FBC Benbrook Sermons

Work Because God is At Work

The apostle Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi to work out their salvation, to put into practice who they were in Christ. But the reason they should and could work out their salvation is because God is at work in them, individually and corporately, to will and to work for His good pleasure. In this sermon, we explore what this promise does and does not mean.  (Philippians 2.12-13) January 19, 2025

Are You Cultivating or Killing Unity?

Blake Theiss, Minister to Students and Men at FBC Benbrook, preaches from Philippians 2:2-5 about God's desire for unity within His church.

Be of One Mind

The apostle Paul urged the church in Philippi to stand firm in one spirit, to be of one mind, and to strive side by side together for the gospel. He paints a great picture of the unity of the body of Christ, but this has always been a challenge for the church. Paul and Barnabas struggled to be of the same mind. Euodia and Syntychte struggled to agree in the Lord. Whitefield and Wesley were not able to strive together side by side for the gospel, at least for a season. If the two great missionaries of the early church and the two great leaders of the First Great Awakening couldn’t make this work, what hope do we have as ordinary believers today? The answer lies in our personal, saving experience with the triune God. Because we have such encouragement in Christ, and know the steadfast love of the Father, and have fellowship with the same Holy Spirit, this kind of unity can become a reality. (Philippians 2.1-2) January 6, 2025
 
Summary
In today's reflection, we delve into the profound call for unity within the body of Christ, as articulated by the Apostle Paul in his letters to the early churches. Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians and Corinthians emphasizes the necessity of being united in spirit and purpose, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. This unity is not merely a superficial agreement but a deep, spiritual oneness that reflects the unity of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Despite the challenges and historical examples of division within the church, such as the disagreements between Paul and Barnabas or the theological rift between George Whitefield and John Wesley, the call to unity remains paramount.The difficulty of achieving such unity is acknowledged, as even Spirit-filled believers have preferences and differing opinions on non-essential matters. The challenge lies in discerning what is essential to the gospel and what is not, and in choosing the means and methods to advance the gospel mission. Yet, the encouragement, comfort, and fellowship we receive from our relationship with Christ, the love of God, and the Holy Spirit should empower us to transcend these differences.Paul’s message is clear: the individual experience of salvation should flow into a corporate experience of unity within the church. This unity is not just a lofty ideal but a practical reality that can be achieved by focusing on our shared salvation experience and the essential doctrines of the faith. The life and ministry of figures like Whitefield and Wesley remind us that, despite disagreements, the common cause of the gospel and the love for one another should prevail.As we move forward, let us strive to embody this unity, allowing our shared experiences in Christ to bind us together in love and purpose. May our commitment to the gospel and to one another be so strong that it overcomes any divisions, enabling us to promote the common cause of the gospel effectively.

Bending the Knee to the Highly Exalted One

The Creator and Sustainer of All things, the One who was in the form of God and equal to God, the One who poured the form of God into the form of a human, the One who was and is fully God and fully human, the One who died on the cross to save us from our sins, is now the highly exalted one with a name above all names. In this sermon, we explore how these truths lead us to a deeper worship experience of the Lord's Supper. (Philippians 2.9) December 22, 2024

Why Death on a Cross?

In the incarnation, Jesus became fully human, made like us in in every way, which means that He would experience our full humanity, including death. But Jesus did not just humble Himself to the point of death. He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. His death had a purpose, but what was that purpose? (Philippians 2.8) December 15, 2024

Fully God and Fully Human

What does it mean to say that Jesus was (and is) fully God and fully human? Why has the church defended this orthodox understanding of the incarnation when it passes all reason? What practical difference does it make that Jesus was, and continues to be, fully God and fully human? (Philippians 2.7-8) December 8, 2024

Before the Manger

The story of Christmas begins long before the manger. In the beginning, Jesus was with God and Jesus was God, the Second Person of the eternal triune God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. The incredible mystery of this story begins with God, the only God who is at the Father’s side, becoming flesh and dwelling among us. (Philippians 2.6) December 1, 2024

Worthy Citizens

The apostle Paul challenges the saints in Philippi to live out their citizenship in heaven as citizens of Philippi in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ. He emphasizes standing firm in the one Holy Spirit and striving together for the gospel with the one mind of Christ. As Jesus prayed in John 17, the unity of the church proclaims to a lost world that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior. (Philippians 1.27-30) November 24, 2024.

A Martyr's Prayer for Non-Martyrs

For me, Christ is gain both in living and in death. Paul’s conviction that life for him was Christ and that eternal life was guaranteed for him through Christ, enabled him to desire for Christ to be honored in his body, whether that resulted in life or death. This martyr’s prayer challenges even those of us who may never be called to be martyred to live a life worthy of the gospel. (Philippians 1.19-26) November 17, 2024

Through Your Prayers

The apostle Paul was confident that he would be delivered not only through the work of the Holy Spirit but also through the prayers of the saints. The way in which God exercises His sovereign rule over creation through the prayers of His people is a manifold mystery, indeed. But given the way the apostle Paul speaks about prayer, our neglect of striving prayer not only limits God’s divine activity in this world but also silently participates with the rebellion against His sovereign rule over creation. (Philippians 1.19) November 10, 2024