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Jesus himself commanded us to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God’s. We’re to be good citizens in the country we dwell in. This means respecting the laws in so far as they don't contradict scripture. As Pastor Ricky continues to explore the first chapter of Philippians in today's message, we are reminded of our greater citizenship. As believers, we’re members of God's kingdom. His kingdom is one of grace, love, and justice and those values should govern every aspect of our lives.

Giving up everything probably sounds horrible to most of us. If we're honest with ourselves, we love our stuff and because we love stuff, we live lives that are preoccupied with getting more of it. Yet, even when we get that new car, or TV, or whatever that thing may be, we find ourselves longing for more. As Pastor Ricky examines the example of Paul, we’re reminded that there is only one way to find true and lasting joy and contentment. That is when we let go of everything until the only thing left is Christ.

Wow, those are some powerful words. Something deep down resonates when we hear that Christ is worth more than all of those things that are so valuable to us in this life. At the same time, our desire to serve self makes us question that statement. As Pastor Ricky challenges us in today’s message, when we start living in a way that acknowledges the insignificance of our most prized possessions, relationships, or goals, it will result in a radical change of focus from serving self to all-out service to our Savior.

Because of sin, mankind has inherited death and as a by-product, the fear of death. Entire industries have sprouted out from this common anxiety. We try so hard to find ways to prevent or at least delay this inevitable part of life but as Pastor Ricky reminds us in today's message, for believers death does not represent the end but the beginning of a glorious eternity with our Savior Jesus Christ. We may not look forward to the process and pain of dying but just as Paul explains in today's message, it's all worth it for the sake of Christ.

Some issues don't have a simple answer. We may respond by rebuking those who have a different opinion, throwing scripture at them, and expecting them to simply comply. Or, we may err on the side of what we think is love, extending grace and beyond that, affirmation for someone's actions or lifestyle choices. As Pastor Ricky explains in today's message, there may be a need for a mix of both but the only way we can discern the best response is through prayer and diligently seeking God's wisdom.

Prayer may be one of the most neglected or misused gifts that God has given to the church. We frequently tell others that we’ll pray for them, and we intend to, but then we completely forget, and then it becomes simply a way of expressing sympathy. We also misuse it by praying in a way that fails to acknowledge God's will and only request that He conforms to ours. Today’s message with Pastor Ricky will lay out a beautiful model for how we can successfully and effectively be people of prayer in the church.

It's easy to rush to judgment and even allow resentment to build up as we witness the choices and lifestyles of our fellow believers. It may be the smallest of offenses, or it may be something more severe, but we struggle to let go of those conflicts and love those people. As Pastor Ricky remind us in today's message, we're called to live above that. Grudges don't belong in the heart of a believer. We have been given such great grace and we need to let it overflow into our relationships.

Even the most affectionate relationships have moments where the love just doesn't come naturally. Whether it's a romantic connection, a family bond, or a friendship, disagreements arise and the relationship is strained. As Pastor Ricky reminds us in today's message, our relationships in the church experience the same issues but in Christ, we are to be different. Instead of shutting down or closing ourselves off, we choose to love each other in the grace that Christ has extended to us.

For many, the church may have become just another part of the routine or a means of maintaining a social life. It can become very casual and we lose sight of what our real focus should be. As Pastor Ricky reminds us in today's message, the church is a beautiful result of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. We may feel isolated in our culture where so many people spend more time looking at social media than in talking face-to-face, but in the church, we're never alone. We’re united in the amazing love of Christ. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

The church means many different things to different people. If we're honest, many of us go primarily for what it does for us. The feeling we get, or the connections that it facilitates. Others go out of obligation, attempting to live a righteous life that will make them feel accomplished and maybe help them gain entrance into heaven. As Pastor Ricky explains in today's message, these motivations are flawed, if not entirely wrong. As we examine Paul's life and his approach to church, we’ll learn what it means to partner in the gospel. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

What an amazing and life-changing declaration, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost”. This concept is at the very core of what we believe as Christians. We have to acknowledge our inherent sinfulness in order to realize our need for Christ. As Pastor Ricky leads us through today's message, we can take great encouragement and knowing that despite the great debt of sin, in an overwhelming act of grace, Jesus Christ died for us. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

There are many in our world that have been deceived into thinking that they are inherently good. As we start to dig into the book of Philippians with Pastor Ricky, our eyes will be open to our true state of sinfulness. When we take an honest look at our lives, the outward actions, as well as the inward thoughts and feelings, we’ll start to realize that we're desperately in need of grace. We deserve death but the good news is that grace and redemption are available because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Pastor Ricky will be giving a warning today that it's not enough to just understand the power of Jesus but that you need to be committed to Jesus. You can't rely on the faith of others. You need to be born again yourself. When your motive for coming to church or saying prayers is just for the benefits of God's power and blessings instead of just wanting to intimately know the Lord, you're in danger. The Lord knows when you're being sincere in your worship to Him or if you just want His blessings. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

In order to know the person of Jesus, you must truly be committed to Him and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. In order to have the power of Jesus, you need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit so you can be equipped for ministry. Not all believers are called to the full-time ministry in a church building but all believers have a ministry that the Lord has given them to carry out. The only way you can be effective for the kingdom of God is to abide in Christ and be baptized by the Holy Spirit.  "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.

Pastor Ricky will be continuing his teaching on the sovereignty of God and man’s free will. Some Christians believe that because God is the one who controls those who get saved, then there is no reason to evangelize. The Bible is clear that even though God sovereignly opens the eyes of those He chooses to save, believers are still to preach the gospel. You can't completely understand all of God's mysteries but God's command to preach the gospel is very straightforward. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.