A different mindset

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. - Philippians 1:21 –22 (ESV)

Imprisoned. Silenced from preaching and planting churches. Restrained from traveling. The real possibility of execution looming. How would you respond? Hopelessness? Despair? This was the plight of the Apostle Paul. What would happen next was unknown.

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What word comes to mind when hearing the word evangelism?

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. - Philippians 1:12 –13 (ESV)

What feeling or emotion comes to mind when we start to talk about evangelism? I think for many people it's fear. We are afraid that we won't have the answer to a question. We are afraid of rejection. We are afraid of persecution. We are afraid our lives won't match what we say. There are a lot of fears, but what if one of the ways to discover joy was actually evangelism?

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Where did you find joy this week?

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. - Philippians 1:9 –11 (ESV)

Where did you find joy this week? Did you remember that God is not finished with you even when you feel like a failure? Did that bring you joy?

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