The Epistle of Joy: Episode #6 (Video)

Today we read the final part of Chapter 1:

…as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear omen to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine. – Philippians 1:20

Here’s what I had to say:

For an audio-only version of this video, please click here.

I’m starting to get used to recording these videos, editing with iMovie and uploading them to Youtube. Now that you’ve seen a few of these videos, I’d like some feedback please! What aspects of these videos do you like and think that I should keep doing? What don’t you like and think I should change?

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The Epistle of Joy: Episode #5 (Video)

In today’s episode we look at the penultimate section of Chapter 1:

I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. – Philippians 1:12-18

Here’s what I had to say:

For an audio-only version of this video, please click here.

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The Epistle of Joy – Episode #4 (Video)

In our study of Philippians, we now move on to Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer:

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. – Philippians 1:3-11

Here’s today’s video:

For an audio-only version of this video, please click here.

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Epistle Of Joy – Episode #3 (Audio) Bonus

PodcastThis is a supplemental recording to Episode #3 where I go into further detail…

In today’s episode I look at the opening words of Paul’s letter. I discuss the somewhat odd letter-writing conventions of the First Century and spend a little bit of time digging into what Paul means when he talks about “the saints” before closing with a brief discussion of the ideas behind Paul’s greet of “grace and peace” to the Philippians.

Epistle of Joy – Episode #3 (Top-Up) (Download)

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