Philip's Story
First Things First
Hi, I'm Phillip, and this is my story.
A significant memory from college is when someone told me they didn't believe Christianity was true, but enjoyed going to church for the community and tradition. At the time, I thought that was strange. Waking up early on Sundays, singing songs that weren't on my playlist, listening to a sermon about someone who died 2,000 years ago—it didn’t make sense to me.
There are two verses that became really important in my journey. One of them is 1 Corinthians 15:19, which says that if Christianity isn’t true, then Christians are to be pitied above all. To me, this verse highlights that Christianity can’t just be a hobby. It’s not like playing mini golf—if it’s not true, then it’s a terrible lie. In that passage, Paul argues that Christianity is actually evil if it’s not true, because we’d be lying about God. But Jesus did rise from the dead. And because of that, everything changes. Jesus' resurrection means that we have a soul, that there is an afterlife, and that we can have peace, hope, meaning, and purpose in life.
Jesus’ resurrection also shows us that God is personal. We can know Him, He loves us, and He is preparing a place for us. All of this means that the things that seem mundane—like reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and giving—are actually life-affirming for me.
That’s why I read my Bible, go to church, worship, listen to sermons, pray regularly, and give when I can.
I was reminded of this by a podcast I listened to about the Armor of God. It mentioned that armor isn’t helpful if you wait until you’re in battle. You need to prepare ahead of time. That’s why I make it a point to read my Bible daily and attend church on Sundays, even when it’s tough. Whether in person or online, you can’t be a disciple without discipline.
If you truly want to know Jesus, you can’t do it without engaging with Scripture. The Bible is God’s love letter to us, showing how much we mean to Him. If you're not in it, how will you have the strength to navigate this broken world?
On Sundays, we gather to remind ourselves and each other of God’s love and power. Worship is our opportunity to join with the angels in heaven to celebrate the greatness of our Savior. Without that focus, none of this makes sense. But we do have a great Savior who loves us, fought for us, died for us, and gives us hope and life that can transform our daily lives. You won’t experience that unless you are praying, reading your Bible, and gathering for worship.
A significant memory from college is when someone told me they didn't believe Christianity was true, but enjoyed going to church for the community and tradition. At the time, I thought that was strange. Waking up early on Sundays, singing songs that weren't on my playlist, listening to a sermon about someone who died 2,000 years ago—it didn’t make sense to me.
There are two verses that became really important in my journey. One of them is 1 Corinthians 15:19, which says that if Christianity isn’t true, then Christians are to be pitied above all. To me, this verse highlights that Christianity can’t just be a hobby. It’s not like playing mini golf—if it’s not true, then it’s a terrible lie. In that passage, Paul argues that Christianity is actually evil if it’s not true, because we’d be lying about God. But Jesus did rise from the dead. And because of that, everything changes. Jesus' resurrection means that we have a soul, that there is an afterlife, and that we can have peace, hope, meaning, and purpose in life.
Jesus’ resurrection also shows us that God is personal. We can know Him, He loves us, and He is preparing a place for us. All of this means that the things that seem mundane—like reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and giving—are actually life-affirming for me.
That’s why I read my Bible, go to church, worship, listen to sermons, pray regularly, and give when I can.
I was reminded of this by a podcast I listened to about the Armor of God. It mentioned that armor isn’t helpful if you wait until you’re in battle. You need to prepare ahead of time. That’s why I make it a point to read my Bible daily and attend church on Sundays, even when it’s tough. Whether in person or online, you can’t be a disciple without discipline.
If you truly want to know Jesus, you can’t do it without engaging with Scripture. The Bible is God’s love letter to us, showing how much we mean to Him. If you're not in it, how will you have the strength to navigate this broken world?
On Sundays, we gather to remind ourselves and each other of God’s love and power. Worship is our opportunity to join with the angels in heaven to celebrate the greatness of our Savior. Without that focus, none of this makes sense. But we do have a great Savior who loves us, fought for us, died for us, and gives us hope and life that can transform our daily lives. You won’t experience that unless you are praying, reading your Bible, and gathering for worship.
Posted in MyStory