THE MEANING OF KINGDOM CITIZENSHIP (8 OF 10)
Scripture: Philippians 3:12, Philippians 4:1
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The Meaning of Kingdom Citizenship (8 of 10)
Series: Philippians
Patrick Edwards
Philippians 3:12-4:1
Introduction
I have a pretty ''normal'' testimony of faith, and by that, I mean I suspect that it's not very different from many in this room. My parents are both believers, thus, I've been attending church services since I was in the womb. I was an R.A., went to Sunday School, attended every church potluck. If the doors to the church building were open, I was there. ''Church'', ''Christianity'' was just normal part of life, like going to school. You just did it.
In many ways I can say I was blessed to have such an experience because I came to faith around age 7, of course not understanding everything about the faith, but knowing I needed Jesus. I've been blessed to not bear the scars of decades without Jesus; I'm blessed to not have hardship and loss in my testimony.
At the same time, though, I'd have to confess that I grew up with a very superficial sense of what Christianity is. I knew that my works didn't make me right with God, but I did think that to be a Christian simply meant to not go to Hell when you died and to be a generally good and moral person. Seriously, so long as you didn't go to parties and you didn't have premarital sex, well then you were a good Christian. The goal of the Christian life was to grow up, be faithful to your wife, have kids, make money, give some to the church, and always vote Republican. That was the meaning of Christianity.
And I'm guessing that that's the meaning many of you were given to.
I'm guessing that's the meaning some of you might still believe.
You see, despite the immense blessing God has shown upon this nation in its freedoms, in its exposure to the Word of God, in its material prosperity, the American church has by and large taken those blessing and just allowed them to make her fat. She has taken God's good favor and let it make her complacent. To cut more to the point, we have reduced ...
Series: Philippians
Patrick Edwards
Philippians 3:12-4:1
Introduction
I have a pretty ''normal'' testimony of faith, and by that, I mean I suspect that it's not very different from many in this room. My parents are both believers, thus, I've been attending church services since I was in the womb. I was an R.A., went to Sunday School, attended every church potluck. If the doors to the church building were open, I was there. ''Church'', ''Christianity'' was just normal part of life, like going to school. You just did it.
In many ways I can say I was blessed to have such an experience because I came to faith around age 7, of course not understanding everything about the faith, but knowing I needed Jesus. I've been blessed to not bear the scars of decades without Jesus; I'm blessed to not have hardship and loss in my testimony.
At the same time, though, I'd have to confess that I grew up with a very superficial sense of what Christianity is. I knew that my works didn't make me right with God, but I did think that to be a Christian simply meant to not go to Hell when you died and to be a generally good and moral person. Seriously, so long as you didn't go to parties and you didn't have premarital sex, well then you were a good Christian. The goal of the Christian life was to grow up, be faithful to your wife, have kids, make money, give some to the church, and always vote Republican. That was the meaning of Christianity.
And I'm guessing that that's the meaning many of you were given to.
I'm guessing that's the meaning some of you might still believe.
You see, despite the immense blessing God has shown upon this nation in its freedoms, in its exposure to the Word of God, in its material prosperity, the American church has by and large taken those blessing and just allowed them to make her fat. She has taken God's good favor and let it make her complacent. To cut more to the point, we have reduced ...
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