PHall | August 18, 2023
A Conversation about a Dream HIM: “I’m just waiting on my dream to be fulfilled.” ME: “What’s that?” HIM: “Where I don’t have to ask anyone for anything. I can just lay down the money and get what I need or what someone else needs. What is better than abundance?” ME: “Contentment.” HIM: “What’s that?” […]
Category: Philippians |
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PHall | November 30, 2022
We Don’t Sing Praises to Eve It is thought to be a first century hymn so beloved, challenging, and theologically expressive that Paul, via inspiration, included it in his epistle to the Philippians. It would be like us including the words of Amazing Grace in a letter or sermon today. But what I am writing […]
Category: Philippians, Genesis |
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PHall | November 16, 2022
Many people, including preachers, golf. What if the apostle Paul were alive today, watching YouTube videos that promised how a new technique, or training equipment, or new golf clubs would cure all his swing errors? Might he write something like this: “Not that I have already reached the perfect swing, but I make every effort […]
Category: Philippians |
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PHall | March 13, 2022
Evangelistic Hospitality The last thing inspiration teaches us is that, even in prison, Paul taught the gospel by practicing hospitality. “Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without […]
Category: John, Acts, Philippians |
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PHall | November 8, 2019
Jesus was what Eve desired; and did not hold on to what Eve took. What Jesus had a right to, Eve did not, and yet she grasped after what Jesus was willing to let go. So He became what she and Adam were, to show us what to be.If this is convoluted, let’s juxtapose these […]
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PHall | October 15, 2019
Jesus was what Eve desired; and did not hold on to what Eve took. What Jesus had a right to, Eve did not, and yet she grasped after what Jesus was willing to let go. So He became what she and Adam were, to show us what to be.If this is convoluted, let’s juxtapose these […]
Category: Philippians, Genesis |
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PHall | August 18, 2019
Ever notice how Genesis ends as a reversal for how it begins? Adam and Eve are “home” and then forced to leave when death starts to come. Jacob/Israel is away from “home” (in Egypt), death comes, and is carried away back to home in Canaan. This is more than just a cool literary bookend. Herein […]
Category: Philippians, Bible, Genesis |
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PHall | October 10, 2018
Philippians 4:2-3: “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.” (CSB’17) Ask and answer […]
Category: Philippians |
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PHall | January 26, 2016
Before Paul could do all things through Jesus (Phil.4:13), he had to “learn” to do all things through Jesus (Phil.4:12). Learning means failing and succeeding. We like to skip over the failing part. Learning also means difficulties. We like to skip over that part to. Being able to do all things through Jesus is not […]
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PHall | July 4, 2015
Politics and Religion – When I preached in a small town that had both a “Church of Christ” and a “Christian Church,” there was a strange phenomenon: If you belonged to the “Church of Christ,” you were Republican; if you belonged to the “Christian Church,” you were Democrat. I wonder how much our family history […]
Category: Philippians |
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