Sermon by Nicolas Maalouf

In the previous passage we saw that what motivates us to obey God is neither a reward nor the fear of punishment. You may remember Samuel’s illustration with a carrot and a stick to make a donkey move. Conversely, we have seen that it is God himself who is the engine of our obedience: « For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. » (Phil.2:13)

We also saw that the joy of obedience was to shine in the world to reflect the character of our loving God and rejoice with other Christians as the Gospel progresses not only in our lives, but also in theirs. And this is exactly the joy that characterizes Paul in his letter, he is joyful not only at the progress of the Gospel in his life and in those of his co-workers, but also in the lives of his brothers and sisters far away, in Philippi.

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Sermon by Pastor Samuel Niblack

The letter to the Philippians is filled with much encouragement, gratitude, and joy. And what stands out clearly in these verses is the encouragement to obey: “Obey”. Work. Try. The Greek word « energy » comes up  several times. Like a coach who goes to motivate his team that is leading at half-time, « don’t give up. »  The Christian life is not without effort. But we will see this morning how Paul encourages and  motivates these Christians to obedience.

You know the expression: « The carrot or the stick »… Should you motivate people with the threat of punishment or the promise of a reward? Or even better, a carrot on a stick…

When we think of faith and religion, most people have this unenviable image in mind. People are  motivated either by the promise of an illusory reward, never really attainable, or by the threat of  punishment. « I want neither, I want to be free, so no thanks to religion. » I’ll grant you, that’s how religions work. But the gospel obedience, the character transformation that Paul teaches, is different. 

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Sermon by Pastor Vincent Bourrel

LIVING THE GOSPEL TOGETHER

A doctor decided to vaccinate an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German and an American.

He said to the Englishman:

– This way to your vaccine please.

– I don’t want it!

– Come on! A gentleman would get vaccinated.

And the Englishman got vaccinated.

The doctor addresses the German:

– Now it’s your turn.

– No, thank you!

– That’s an order!

And the German got vaccinated.

The doctor addresses the American:

– Now it’s your turn.

– No way!

– But you know, your neighbor has been vaccinated.

And the American has been vaccinated.

The doctor addresses the Frenchman:

– Now it’s your turn!

– I will not be vaccinated!

– Come on, a gentleman would get vaccinated.

– No way!

– It is an order!

– No, it’s not!

– You know, your neighbor got vaccinated…

– I don’t give a hoot!

– Listen… who are you exactly?

– A Frenchman.

– Ah, a Frenchman! Anyway, you’re not entitled to the vaccine.

– WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I’M NOT ENTITLED TO IT??!!!

…. and the Frenchman got vaccinated.

It makes us laugh because there is something true that belongs to the culture of each people:  Culture is « what is common to a group of individuals » and « what binds it together », that is to say what is learned, transmitted, produced and invented. 

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J’entends souvent de la part de mes amis musulmans que le Coran reprend uniquement des histoires de la Bible et y ajoute l’histoire de Mohamed. Alors qu’en réalité, le Coran reprend, certes des histoires de la Bible, mais aussi des écrits apocryphes qui ne font pas parti du canon biblique historique reconnu par l’Église.

 Ici, nous allons nous concentrer sur quelques exemples de reprises d’apocryphes (donc de livres qui ne font pas parti du canon biblique) par le Coran :

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