This last Sunday Keath continue the Kingston AM preaching series looking at Philippians chapter 1.
He looked in particular at verse 21 & 22. Here is the verse, some comments from Keath’s preaching and some discussion/reflection questions for you.
“To me, living means having Christ. To die means that I would have more of Him. If I keep on living here in this body, it means that I can lead more people to Christ. I do not know which is better.”
Philippians 1:21-22
This is such a radical statement from the apostle Paul! He’s saying that to die and be with Christ in a fuller and more overwhelming way is a greater reality than anything he can experience now. It’s clear his whole life is orientated towards Jesus.
- What does it look like for our lives to be orientated towards Jesus?
Keath highlighted that following Jesus is tough, but that Paul’s letter shows us that it is always worth it. Jesus is worth it!
- Looking at the text pf Philippians chapter 1, how does this reshape how we consider the challenges, sufferings and inconveniences of following Jesus?
As we follow Jesus, we often want our ‘old’ lives, just improved. Jesus never offers this. Jesus offers a new life found on the other side of dying to our own lives and trusting Jesus enough to follow him completely.
- Do you see your life as a completely new Jesus life? Or is following Jesus more just a tweak or adjustment to how you would live anyway? What’s different about your life because of Jesus? How do you see your life, your job, your family, your home, your neighbourhood differently because of Jesus?
Keath showed us that living out this new life has both local and global out-workings, and he walked through KingsGate’s global Mission partners (here’s the slideshow).
- In what way do you want to participate in our global gospel story?
