Philip Dampier's Blog

Chapter 4, Verse 5 “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;” It seems natural that a joyful life would lead to gentle spirit toward others. Not only should the world see Christians as joyful people but as people who are fair minded, just, and gentle towards…

One: Don’t grieve the Spirit. Eph. 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” This admonition of Paul’s comes in the middle of a list of things that Christians shouldn’t do. It would not be a far reach…

Chapter4, Verse 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” This is a central theme of Paul’s that we recognize. In spite of his circumstances, he has joy and he encourages the church to find the same. Did he and they have reasons to be sad or dismayed?…

Chapter 4, Verses 2  and 3 “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose…

The great English poet, William Wordsworth, wrote a sonnet arguing that it is. That we are so absorbed with things that we miss the beauty of the world around us. I will offer a couple of stanzas to help us get the feel of his dismay. The world is too…

Chapter 4  Chapter 4, Verse 1 “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” Paul is ready to close the letter. He has covered things that were important to him as a minister of the gospel and…

Chapter 3, Verses 20 and 21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. The false…