One can’t help but read the above statement and wonder if it is truly possible to live one’s life worthy of the Gospel message (1:27)? Is Paul really suggesting that it is possible to throw off the chains of sin that so easily entangle and become blameless and pure children of God (1:14)? While Paul believed this was possible for the “crooked” generation of his day surely, he was not suggesting that we as modern-day Christians can dethrone the “god of self,” give up our love for the things of this world and focus on Jesus alone? After all, whom amongst us does not struggle to find even a glimmer of truth amongst the sea of competing beliefs that forever surround us? Without clearly seeing the footsteps of Jesus how can one ever truly follow them? While we are painfully aware that our “normal” Christian walk is far from meeting God’s expectation for us, is not the goal of imitating He who emptied Himself, never committed a sin, and sacrificed His life for the many so lofty a goal that it depresses those who are trying run the race to win crowns that are at best a blur and at worst seen as unattainable? In the following sermon we are going to examine the lives of Jesus, Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus in order to prove that it is not only possible, but a given for those who lead Spirit filled lives to follow in the steps of their Master!