Title: Ambitious Contentment
09:37 The Key to Contentment is a Secret
19:53 Abundance and Need Expose False Contentment
26:48 Contentment is Learned
34:33 Christian Contentment Empowers True Ambition
38:36 Is Jesus Your Contentment-Fueled Ambition?
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Philippians 4:10–13
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)
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In his sermon Ambitious Contentment from Philippians 4:10–13, Jed Gillis explores the tension between contentment and ambition, showing how the two are not opposed but deeply connected in the Christian life.
Paul’s words reveal that true contentment is not about having or lacking material possessions, nor is it about passively accepting life’s circumstances. Instead, it’s an inner stability and sufficiency rooted in Christ, a balance that allows believers to navigate both abundance and need without losing their footing. Gillis explains that contentment isn’t the absence of desire but the absence of coveting—an unhealthy dependence on circumstances for fulfillment. He emphasizes that earthly achievements, relationships, and pleasures, though good, are like icing on a cake: they can be enjoyed but were never meant to sustain the soul.
True contentment comes from recognizing Christ as the ultimate source of satisfaction and learning to enjoy His gifts without making them ultimate. This deep-rooted contentment doesn’t kill ambition; it fuels it. When believers are anchored in Christ, they are free to pursue God-glorifying goals with boldness, knowing their worth and stability don’t hinge on success or failure. In the end, Christian contentment doesn’t stifle ambition. It empowers it, driving believers to say with Paul, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.
