Seek joy and you won't find it. Seek Jesus and you'll be delighted to find that joy comes along for the ride. Paul's letter to the Philippian church is one of the most extraordinary documents in the history of literature. This ancient epistle is filled with breath-taking treasures and gems that are just waiting to be revealed to those hungry enough to search for them. Allow me to serve as your trail guide, and together we will dig deeply into every nook and cranny of this phenomenal book. Th ...
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Episode #55: Building Boasters (Phil 1:25-26)
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(Phil 1:25-26) Every Sunday when you set foot inside a church building, what is your goal? What's your purpose for being there? Are you there just to sit and soak? Are you there for the teaching? for the worship? for a weekly dose of encouragement or catching up with old friends? What if I told you that's NOT what church is for? Paul had something …
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Episode #54: Will Work for Fruit (Phil 1:22-24)
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You probably think of the Garden of Eden as a place of paradise, and it was. But have you ever thought of it as a place of WORK? As it turns out, that's exactly what it was. When God created the perfect world and put people in it, He created them to work, and He said, "Don't worry; this is gonna be GOOD!" In today's podcast I want to unpack that id…
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Episode 53: Inner Struggles (Phil 1:22-24)
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(Phil 1:22-24) This may be one of the most important podcasts I've ever recorded. It certainly is the most transparent. Today, it is my goal to take you on a candid and revealing tour inside the vacillating heart of the Apostle Paul, and of my own. But though this may be a tour into a dark valley, I trust that you find that we will not get stuck in…
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(Phil 1:21b) As I write this, 2024 is half over. And do you know what the unrivaled highlight of this year has been for me? The answer might surprise you: it was the memorial service for my dear and precious mom. No, I was not happy to see her go. Far from it! It was a day of deep sadness and the most blubbery weeping that I have ever done in publi…
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Episode #51: To Live is Christ (Phil. 1:21a)
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(Philippians 1:21a) “But fairest of all was the great white gem, which the dwarves had found beneath the roots of the Mountain: the Heart of the Mountain, the Arkenstone of Thrain.... 'For the Arkenstone of my father,' said Thorin, 'is worth more than a river of gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price.'” (The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien) Some gems …
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Episode #50 - The Theme of Life (Phil 1:20b)
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(Philippians 1:20b) The theme of today's podcast is “themes”. A theme is like the common thread that ties something together. It is the unifying idea. Themes elevate a simple sequence of events into a true work of literature or art. You might say that themes are the beating heart of all meaningful narrative. They give stories depth and resonance. T…
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Episode #49 - Hoping for Grace (Phil 1:20a)
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(Phil 1:20a) If I asked you to name your most embarrassing memory, I'll bet you wouldn't have much difficulty remembering it (although you might not be too keen on telling me about it!) As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that all of us have a whole string of deeply buried (maybe even long repressed) memories that are shrouded in embarrassment, hu…
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Episode #48: Provision and Prayer (Phil 1:19b)
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(Phil 1:19b) Have you ever watched a movie and just wished you could be there? Perhaps it was some inspiring adventure story about a courageous warrior or hero who surmounted the obstacles and hung in till the end. After you watch a film like that -- when the final music surges and the credits roll -- isn't there something inside your soul that jus…
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Episode #47: Joy & Deliverance (Phil. 1:18b-19a)
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(Phil. 1:18b-19a) Are you a "high beams" Christian or a "rear view mirror" Christian? When you are coursing down this journey of life, are you the type of person that strains to look down the road as far as you can -- to see what's on the distant horizon? Or are you instead always glancing in the rear view mirror -- looking back to see what's gone …
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(Phil 1:18) Have you ever had a flat tire on the freeway? I certainly hope that you never do, but for those of you have had an experience of this sort, you know the distinct sensation of having to "drive against the pull". You see, when one of your tires is flat, it knocks the alignment of your steering way out of whack. And as a result, when you t…
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Episode #45 Right Life, Wrong Reasons (Phil 1:15-17)
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(Phil 1:15-17) I remember the first time I drove home from college. Near the middle of the long, multi-state road trip, I stopped at a rest stop, and when I was done, I got back on the freeway ... going the wrong direction! It was at least half an hour before I realized my mistake! What a blunder! But, oh, my friends, a much worse tragedy than driv…
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(Phil. 1:14) I dare you to listen to the words that Paul wrote in this verse and really let them sink in. I dare you! ~~~~ I'd love to hear from you! Reach me at KevinMote@live.com. Music: "Most Holy Place," by Doug Beiden. https://www.beidenmusic.com/music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
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Episode #43: A Life Redefined (Phil. 1:13)
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(Phil. 1:13) Do you remember stereographs -- those crazy looking posters that used to be popular in the malls? You would walk past one and it would look like a jumble of random nonsense. But if you looked at it long enough and hard enough, and stared at it in just the right way, you would suddenly see an entirely new picture pop out at you in 3-D! …
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(Phil 1:13) One of my favorite things to do as a child was to go on "Scavenger Hunts". Have you ever been on one? Some thoughtful friend of yours would have to set it up: they would plant clues -- hide them all over the house or neigborhood -- and your job was to search for them, each clue leading to the next one, until finally, if you were persist…
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Episode #41: Reformation of Your Mind (Phil 1:12)
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(Phil 1:12) We're finally back in the book of Philippians after a long detour studying the biography of Paul. But that gigantic rabbit trail through Acts has led us back to the path, now, and has set the stage to help us understand this verse in a way you probably never have before. Today we're going to listen as Paul bears witness to how he has to…
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Episode #40: The End of the Beginning (Acts 28: 11-31)
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(Acts 28: 11-31) Winston Churchill is famously remembered to have said on one occassion, "This is not the end. This is not even the beginning of the end. But it is the end of the beginning." In today's episode we come to an end of sorts. We have finally reached the end of the book of Acts and our little mini-tour with the Apostle Paul from Asia to …
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Episode #39: Miracles on Malta (Acts 28:1-10)
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(Acts 28:1-10) Have you ever read a biography before -- a story about someone's life? I love to read them because they are rarely ever boring. Imagine reading a biography about someone who literally never had any problems. What a dull book that would be! No, all the good stories (just like all the good lives) are filled with unexpected twists and p…
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Today's episode is an intermission from our regular routine. I hope you don't mind, but I chose to take a short break from our normal cadence of podcast recordings to reminisce about a dear saint who gave me life and taught me the way that I should go. I was on a road trip to my hometown of SLO, quietly remembering my mother's passing, earlier this…
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Episode #38: Spokesman in the Storm (Acts 27:27-44)
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(Acts 27:27-44) In our last episode, we heard the first of Paul's "speechlets" to the crew of this ill-fated ship beset by the Mediterranean "Nor' easter". Today we will hear two more of Paul's little speeches, and we will be reminded once again of Paul's commanding and resonant voice. But more than that, we will learn from his example that when so…
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Episode #37: The Voice in the Storm (Acts 27:1-26)
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(Acts 27:1-26) I'll never forget the time I went on a white-water rafting trip... and fell off the boat into the rapids! I was sucked under the boat into those turbulent waters, and I wasn't sure how I would get back out. Or even if I would. It was a terrifying moment, I'll be honest. But I look back on it now as a moment where I saw the hand of Go…
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Episode 36: Willing to be Weird (Acts 26)
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(Acts 26) I have two children that are passing through the Middle School/early High School years, and one thing I can tell you about most kids that age: they are keenly aware of what other people think about them. And, you know what? I think it's pretty normal for adolescent children to be hyper-sensitive to the judgement of their peers. But here's…
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Episode 35: Once More From the Top (Acts 25-26)
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(Acts 25-26) Today we're going to hear Paul's testimony one more time. This is the third time in Luke's historic text that this story is recounted, so it is clearly an important theme to him. As we read it, I think you'll see why: it represents, in compact form, the story of the dawn of all Christianity: a light from heaven that shines down and tra…
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(Acts 25) Have you ever gone to an art museum and stood in front of an awe-inspiring work of art -- a beautiful portrait, perhaps? If so, has it ever occurred to you that artwork like that doesn't just give you a view of the subject? If you look closely enough, you can see through the painting to the artist on the other side. In fact, if the artist…
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Episode #33: Accusations and Apologia - (Acts 24)
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(Acts 24) Sticks and Stones can break your bones, but words ... can rip you to shreds! That's not exactly how the nursery rhyme goes, but it's more accurate, don't you think? Nothing hurts worse than bearing the brunt of ridicule and false accusations. It has been the weapon of bullies throughout the ages. And, as a matter of fact, it is the single…
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Episode #32: Rollercoaster to Rome (Acts 23)
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(Acts 23) Are you still young enough to enjoy roller coasters? I'll have to admit, the older I get, the less my rattley ol' brain can endure those metal mountains. But once in awhile I decide to "man up" and accompany my children on one of the wild rides. And I have to say: whether or not you consider them "fun", you can definitely admit that they …
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Episode #31: The Jersualem Journey (Acts 22-23)
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(Acts 22-23) ~~~~ I'd love to hear from you! KevinMote@live.com. Music: "Most Holy Place," by Doug Beiden. https://www.beidenmusic.com/music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode #30: The Jerusalem Story (Acts 21-22)
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(Acts 21-22) Imagine working on a grand ambition for years, painstakingly pressing on towards a goal despite repeated warnings and setbacks. And then imagine finally attaining to your ultimate objective, only to watch it collapse and crumble before your very eyes. That was the experience of the Apostle Paul when he finally set foot in Jerusalem. Hi…
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Episode #29: "What Has Happened to Me" (Part 1; Acts 18-20)
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(Phil 1:12; Acts 18-20) Have you ever had a teacher that you got to know as a friend outside of class? If you did, I'll bet it transformed the way you listened during the classroom lessons. There's something about knowing your teacher personally that really makes you appreciate their teaching all the more. In the same way, to really understand Phil…
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Episode 28: Pausing to Appreciate Paul (Phil 1:1-11)
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(Philippians 1:1-11) If you've ever gone hiking in steep hills or mountains you know that it's often easy to be so focused on the trail right in front of your boots that you forget to pause occasionally, look up, and survey the beautiful vista of the terrain you've already covered. So today I want to do just that: In this episode we're going to tak…
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(Phil 1:11) Years ago I lived near a fruit orchard. It was one of my favorite places to visit on my daily runs. I still remember the joyful pleasure of jogging up and down the rows of those gorgeous trees, especially near harvest season. The splendid beauty and aroma of those fully-laden fruit trees always had a way of bringing peace to my soul and…
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Episode #26: The Day of the Lord ... Jesus (Phil 1:10b)
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(Phil 1:10b) The end of the race. The end of the road. The end of life as we know it. There is a moment of time on the edge of the horizon -- but approaching closer with each passing breath -- that will be the final curtain call for this groaning universe. It will be a day of finality: the day when cement will finally be poured into the forms that …
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Episode #25: Living in the Light (Phil 1:10a)
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(Phil 1:10a) Strap on your archaeologist hat and grab your pick ax, because we are going to be digging for treasures today! We are going to pull out every excavation tool in our treasure hunter's toolbox, and we'll be digging deep. But, trust me, I'm confident you will find that this dig is worth the effort and sweat. I believe today's episode cont…
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Episode #24: The Nutrients of Love (Phil 1:9b)
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(Phil 1:9b) What if Jesus invited you on a backpacking trip, would you want to go? I know I sure would! But what if he said that this was going to be a 10-week excursion up the most challenging mountain range in the world? What if He told you it was going to be the hardest thing you've ever done, but then he assured you that the view from the top w…
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(Phil 1:9a) Today I just want to take a seat on the bench next to Paul and listen in as he demonstrates that activity that I believe was the beating heart of his ministry and the real power behind his explosive apostolic influence: PRAYER.I believe it is critical for me to pay close attention to his prayers because, whatever was on Paul's heart and…
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In honor of the Christmas holiday, I'm taking a break from our normal trek through Philippians to bring you something entirely different... I'd like to share with you a play I wrote years ago, inspired by the extraordinary events in the hills outside Bethlehem on the original Christmas night. Although fictionalized, this account is drawn from my re…
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Episode #22: Front-lines Fellowship (Phil 1:7b)
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I am convinced that one of the main differences between a thriving, flourishing, life-filled Christian, and one who is just barely surviving, comes down to the presence or absence of spiritual soul-mates. But where do friendships like that come from? They are forged in the fox-holes and battlefields of life. Today we will discover that one of the s…
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Episode #21: Gut-Wrenching Love (Phil 1:7-8)
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(Phil 1:7-8) Today I want to point out for you an element of Paul's character that you may never have seen in him before. And, my friend, it is critical that we get a very clear picture of it because it just may be the single-most important missing ingredient from the lives of Christians (and especially Christian men) in out country today. It is a …
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Episode #20: The Beginner and the Finisher (Phil 1:6)
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(Phil 1:6) Who are you, really? When most of us tend to think of ourselves and our "identity" -- who we truly are -- as the person that we are right now. "I just am who I am," we assume, "nothing more, nothing less." The problem with that mentality is that it is all too short-sighted. If you want to think of yourself from a biblical standpoint (i.e…
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Episode #19: A Mountain of Confidence (Phil 1:6a)
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(Phil 1:6) Quiverring knees or quiet confidence -- which best describes your heart when the storms of life overtake you? One of the many things I admire about Paul is the way he had learned to exude quiescent trust in the middle of circumstances that would have me quaking in my boots. I'll be honest: I'm a long way off from attaining apostolic leve…
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Episode #18: Splendid Announcement (Phil 1:5)
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(Phil 1:5) The greatest news ever reported is wrapped up in one of the greatest words ever spoken: "Euanggelion". This ancient greek word may not sound familiar to you, but I'm sure you know the English translation. It is a word that has a history that reaches back thousands of years and stretches all the way to the end of time. It's a word that br…
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An old man sits shackled, imprisoned in a Roman dungeon, with the very real possibility of execution in his near future. But what is bursting out of this man's heart is not grief and anxiety. Instead, he is filled with genuine, grateful Joy. What could he possibly be so thankful about? In today's episode, we will get a glimpse into one of the most …
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Episode # 16: All-Encompassing Intercession (Phil 1:4)
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"If God decided to grant a giant miraculous YES to all the prayers you've prayed for the last 6 months, how different would the world be?" This question challenges me to really take stock of how BIG my prayers are. Paul's example challenges me in the same way. Listen in today as we remind ourselves just how big and "ALL"-encompassing the prayer lif…
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Episode #15: The Two Great Pillars of Love (Phil 1:3)
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(Phil 1:3) I firmly believe that one of the main reasons the Apostle Paul had such a profound and lasting impact on this world was because of his extraordinary capacity to love. If you have any desire to follow in his great example, I encourage you to lean in today and listen as he reveals the secret of two foundational pillars by which his love wa…
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Episode #14: A Name Above Every Other Name (Phil 1:2c)
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(Phil 1:2c) Do you know what your name means? Do you care? If you don't, I don't blame you, because names these days typically don't have significant meanings. Most parents choose names for how they sound, or for someone else who shared that name. But in Bible times, things were different. Back then, people's names very often reflected something in…
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(Phil 1:2b) Sometimes the smallest words can conceal the most explosive, life-changing power. We're going to look at a word like that today -- a tiny little three-letter word that literally changes everything. The more I think of it, the more it explodes my heart with joy. And I pray that it will do the same for you -- that it will open you up to a…
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(Phil 1:2a) "Hi, how ya doing?" "Fine. How 'bout you?" "Good, thanks." The obligatory greeting ritual. When you really think about it, it has to be one of the most shallow and meaningless parts of any conversation. But, of course, everyone uses it (out of habit, if nothing else). Everyone, that is, except for the Apostle Paul. In today's episode, w…
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Episode #11: A Look at the Leadership (Ph 1:1c)
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(Phil 1:1c) Have you ever noticed how many different types of leadership postions we have in churches today? Pastors, bishops, elders, deacons, presbyters, priests, and on and on. Have you ever wondered how we ever got so many different roles? Which ones are "right"? Which ones are "Biblical"? And why do we need them in the first place? In this epi…
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(Phil 1:1b) Most of the time, when you hear someone described as a "saint", you imagine the person to be some sort of "super spiritual", upper-tier Christian. It's a term we usually reserve for the "highly holy" folks, certainly not every day Christians like you and me. But it that's so, what could Paul possibly mean when he describes all the Phill…
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Today we launch into what may be the deepest study of a book of the Bible that some of you have ever attempted. Over the next 100+ episodes, we will be scrutinizing every sentence in this Epistle, every verse... quite nearly every word. It is my earnest prayer that the Spirit of God will draw us deeper into His Word and into the heart of God than w…
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If you haven't heard of the Project:Philippians podcast yet, let me give you just a little taste of what it's all about. And if you're already a regular listener, tune in for the next real episode when it drops at the normal time on Sunday afternoon. Until then, consider sharing this "trailer" with someone you know that might be interested in the t…
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