Preacher’s BTS: This is the 4th week in the series Joy Full. Writing this message was difficult for me because of the richness of the text. There was just so much that was worth camping on. I could easily imagine 6–8 different sermons just from Chapter 4 alone. I can’t shake the food preparation analogy in my head. I feel like so many of these verses should be a main course on their own.
I thought about just focusing on one verse and fleshing that out. But since this is a book study, it felt like a disservice to not even mention the rest of the verses. The outline and flow that I eventually ended up with were an effort to try to cover as much of the chapter as I could, while staying coherent and not preaching too many different sermons.
Here are some additional resources for meditating and reflecting on. This was such a rich topic!
Picture me with my ground teeth stalking joy—fully armed too as it’s a highly dangerous quest.
Flannery O’Connor
- Article mentioning Flannery O Connor’s quote about stalking joy
- He Giveth More Grace poem by Annie Johnson Flint
When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father’s full giving has only begun,
Annie Johnson Flint, He Giveth More Grace
- Another great poem by Annie Johnson Flint, What God Hath Promised
- Article about Annie Johnson Flint’s life
- Book about Christian Contentment, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
- Review and Summary of The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
- Quotes:
I see that it is not necessary for me to be rich, but it is necessary for me to make my peace with God. It is not necessary that I should live a pleasurable life in this world, but it is absolutely necessary that I should have pardon of my sin. It is not necessary that I should have honor and preferment, but it is necessary that I should have God as my portion and have my part in Jesus Christ. It is necessary that my soul should be saved in the Day of Jesus Christ!
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
After Preaching Update:
Here’s the link to the sermon for any who want to catch it. This was a very moving message to preach. I’m coming away with a huge appreciation for the book of Philippians and for the incredible richness of provision from Christ.
