A Colony Of The King - All Y'all [Ryan Ashley]

Philippians 1:3-11

“Western societies are, by and large, individualistic societies. The most important entity in an individualistic culture is the individual person. This misreading of Scripture arises from combining our individualism with a more subtle, deeply hidden and deeply rooted aspect of our Western worldview: we still think the universe centers around us.” 
E. Randolph Richards, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes

“If we're not careful, our individualistic assumptions about church can lead us to think of the church as something like a health club. We're members because we believe in the mission statement and want to be a part of the action. As long as the church provides the services I want, I'll stick around. But when I no longer approve of the vision, or am no longer "being fed," I'm out the door. This is not biblical Christianity. Scripture is clear that when we become Christians, we become-permanently and spiritually-a part of the church. We become part of the family of God, with all the responsibilities and expectations that word connotes in the non-Western world.” 

E. Randolph Richards, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes

The lavish, opulent, untamed, raw, scandalous blessing of God! Unearned, undeserved, illogical, and disproportionate… Poured out through Christ over every facet of your life, and the living presence of the Creator God deep inside of you, poured out through the Holy Spirit with limitless power to live out, and up to, God’s calling on your life!

Ending Prayer:

9 And this is my prayer: that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of King Jesus, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.