Philippians: Defiant Joy in Distressing Times
Nearly every day we turn on the news or check our social media feed, there is something to be anxious about. Upcoming election cycles, troubling ideologies, and global conflicts are set constantly before our eyes. On top of that, there are distressing things happening in our individual lives. Marriage, parenting, friendships, money and the lack thereof–those things threaten and hinder our peace of mind also.
Into all of this enters a tiny little piece of correspondence from a guy named Paul, to a church in the ancient city of Philippi. A letter written by a guy sitting in a jail cell facing his own mortality, to a group of followers of Jesus facing discrimination, persecution, and who knows what else.
What might this letter have to teach us about choosing joy, against all odds? About choosing to rejoice, even when the reasons to do so seem few and far between?
This series takes thirteen weeks to explore the theme of defiant joy in Paul’s letter to the Philppians.
Teachings
Below you’ll find each teaching from this series, beginning with the most recent.