Sermon Intro

Week Of: November 16, 2020
Speaker: Pastor Will Hagenbuch
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9
Wonder with me if Paul ever wrote as if he'd be edited. Wonder this because he repeats a word we need to not just consider but embrace.
 
He says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)."
 
Paul's work has been penned an unknown number of times by an unknown number of "editors" through the centuries. Maybe the very first draft of this verse included the word rejoice 10, 20 or even 100 times because Paul knew what he needed.
 
We need this, too. The practice of rejoicing may fumble sometimes; we do lament, grieve and outright hurt; but, like a muscle wounded, rejoicing has a memory. It does come back.