And with that, let's get to it. Philippians chapter 3. We got to verse 9 last week. Today,

our text will be verses 10 and 11. What I'll have you do if you're able? If not, that's all right,

but you can stand and follow along as I read. The Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is writing to the church there in Philippi, and he says

verse 10, I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,

becoming like him in his death.

And so, verse 11, somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Would you join with me and we'll pray and ask God's blessing on our understanding?

Loving Heavenly Father. loving heavenly father would you at this time

by the Holy Spirit

just quiet our hearts

settle our minds

and enable us to focus our attention. Lord, we don't want to be distracted

and miss anything that you would desire to minister to us today. So, Lord, will you get our

attention and then hold our attention?

As you speak into our lives, in and through your word, we pray.

In Jesus' name, amen.

You can be seated.

Thank you.

So we're going to do something we haven't done since we were in our study through the book of Romans, chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, which is to do a two-part series on two verses over two weeks.

2-2-2.

Here's why.

We're going to deal with the matter of suffering.

...