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This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless and is part of season 24 of a project to complete an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the entire Bible.

Follow and support me on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources

Episode Notes;

Why does Paul interrupt this warm, encouraging letter with such a strong warning?

Those are exactly the questions we're going to answer today. So let's open our Bibles to Philippians chapter 3 and discover why some spiritual influences must be approached with caution, discernment, and, at times, outright avoidance.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless...

Follow and support me as an independent podcast creator on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon

To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at:

Jeremy McCandless | Substack

Check out my other Podcasts.

My History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment.

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit:

Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless and is part of season 24 of a project to complete an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the entire Bible.

Follow and support me on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources

Episode Notes:

Some years ago, on Christmas Day, my wife and I invited a single friend over for dinner. We knew she didn't have family nearby, and we wanted to make sure she wasn't spending the big day alone. It seemed like a small thing. Just dinner, just one afternoon.

But during that meal, the friend began to open up about some significant struggles in her life. What started as a dinner became the beginning of a long ministry journey.

Looking back, I would estimate that we spent hundreds of hours helping that woman. What we thought was going to cost us an afternoon and early evening ended up costing us a great deal of time, energy, prayer, and emotional investment.

But that's how caring for people often works. When you genuinely become concerned about someone, it usually costs more than you expect. It's one thing to say, "I care." But it's another thing to invest your time, your energy, your prayers, and sometimes your tears into someone else’s life.

What happens when we take seriously Paul's command to look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others? What does that kind of Christlike concern produce?

As we come to Philippians 2:17–30, Paul gives us some living examples. He talks about himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, and through their lives we can begin to see both the cost and the blessing of genuine concern for others….

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless...

Follow and support me as an independent podcast creator on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon

To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at:

Jeremy McCandless | Substack

Check out my other Podcasts.

My History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment.

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit:

Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail

This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless and is part of season 24 of a project to complete an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the entire Bible.

Follow and support me on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources

Episode Notes:

I remember a conversation years ago with a man who was genuinely puzzled by the Bible. He looked at me and said, "Jeremy, the Bible seems to contradict itself." I asked him what he meant. He said, "On the one hand, the Bible says we're saved by grace through faith and not by works. Ephesians 2 says that. Romans says that. The whole New Testament seems to say that salvation is a gift." Then he paused and added: "But then I read Philippians 2:12, and it says, 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.'" And then came the question:

So, which is it? Are we saved by grace or by works?

That's a fair question. In fact, it's a question that has puzzled many Christians over the years. Maybe you've wondered about it yourself. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is not earned by our works. It is the gift of God, received by faith in Jesus Christ. But then we come to a passage like Philippians 2, and Paul tells believers: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

What does that mean? Is Paul contradicting himself? Is he suddenly teaching something different? Or is there something deeper going on in this passage that we're in danger of missing?

As we'll discover today, Paul is not, in fact, talking about how to get saved. He's talking about what happens after you've been saved. In fact, these verses contain one of the clearest and most practical descriptions of living the Christian life found anywhere in the New Testament. It’s about living a life of spiritual growth and obedience. It’s about shining for Christ in a dark world, and it's about learning how to cooperate with what God is already doing in our lives.

So, if you've ever wondered what it means to "work out your own salvation," or how Christians are supposed to live in the real world, then Philippians 2:12-16 has some powerful answers.

Support the show

This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless...

Follow and support me as an independent podcast creator on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon

To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at:

Jeremy McCandless | Substack

Check out my other Podcasts.

My History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment.

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit:

Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update