As a Christ-follower, it is my privilege to make much of God. My feelings, thoughts, and life should reflect Him and give evidence of His supreme greatness. That is, my life should magnify Christ, just like Cody Carnes sings about in his song “Christ Be Magnified.”
Paul talks about magnifying Christ in his letter to the Philippians. Let’s explore that a little deeper together.
In this episode, I discuss the following:
- Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week’s Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Reading in context
- Listen to an audio version of the text
- Read the envelope
- Historical context
- Consulting an outside resource
- Follow the cross-reference
- Read in a variety of translations
- Define words
- The 30-Day Music Challenge
- The inspirational verse – Philippians 1:20
- Reading Philippians like a letter (because that’s what it is)
- Reading the envelope to discover who the letter was written to, who it is from, and when and where it came from
- Consulting a trusted outside resource for the historical background – “How to Read the Bible Book by Book” by Gordon and Fee
- Gaining historical insight into the church at Philippi by reading Acts 15:35-Acts 17:1
- The advancement of the gospel – Philippians 1:12
- Ways the gospel advanced – Philippians 1:14-17
- Paul’s response – Philippians 1:18-19
- The severity of Paul’s situation and his emotional state
- How Paul was subject to being formed by feelings and his “eager expectation”
This time in prison is a deeply personal and trying time for Paul. It is exacerbated by the evil of others, and it is sprinkled with hope by the advancement of the gospel and the love and support of his friends and the Holy Spirit.
Enjoy the official lyric video below.
More Than a Song Playlist
Additional Resources
- Lyrics, chords, song story, etc. – WorshipTogether.com
- “Is Christ Be Magnified Biblical” – TheBereanTest.com
Weekly Challenge
Read all of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Focus on Philippians 1:12-30 (some of which we did not get to on the podcast) and discover what magnifying Christ in our body looks like to Paul. Use the BITEs we talked about on the podcast to interact with Scripture, including heading over to Acts to understand the foundation of the church at Philippi (the original audience of this letter). And may Paul’s experience be yours as well — may the prayers of your friends and the power of the Holy Spirit uphold you in your darkest times.
