Teacher: Pastor Chet Lowe

Main Scriptures: Philippians 3, 1 Peter 1

• Review
  • Paul wrote this letter to
    • Encourage, and he was encouraged in the process
    • Give them examples to follow
    • Address a problem in the church
    • Teach them how to rejoice despite discouragement (Philippians 1:18, 26, 2:16-18, 28)
• Philippians 3:1-3
  • Legalism always leads to discouragement
    • Legalism comes from upholding regulations unbiblically
      • We don’t need to “clean up our lives” before we come to Christ. He paid for our mess.
  • Rejoicing and relationship counters legalism
    • Rejoicing is different than happiness
      • Happiness is conditional and situational
      • Joy comes His presence and is unconditional
    • “Rejoice in the Lord” is a direction we should follow like a prescription; the outcome will be
      • Inexpressible, unconditional joy comes from our salvation (1 Peter 1:3-10, John 16:20-22, Luke 17:15-19)
      • A peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:4-7)
    • Rejoicing keeps us safe
      • Obeying this word is a part of building our house on the rock. When the wind and rain come, we will stand.
      • Praise reminds us that God is bigger than our problems
      • Prayer allows us to cast our problems on to God
    • Rejoicing requires us to be beware of legalism
      • Legalism is joyless and destroys relationships
      • Living by the Spirit, not a list of rules, requires knowing the Word and walking by faith