Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 2:1-2

How core strength is built―God choreographs four ongoing experiences among His family members through which their character is built.

1. Encouragement―We inspire each other with reminders of Christís character, example and teachings.
2. Comfort―love moves us to ease each other’s pain.
3. Fellowship―His Spirit draws us into partnerships that stimulate mutual growth.
4. Empathy―We are re-enabled to be tender hearted and to extend compassion.

How core strength shows―Through likemindedness. It involves the following:

1. Consistent love―from everyone of us, to everyone of us, at all times.
2. Being “Same-souled”―Bottom line Christ followers and imitators.
3. “One thinking”―mental processing that is shaped by the Holy Spirit, passed through the grid of Scripture.

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Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 1:27-30

What direction are you leading yourself in? God choreographs into your life experiences designed to elevate you to a lifestyle that is “worthy of the gospel.” Here’s what that means.

1. The Gospel is good news about what God has freely done for us.
2. The Gospel claims to forgive, unite, and elevate those who believe it.

THEREFORE: People should find in you gratitude rather than entitlement, unity rather than rivalry, forgiveness rather than bitterness, faith rather than anxiety, self-sacrifice rather than self-obsession. If you’re not leading yourself that way you are fighting God.

What must I feed in me? With the Spirit’s help:

1. Unite with other Christians. Youíll meet the Church’s #1 need.
2. Stimulate stability/consistency in each other. Make on-again-off-again go away.
3. Together train and take the field. Don’t be spectators.
4. Together learn what matters, then obey, pray, work, converse, give to keep it going.
5. Together share/fight fear. Remind one another of the right perspective on opposition. It is normal from both without and within. It reminds us of:
• a. The immensity of the looming tragedy, and the urgency of the truth.
• b. Our unimaginable future blessing.
• c. Our incomparable privilege-to be involved in “hall of fame” stuff!

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Pastor Bob Fox
Philippians 1:12-18

Bad circumstances tend to make us give up on God. Bad Christians tend to make us give up on His Church. God allows these bad experiences to develop in us the character to weather both, because both will always be present in this fallen world.

1. A critical core strength―To be gripped by the cause that grips God―the reclamation of humanity. Like Paul, we must be convinced of:
• a. The extreme need of humanity.
• b. The extreme commitment of God with regard to humanity.
• c. The extreme power of the gospel to change people.
• d. The absolute uniqueness of the gospel.

THEREFORE, a critical core strength is that we become absolutely sold out to the urgency of spreading the good news. Am I?

2. This core strength gives me capacity to view bad circumstances opportunistically. I’ll notice that:
• a. Bad circumstances invariably place me around new people with new opportunities to share the good news.
• b. My bad circumstances have potential to inspire core strength in others.
3. This core strength gives me capacity to fight bitterness over mixed-bag-Christians. I’ll notice that:
• a. Their bad motives do not curtail the saving power of the truth.
• b. The presence of evil does not limit God’s power. It heightens it.
• c. God’s power over evil can give me joy if I let that be my focus. I must say, ’Look what God’s doing!’

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