Seasons of Sorrow: Godly Grief (Job 1:21)
In 1969, researcher Elizabeth Kübler-Ross published a book entitled “Death and Dying” in which she outlined what is commonly called the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While her observations were likely very accurate, it is important to know that she was not a Biblical counselor. Secularists are often very good at describing the problems we face, but they are terrible at finding solutions because they do not seek them from God and His word.
The Bible is filled with instructions and examples about how we experience grief and both the right and wrong ways to respond to loss. When we compare what Kübler-Ross found in her research to the Bible, we see that her five stages of grief are descriptive of five common temptations we experience when grieving. Furthermore, we learn that there is a better way to respond than to give in to those temptations. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
It is possible to grieve in a godly way. (Job 1:21) For every temptation we face in grief, there is a Biblical response. Instead of denial, we must trust in the sovereignty of God. Rather than indulging fleshly anger, we can express godly sorrow. Instead of bargaining, we should live in true surrender. In the place of depression, God gives us hope in the Savior. And instead of hopeless acceptance, we can be fully satisfied because God is enough. We can and should grieve, but we must grieve in a godly way because it is best for us, and it honors the Lord.
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- Dec 8, 2024Seasons of Sorrow: Godly Grief (Job 1:21)
Seasons of Sorrow: Godly Grief (Job 1:21)In 1969, researcher Elizabeth Kübler-Ross published a book entitled “Death and Dying” in which she outlined what is commonly called the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While her observations were likely very accurate, it is important to know that she was not a Biblical counselor. Secularists are often very good at describing the problems we face, but they are terrible at finding solutions because they do not seek them from God and His word.The Bible is filled with instructions and examples about how we experience grief and both the right and wrong ways to respond to loss. When we compare what Kübler-Ross found in her research to the Bible, we see that her five stages of grief are descriptive of five common temptations we experience when grieving. Furthermore, we learn that there is a better way to respond than to give in to those temptations. (1 Corinthians 10:31)It is possible to grieve in a godly way. (Job 1:21) For every temptation we face in grief, there is a Biblical response. Instead of denial, we must trust in the sovereignty of God. Rather than indulging fleshly anger, we can express godly sorrow. Instead of bargaining, we should live in true surrender. In the place of depression, God gives us hope in the Savior. And instead of hopeless acceptance, we can be fully satisfied because God is enough. We can and should grieve, but we must grieve in a godly way because it is best for us, and it honors the Lord.
- Dec 1, 2024Seasons of Sorrow (Isaiah 53:3-4)
Seasons of Sorrow (Isaiah 53:3-4)Christmas time is generally associated with extra happiness, if the popular Christmas songs are any indication.“We wish you a merry Christ,” “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas,” and even “Jingle Bells” all tell us that the Christmas season is supposed to filled with joy.Thinking about and celebrating the birth of our Savior should cause us to rejoice. But all the emphasis put on the happiness of Christmas time can accentuate another reality. For many, the happiness of the season is mixed with intense grief. For those who have experienced significant losses, the sorrow they feel can overwhelm the feelings of merriment. Grief does not vanish when the Christmas décor comes out. For some, “’Tis the season to be jolly.” For many, many others, it is a season mixed with sorrow.This can lead a person to feel severe guilt since they aren’t in “the Christmas spirit.” But it is not a sin to be sad or to grieve. In fact, the first instance of grief mentioned in the Bible is the grief felt by God over the sin of the world. Jesus experienced grief when He walked this earth. The Holy Spirit, too, can be grieved by the actions of God’s children. It is obvious, then, that grief by itself is not wrong. In fact, the right kind of grief, is a good thing.God knows the grief that you feel in your seasons of sorrow and He invites you to come to Him with your grief. He does not promise you an anesthetic that will numb the pain, but something far better. He offers you the grace to walk with Him through the suffering and see that your sorrow, in the end, will turn to eternal joy.
- Nov 24, 2024The Necessity of Unity (Philippians 4:2)
The Necessity of Unity (Philippians 4:2)Any time two sinners interact with each other, there is the potential for conflict. Sometimes, that conflict can rise to such a level that it creates a rift. Whereas before, there was friendship and fellowship, there now are hurt feelings and avoidance. Their conflict can even spill over and involve others in the strife.Satan knows the power of strife and division to hinder the work of God both privately and publicly. That is why God warns us about the danger of division. “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)One place where unity is not just preferable but an absolute necessity is in the local church. In John 17, Jesus prayed four times that his followers would “be one.” Imagine how disturbed the Apostle Paul was when he heard that two women in the church at Philippi were at odds with each other. Imagine the church’s surprise when the letter Paul wrote to them was read aloud, and the reader came to Philippians 4:2: “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” Whatever the cause of the contention between these two, their rift has been recorded for eternity. Does that seem drastic to you and perhaps even unfair to those two? God the Holy Spirit did not think so. It was more important that they be reconciled and unified in the Lord.Since unity is that important to God, we need to go to extreme lengths to be reconciled with those who have wronged us and those that we have wronged. Whatever drastic steps it might take, it is worth it to be right with God and each other.
- Nov 10, 2024The Blessed Man (Psalm 1)
The Blessed Man (Psalm 1)Everyone likes the idea of living a life that is blessed, but how can one ensure that their life is a blessed life? The only way is to live your life as God instructs us to in the Bible. For instance, the first Psalm begins with these words, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…”To be blessed, you must choose the right influence. You have two basic options when it comes to the primary influencer in your life. Either you can be influenced by the world or be influenced by God’s word.If you choose to delight in God’s word and meditate in it, then your life will be blessed, flourishing and fruitful. The scripture is like a river that provides a constant source of spiritual nourishment so that, even in times of difficulty, you will continue to thrive.If you choose to follow the world’s influence, you will be what the Bible calls “ungodly.” You will be like chaff, which is the dried-up leftovers from wheat harvesting. It crumbles and gets blown away by the wind because it is dead and withered.The ungodly who follow the world perish, but the righteous who follow God’s word are blessed by Him. Which influence will you choose?
- Nov 3, 2024Habits of Joyfulness (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Habits of Joyfulness (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)Life is not always happy. There are times when sad things happen, and it is good for us to feel sad and grieve during those times. But it is not good for us to be unhappy all the time or to let the unhappy things take away the joy that God wants us to have in our hearts all the time. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 gives three commands that bring us joy when we consistently obey them.The first habit of joyfulness is to “rejoice evermore.” To rejoice means to express gladness. There is always something that we can be glad of, even in the worst circumstances, because our joy comes from God, Who never changes.The second habit of joyfulness is to “pray without ceasing.” We should constantly pray, talking to God and letting our requests be made known. When we pray, and God answers, that results in joy for us.The third habit of happiness we must practice is giving thanks. We must express our gratitude to God. Whining and complaining rob us of our joy and will lead to a loss of faith. It is the result of focusing on the problems instead of the promises of God. Giving thanks fixes our focus. It causes us to dwell on the things that are good more than the bad things.You can be a joyful Christian, even if your circumstances are sad. But for that to happen, you must follow God’s instructions. As you build the habits of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks, you will find that God will keep His promise and give you His joy, a joy that no one can take away from you.
- Oct 13, 2024A Healthy Church Part 1 (Acts 9:31)
A Healthy Church Part 1 (Acts 9:31)Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.When we are first introduced to Saul in the New Testament, he is the ringleader of the persecution of the church. But one day, he met Jesus, and that changed everything. He stopped persecuting Christians and started preaching the gospel.After Saul’s conversion, the believers enjoyed a season of less persecution. But while they were resting, they were still very active. Acts 9:31 says, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”This verse describes four characteristics of a spiritually healthy church: Edification, Sanctification, Consolation, and Multiplication. We can also say that these traits will be found in the life of a spiritually healthy Christian since the character of the church is a reflection of the character of its members. The church will only be as healthy as the members who make up the church. Therefore, we must each be growing spiritually and walking with God.
- Oct 6, 2024Jesus Our Sacrificial Lamb
Jesus Our Sacrificial LambMissions Conference 2024
- Sep 22, 2024Salt Living (Matthew 5)
Salt Living (Matthew 5)Matthew 5-7 records for us the greatest sermon ever preached, the sermon of our Savior. We call it the sermon on the mount and Jesus is speaking to his followers on the characteristics of the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. He starts by describing the character they ought to have in what we call the Beatitudes. When we have these attitudes, we become a living testimony of God’s work in our lives.Jesus illustrates this in his sermon by using two common objects: salt and light. These symbols of salt and light refer to the enriching and preserving influence that we as believers are to have on the world around us by showing and sharing Jesus Christ. Salt speaks of our character as believers, that inward work of God in us. Light speaks of our conduct, that outward work as God works through us, that others may see our good works and glorify our Father, Who is in heaven.Salt and light give us illumination and instruction in our daily lives as Kingdom citizens in a sinful world. God has left us here for a purpose. His desire for each of us as his children is for us to be a positive spiritual influence on the world around us for the glory of God.
- Sep 15, 2024A Tale of Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
A Tale of Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)It is incredible how people born to the same parents and raised in the same home can turn out completely opposite. Sometimes, they do not even resemble one another in appearance; other times, they look similar, but their personalities are polar opposites. The differences between even close relatives are often by God’s design to display His glory through the diversity of His creation.But not all differences are good. When one person makes right choices, and another does not, their lives will look very different. Even more importantly, our choices impact eternity. Sometimes, the difference between people is literally the difference between heaven and hell.In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus told a parable about two sons who were polar opposites. There were those among Jesus’ audience who thought they were better than others because they gave a good impression of being righteous, but their religion was lip service. They did not obey God from their hearts, and so they were still lost in their sins. They needed to understand that it makes little difference what you say, but it makes all the difference what you do. It is not enough to give the impression that you are right. You must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from your sin and death in hell.
- Sep 1, 2024Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)
Not Good Enough (Mark 10:17)Many people imagine that getting to heaven is simply a matter of ensuring your good works outweigh your bad. If you try to be kind and avoid any enormous sins like murder or robbing a bank, then you are good enough to go to heaven when you die. All false religions teach this concept in one form or another.According to this thinking, sin and good works are like plusses and minuses in your bank account. As long as you keep your balance in the positive and do not overdraft your good works account, you are fine. But the Bible teaches something entirely different. The Bible says that our good works cannot save us and our righteous deeds are worse than worthless. They are like filthy rags fit only for the garbage.One day, Jesus encountered a young man who wanted to know how to have eternal life. He was a rich, educated, religious man who thought he was pretty good, maybe even good enough to get to heaven. And if he wasn’t, he certainly wasn’t far from it. Jesus knew what was in the man’s heart, and, in a brief conversation, He revealed a truth that our eternity hinges on: we are not good enough. There is only One who is truly good, and that One is God. The only way that we can be saved from eternal death in hell and receive eternal life is to admit that we are not good enough and trust in Jesus for our salvation.
- Sep 1, 2024The God Of Peace (Special Music)
The God Of Peace (Special Music)"The God Of Peace" Philadelphia Baptist Church Choir
- Aug 25, 2024Why Church? For God’s Glory (Ephesians 3:21)
Why Church? For God’s Glory (Ephesians 3:21)1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” We exist to bring glory to God and have been commanded to glorify God intentionally. So, it only makes sense that a primary purpose of the church is to glorify God. The church belongs to God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He began the church and bought the church, and the church is His bride and body. He deserves to be glorified in and through the church, and we should be happy to take part in the glorification of God in the church.Sadly, churches have all too often mutated into institutions that glorify man. People remember “flagship” ministries for the men who lead them more than for the work of God done in them. The problem has been perpetuated by the Satanic philosophy that man must increase for God to increase. But John said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Many people despise the day of small things as inferior and undesirable. We must correct our thinking. We should belong to the church and be accountable to the church for the glory of God alone. We should encourage and edify each other for the glory of God. We should insist that the church preach and teach the truth and proclaim the gospel to the lost for the glory of God. God and God alone should get glory in the church. He is the One who has all power. He is the One who has saved us and works in us to change us to be more and more like Christ. He is the One who deserves glory in the church now and forever.
- Aug 11, 2024Why Church? For Growth (I Corinthians 13:11)
Why Church? For Growth (I Corinthians 13:11)Growing up is an odd thing. We spend much of our time as children trying to act like grown-ups, and then some grown-ups spend a lot of their time acting like kids. The difference between children and adults is maturity. However, we do not expect adults to act like kids; we expect them to act maturely. Paul summarized growing up this way, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11)In Ephesians 4, Paul wrote that God has gifted certain people to the church "for the perfecting of the saints." We are perfected as we grow and mature in our Christian life. The community in which that growth takes place is the local church. You and I need the church to help us "grow up into him." The Christian life is designed to be one where we work together, learn together, and grow together so that we all grow more and more like Jesus. When we are each in our place, lovingly doing our part for the body of Christ, the result is consistent growth, individually and collectively. We must be committed to God's plan for the local church to grow up into Christ because proper growth in the Christian life cannot happen apart from the church.
- Aug 4, 2024Homecoming
HomecomingGuest Speaker: Dr. Joel Spencer
Dr. Joel Spencer has served the Lord in full time ministry for many years. After receiving his graduate degree from Maranatha Graduate School of Theology, he pastored in Bethlehem, PA. Later, the Lord called him to graduate school where he received his Doctor of Religious Education degree. For nearly 25 years he has been a professor at Ambassador Baptist College in Lattimore, NC.
In addition to teaching, the Lord has allowed Dr. Spencer to serve as interim pastor in dozens of churches, including here at Philadelphia Baptist Church in 2016. Through this ministry he has assisted many churches through challenging transitions.
It is our privilege to welcome Dr. Spencer back today as we celebrate God’s blessings on our church! - Jul 14, 2024Why Serve God?
Why Serve God?“Growing up in a pastor’s home, I was saved at a relatively young age. I remember sitting with me dad while he went over the plan of salvation – how my sin separated me from God and destined me to an eternity in hell, but God’s Son Jesus died in my place on the cross and rose from the dead, taking my punishment to give me eternal life. After that, I prayed and a few years later, I was baptized on the same day as my sisters and younger brother. Despite a short period of doubting, I still believe I was saved that day when I was five.
As a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy, I wanted to study to become an ornithologist. I can remember wrestling in my heart whether I would give up that goal if it were not God’s will. Eventually I reached the point where I was willing to let any of my plans go for whatever the will of God for my life would be.
After I graduated high school I worked for a year at the local Chick-fil-A and at a friend’s lawn-care business. After that year, I had no definite direction for my life, but knew that a year of studying the Bible could help me find God’s direction and would not be wasted whatever the career or ministry to which God would devote my life, so I enrolled for one year at Ambassador Baptist College. Throughout that year, God confirmed in my heart and life His calling on me for full-time Christian ministry.”
