“A Life Worthy of the Gospel” 

Pastor David Moore

Old Testament reading: Psalm 63:1-8 (NRSV)  

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.  

Theme: Paul writes to the Philippians, he is aware that Christians are being scrutinized. They are newly converted into their new religion that stands against the Jewish religion in some ways, mainly in that the Messiah has come and got nailed to the Cross. Paul knows what it is like to live in public, and he exhorts his friends in Philippi to live like people who are worthy of the Messiah. ~D. Moore  

New Testament reading: Philippians 1:27-30 (NIV)  

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by  God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.  

Every person is an advertisement for the most important things of their lives; their reasons for being,  their purpose of life, what they have committed their life to.  ~D. Moore  

Jesus offers us a free gift. He overcame death on the Cross and cleanses us from our sins. Even though the gift is free, it is costly. We have to say goodbye to our bad habits, our grudges, the way we treat people we don’t like. The free gift involves commitment.  A commitment to a new king in our lives who will give us a different purpose in our life (we will live for Christ.) ~D. Moore  

A follower must be willing to give up earthly popularity, pleasures, and possessions. We must be willing to endure slander, shame, and suffering with Christ’s grace. The gospel is good news, the best news, but that does not mean it is easy to live out. The price of the gospel, that I am told, is never marked down.  ~D. Moore  

Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life. ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer  

2 Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  

We are to live in awe of God–His goodness, His power, His love. ~D. Moore

Romans 12: 1-3: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  

No matter who is watching, or even if no one is, we are to be consistent in our obedience, in our service of God, with who we are, to serve God where we are with what we have. ~D. Moore  

Every choice is a step in creating a habit which eventually becomes our identity. ~D. Moore  

The most important thing to remember is grace. We live in grace. The more mature followers of Christ are going to live their lives with more grace not less. Grace is not the reason to lower our standards.  God does not lower the standard, instead grace enables us to meet God’s standard. ~D. Moore  

This week: Pray and allow God’s grace into your life as you act on His whisperings into your heart.

God bless.