News, Sermon Audio

A Taste of Sabbath

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Christlike Attitudes — Help us Lord!

Sabbath was a beautiful day.
Can you guess what Bible Story from the gospels Susie told the kids? Hint… the first picture represents a man whose legs did not work, the second one tells how many friends helped…

Yes! Four friends brought a sick man to Jesus — by lowering him through a hole they made in the roof of the house where he was teaching. Thank you Susie for sharing the story!

Becky reminded us that we can all approach the throne of grace boldly with our causes and concerns.

She led us in prayer — for the unspoken requests we all carry, then in praise that Eric, a friend of Sharon’s, does not have cancer! We praised God that Richard’s surgery was completed, and we asked for God to bless Bob and Linda Harris as they face healthcare difficulties. Becky also prayed for the many people connected with the congregation who are writers — including Chuck, Jana and Cora — that God would direct them in their endeavors for His glory.

And thank you praise team Davis, Cora, Jess and Chuck for leading us in worship!

Four musicians performing together, with three singers, a guitarist, and a pianist in a room with grand pianos.

Pastor Chuck continued his study of Philippians and the attitude of Christ.
“In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5

“Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death
— even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every toungue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the gory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2: 6-11 (NIV)

At some point everyone will see Jesus for who he really is. Our job is to take that message out to the streets now and tell people about Jesus – that may be hard homework, but we need to do it anyway.

Paul expects obedience from all those who read his letter. Even if you are sent somewhere difficult—you are still expected to go and do hard things. He tells us to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling – v. 12

The Greek word: “work out” is katergazomai — kata – gives a word extra oomph, ergazomai – means something you continue to do every day until it is complete. We are to keep aiming for His glory — every day.

Man in glasses and a purple shirt speaking and gesturing behind a lectern with an open book.

Humility is the theme of the whole first section of Philippians. You know the song, “Put yourself last and spell JOY”  We still battle in churches across the world about who is to have authority.  If someone wants it—they’re probably not the right person to be in charge.

Paul charges the Philippians and us to put active work into our relationship with Jesus. Get up and get into the word of God. If the Spirit urges you to do something, you need to do it–even if it means dealing with someone who has made you angry in the past.

Submission: every day when you get up—there’s got to be “God I give you this: every breath, every beat of my heart, every word out of my mouth—show me the error of my ways. May I be more like you, may I glorify you in who I am every day.”

In church, we bring people to Christ, they come to the altar, and we say that’s good enough. But faith is not just “receiving Jesus.” Faith has to keep going and growing because the enemy prowls constantly, and pours lies into our hearts like, “You’re not good enough.”

We have to continue digging, pushing, growing, going forward.

“Fear and trembling” means righteous awe-filled reverence for God. We are sinners in the presence of a holy God. He is Creator of the universe. By His will the universe holds together. He knit you together. He descended from the throne to die on the cross for us. We are sinners.

Jump in and do the work.This is more important than everything.

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to His good purpose. v. 13

You may aim your life but God is the one who draws it to completion. God’s work in us increases our responsibility. If you have the gift to teach, teach. We submit our wills and desires to You, God.

The will of this church needs to bow and be broken before the will of God. We must lay any “we’ve never done it that way before attitudes…” on the altar.  Our tradition goes way back 350 years . But we can’t allow tradition to be the golden calf.  If it is not about the glory of God and the work of His kingdom – its not important. 

What if our plans are not in line with God’s will? We need to be willing to do His will.

We need to do whatever it is we do – to Him – v. 13 – to fulfill HIS good purpose. That’s what this is about. Worship and serve Him in line with what He wants for us.  We must continue to grow as individuals and a church. Growth only happens if God is in it. All that we do is for Him and to Him.

We give everything we are and have to you.

Man wearing glasses and a purple shirt reading from an open book at a lectern in a church.

Amen.


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