“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents:
1) Learning to Be Content (Bryan Gibson)
2) Praising Jesus — A First Century Hymn (Jon W. Quinn)
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Learning to Be Content
Bryan Gibson
This is Paul’s “thank you note” to the church at Philippi, written while imprisoned in Rome. Read it carefully, because what is taught here is what we all need to learn.
(10) “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. (11) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (14) Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. (15) Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. (16) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (17) Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. (18) Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (20) Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Philippians 4:10-20).
Zero in on verses 11-12 for just a minute, especially the latter part of v. 11: “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Let’s use this passage and a few others to discover his keys to contentment.
He was thankful—for their care (v. 10), for sharing in his distress (v. 14), for the aid they sent him on previous occasions (vv. 15-16), for doing something “well-pleasing to God” (vv. 17-18), for the fact that both his and his brethren’s needs were supplied by God (v. 19). This is a big key to contentment, because it’s hard to be thankful and discontented at the same time. “Count your many blessings, name them one by one”—it doesn’t make hardships disappear, but it does make them seem a lot less significant.
He did what he earlier admonished these brethren to do—he looked out “for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). He was too concerned about their welfare to spend much time thinking about his own (Philippians 1:27-28; 2:19-24; 2:25-28). Yes, he was thankful for the gift they sent him, but he was more thankful for the spirituality they demonstrated in sending the gift (vv. 17-18). We can learn to be content, too, but we’ll first have to learn to quit thinking about ourselves all the time. Get busy looking out for others, and we’ll soon forget (relatively speaking) our own woes.
Material things were not his top priority, so much so that he didn’t even like to “speak in regard to need” (v. 11). Look at v. 17 again: “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” It’s much easier to be content when the “one thing” that matters most is laying hold of eternal life (Philippians 3:12-14).
In regard to material things, he focused more on necessities than luxuries—“you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (v. 16); “God shall supply all your need” (v. 19). There’s nothing wrong with abounding, or being full (v. 18), but there is something wrong when this is expected, when having an abundance is taken for granted. Don’t forget what Jesus taught us to pray—“give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Do that and it will actually increase our gratitude—especially when God chooses to bless us beyond what He has promised.
He trusted in God’s provisions—both spiritual and material. After talking about how he had learned contentment, he quickly deflected the credit—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (v. 13). God provided for Paul’s needs, and will do the same for all His children. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (v. 19).
— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, January 30, 2025
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Praising Jesus – A First Century Hymn
Jon W. Quinn
In a letter written around 63 AD, Paul quotes what appears to be the words of a first century hymn. We do not know when the hymn itself was first written, but we can learn what early Christians were singing about from the lyrics Paul quotes. It was a song of praise unto Jesus, and went like this:
“He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated by the Spirit,
Beheld by angels,
Proclaimed among nations,
Believed upon in the world,
Taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).
“He who was revealed in the flesh” -– “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:1, 14). When God the Son became flesh, we beheld the heart, mind and actions of God in a form we could comprehend. We also understand that the Son did not begin His existence at His conception, but has existed from all eternity. Jesus became flesh for our sakes. He had to take upon Himself a fleshly body so that He might die for our sins. We are forever indebted unto Him for His kindness and mercy!
“Was vindicated by the Spirit” — “When the Helper comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, that is, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me” (John 15:26). To be vindicated means to be shown righteous or truthful. The Spirit bore witness of Christ in various ways during His personal ministry. He came upon Jesus in the form of a dove when Jesus was baptized and He empowered Jesus to do mighty works. Jesus’ claims concerning His identity were indeed vindicated by the Spirit.
“Beheld by angels” — “…these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12). The angels watched with great eagerness and wonder as our Lord became flesh and worked out for us redemption from sin. They were always ready to serve their Lord and ours.
“Proclaimed among nations” — “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus belongs to no particular race or nation. He did not come to exalt one nation over another but to save all men and women everywhere. Such had been prophesied (Isaiah 2:2-3). Sin knows no national boundaries so neither does Jesus.
“Believed upon in the world” — “When He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed – for our testimony to you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Thessalonica was a city far removed from Jerusalem where just three short decades before the above was written Jesus had been crucified as a common criminal. It is a wonder that they ever heard of Him let alone became convinced to entrust their very souls to Him!
“Taken up in glory” — “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Jesus’ death was not the end of Christianity, it was the beginning. The angels’ pronouncement at the empty tomb rang through the world, “He is not here, He is risen!” Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation is our hope and peace. Those who believe Him will not be put to shame. Most certainly these are things to sing about, in the first century as well as the twenty-first!
— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, January 2025
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…
6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)