Feb. 1 Virtual Worship
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Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty
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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Scripture Lesson
Sunday, Feb 1, 2026
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:7-11
Sermon: Life in Christ: Losing to Gain
Philippians 3:7-11
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (NRSV) 7 But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. 8 Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. 10 All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, 11 in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life. (Good News Version)
Key Idea of the Sermon
The ancient wisdom of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is preparing us for whatever may come our way in 2026. The core of this wisdom is to open our hearts to the grace and peace of God made known in Christ Jesus, and then to share these life-renewing gifts with others. In today’s passage, Paul encourages his listeners to focus on following Jesus and receiving Jesus’ grace rather than finding their worth in their own achievements and credentials. Paul shares his desire to know Jesus and to experience the power of his resurrection even if it means sharing his suffering and death.
Questions for Reflection
• Are you open to finding your worth and true identity in being a beloved child of God? Do you find yourself becoming distracted by status or credentials rather than focusing on knowing Jesus and sharing his life-renewing gifts of grace and peace? What or who helps you stay focused on what really matters? Who or what helps you be prepared for whatever may come our way in 2026?
• What does the power of Jesus’ resurrection mean to you? How do you feel as you reflect upon what it means to share both in Jesus’ resurrection power and in his suffering and death?
• Where do you see, hear, or experience resurrection power? Why are we called to share the hope of God’s love and the good news of resurrection power with others?
A Spiritual Practice to Try Perhaps you’d like to meditate on one of these passages or stories of hope or resurrection this week. Perhaps you’d like to reach out to share the good news of God’s grace and peace with someone this week.
Ezekiel 37:1-14,
Isaiah 41:17-20,
The book of Ruth – a story of God working in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Obed
Psalm 85:8-11,
Jeremiah 33?,
Matthew 5:1-12,
John 14:1-3,
John 16,
John 17
And/or maybe you’d like to listen to or sing a song of hope that offers you encouragement. Here is one possibility:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxsVzGx6qhs
And/or maybe you’d like to pray for one of the community partners who has reminded us of the power of resurrection hope - Little Timmy – http://www.littletimmy.org
Love Lucas - http://www.lovelucas.org
If you need some guidance or support, you may reach me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com
