Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama
Synopses of Sermons Preached by Rev. Chris Johns
THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING

December 5, 2010		Forsaking All for Christ
Philippians 3:1-11 | 

Introduction:  Bank Account – Needing a Loan
1.	Profit & Loss statement
2.	Debit & Credits
3.	Assets and Liabilities
 “Finally…” Now those of you who have listened to sermons for awhile should know that this doesn’t necessarily mean that the message is almost over. Paul still has two more chapters in the book! This literally means, “As for the rest.” He’s addressed a number of topics and now wants to tackle a few more. 
1. Watch out for the expectations of others (2-3). Verse 2 begins with a warning: “Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.”’” 
Now that the door had been opened, Paul was sent out to the Gentiles in Acts 13, but it didn’t take long for the “Judaizers,” men who taught that people had to submit to Jewish rules, to come along and cause the church to have its first doctrinal disagreement in Acts 15. The conclusion of this conference was that Gentiles did not have to keep the Jewish law in order to be saved. James summarized their decision in Acts 15:19: “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it more difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” They concluded that grace always trumps the Law. But the dissenters were not happy with this decision so they followed Paul wherever he went, stirring up the churches and pulling people away from the gospel of grace. 
The Philippians were to “watch out,” or perceive with their eyes, by paying close attention to these men. They were to constantly look out for dangers that were coming their way. Paul describes these false teachers in three strong terms:
·	They are “dogs.” We need to get the lap dog or the nap dog out of our minds. These were not pampered pets or docile dogs, but rather dirty, despised and diseased scavengers. I wanted to sing the song, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” but all of you would be out of here if I did! They often traveled in packs, intruding where they were not wanted and barking all the time. I saw a lot of these cantankerous canines when we lived in Mexico and during the summer I was in Zimbabwe. Paul is really asking, “Who Let the Dogs In?” The Jewish people often referred to Gentiles in a derogatory way as “dogs.” The Judaizers had become just like those they had been trying to avoid. 
·	They are “men who do evil.” Paul is picking up on the declaration of Jesus in Matthew 23:15: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” They may come across as sincere but they are really sinister.
·	They are “mutilators of the flesh.” Paul is using a play on words here to show that these men, who have been preaching that circumcision is a requirement for redemption, are actually mutilating the message of the Gospel. 
·	Galatians 5:12 when he stated: “As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” 
In contrast to these false charlatans, Paul describes real religion using four terms.
·	Christians are “the circumcision.” In a spiritual sense, every Christian has been circumcised in his heart. 
·	A Christian “worships by the Spirit of God.” Instead of exalting the externals, a true believer, as Jesus said in John 4:24, worships in “spirit and truth.” 
·	A Christian “glories in Christ.” Our confidence is to be in Christ alone. 1 Corinthians 1:31: “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” Our focus should always be on extending the fame of Christ’s name.
·	A Christian “puts no confidence in the flesh.” This literally means, “And not in flesh having confidence.” As Paul does an inventory of his life, he knows he could make a case for putting confidence in his accomplishments. 
2. Weigh your accomplishments against Christ (5-8). In this section, Paul opens up his soul as he describes his spiritual resume. 
·	Right Ritual. Paul was “circumcised on the eighth day.” He was a Jew by birth, not a convert later in life. This literally means, “In circumcision an eighth-day man.”
·	Right Relationship. He was “of the people of Israel.” He was from the spiritual stock that can be traced through Jacob. When the Jewish people wanted to stress their special relationship to God, they used the word “Israelite.” 
·	Right Respectability. Paul came from one of the most highly esteemed tribes: “of the tribe of Benjamin.” Benjamin was the child of Rachael, the well-loved wife of Jacob. This patriotic tribe remained loyal to Judah when the other ten revolted.
·	Right Race. Paul declared that he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” meaning that both of his parents were Jewish. He was a pure Jew, growing up speaking the language and practicing all the customs.
·	Right Religion. Paul stated, “in regard to the law, a Pharisee.” Over time, the word “Pharisee” has come to be synonymous with hypocrite or legalist, but back then, a Pharisee was the highest level one could attain to. 
·	Right Reputation. No one could question Paul’s passion for the things of God. He was so sold on doing what he thought was right that, “as for zeal, [he was] persecuting the church.” 
·	Right Righteousness. Amazingly, Paul could take a look at his external actions and declare, “As for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” He could say with the rich young ruler in Mark 10:20: “…all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 
Paul had a bunch of holy habits and high spiritual scores until he met Christ on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. As good as he was, when he comes to verse 7, he writes: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” That word “but” serves as a contrast and the word “profit” is actually in the plural, meaning that all the “right” things he had going for him were like credits on a profit/loss statement. That is, until he took the time to “consider” or count what he really had. This is a mathematical term, meaning to carefully add things up. When he did that, he recognized that all those things that he thought were gain were actually a “loss” when compared to knowing Christ. 
.” And then he again uses the present tense of “consider” or count, to say that he concludes that “everything” is a loss compared to “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.” He’s basically saying that a relationship with Christ is much more important than religious activities. 
But then he goes one step further, using graphically gross language: “I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” The word “rubbish” here is cleaned up a bit because it actually means manure or human waste. Paul is saying that all of his gains are garbage, his self-righteous deeds are like dung, what he thought was excellent is really excrement.  Our good deeds are like a smoldering pile of garbage. Paul is echoing the words of Isaiah 64:6: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…”
Most of us have no trouble admitting that our sins are smelly but secretly many of us think that our “good” deeds help balance things out. One pastor put it this way: “It is not your attitude toward your sins that foul you up; it’s your attitude toward your own goodness.” Friend, take some time to calculate your credentials and it will not take long for you to admit that apart from Christ everything is rubbish. Notice that it’s only when we count those things as garbage that we will “gain Christ.” We need to tear up our religious resume and instead trust in a relationship with Christ. 
A good thing can become a bad thing if it keeps us away from the best thing. As Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
3. Widen your experiential knowledge of Christ (9-11). Verse 9 describes the amazing transaction that takes place when we refuse to trust in the refuse on our spiritual resumes and put our faith in Christ alone: “And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” 
Verses 10-11 establish the two goals of the Christian life: To know Christ and to become like Him: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” The word “know” is experiential, not just intellectual and has the idea of “knowing absolutely.” Jesus described it this way in his prayer for his own John 17:3: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” 

Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama
Synopses of Sermons Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor
THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING
December 12, 2010   	   7. Pressing on Toward the Goal	   	  Philippians 3:12-17
1	As we continue the sermon series on THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING, allow me to state that as you constantly reflect on your humble beginnings it would always cause you to be thankful to God for how far He has brought you through this pilgrim’s journey.  Life in itself is problem-solving all the time as it is full of dynamic changes.  Nothing is static and so you cannot avoid problems as long as you live.  Your attitude towards these dynamic life changes determines how you attain fulfillment in life as the state of your circumstances, conditions and situations will always be dynamic.  As such, the perspective of your circumstances, conditions or situations that you find yourself in does determine your faith and fate to continue in the pilgrim’s journey or not.  As a Christian, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ that the outcome of your circumstances, conditions, and situations would glorify God in your body whether by life or by death.  You must always look beyond the physical and defy the gravity pulling you out of grace to wallow in sin and its attributes.  Moreover Paul also makes it clear in this epistle of Philippians that for some unforeseen reason(s) someone or some people in your life actually do enjoy inflicting pains to you in this pilgrim’s journey to deter your progress and/or hurt you. You must therefore learn to forget what is behind you and press on towards the goal of eternal life in Christ Jesus heaven. Therefore, the latitude and motives of other people must never determine your attitude of gratitude. 
2	Also, the Book of Philippians helps us understand that the essence of true religion is what propels us to an attitude of gratitude even when we have reasons to boast of our achievements.  In fact there is nothing that we own which has not been freely given to us by God.  Therefore in this pilgrim’s journey we must heed the warning of Paul in this epistle to the Philippians that admonishes us to watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.  For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. 
3	A heart of gratitude motivates us to rejoice always especially at Christmas season because Christ came at Christmas to offer us the upward calling into eternal life in heaven.  Christmas is therefore a time to rejoice and appreciate the redemption that came through Christ’s humility to be born of a woman.  It is therefore profitable to always reflect and count all our successes as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.  Knowing Christ Jesus as our Lord involves knowing the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings and be conformed to His death so that we can attain unto His resurrection.  It is the resurrection that has provided Christians victory over sin, death and Satan.  For this reason Christians rejoice at Christmas and have a heart of gratitude.  It is also the reason why we have to forget those things that are behind us and press forward towards our goal of attaining eternal life in Heaven with Christ Jesus.  We must not relent our efforts, or give up because our righteousness does not come from the law of the flesh but through faith of Christ.  In other words our righteousness is the righteousness that is of God by faith.  So no one can ever boast that he or she has already attain perfection; but we must learn to forget our past successes and/or failures and press on towards our ultimate goal in this pilgrim’s journey – attaining heaven and obtaining rewards there.  Thus our focus today is THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING – Pressing on Toward the Goal.
4	Thus today’s text reads, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven-ward in Christ Jesus.  15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:12-16).
5	We must always remember that what we as Christians have attained is salvation and righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Therefore perfection for Christians comes:
o	Not by our efforts but through faith in the righteousness of God that comes through Christ
o	Learning to forget our past successes and/or failures; but depending on God’s grace and mercies
o	 Continue to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
o	Continue to Christian maturity in the salvation and righteousness we have attained by grace and through faith in Christ Jesus 
6	 Thus those who are perfect (mature) be aware of letting go of the past and looking forward to the prize of our upward calling in Christ Jesus.  And if we have attained salvation and righteousness in Christ Jesus, we must be careful to walk by the rule of faith minding that dwelling on past successes and/or failures are detrimental to the Christian faith.  And let the church say, Amen!  
7	And so as we conclude this worship experience, allow me to suggest to you that sin is what deprives you from appreciating the godly loving relationships we have through Christ.  It is sin also that deprives you from forgetting your past successes and /or failures to ensure your progress and that of others in this pilgrim’s journey that would result in gratitude, thanksgiving and rejoicing that the gospel of Christ is advanced.  
8	Therefore we are extending an invitation to anyone who is still struggling with this chronic disease call sin.  We call on you to repent, and urge you to humbly accept Jesus Christ into your heart and then confess with your mouth your faith in Him that He died and rose again to save you from your sin, and you will be saved.  Remember it is a choice that you must personally make! The word has been preached and the invitation has been given.  May God bless you as you humbly come either as a candidate for baptism, rededication or as one with Christian experience.  Why don’t you also come as the Praise Team leads us in a song?
9	And if you are reading this on the Internet why don’t you pray asking Jesus Christ to be your Lord and savior, then write and tell us at pastordatiri@mttraveler.org? 

Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama
Synopses of Sermons Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor
THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING
December 19, 2010   	   8. Our Citizenship is Of Heaven	   	  Philippians 3:17-21
1	As we continue the sermon series on THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING, allow me to state that as you constantly reflect on your humble beginnings it would always cause you to be thankful to God for how far He has brought you through this pilgrim’s journey.  Life in itself is problem-solving all the time as it is full of dynamic changes.  Nothing is static and so you cannot avoid problems as long as you live.  Your attitude towards these dynamic life changes determines how you attain fulfillment in life as the state of your circumstances, conditions and situations will always be dynamic.  As such, the complete knowledge of your citizenship does determine your faith and fate to continue in this pilgrim’s journey or not.  As a Christian, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ that the outcome of your circumstances, conditions, and situations would glorify God in your body whether by life or by death.  You must always look beyond the physical and defy the gravity pulling you out of grace to wallow in sin and its attributes.  Moreover Paul also makes it clear in this epistle of Philippians that for some unforeseen reason(s) someone or some people in your life actually do enjoy inflicting pains to you in this pilgrim’s journey to deter your progress and/or hurt you. You must therefore always remember that your citizenship is of heaven and you should never allow the latitude and motives of others determine your attitude of gratitude. 
2	Also, the Book of Philippians helps us understand that the essence of true religion is very much related to citizenship.  The subject of citizenship is a critical issue.  Citizenship determines the right and privileges of an individual in the nation of his/her residence. Aliens do not have the same rights and privileges as citizens do.  Citizenship is acquired by birth, adoption, marriage, and/or immigration and naturalization.  Knowing your citizenship with the rights and privileges accord it should always result in a heart full of gratitude.  Christians have been described both as citizens and aliens depending from what perspective.  Christians are citizens of heaven and aliens or pilgrims in this world.  
3	Christians therefore are full of gratitude and rejoice always especially at Christmas season because Christ came at Christmas to offer us the upward calling into eternal life and to adopt us into the family of God thus qualifying us to become citizens of heaven.  Christmas is therefore a time to rejoice and appreciate the redemption that came through Christ’s humility to be born of a woman.  For this reason Christians rejoice at Christmas and have a heart of gratitude.  And so in this epistle to the Philippians Paul writes them to remind them of the joy we have in Christ who has made it possible for us to be adopted into the family of God and become citizens of heaven.  We are therefore to be careful as aliens in this world during our pilgrim’s journey because our citizenship is of heaven.  Thus our focus today is THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING – Our Citizenship is Of Heaven.
4	At this Christmas season and always, Christians must not live as others do but always reflecting on the fact that our citizenship is of heaven.  We must live by following godly examples that represent our true citizenship in Christ. Thus today’s text reads, “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:17-21).
5	Mt Traveler members, allow me to conclude this sermon by asking you the following questions:
o	What is your citizenship?
o	How are you living?
o	What is your destiny?
o	Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus, the Savior, who will transform your lowly body so that it will become like His glorious body to inherit heaven?  
6	And so as we conclude this worship experience, allow me to suggest to you that sin is what deprives you from appreciating the godly loving relationships we have through Christ.  It is sin also that deprives you from becoming a citizen of heaven and walking in this pilgrim’s journey full of gratitude, thanksgiving and rejoicing in the salvation that Christ wrought at that first Christmas.  
7	Therefore we are extending an invitation to anyone who is still struggling with this chronic disease call sin.  We call on you to repent, and urge you to humbly accept Jesus Christ into your heart and then confess with your mouth your faith in Him that He died and rose again to save you from your sin, and you will be saved.  Remember it is a choice that you must personally make! The word has been preached and the invitation has been given.  May God bless you as you humbly come either as a candidate for baptism, rededication or as one with Christian experience.  Why don’t you also come as the Praise Team leads us in a song?
8	And if you are reading this on the Internet why don’t you pray asking Jesus Christ to be your Lord and savior, then write and tell us at pastordatiri@mttraveler.org? 

Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama
Synopses of Sermons Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor
2010 CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP SERVICE
December 25, 2010		Keeping Watch To Receive God’s Revelation   	Luke 2:8-20
1.	Pray / Acknowledge
A.	God, Pastor/Ministers, Wife/Pastor’s & Ministers’ Wives, Family/Friends. Merry Christmas to you all!
2.  Introduction: 
o	There is great need for us to watch and pray in order to know the mind of God concerning our destiny, especially in this generation.  Revelation is received by desiring to know the mind of God.  Those who watch and tarry in prayers do receive revelation from God concerning their destiny and His will on earth.  Those who drink, feast and slumber in their sleep rarely receive God’s revelation concerning their lives.   But those who are watchful and prayerful are always sensitive to divine revelations concerning spiritual matters and their destiny.  If the Church will ever know the will and plan of God concerning its destiny, it must watch and pray.
o	At Gethsemane, Jesus could not trust all His disciples to receive the divine revelation concerning what it will take to redeem mankind.  So He chose three confidants to watch and pray with Him before He took the cup of redemption.  He instructed them to watch and pray on three occasions but each time He found them sleeping.  Finally, when Jesus ascertained the will of the Father in watching and prayers, He then asked His three sleeping confidants to rise and let them go.  But He warned, watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.  
o	How many Christians watch and pray, especially during Christmas?  How many slumber in sleep?  How many go with the flow of things and get trapped in temptation concerning physical things when Jesus has admonished us to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness? Those that are comfortable are often complacent and never keep watch or pray.  But those exposed to danger and know that the world is dangerous in this generation, always keep watch and pray.
o	You see many were expecting the Messiah to come during the Roman rule but not many were watching and praying for His arrival.  God only revealed the birth of the Messiah to those that were keeping watch.  You keep watch when it is most dangerous.  At night it is dark and you are exposed to more danger.  Mt Traveler the day is now far spent and night is here!  But those that still work diligently into the dangerous night keeping watch as the pray, do receive God’s revelation concerning His will and plan for them. 

3.  Thus our text for the day (Luke 2:8-20) reads:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told”. 

In conclusion:
1	Sin is a chronic disease.  It prevents you from true worship and fellowship with God.  Sin also prevents you from watching and praying. Therefore on this Christmas Day that we commemorate the coming of Christ the savior from sin, I am extending an invitation to anyone who is still struggling with the chronic disease called sin.  All you need to do is to repent of your sin, accept Jesus into your heart and then confess with your mouth your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that He died and rose again for you to be saved from your sins; and you will be saved. Once you are saved you need to understand that it is your obligation and responsibility to watch and pray to receive God’s revelation concerning your destiny.  Remember it is a choice that you must personally make! The word has been preached and the invitation has been given.  May God bless you as you humbly come either as a candidate for baptism, rededication or as one with Christian.  Why don’t you come as the Choir leads us in a song?
2	And if you are reading this on the Internet why don’t you pray asking Jesus Christ to be your Lord and savior, then write and tell us at pastordatiri@mttraveler.org? 

Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama
Synopses of Sermons Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor
THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING
December 26, 2010      9. Getting Along and Reflecting on Things that Matter	   	  Philippians 4:1-9
1	As we continue the sermon series on THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS – THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING, allow me to state that as you constantly reflect on your humble beginnings it would always cause you to be thankful to God for how far He has brought you through this pilgrim’s journey.  Life in itself is problem-solving all the time as it is full of dynamic changes.  Nothing is static and so you cannot avoid problems as long as you live.  Your attitude towards these dynamic life changes determines how you attain fulfillment in life as the state of your circumstances, conditions and situations will always be dynamic.  As such, there is every need for people to get along with each other and to reflect on things that matter because these are essential in determining your faith and fate to continue in this pilgrim’s journey or not.  On last week we established that Christ’s birth at first Christmas enable us to become part of God’s family and citizens of heaven commonly called Christians.  Therefore as a Christian, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ that the outcome of your circumstances, conditions, and situations would glorify God in your body whether by life or by death.  You must always look beyond the physical and defy the gravity pulling you out of grace to wallow in sin and its attributes.  Moreover Paul also makes it clear in this epistle of Philippians that for some unforeseen reason(s) someone or some people in your life actually do enjoy inflicting pains to you in this pilgrim’s journey to deter your progress and/or hurt you. Paul makes a strong appeal to the Christians at Philippi for unity of purpose and to remain steadfast in their pilgrim’s journey.  Their mindset and thoughts were to be on things that matter.  You must therefore always remember that your mindset and your thought processes determine who you truly are.  You should never allow the latitude and motives of others determine your attitude of gratitude. 
2	Now, we have established in the discourse of this series that Christians are citizens of heaven and aliens or pilgrims in this world.   We, Christians must therefore be full of gratitude and rejoice always especially at Christmas season because Christ came at Christmas to offer us the upward calling into eternal life and to adopt us into the family of God thus qualifying us to become citizens of heaven.  Christmas is therefore a time to rejoice and appreciate the redemption that was wrought through Christ’s humility to be born of a woman.  For this reason Christians rejoice at Christmas and have a heart of gratitude.  And so in this epistle to the Philippians Paul writes them to remind them of the joy we have in Christ who has made it possible for us to be adopted into the family of God and become citizens of heaven.  We are therefore to be careful as aliens in this world during our pilgrim’s journey because our citizenship is of heaven.  We must learn to get along with each other, rejoice, be prayerful, and always reflect on those things that matter.  Thus our focus today is THE ATTRIBUTES OF THANKSGIVING – Getting Along and Reflecting on Things that Matter.
3	Thus today’s text reads, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!  2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.  4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true (factual, correct, right, exact, accurate and/or proper), whatever is noble (splendid, dignified, righteous, fine, good, decent and/or gracious), whatever is right (precise, correct, exact, accurate and/or true), whatever is pure (chase, clean, wholesome, unadulterated, uncontaminated, unpolluted and/or untainted), whatever is lovely (beautiful, good-liking, attractive, pretty, gorgeous, charming, exquisite and/or divine), whatever is admirable (very good, excellent, splendid, marvelous, worthy, estimable, commendable and/or venerable) —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:1-9).
4	Mt Traveler members, allow me to conclude this sermon by appealing to you to:
o	Endeavor to get along with others
o	Always think on things that matter
o	Always rejoice
o	Let your gentleness be evident to all
o	Do not be anxious about anything but be prayerful in every situation
o	Always pray and make petition with thanksgiving
o	Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me that is excellent or praiseworthy – put into practice and the God of peace will be with you and His peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.     
5	And so as we conclude this worship experience, allow me to suggest to you that sin is what deprives you from appreciating the godly loving relationships we have through Christ.  It is sin also that deprives you from having peace in this pilgrim’s journey and gratitude, thanksgiving and rejoicing in the salvation that Christ wrought at that first Christmas.  
6	Therefore we are extending an invitation to anyone who is still struggling with this chronic disease call sin.  Repent, and humbly accept Jesus Christ into your heart.  Then confess with your mouth your faith in Him that He died and rose again to save you from your sin, and you will be saved.  May God bless you as you humbly come either as a candidate for baptism, rededication or as one with Christian experience.  Why don’t you also come as the Praise Team leads us in a song?
7	And if you are reading this on the Internet why don’t you pray asking Jesus Christ to be your Lord and savior, then write and tell us at pastordatiri@mttraveler.org?