In a Strait Betwixt Two

Mallory Mathias • June 1, 2022

Notes from Scott Sutton's message on Philippians 1:19-26.


Understanding Paul's joy can be found in the central statement of our text this week, "to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”


Paul's predicament is not that he is in prison for preaching the Gospel, it is that he has two possibilities in front of him: life or death. And “the straight betwixt two”, the reason that he is so hard pressed between those two options, is that both are incredibly good options to him!


One might think that the opposite of life is death, but this is wrong. In Paul’s mind, his deliverance from life is deliverance to Jesus. This is what he means when he says “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul is able to have this mindset because he has set his identity to be in Christ, and in Christ alone. Paul no longer sees life and death as opposites! Paul has placed his full satisfaction in Jesus Christ. 


SATISFACTION in Christ is better than anything that life can offer.


If this is true for us, then we should…


  • Always aim to honor, glorify, boast in, and magnify Christ.


  • Value the prayers of others. Satisfaction in Christ reveals our need for other people.


  • Fruitfully labor for others, for their progress and joy in the faith.

"The greatest need of all humanity is that God be acknowledged and worshiped as the Holy One of Israel. It takes the entire church to provide a vague imitation of the glory of God. that God be acknowledged and worshiped as the Holy One of Israel. It takes the entire church to provide a vague imitation of the glory of God. What do we really need? We need to be a corporate body smitten with the glory of God, committed to the unity of the church, deluged by His love, and faithful as we walk together in obedience to Him, even in our suffering. We need to need other people less and love other people more.”


- Edward T. Welch, "When People Are Big and God is Small"


“The world is too perilous, and the Gospel too glorious, for the church to be content with past achievements... [Helping other people in spiritual progress is done] through patient practice of familiar virtues of love and service to others." (ESV Commentary) and for Paul, the way of Jesus and the life of service were inseparable.


Christian Hedonism = God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.


SATISFACTION in Christ is better than anything that death can take away. 


If we truly believe this, it should change our view of death.


For Paul, the ultimate purpose of death was to usher him into the presence of Christ. Paul was not concerned about his current situation or status on this earth. He was concerned about spreading the good news of Christ and expanding the kingdom. 


This satisfaction in Christ helped to eliminate his fear of man and his need to control people and circumstances. We know there there are many of us who have been hurt in one way or another. It’s heartbreaking to hear the many stories of those that have been hurt within the church body. Some of these experiences can cause for us to be sad, and sorrowful. However this does not mean that there is no room for sorrow, but it does mean that you don't have to settle for sorrow without joy! Anyone who experiences any kind of  death or loss needs to see Jesus on display because Christ conquered death!


How can we be more like Paul? 


Paul took Jesus literally...


  • Jesus said in Luke 12:4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body..." So Paul said, "Ok, I won't fear those people who kill the body." And the result was boldness and joy as others found joy in Christ through the proclamation of the Gospel.


  • Jesus said, "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before man, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." (Luke 12:8) So Paul said, "Ok, I will acknowledge Jesus before all men."


  • Jesus said, "Guard against all covetousness, for life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions." (Luke 12:15). So Paul said, "Ok. I will not covet... I won't spend my life on the accumulation of more stuff."


  • Jesus said, "Do not be anxious about your life." (Phil. 4:6) So Paul said, "Ok, I won't be anxious about my life. I'll trust Jesus and choose joy."


  • Jesus said, "It is better to give than to receive." So Paul said, "Ok, I will give."


  • Jesus said, "The Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve." (Luke 22:27)  So Paul said, "Ok. I will serve."


None of us would even know Paul's name if he viewed Jesus' teachings as optional. 


Jesus changed Paul to be more like Jesus. (Sanctification)


So, when Paul was in jail, he looked at the guards and jailers and said, "Maybe Jesus died for them, I am going to share the Gospel." As he ministered to difficult and hard-hearted churches, Paul thought, "Maybe Jesus died for them, so I am going to serve them and share the Gospel... I am going to stay the course... finish the race... lay hold of the prize... fix my eyes on the upward call of Jesus Christ and lead others to do the same."


Let's be like Paul. Let's take Jesus at His Word. Let's share in the joy Paul has, knowing he can't lose —in life or in death—with the hope He has in Jesus.

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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