting?

I like being part of the Clemson University alumni. I feel like I'm still a part of what's happening there. Because I am! (I go to football games, I read their emails, I send them money) Ok, I don't really send them money. Well, I do pay for our daughter's tuition. That counts, right?

Anyway, I want our former members, er, alumni to feel like they were and are a special part of what God is doing in and through Grace Christian Fellowship (our church). Because GCF is like it is (in part) because they invested finances, creativity, time and energy, and relational and spiritual energy in and through us. And that means a whole lot in my book.

And something tells me that matters a whole lot to God as well.

Here's something we've done to validate their time with us.

We've created a Facebook Group where our GCF Alumni can stay connected to members (past, present and future) here. They can join here.

xDM = ?

I use this abbreviation a lot. Here's what it means:

x = multiply
D = Disciple-
M = Makers

Multiply disciple-makers.

That's what we're called to do.

Let's get after it!

God sends us as we are

I read the Bible pretty much every day. I'm pretty good at it because I've been doing that for a long time. If I read a little every day, I can get through the Bible in a year. (about 15 minutes/day)

Today I was reading in Proverbs, John, and Judges. In Judges, I read the story of Gideon. It's inspiring. Here's my takeaway from today's reading drilling down on one verse:

God sends us as we are. Just ask Gideon. 

-Judges 6:14

#SOAP
#Go
#LiveWorkPlay

National Day of Prayer...so what.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. That basically means there's a nation-wide effort by people of faith (Mostly Judeo-Christian) to pray together for God's grace and mercy on our lead based on that year's theme.

This year's theme is "Pray God's Glory Across the Earth" based on the Bible verse Habakkuk 2:14 that says: 

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

This verse from the Old Testament (Jewish Scriptures) indicates what God will do (not just might do). It's significant. God will fill the earth with his knowledge and glory. That means he'll fill the earth with the glory of his kingdom. 

Truth.
Love.
Justice.
Adventure.
Beauty.
Healing.
Reconciliation.
Restoration.
Wholeness.
Peace.

It sounds like something I definitely want to be in on!

Let's pray for God to restore our world so that these characteristics describe where we live, work and play.

"4 Kids/ Home Birth" - Jim Gaffigan (Mr. Universe)

Ok, you need to laugh. I can tell. You're welcome.