Complaining

You are listening to a message from Thrive Community Church, a church located in Southwest Florida. For more info, visit us at thrive-fl.org. I also want to say Happy Mother's Day to those who are mothers, because the highest calling, I think, for women is to be a mother in terms of a mentor, a friend, a confidant, a supporter, an encourager, a discipler. When Jesus says, make disciples of all nations, that occurs intergenerationally, across generations, in so many different ways, and in so many different forms. And so whether you have your own children, or whether you are befriending and mentoring someone at work, at home, in the neighborhood, cousins, aunts, uncles, you name it, God is using you mothers, you women, to do amazing work in this world, and we want to say thank you for that, don't we? Amen. Amen. So, let's begin with a prayer. Lord God, this day, as we start this new series, we pray that the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts would be pleasing to you, O Lord. You are our rock and our redeemer. Not only bless the mothers here, but the mothers across this community and world, Lord. We thank you that you've placed them strategically, women in our lives who matter, who make a difference, who are making a kingdom difference for you. We thank you for them, Lord, this day. And we pray that they are honored much more than just this day. And that you would have us show gratitude and appreciation, and a little less complaining towards them, Lord God, this day. We pray as well, Lord, for all your church across this area, Lord. There's one Christian church on earth. We thank you for the many expressions here that share your gospel today, and we pray that you'd be working in each location. And Holy Spirit, be with us. Open our hearts and our ears so that we hear your word of blessing for us today, and your word also of correction, and your word of encouragement, Lord. This gospel word that's so permeated the life of Paul in the book of Philippians, and can permeate ours as well. All this we lift up to you in Jesus, your name we pray. Amen. So we're starting a new series today. It's going to last for four weeks, unless we need more. And I think maybe I do. And it's a series called My Big Fat Mouth, because it's my mouth that causes more trouble for me, I think, than my actions. It's what I say can be more hurtful, more twisted, more messed up. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks, Jesus said. And boy, does that happen. And James, in his letter, says who can control the tongue? If you can tame the tongue, you can tame anything. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to keep your tongue straight and true and right? So we're going to be looking at that. And I'm thankful today that you're here, because you could dodge a series like this, because this is going to get kind of personal, I think. It's going to apply to each of us. I don't know anyone who is able to tame their own tongue and feels like, yep, I'm good. I don't need this. So over the course of these four weeks, we're going to be looking at the areas like, oh, complaining today. Next week, criticizing. The week after that, lying. Have you ever lied? Not much, I know. Don't lie about that. And then finally, we're going to look at gossiping. OK, I know you feel the weight of it already. But I think we're going to also find out how to speak the truth in love in a way that is really going to encourage us and encourage others and lift us up. And as Paul will say in this passage in Philippians, we're going to look at that we become stars that shine in the darkness. You know, the lights in the sky that are so distinct because have you noticed how words are flying around our culture right now? You know, is there a little complaining going on? Yes. Is there criticizing? Is there gossiping? Are there lies out there? You got it. We can be distinctively different, distinctively different. So let's look. We're going to be in Philippians chapter two, starting at verse 12 and going through 18 today. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent. Children of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life so that in the day of Christ, I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise, you also are to be glad and rejoice with me. Powerful words, great words of encouragement. Do you realize where was Paul when he wrote this? Do you know this letter of Philippians? He was in prison, probably under house arrest in Rome. Not nece...