The Youth Ministry model American churches have followed since World War II has not been a terribly effective one. It has not enhanced parent-teen relationships and has actually fostered a superficial, shallow Christianity among many young adults. Consciously or unconsciously, when children reach age 12 or so, parents ?hand them off? to the youth leader, in effect saying, ?I?m done; now you take over.? Often this model stresses fun, huge events (e.g., ski trips, retreats, wild antics, and occasional mission trips), but has little focus on the Bible, mentoring or a disciplined walk with God.

Paul makes an appeal for unity amongst the church at Philippi which applies to us today: because of our Christian characteristics, we should have unity of mind, love, spirit, and purpose. Unfortunately, man’s selfish ambitions get in the way, so we are encouraged to follow the example of the humble & selfless Jesus Christ.

The emergence of the Islamic State (aka ISIS or ISIL) is an important development within militant Islam. Since 9/11 America?s terrorist focus has been on al Qaeda, but no longer. We are learning more about ISIS and it is now possible to place this radical Islamic faction in context with a clear ideology and doctrine.

On Monday, 6 October 2014, the US Supreme Court let stand appeals court rulings permitting same-sex marriage in five states?Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Such decisions by the Court are done without explanation, as was this decision. But the silence of the Court here is deafening, for it sends a decisive signal that the accommodation to same-sex marriage is virtually complete within American culture and law. This action by the Court increased the number of states permitting same-sex marriage to 24. This will expand quickly to others.

In this study, we discuss this verse that characterizes the God’s values of love & compassion, and how we are to model this in our own lives.

In today’s study, we see how despite his imprisonment, Paul is determined & focused with an eternal view, and he encourages us to conduct ourselves in ways that are honorable to the Gospel.

Anyone who is involved in education or in pastoral ministry has observed that over the last several decades the family has been undergoing enormous stress and change. And the children who attend school or get involved in the church or Sunday school manifest the consequences of these changes. I recently came across a briefing paper for the Council on Contemporary Families written by Philip Cohen of the University of Maryland. It is a masterful summary of the new normal for families in the United States.

Paul tells the church at Philippi that his imprisonment is not hindering the gospel in any way. He also speaks of those who preach with impure intentions: God blesses the message, but not the motives.

When the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy of the early 20th century was brewing, one of Christianity?s greatest minds, J. Gresham Machen, wrote a book entitled Christianity and Liberalism which was published in 1921. In my judgment, it remains one of the most important books of the 20th century. It is relevant today for it reminds all of us who name the name of Christ, that the Christian faith is not only a faith commitment to Jesus Christ, but is also a set of doctrinal beliefs.

Discussion of Paul’s powerful prayer for the Philippians, and how it reflects God’s desire for each of us today: that as we love God, we gain knowledge & discernment, so that we may be pure & blameless, and righteous.