THE BOOK OF philippians - Bay Harbor Church

p h i l i p p i a n sT H E B O O K O F

S T U D Y G U I D E

p h i l i p p i a n sTHE BOOK OF

THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS: COPYRIGHT

Copyright

RightNow Presents The Book of PhilippiansSTUDY GUIDE

Copyright © 2019 RightNowby RightNow Ministries

Members of the RightNow team involved in creating this video Bible study and study guide include:

Brian Mosley: PresidentPhil Warner: VP, Video ProductionPaul Lanum: VP, Publishing & ConferencesJackie Mosley: Sr. PublisherWill Irwin: Sr. Producer, Cinematography, Video EditorBrendan Lankford: CinematographyLindsay McNally: Cinematography, EditorLee Sherman: Cinematography, AudioMadi Simpson: Cinematography, EditorDiana Anunda: EditorMark Blitch: EditorJed Ostoich: PublisherSophie DeMuth: Associate Publisher and WriterMike Marshall: Creative DirectorMateo Boyd: Graphic Designer

Video Team Contributors: Courtney Davis, Lindsie Herring, Josh Holden, Jason Jean, Chad Madden, Clint Loveness, Cameron Rhodes, Bradley Van Strein, and Mark Weaver.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except where noted on handouts and in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and review.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Co-pyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zon-dervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Published by RightNow


THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS: HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

This Study Guide is a tool that helps you unpack the book of Philippians. But it can be more than that. We’re giving you a document full of possibility. Our goal is to provide you with more than enough content to create life-changing reflection and, if you’re using it with a group, discussion. So feel free to select only those parts or questions that you feel will best help your study of Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

With that in mind, let’s preview the guide. The main body of the Study Guide is written as a conversation. We’ll offer questions for reflection or discussion in bold type. Many of the questions are open-ended. We want you to wrestle with what the Bible is saying to us today. In addition, each session has particular sections:

⊲ SESSION GOALS

This is the point of each session—the big idea and what we hope those who participate in the study walk away knowing, feeling, and doing differently as a result of the material. All of the teaching, questions, and reflections ultimately point back to these goals. They’re there primarily to help structure your study.

⊲ OPEN

This is an icebreaker aimed primarily at group discussion. If you’d like, you can use it as something to ease into the theme of the session and get the reflective juices flowing.

⊲ READ & WATCH

We often rush into the interpretation of a Bible passage without really hearing what it says. For this study, we urge you to read the text slowly before you begin the analysis. Drink in the words and images for yourself. Then the video teaching from Jo Saxton will make more sense. You’ll be able to compare it with your own impressions of the text. Keep your ears and eyes open while watching the video so you can answer the “things to look for” questions.

⊲ DISCUSS

Here’s the meat of the Bible study: questions about the meaning of the text. The section usually starts with some “easy-answer” questions that review what the Scripture actually says. But then there are tougher questions about the whys and hows.

⊲ LAST WORD

This is an opportunity for you to do something with what you’ve learned. Many of us are very good at internal responses in which we treasure the lessons we just learned. But actually talking with a neighbor? Actually helping someone in need? Keep moving toward the more challenging responses.

GO DEEPER

The Go Deeper section has two potential functions. It can supplement a group discussion by providing extra material for study. We’ve highlighted a place where each of the segments could fit in the Discuss section of the Study Guide.

But you can also use these challenges as short devotionals to carry you through the week as you dive even deeper into the text of Philippians. Consider reading one section a day to deepen your study of the book.


THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS: HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

A Note to Group Leaders

Every group meeting is an improvisation. No matter how much you prepare, there’s always a chance that someone will ask a question you can’t answer, or that the discussion will go in an unforeseen direction. Maybe someone in the group has a crucial need you have to address. Maybe the Spirit gives you a new understanding of how a biblical teaching applies to people’s lives in your group.

If you’re new to group leading, you can simply follow along through this Study Guide step by step. Remember that your job is to ask questions, not necessarily to give all the answers. It’s okay to let silence stretch its arms as your group thinks through the discussion. As you honor participants’ answers—even the half-baked ones—they’ll be encouraged to participate even more.

If you’re accustomed to doing your own thing, go for it! This guide provides ideas to help you do your job even better. Whether you’re a novice or a veteran, read through each lesson in advance. Know your options. Plan out those parts you’re likely to use. Develop a game plan.

A Note on the Open Section

Adjust it to the character of your group, but don’t skip it for several reasons: First, every group needs some transition time. Second, the people get to know each other. Finally, the introductory questions draw out practical connections between the subject matter and their lives. Don’t leave this step out.

A Note on the Go Deeper Sections

You’re welcome to use the sections you think will best suit your group discussion. We’ve noted places in the main discussion where they might fit. But we recommend going through each Go Deeper in advance to see which ones seem most promising to you. Here are some factors to consider:

• Some people love exploring through the Bible and comparing references. Others, especially those who are rather new to Bible study, may get confused by it. You know your group best, so think through which Go Deeper sections will best suit your unique gathering.

• Any one of the Go Deeper explorations could become a rabbit trail, leading you away from what you intended to cover. Some groups like it that way, finding new adventures in the comparison of different parts of Scripture, but if you have a clear agenda for this study, keep a leash on the discussion.

• The Go Deeper cross-references serve as a sort of “elastic” for your meeting. If you’re running out of time, you can drop the Go Deeper content and the lesson will still make sense. But if you have plenty of time, these explorations can fill it productively.

• Some Go Deeper sections provide insight into the original language behind Philippians. A discussion of the Greek may help to clarify a sticky issue in the text, so feel free to reference them as you see fit. However, some groups may find the technical analysis overwhelming. As with everything, it’s your call.

• If you choose not to discuss the Go Deeper items during your group time, challenge your group members to work through them on their own throughout the week. The deeper study will enrich your next meeting’s discussion.

• We recommend that you go through the Go Deeper portions in your personal preparation and choose how you will handle them. Even the sections you choose not to use will give you helpful background as you lead the group.


Jo Saxton is an author, speaker, podcast

host, and leadership coach. She has

dedicated her career to growing leadership

teams around the world and empowering

women to find their purpose in their personal

lives and in leadership.

Her book More than Enchanting: Breaking

Through Barriers to Influence Your

World discusses the role of women in church

and society. Her book The Dream of You: Let

Go of Broken Identities and Live the Life You

Were Made For helps readers tackle their

past and their identity, as well as learn how

to create a legacy they want. She has also

spearheaded an initiative aimed to help

women grow their leadership skills.

Jo lives in Minneapolis with her husband,

Chris, and their two daughters.

ABOUT JO SAXTON

THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS: ABOUT JO SAXTON


S T U D Y G U I D E

S E S S I O N 1 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 1 – 1 1

THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS: SESSION 17


SESSION 1 : PHIL IPPIANS 1 : 1–11

SESSION GOALS

Every session has a point—what each participant should walk away from the discussion knowing, feeling, and doing.

Main Idea: The fellowship we experience with other Christians comes by God’s grace and produces joy and love.

Head Change: To know the joy, gratitude, and love we experience as being a part of God’s family.

Heart Change: To feel joyful about the fellowship we have with other Christians.

Life Change: To care for the Christians around us through prayer.

» OPEN

Who has been a hero to you? In what ways has that person impacted you to be the person you are today? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

We can all think of someone—a parent, teacher, friend, boss, or coach—who’s impacted us. The book we’re about to study was written to a group of people that made a difference in Paul’s life. The book of Philippians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to a church he cherished and that also cherished him.

This session looks at the beginning of chapter 1, where Paul starts off his letter greeting and praying for the beloved church. Speaker and author Jo Saxton will walk us through what these opening verses mean for us as members of God’s family.

» READ

Read Philippians 1:1–11.

» WATCH

Before viewing the session, here are a few important things to look for in Jo Saxton’s teaching. As you watch, pay attention to how Jo answers the following questions.

How did the church in Philippi get started? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

How would you describe Paul’s relationship with the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What does Paul do to express his love for the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Show Session 1: Philippians 1:1–11 (10 minutes)



» DISCUSS

Jo Saxton started off the video by explaining the back story of the Philippian church. She recalled the story told in Acts 16 of Paul meeting Lydia (a businesswoman who became the first Christian in Philippi) and the events that followed. From Jo’s explanation, what impression do you have of the church in Philippi and Paul’s relationship he had with them? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the background of the church in Philippi, see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.


Jo compared Paul’s relationship with the Philippians to the kind of friendship that picks up right where it left off—full of joy, fondness, and gratitude. What from these first eight verses show Paul’s affection for the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul’s greeting in Philippians, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of the session.

Paul talks about the gratitude and joy he has when he prays for the Philippians. The theme of joy runs throughout the book—Jo called it the “letter of joy.” How would you describe the joy Paul talks about in these opening verses? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Joy is more than simple happiness. Joy is an attribute of God, produced in us by the Holy Spirit. When we experience joy—especially among other Christians—we know it’s been supernaturally supplied by God. What does it look like to experience joy because of the fellowship we have with other Christians? When have you experienced that type of joy? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul’s use of the word joy, see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

The next few verses unpack why we’re able to experience joy because of our relationships with other Christians. In verse 6, Paul reminds the Philippians that God will complete the work he started in them. The same can be said of us—we can be confident that God continues to make us more holy. What difference has it made in your walk with Jesus to know that God is working—and will continue to work—in you until Jesus comes back? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



God works in us to make us more holy. Paul continues by explaining why that truth directly impacts the fellowship we have with Christians. What reasons does Paul give in verse 7 for why he feels the way he does about the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul cares deeply for the Philippians—that much is evident in verse 7. But he also reminds the Philippians that he has affection for them because they share in God’s grace. In other words, they have common ground through the grace God has given all of them. What are some other examples of things all Christians have in common? In what ways is it helpful to remember what we have in common? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


What does Paul pray for the Philippians in verses 9–11? How would your life look different if you knew another Christian prayed the same things for you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on prayer in the church, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

Looking back over these first eleven verses, what are some ways we benefit from the community we experience through the family of God? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

We are members of a family bound together through the love and grace of God. This foundation can help us grow our relationships with other Christians to the point where we’re as affectionate, prayerful, and joyful as Paul is in this letter. What’s your experience been like with other Christians? In what ways have you experienced the type of relationship Paul had with the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The importance of Christian fellowship will come up a lot in our study of Philippians. Following Jesus means we’ve been brought into a family. Jo talked about some of the Christians in her life who’ve influenced her faith. Who has made an impact on your walk with Christ? What did you learn from him or her? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS: SESSION 11 0


As we saw in this opening session, Christian community is a two-way street. Paul called the Philippians his partners in the gospel. If we want Christian community, we have to be willing to invest in the Christians around us. One of the ways we express our love for other Christians is through prayer. Jo encouraged us to pray like Paul did for our Christian friends. What could it look like for you to spend some intentional time in prayer for a Christian friend this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

» LAST WORD

The book of Philippians unpacks what it means to follow Jesus in day-to-day life. One of the key aspects of life with Jesus is his people—the church. Paul’s relationship with the Philippians gives us a glimpse of healthy Christian community. The reality is, however, that many of us have experienced unhealthy relationships with other Christians. Jo encouraged us to fight for healthy Christian fellowship instead of retreating away from the Christians in our lives when we feel hurt. Whether you are in a wounded or healthy position when it comes to the church, we can all take practical steps toward loving the Christians God has placed in our lives.

When Christian community is healthy, we can experience the same joy, gratitude, and love Paul expresses for the Philippians in these opening verses. As we discussed in this session, healthy community can begin with us. Following Jesus means we love his people. One of the most loving things we can do is pray for the Christians in our lives.

Let’s love the people of God by praying for them this week.

GO DEEPER

The Go Deeper section has two potential functions. It can supplement your small group discussion by providing extra discussion material. We’ve highlighted a place where each of the following segments could fit in the Discuss section of the study guide.

But you can also use these sections as short devotionals to carry you through the week until your next group meeting. Consider reading one section a day to deepen your study of the book of Philippians.

1. BACKGROUND Read Acts 16:6–40.

How does Luke describe the city of Philippi in verse 12?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Jo mentioned in the video that, since Philippi was a Roman colony, it would have been immersed in its culture and traditions. It was a stop on the Egnatian Way, a trade route through Asia Minor. It was a town with a variety of people of various classes and standings, a few of whom we meet in Acts 16.

Who were the first two members of the church in Philippi? What, if anything, did they have in common before they became Christians?......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s similar about their conversion stories? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Lydia and the Philippian jailer had little in common before they followed Jesus. We’ll talk a lot about Christian community as we study this letter. One of the ways we can benefit from being a part of God’s family is the common ground we gain through belief in Jesus. If we have conflict or division in the church, we can always remember the ways God unites us through belief in Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Make a list of what you have in common with other Christians because of Jesus. What could you do to remind yourself of those truths as you interact with other Christians this week? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

2. PEEK AT THE GREEK: PAUL’S GREETING Read Philippians 1:1–2.

We learn in elementary school how to write a formal letter. We format it a certain way and start with “Dear.” Letters in the Roman empire also followed a specific format, and we can see that format at the beginning of Philippians. In verse 2, he offers the common greeting of grace and adds it to the Jewish greeting of peace. But he includes other important words that set up what he’s about to address in his letter.

Why do you think Paul would describe himself and Timothy as slaves of God? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The word for slave, doulos, referred to someone who was controlled completely by another person. While the kind of slavery in the Roman Empire differed from the kind of slavery we’re familiar with in North American history—or even from modern-day human trafficking—it still meant a person was owned by someone else. They had no rights, no freedoms, no say. For Paul to call himself a slave of Jesus shows how devoted Paul was to Jesus and how Paul viewed himself in comparison to Jesus.

What stands out to you about how Paul labels himself at the beginning of this letter? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul calls his recipients hagios, a term commonly used to describe people who belonged to God. Right at the beginning of the letter, Paul reminds the Philippians of their special relationship to God through Jesus Christ. What difference does it make in your day-to-day attitude to know that you belong to God? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

This study on Philippians will explore what it means to be part of God’s family. When we follow Jesus, he changes the way we view ourselves and each other. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to prepare you for what he will teach you through this study.

3. PEEK AT THE GREEK: JOY IN PHILIPPIANS Read Philippians 1:3–6.

What’s Paul’s tone toward the Philippians in this passage? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The book of Philippians is commonly known as the letter of joy. It earns the name partially because it’s one of Paul’s most positive books. It, unlike all of Paul’s other letters, doesn’t carry heavy criticism for the church that received the letter.

Read Galatians 1:6–7 and 1 Corinthians 1:10–13.



What’s different about Paul’s tone in these passages compared to the opening of Philippians? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

One of the ways Paul shows his positive attitude toward the Philippians is through his word choice. He the word Greek word chara, meaning joy, fourteen times in both noun and verb form throughout the letter (1:4, 18, 25; 2:2, 17, 18, 28, 29; 3:1; 4:1, 4, 10). What’s most astounding is that Paul writes about joy while in prison. We’ll dive more into the specifics of his imprisonment later, but for now, let’s reflect on Paul’s attitude.

Take some time to think about your attitude toward God, yourself, and your life. Would you describe it as joyful? Why or why not? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Spend a couple of minutes in prayer, asking God to teach you more about joy through studying Philippians.

4. PRAYER IN THE CHURCH

Prayer has always been an essential marker of God’s people. From the earliest days of Israel to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane to the church in Acts, the people of God cry out to him in prayer. Prayer can be as simple as talking to God about your day and as powerful as beseeching God for a miracle.

Take a moment to reflect on your attitude toward prayer. What’s been your experience with prayer? Where do you see room for growth? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Jo encouraged us to pray for the Christians in our lives as Paul did for the Philippians. It can sometimes feel overwhelming to pray for a large amount of people. Over the thousands of years since Jesus ascended the church has composed and compiled prayers for Christians to use as part of their spiritual routine. We’ve listed two, one from The Book of Common Prayer and the other from Augustine, an early church father. Consider using these words as you pray for your Christian community this week.

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, 818)

Look upon us, O Lord, and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of thy brightness. Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom. All our desire is known unto thee, therefore perfect what thou hast begun, and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek thy face, turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory. Then shall our longing be satisfied, and our peace shall be perfect. (Augustine)


S T U D Y G U I D E

S E S S I O N 2 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 1 2 – 2 6




SESSION GOALS


Main Idea: Christians are able to endure the suffering that comes with joyful sacrifice because we know that, in serving Jesus, our deaths are not the end of the story.

Head Change: To know the greater purpose of our suffering on earth—that it glorifies God, serves other Christians, and reaches non-Christians.

Heart Change: To feel hopeful about our lives on earth because we know Jesus and trust in his future return.

Life Change: To endure suffering with joy, looking to Jesus as the object of our hope—both in this life and for eternity.

» OPEN

Think back to one of the biggest life-changing moments of your life—graduation, your first job, your wedding day. What were your expectations going into that moment? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Looking back now, were your expectations accurate? Why or why not? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... We all have expectations for how our life might play out. Even when we decide to follow Jesus, we expect life to go a certain way. Maybe we think being a Christian should be easy, or that we should never feel pain, or that we’ll always get what we want. In today’s session, we’ll see that following Jesus involves sacrifice, pain, but also joy.

» READ


» WATCH


What situation is Paul in when he writes this letter to the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................................... What’s Paul’s attitude toward life, death, and suffering throughout these verses? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


» DISCUSS

Jo opened the video by reminding us of Paul’s friendship with the Philippians. What do you recall from last week’s study about Paul’s relationship with the Philippians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Paul cares about the Philippians—and their relationship will remain the backdrop of this letter. He writes out of love for them that’s founded on God’s grace.




As Jo explained, these verses show us that Paul was in prison at the time he composed Philippians. What’s Paul’s attitude toward his circumstances? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul’s imprisonment, see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.

What’s been the result of Paul’s imprisonment? Who has been influenced by his faithfulness to God? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... Even though Paul’s in prison, suffering for Christ, God’s using him. Not only are people coming to Christ, but other Christians are also boldly sharing the gospel, inspired by Paul’s words and actions. But what issue does Paul surface in 1:15–17 about some of these preachers? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... On top of being in prison, Paul has heard account of people preaching the gospel out of envy. What do you think your response would be if you heard about someone’s selfish motives for sharing the gospel? What was Paul’s point of view? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Similar to his mindset towards prison, Paul sees the greater purpose behind the envious preachers. All he cares about is Christ being preached, so he rejoices.

Note: For further study on God’s sovereignty in Philippians, see the Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

Suffering can serve many purposes, and here we see how God uses Paul’s imprisonment to help the church and reach the lost. When have you seen someone handle suffering with the same approach as Paul? What was the impact on non-Christians? Christians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Our attitude towards suffering can make a difference not only in our personal walk with God, but also in the lives of the people around us. If you reflect on the ways you’ve handled suffering in the past, would you say your attitude has been like Paul’s? Where do you see room for growth? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Paul has the privilege of seeing God’s purpose for his suffering. That’s not always the case for Christians—we may never know the reason we experience suffering. Paul’s words in the next section remind us why we can persist through suffering, even when we don’t know why it’s happening.




What reason does Paul give for his continual rejoicing in verse 19? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Paul knows—because people have been praying for him and the Holy Spirit has reassured him—that, though he’s in prison, he will eventually experience deliverance. Looking at verses 20 and 21, what kind of deliverance does Paul expect? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul not being put to shame, see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

Paul says he will be delivered no matter what the outcome is—whether he lives or dies. What do you think Paul means when he says, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”? According to 1:22–26, what advantage is there if Paul remains alive? What does he gain if he dies? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Note: For further study on the cost of discipleship, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

No matter what happens to him, Paul sees a greater purpose. If he lives, he gets to obey Christ by serving his church. If he dies, he’s with Jesus. Why do you think Paul is able to keep this perspective? What about his outlook on his life and death resonates with you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... As Jo mentioned in the video, we can learn a lot about from Paul’s example in these verses. It’s tempting to believe the Christian life is supposed to be easy—or that it’s supposed to be about us. Paul demonstrates a different approach: Our lives as Christians are for Jesus and his people, not ourselves. What expectations did you have for the Christian life when you first believed in Jesus? How have those expectations played out? What about your perspective has changed? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Think about your week ahead—your job, your family, your spare time, your chores, your worries. What could it look like for you to have Paul’s perspective on life this week? What would be different? What would be the same? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



» LAST WORD

Despite what we might hear in popular Christian culture, following Jesus is hard. We were never promised an easy life. Jesus even promised trouble—he warned his disciples of persecution and hatred and death. But even in the grim reality of life, we can have the same attitude as Paul did when he was in prison.

When we focus entirely on Jesus—who he is, his presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and his return—he reshapes our perspective. As with Paul, we can see purpose in our pain. We can learn to cherish Jesus above all else. We can choose joy.

This week, let’s choose to see our day-to-day troubles with the same eyes as Paul did—filtered with the light of Christ.

GO DEEPER The Go Deeper section has two potential functions. It can supplement your small group discussion by providing extra discussion material. We’ve highlighted a place where each of the following segments could fit in the Discuss section of the study guide.


1. PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT Read Philippians 1:7, 12–14, 17.

What is Paul’s situation based on these verses? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... We can surmise that Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians. Commentators debate over where Paul was during his imprisonment—some say Ephesus, others say Corinth, while others argue for Rome. Because of the language and context clues in the text, the most likely explanation is that Paul is in Rome.

But prison during this time was much different than what we understand prison to be today. What is your cultural understanding of prison? What does it involve? What needs do prisoners have? How do they end up there? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Prison under Roman rule could mean a variety of things. You could be thrown into an actual prison, which was often a crypt-like structure with bars and little sunlight. We see this kind of prison in Acts 16. In this instance detailed in Philippians, Paul probably had some freedoms—he knew he’d have a trial, people could visit him, and he could communicate with people on the outside. We also know from the end of Philippians (4:14–18) that Paul had needs that weren’t being met while he was in prison. He needed financial and physical gifts to keep going.

What differences do you notice between our modern understanding of prison and what happened to Paul? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ We often breeze over the fact that Paul was in prison when he wrote a number of his letters. But the truth is he suffered—his words come from a person who is in the middle of living out what he’s writing. What about Paul’s situation influences how you read Philippians 1? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Reread Philippians 1:1–26 this week with Paul’s imprisonment in mind. Pay specific attention to his attitude and ask God to show you how you can imitate Paul’s perspective in your life this week.

2. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN PHILIPPIANS

One of the things Paul recognizes about God while he writes to the Philippians is God’s sovereignty. We can see this truth surface throughout the letter.


In verse 16, what kind of language does Paul use to describe his situation? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... Paul says he “was put here for the defense of the gospel.” By using passive language, he implies that God is the one who allowed him to be thrown in prison. Why would God allow Paul to be in prison? What good does Paul see happening as a result of his imprisonment?.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul trusts that God put him in prison and he gets to see the fruit of his faithfulness—the whole palace guard knows he’s there for Christ and Christians are boldly sharing the gospel. Even so, some are preaching the gospel out of rivalry. What does Paul say about those who are preaching from false motives? Why doesn’t he care? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................

Paul sees God’s sovereign hand over the envious preachers. He rejoices because the gospel is going out—it doesn’t matter to him how it’s happening. When is it hard for you to trust the sovereignty of God? In what ways does Paul’s example in these verses encourage you to trust God in those situations? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ What could trust in God’s sovereignty look like in your life this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. PEEK AT THE GREEK: PAUL WILL NOT BE ASHAMED

In Philippians 1:20, Paul explains that his expectation for being in prison is that he will not be put to shame. He uses the Greek word aischynō, which can either mean having shame for doing something wrong or for doing something beneath your status. We often associate the English word shame with a feeling of guilt as well. But is that really what Paul’s getting at in this verse?

Read Romans 10:9–11.

According to these verses, why are Christians not put to shame? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Romans 10 provides a backdrop for us to understand what’s happening in Philippians 1:20. Paul’s talking about his belief in Jesus. He knows that believing in Jesus and proclaiming his gospel will prove to be worthwhile. He’s saying he’s made the right choice—the foundation and focus of his life is Jesus and that is not a shameful pursuit. Consider your walk with Christ. What has made following Jesus worthwhile to you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... Take a look back at Philippians 1:20. What else does Paul hope for in this verse? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................... Not only does Paul expect to avoid being ashamed, but he also hopes Christ will be glorified in him, whether he lives or dies. The Greek word is megalynō, which means to respect or honor someone because of their importance. Paul isn’t concerned with getting out of prison. He just wants to exalt Jesus with his life. What stands out to you about Paul’s attitude toward his circumstances? What about toward Jesus?.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................

What could it mean for you to have this kind of outlook on your life? What would change about your attitude towards comfort? Recognition? Your reputation? Suffering? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s one way you could honor Jesus this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

4. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

At the end of her teaching, Jo referenced a famous passage where Jesus talked about the cost of following him. In many ways, that passage relates to what we’ve studied in Philippians so far.

Read Philippians 1:21 and Luke 9:23–24.

According to Jesus in Luke, what does it cost for someone to follow him? What must we do to gain life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Think about each aspect of the cost of discipleship for a moment. In what ways does your life compare to the one Jesus describes of his followers? In what areas of your life is Jesus asking you to deny yourself? To put something to death? To follow him? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Following Jesus means we put ourselves to death—our desires, our possessions, our will. But when we do, we gain the life of Jesus—both now and into eternity. In what ways do Paul’s words in Philippians 1 reflect what Jesus says in Luke 9? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul got it. He understood that his life was for Jesus and that his death meant he would be with Jesus. What’s keeping you from having Paul’s same attitude toward your life? What could you do today to choose to think of life and death as Paul does? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

As Paul shows us in the opening chapter of Philippians, following Jesus is difficult. It costs us everything: our reputations, our dreams, our career goals—it did for Paul. Take a few moments to pray about the cost of following Jesus. Have you given your life to Christ? Or have you simply added him into your life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


S T U D Y G U I D E

S E S S I O N 3 : P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 2 7 – 2 : 1 1



SESSION 3 : PHILIPPIANS 1 :27–2:11

SESSION GOALS


Main Idea: Joyfully sacrificing for other Christians brings unity to the church by putting other Christians’ interests above our own.

Head Change: To know why Christians should imitate Christ by putting others’ interests first and how doing so can bring unity to the church.

Heart Change: To feel grateful for the example of selflessness Jesus sets for us.

Life Change: To pursue unity in the church by putting other Christians’ interests first.

» OPEN

What’s one of the most selfless things someone has ever done for you? What impact did his or her actions have on you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

It’s a great feeling when someone goes out of their way to love you. It can even bolster your relationship with that person. In today’s session we’ll examine the impact of selflessness in the church. We’ll talk about how Jesus is the ultimate example of humility and putting others’ needs first.

» READ

Read Philippians 1:27–2:11.

» WATCH


What does it mean to pursue unity in the church? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Who is our example of humility? What has he done to be our example? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Show Session 3: Philippians 1:27–2:11 (7 minutes)

» DISCUSS

As Jo talked about in the video, this section is about the unity we can find in the church when we imitate Jesus. Jo started off by reminding us that the Philippian church was full of people from all types of backgrounds. Unity wouldn’t have been easy.


Why is it important to Paul that the church stands together? What is the church facing? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the phrase “worthy of the gospel,” see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.



As we saw in Acts 16, and as is outlined in these verses, the church in Philippi faced opposition. We don’t know if it was the same people who threw Paul in prison. But we do know it was serious enough to cause fear and for Paul to write to encourage the church to stand firm. Why would unity in the face of opposition be helpful for Christians? In what ways does it honor God? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on what Jesus says about unity, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

In verse 29, Paul says it’s been granted to the church to suffer for Jesus. What’s your reaction to his statement? What difference does it make to your walk with Jesus to know suffering is promised for his followers? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Yes, we stand united as the church because we believe in Jesus. But we also stand united so that we can endure suffering for the sake of Christ together. God doesn’t intend for us to suffer alone. When have Christians helped you through suffering? What difference did it make to have them by your side? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul moves on from describing what he wants the Philippians to do (stand firm together through suffering) to how he wants them to do it.


Note: For further study on Paul’s discussion of unity in his letters, see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

Looking at verse 1, what unites the church? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

We stand on the love of Jesus—united in him through the Holy Spirit. From that foundation, we’re able to pursue growing unity as the people of God. Paul goes on to encourage the Philippians to pursue unifying attributes like love, selflessness, and humility. Which of the characteristics Paul lists stands out to you the most? Why? Where do you see room for your own growth? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

In what ways could acting as Paul describes in these verses help the church be unified? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul’s encouragement can be boiled down to verse 4: Look to other people’s interests above your own. When is it difficult for you to put someone else’s interests first? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



When has someone valued you over themselves? What effect did their actions have on you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul wants the Philippians to be selfless. When they put each other first, they will meet each other’s needs, love each other well, and achieve unity. Paul goes on to give the Philippians an example of selflessness for them to emulate.


Paul walks through Jesus’s mindset in these verses. What aspects of Jesus’s character do you see? Which of these aspects stands out to you the most? Why? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Philippians 2:6–11 see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

Jesus humbled himself in a way we cannot easily understand. He stepped down from glory as a human, yet still fully God. He had a scandal surrounding his birth, a small-town upbringing, and thirty years of obscurity. His short, three-year ministry ended in a cruel death. Jo reminded us that the cross was a scandalous image in the first century—it was a death reserved for thieves and rebels. With all of Jesus’s life and death in mind, what do you think it looks like for you to have the mindset of Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Because Jesus was faithful to the Father even unto death, the Father has glorified him to the highest place. We, his people, represent and follow him until he returns. Paul encourages the Philippians to be like Jesus not only for their personal growth, but also for the sake of the church and for the glory of God. What difference do you think it would make in your life if you had Jesus’s mindset? What kind of an impact could having this mindset have on the unity of your church? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Think of one relationship with another Christian in your life—maybe with someone you have a difficult time getting along with. What could you do to be like Jesus to that person this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

» LAST WORD

Unity is difficult. We have to work at it. As Jo talked about in the video, when we come into the family of God, we join with people from all kinds of backgrounds. It’s likely we’ll clash with other Christians. But as we saw in the session, to live worthy of the gospel of Christ means we put other people—and their interests—first.

Jesus is our perfect example of selflessness. He is God and he stooped to earth as a human—the lowliest position. Even more, he laid down his life for us in the most humiliating way. We as his followers are called to imitate him. We can put other Christians first for the sake of unity and for the sake of Christ.

This week, what could you do to promote unity in your church?



GO DEEPER



1. PEEK AT THE GREEK: WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

Paul urges the Philippians to live lives “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” But what does a “worthy” life look like? Paul uses the word axiōs several times throughout his letters to describe the way Christians should live.

Read Ephesians 4:1–3; Colossians 1:9–12; 1 Thessalonians 2:6–12.

Go back through each passage and write down the attributes of a worthy life. With each of these passages in mind, what does a worthy life look like? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

To live a worthy life is to be like Jesus—patient, servant-hearted, humble, and so on. Who is someone who has shown you what it looks like to live a worthy life? What stands out to you about that person? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................

It can be tempting to read passages like these and create a to-do list to become “worthy.” But in reality, walking in obedience to God—or living a worthy life—isn’t fueled by us. Re-read Colossians 1:9–10. Who is the one who enables us to live a worthy life? What difference does it make to you to know that the Spirit is with you and enables you to live this way? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Look back on your list from earlier. Circle one or two things you see as areas in your life that need growth. Take those areas to God in prayer. Ask him to give you opportunities to grow in living a life worthy of the gospel.

2. PAUL’S UNITY ILLUSTRATION

Unity is a common topic in Paul’s letters. He writes to churches that threaten to split, that disagree about theology, or that won’t mix because of social status. In his first letter to the Corinthians, he uses a metaphor of a body to illustrate why unity is crucial to the church.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12–27.

In what ways does Paul’s metaphor of a body show the importance of unity? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

In what ways does Paul’s metaphor impact your understanding of the church and how it should function? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



When have you seen the church operate like a unified body? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

In what ways can you contribute to the unity of the church this week? What could you do to encourage another Christian about his or her role in the body of Christ? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. JESUS’S PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH

We’ve talked a lot about unity in this session. Paul is adamant throughout his letters to the early churches that they remain unified. The push for unity among God’s people goes back to Jesus.

Read John 17:20–23.

For context, Jesus prayed that prayer before going to the cross. In some of his final words before his death, he prayed for those who would believe in him because of the message of the apostles—the church. What all does Jesus pray for the church? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

What does Jesus pray will happen because of the church’s unity? What kind of a witness does a unified church give to the world? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Why do you think Jesus chose to pray for unity as one of his final acts before going to his death? Why would unity be important to him? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Unity gives weight to the gospel message. It shows that what we believe actually makes a difference in our lives and the lives of the Christians around us. It testifies to God’s power and love.

What could it look like to value unity as Jesus did? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Where do you see disunity among the Christians in your life? What could you do this week to promote unity instead of division? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



4. PAUSE AND REFLECT: LECTIO DIVINA

We can sometimes breeze over familiar passages of Scripture instead of letting the words set in. Lectio Divina, or prayerful reading, is a way to pause and reflect on a passage.

Below are the four steps of Lectio Divina, which will help you pray and think deeply about Philippians 2:6–11. Carve out some time this week to go through this exercise. Take your time for each step. This isn’t something to rush through, so make sure you have plenty of time before you start.

Lectio (read): Remove all distractions and quiet your mind before God. Now read Philippians 2:6–11 three times slowly. If you can, read it out loud to yourself. Let the message hit you. After reading it three times, find one verse or phrase that stands out to you the most. Re-read it a couple more times and place emphasis on different words as you read.

Meditatio (meditate): Think about the phrase or verse that stood out to you. What does it mean? What does it say about God? Humans? How does it contribute to the big idea we’ve talked about in Philippians?

Oratio (pray): Pray through your verse or phrase. Ask God to show you what he’s saying through this verse. Take your verse and turn it into a prayer. For example, if you chose verse 7, you could pray, “Thank you, Jesus, for humbling yourself to come to this world,” or, “Teach me to be a servant like Jesus.”

Contemplatio (contemplate): Now that you’ve read, thought, and prayed through the text, finish off your time in silence. Ask God to speak to you. Pray he’d show you one practical thing you could apply to your life from this passage. Then listen. Write down what he says and then do it.


S T U D Y G U I D E





SESSION GOALS


Main Idea: Joyful sacrifice means we obey God in our words, actions, and thoughts no matter what.

Head Change: To know what it practically looks like to live out joyful sacrifice as Jesus did.

Heart Change: To feel encouraged in joyfully obeying God by looking to the examples we see in Jesus and other Christians.

Life Change: To faithfully obey God in our words, actions, and thoughts.

» OPEN

If you could be one person for a day, who would you pick? Why? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

It’s fun to think about adopting someone’s life for a day. We could experience new habits, enjoy extravagant luxuries, or exercise that person’s power. But after living that person’s life for a day, we’d be back to our old selves—nothing would have really changed.

What does it look like to change the way we live now? Last week we talked about how Jesus is our example to follow. We can imitate his humility, obedience, and faithfulness. We’ll see in this session what it looks like practically to live like Jesus did.

» READ


» WATCH


What does Paul mean when he talks about shining like stars? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Who does Paul use as examples of what it means to follow Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


» DISCUSS

In the last session, we talked about unity. When we choose selflessness and humility, unity isn’t far behind. As we saw earlier in chapter 2, Jesus is our perfect example of how to live this way. What do you recall from last week’s discussion of Jesus and his character? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

This week’s section of verses starts with a “therefore” (NIV), which shows us that it’s closely connected to the ideas set up in the earlier parts of chapter 2. We could almost read “therefore” as, “Since Jesus is our example…”




In light of what we’ve talked about in chapter 2, what do you think it mean to “work out your salvation”? In what ways is it connected to what we talked about last week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the phrase “work out your salvation,” see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.

As Jo mentioned in the video, working out our salvation doesn’t mean we’re earning our salvation. Rather, Paul is calling the Philippians to persist in obeying God and following Jesus. Paul reminds the Philippians in verse 13 that it’s God who’s doing the work in them. In what ways does knowing God’s the one working in you reassure you about the way you work out your salvation? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

One of the greatest hopes we have as Christians is that God is with us and working in us always. The Holy Spirit lives in us as our helper as we follow Jesus in obedience to God.


Paul tells the Philippians to do everything without complaining or arguing. When is it difficult for you to avoid complaining and arguing? What helps you prevent them from happening altogether? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul’s goal for the Philippians is that they will become “blameless and pure” so that they can shine like stars in the darkness of the world. Why do you think our obedience to God can impact the lost world around us? What do our actions say about the church? About God? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the children of God, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

When we’re obedient to God, not only do we experience unity like we talked about last week, but we also show the world who God is and what it’s like to be a part of his family. When have you seen God use your obedience to him as a witness to people outside the church? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Jo encouraged us to shine—not just as individuals, but as a community of believers. What actions “shine” the truth to the outside world? What could it look like for your church to “shine” in your town or city? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul comparing himself to a drink offering, see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.



Our obedience affects us personally and it also impacts the people around us—believers and non-believers alike. For Paul, he knows their obedience will be worth it to him both in the future when Jesus returns and in the present as he rejoices in their faithfulness. Paul then goes on to talk about two people who have modeled obedience.


Skim back through the passage. What words does Paul use to describe Timothy? Epaphroditus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Timothy, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

Paul praises Timothy and Epaphroditus for their faithfulness to God and their service to the people of God. Which of these two men stands out to you the most? What could it look like for you to imitate him in your walk with Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Who are the people in your life whose faith you look up to? What’s one thing about them that you want to emulate in your life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Jo said, “We might never claim to be perfect examples of following Jesus, but we are living ones. Therefore, what you and I say and think and do matters. It matters to God. It matters to our faith community. It matters to our wider community.” What does it mean to you that you’re a “living example” of following Jesus? What kind of example are you setting? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What could you do this week to remind yourself that you’re setting an example for other Christians to follow? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s one way you could walk in obedience to God with your thoughts, words, or actions this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

» LAST WORD

Paul always has a reason behind his advice or commands in his letters. We’ve seen over the past couple weeks how he wanted the church in Philippi to be unified, to imitate Jesus, to obey God. The reason was not only for the good of each individual’s growth as believers, but also for the sake of the church and its witness to the world.



Our actions, thoughts, and words matter to God. He cares about us, wants us to be holy, and works in us to make us more like Jesus. He also cares about the church and her witness to the world. When we’re obedient to God—when we follow the commandments laid out in Scripture, put other people’s interests firsts, and avoid grumbling and complaining—we grow, we benefit the church, and we witness to the world about our God.

This week let’s remember that people are observing our lives. Other Christians look up to us as examples of what it means to walk with Jesus. Non-Christians watch to see how we act because of our faith. Let’s choose to be obedient.

GO DEEPER



1. PEEK AT THE GREEK: WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION

In verse 12, Paul tells the Philippians to “continue to work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling.” At first, these words seem to contradict other passages of Scripture that talk about how we cannot earn our salvation. But that’s not what Paul’s getting at.

Read Philippians 1:27–2:13 straight through.

Paul talks a lot about what the Philippians’ lives should look like—especially when it comes to each other. Skim back through the verses and write down all the commands Paul gives to the Philippians.

Looking at your list, what does Paul want for the Philippian church? In what ways does his vision for the church relate to what Jesus has done for them?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

As we saw last week, Paul ultimately wants the Philippians to look to Jesus as the example of how to treat each other. So when he talks about working out their salvation, he’s referring to how they live as followers of Jesus—especially around other Christians. When you consider your Christian relationships, where do you see areas you’re becoming more like Jesus? Where do you see room for growth? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul says to work out salvation with fear and trembling—not the first words we might bring to mind. He uses the Greek words phobos (fear) and tomos (trembling), which each carry the connotations of both being afraid and being in awe. Paul wants the Philippians to see the gravity of their actions. How they treat each other should not be taken lightly. What could it look like for you to approach Jesus with awe? In what ways could awe for Jesus fuel the way you treat other Christians?...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul closes this section by reminding us that it’s God who works in us for his purpose. When loving other Christians is difficult, he’s there working in us. Spend some time in prayer. Ask God to refresh your awe for him and what he’s done for you. Then ask him how he wants you to love another Christian in your life this week.

2. CHILDREN OF GOD

In Philippians 2:15, Paul calls the Philippians “children of God.” It seems like a simple phrase, but it’s packed with meaning. We can breeze over familiar statements like this one without pausing to the consider their significance.



Read John 1:11–13; Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 3:26–29; 1 John 3:1–3, 10.

With these passages in mind, what does it mean for us to be children of God? What benefits do the children of God receive?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

It’s clear across these passages that we become children of God by faith in Jesus. Before we believe in him, we are enemies of God, separated from him by our sin. But God in his grace brings us into his family through faith in Jesus. What difference does it make to you to know that you’ve been brought into God’s family?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Being children of God also means we have hope. We look forward to Jesus’s return. The Romans passage says we’ll be his co-heirs and the 1 John passage talks about us being like him. In what ways does the inheritance that comes with being God’s children offer you hope? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

In 1 John 3:10, John explains the identifiers of the children of God: obedience and love for one another. In what ways does this verse in 1 John relate to what we’re studying in Philippians this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Being part of the children of God means we take care of each other. As Paul outlined earlier in Philippians 2, it means we are selfless, humble, and obedient to God—we imitate Jesus. What’s one way you could obey God today? Who is one Christian you could love this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. A DRINK OFFERING

Paul says in Philippians 2:14–18 that he is “being poured out like a drink offering.” Let’s look at what Paul means by “drink offering” and why he chose it as an illustration.

Read Numbers 15:1–12; 28:6–8.

According to these verses, what was a drink offering? What would the Israelites do with it? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Israelites sacrificed for many reasons—to atone for sin, to give thanks, to worship God. But it’s important to know that drink offerings never stood on their own—they always accompanied another sacrifice. In what ways does Paul comparing himself to a drink offering show his humility? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................



Paul saw the sacrifices he made in his life as secondary to the sacrifice of the Philippians, which, as we learn in 2:25 and 4:14–18, came in the form of a financial gift for Paul. The Philippians were obedient to God by sending the gift, which enabled Paul to do his work while in prison. So Paul rejoices and invites the Philippians to rejoice too. What stands out to you about Paul’s attitude toward the Philippians and their gift?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

What could it look like this week to see your life as Paul saw his—as a sacrifice, as secondary to others’, and with joy? In what ways could adopting his attitude influence the way you see other Christians?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

4. WHO IS TIMOTHY?

Paul gives us a little bit of information about Timothy in Philippians 2—Paul sent him to Philippi to bring back a report, Timothy showed genuine care for people, and Timothy served Paul well. But there’s more to know about Timothy.

Read Acts 16:1–5; 17:13–15; 19:21–22; 1 Timothy 1:1–2; 1 Corinthians 4:14–17.

What all do we learn about Timothy from these passages? What was his relationship with Paul like?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Timothy was Paul’s right-hand man. Paul trusted him to visit churches, to carry messages for him, and he even considered Timothy a son. When have you seen a relationship like Paul and Timothy’s between two Christians? What was appealing about their friendship? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What do you think made Paul and Timothy’s relationship possible? What would it take to have a relationship like theirs in your own life?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

We also know that Timothy was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of others. In the Acts 16 passage, Luke explains that Timothy was circumcised for the sake of the Jewish people he’d be ministering to. Paul also describes Timothy as giving of himself to serve Paul and the church. What could it look like in your life to have the same attitude toward sacrifice as Timothy did? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Consider the week ahead and the people you’ll encounter. What’s one thing God could be asking you to sacrifice for the sake of another person this week?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


S T U D Y G U I D E

S E S S I O N 5 : P H I L I P P I A N S 3 : 1 – 1 1




SESSION GOALS Every session has a point—what each participant should walk away from the discussion knowing, feeling, and doing.

Main Idea: Everything we might joyfully sacrifice in this life pales in comparison to knowing Christ, following him, and hoping in his return.

Head Change: To know why knowing, following, and hoping in Jesus is worth the sacrifices we make in this life.

Heart Change: To feel convicted about the ways we’re valuing our lives over Jesus.

Life Change: To surrender our lives—our reputation, will, dreams, resources, time—to Jesus today while also hoping in his return.

» OPEN

What did you want to be when you grew up? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

It’s fun to think about who we wanted to be as a kid. Maybe it worked out exactly as we hoped. Or maybe we’re grateful we didn’t end up being a cowboy or a dancer. No matter how our lives have turned out so far, it can be easy to put pride in our identity—our schooling, salary, friendships, family, or reputation. In today’s session we’ll look at Paul’s attitude toward his credibility and how his view of Jesus completely transformed him.

» READ


» WATCH


Who were the Judaizers and what was their message? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What does Paul compare his human credibility to? What’s more important to him?...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


» DISCUSS

We’ve talked a lot about sacrifice and joy so far in this series. But is it worth it? Paul answers that question in this passage.


After a reminder to rejoice in God, Paul gives the Philippians a warning. There were people called Judaizers who believed Gentiles had to convert to Judaism—and adopt all their customs, such as circumcision—in order to be Christians. What’s wrong with that idea of Christianity?...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the Judaizers, see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.

Jo explained that the Judaizers were trying to add to the gospel by creating a list of requirements for people to be saved. What are some modern examples of people adding to the gospel message? Why can it sometimes be tempting for us to believe those things are necessary for salvation?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................



The core problem of the Judaizers was pride—they boasted in their status as Jews and thought everyone had to be like them to be saved. When have you noticed pride creep into your understanding of the gospel? What effect did pride have on the way you treated other people? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul would have none of it, so he pulls from his own life to show how the Judaizers’ claims were unfounded.


Paul lists off his credibility at the beginning of this passage. But instead of bragging about himself, he considers everything he gained in life to be a loss. What stands out to you about Paul’s attitude toward his life—his reputation, background, career? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul’s credibility, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

In addition to counting everything in his life as garbage, Paul doesn’t care if he suffered—he knows that following Jesus is worth any loss or pain or sorrow. What’s your attitude toward suffering? In what ways does your attitude compare to Paul’s?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Paul calling his life “garbage,” see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

We can see a contrast in this passage. There’s the way the world wants us to live—selfishly—and the way of Christ. Without falling into gossip, what kind of life does someone who’s consumed with themselves live? In what ways does that kind of life contrast what Paul’s describing in these verses? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

To have the same attitude as Paul describes directly contradicts the message of the world around us. What pressures have you experienced from the outside world to value yourself over Jesus? What about from other Christians? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Everything Paul’s talking about sounds nice on paper, but it’s much harder lived out. If what he’s saying is true, it means we put our kids, spouse, career, friends, and possessions all behind Jesus. What hesitations do you have about considering everything in your life a loss compared to Jesus? .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



But for Paul, giving up everything for Jesus is worth it. He presents a threefold purpose behind his life: knowing Jesus, being found in Christ and his righteousness, and hoping in the future resurrection when Jesus returns. Which of these three reasons motivates you the most as you follow Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the resurrection from the dead, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

For Paul, any benefit from his life was nothing compared to Jesus. It’s easy to talk about imitating his attitude toward our own lives, but it’s much harder to live it out. If you were to compile a list like Paul did in verses 5–6, what would it look like? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

In your life, what has it looked like for you to value Jesus more than everything you just listed? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Think back over your list. What’s one area of your life you might be valuing more than Jesus? What could it look like to surrender it to Jesus this week?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The passage we studied today began with the command to rejoice, which can seem strange when paired with surrendering our lives to Jesus. But Paul’s teaching the Philippians that joy and sacrifice go hand-in-hand. What does rejoicing in God look like in your life? In what ways could rejoicing work together with surrendering to Jesus this week? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

» LAST WORD

Paul recognized the greater purpose of his life. He realized that knowing Jesus was greater than anything he could gain on earth—no social status, income bracket, or promotion could compare. He also hoped in the future resurrection of his body when Jesus returns. Instead of setting his eyes on the world around him, he chose to look to Jesus.

We constantly face the temptation to put ourselves before Jesus. Like the Judaizers, we can pridefully think that we can add to the gospel through programs or church attendance or political affiliations. But even if we were the most fantastic super Christians, it wouldn’t mean anything. What we obtain on this earth will pass away. But what we gain through Jesus—a relationship with the living God, status as a member of God’s family, and hope in that resurrection comes after death—will always remain true.

That’s why we can joyfully sacrifice today. When we know Jesus and the grace he’s given us, we can give our lives to him like Paul did. We can persevere as we look to Jesus and hope in his return. This week, let’s surrender our lives to him again and again, because he’s worth it.

GO DEEPER





1. THE JUDAIZERS Read Philippians 3:1–3.

As Jo mentioned in her teaching, Paul speaks against the Judaizers in this passage. She pointed out that Paul goes after this group of people even more in his letter to the Galatians. Looking to what he says there can help us better understand what has happening to the Philippians.

Read Galatians 6:11–16.

The Judaizers thought all Christians needed to be circumcised. What’s Paul’s attitude toward circumcision in this passage? What matters most to Paul? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

One of the issues Paul addresses in this passage is the Judaizers’ pride. They thought being circumcised was grounds for boasting. As you look over your walk with Jesus, in what ways has pride affected your attitude toward Jesus and the Christian life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s the danger of adding human requirements—like circumcision—to salvation? In what ways does pride contribute to those dangers? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Christian life begins by God’s grace through faith. But that doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want after we follow Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit who continually shapes us to be more like Jesus. What are some ways you’ve experienced the growth that comes through the Holy Spirit? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

There are ways we change and grow as Christians. The Judaizers were pressuring people to mark themselves as God’s people in a way contrary to the Holy Spirit. What are some ways you’ve seen Christians add requirements to salvation? What effect did those requirements have on you or the people around you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Think about your attitude toward the Christian life and the practices you think might be required to be a Christian. Pray that God would transform your mindset to reflect what’s true of him and the Holy Spirit.

2. PAUL’S CREDIBILITY Read Philippians 3:4–7.

Paul makes a point in this passage to show his credibility. Each of his credentials are listed below with some passages that help explain what each of them means.

Circumcision: Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:1–3



Why was circumcision important? What did it signify for the Israelites? Why would Paul point out this fact about him? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Circumcision marked the Israelites as the people of God. For Paul to be circumcised meant he and his family were devoted to following God and his law.

Benjamin: Deuteronomy 33:12; 1 Samuel 9:1–2

What do these verses show us about the importance of the Benjamites? Why would Paul want to make a point to show he’s from this tribe?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Not only was this tribe blessed by God, but it was also Saul’s tribe, the first king of Israel. In addition, it was the only tribe to partner with Judah to rebuild the temple.

Pharisee and zeal: Acts 8:3; Acts 23:6–9

Who were the Pharisees? Why do you think persecuting Christians showed Paul’s zeal as a Pharisee?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

After reading all these passages, what’s Paul trying to say by listing out his credentials? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul’s ultimate goal in this passage is to disprove those who thought circumcision was necessary for salvation. If anyone had anything to boast about, it was Paul. He was the “Hebrew of Hebrews” with more credibility than anyone else. But he sees his credibility as a loss—knowing Jesus by grace through faith is far more valuable to Paul.

Take a moment to write down your “credentials”—your career, family, socioeconomic status, church, schooling. Consider how important those things are to you. Do you consider any of them necessary for being a Christians? What would your reaction be if all of them were taken away?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Spend some time praying about how you view yourself and your walk with Jesus. Ask him to show you what it means to have a right mindset of yourself and Jesus.

3. PEEK AT THE GREEK: GARBAGE Read Philippians 3:4–8.

What does Paul say about the gains he’s experienced in his life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Paul says what he’s gained in life is garbage, or rubbish. The Greek word is skabala, meaning something so unwanted and worthless that it’s thrown away, and it’s only used this once in the New Testament. It carries an almost offensive connotation as it can also refer to human waste. What stands out to you about Paul comparing everything he’s gained in life to garbage? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

What does Paul’s outlook on his life show you about how he feels about Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul uses extreme language to show how important knowing Jesus is to him—it’s worth all of his life. What could it mean to have the same perspective as Paul as you look at your life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

What are some areas of your life you could be elevating above Jesus? What could it look like to value Jesus above everything else this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

4. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

In Philippians 3:11, Paul says knowing Christ will end in Paul’s resurrection from the dead. The resurrection of the dead was a common teaching in the early church and it’s the foundation of all Christian hope.

What’s been your understanding of the resurrection before now? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Read John 6:38–40; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:12–23.

What can we learn about the resurrection from these passages? When will it happen? Who will raise the dead? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Our hope as Christians rests on Jesus. He rose from death first, signaling that his followers will one day do the same. In what ways does knowing about the resurrection of the dead shape the way you think about Jesus’s resurrection? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

When Jesus returns, he will raise his followers from the dead. As Christians, we know that death is not the end of our story. What difference does it make in your perspective on life to know that there’s hope beyond death? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

The resurrection will happen, but we can often forget to remember it. What could it look like for you to remind yourself of the future resurrection this week?..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


S T U D Y G U I D E





SESSION GOALS Every session has a point—what each participant should walk away from the discussion knowing, feeling, and doing.

Main Idea: We can be encouraged to persevere in following Jesus’s example of joyful sacrifice by looking to other Christians’ examples and by focusing on the future hope we have in eternity.

Head Change: To know where to look to help us persevere in a life surrendered to Jesus.

Heart Change: To feel encouragement by the way other Christians persevere in following Jesus.

Life Change: To endure present circumstances by looking beyond ourselves to eternity and to those who have gone before us.

» OPEN

What’s one place you’ve always wanted to visit? Why do you want to go there? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Whether it’s New Zealand, the Great Wall of China, or the Grand Canyon, we all have places we want to visit. But we know as Christians that wherever we end up on this planet, we’re part of God’s kingdom. In today’s session, we’ll talk about what it looks like to persevere in following Jesus, knowing that people have gone before us and that our citizenship is in heaven.

» READ


» WATCH


What are the three words for “life” in the New Testament and what do they mean? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s the significance of Paul saying the Philippians’ citizenship was in heaven? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


» DISCUSS

Jo opened by reminding us how the early church saw their lives—through the lens of eternity. In what ways have we seen that to be true of the Philippians and of Paul through studying this letter? What does it mean to see your life with an eternal perspective? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Last week we saw how Paul thought of his life as garbage compared to knowing Jesus. He endured suffering knowing that Jesus will one day return and resurrect the dead.




Paul explains that he sees his walk with Jesus as ongoing, which shows his humble attitude towards his own life. Instead of saying he’s fully mature as a Christian, he freely admits he is still growing—striving for the purpose Jesus has set before him and the end goal of eternity. In your experience, what does it look like to have a humble attitude toward your growth as a Christian? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on having a mature view, see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.

Drawing on Paul’s illustration in these verses, Jo spoke about how important her mindset is when she does long distance running. Like Paul, she has to focus only on finishing the race or else she’ll give up. When has your mindset about a project, race, or task helped you finish? Why do you think focusing on the end goal motivated you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on running the race, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

Paul chooses to persevere in his life, knowing the suffering he’s experiencing now has both a purpose and an ending. When has it been difficult for you to persevere in following Jesus? What helped you to keep going? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

Think about a typical day for you. What motivates you to follow Jesus throughout the day?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

In what ways could remembering the hope of eternity affect the way you approach your day? What about times of suffering? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Paul goes on the encourage the Philippians to “live up to what [they] have already attained,” meaning he wants them to walk in maturity as those who’ve already been saved by Jesus. What, in your experience, marks someone as a mature believer in Jesus? In what ways has God matured you as you’ve followed him? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


One of the ways we can see opportunities to grow in our faith is looking to the people around us. Paul encourages the Philippians to imitate his example. When have you been able to look at someone else’s example of following Jesus? What encouraged you about the way that person lived his or her life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................



For all the positive examples we have of mature Christians, there are still some we shouldn’t follow. Paul talks about them in this passage—but he does so with a tender heart towards them. What could it look like to have Paul’s attitude toward those who aren’t pursuing Jesus? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Paul describes these people as pursuing their own desires. They’re focused on everything but Jesus. What does it mean for someone to be focused on “earthly things”? What’s different about someone who’s focused solely on Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

What could be dangerous about imitating someone who isn’t following after Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

Jo pointed out the intensity of Paul’s argument in verse 20—for Christian inhabitants of a Roman colony to hear their citizenship was in heaven would have been a perspective shift. What does it mean to you that your citizenship is in heaven? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul finishes by reminding the Philippians that Jesus will indeed return and resurrect the dead. Paul’s focus is always on the end. What could it look like to live with the end in mind this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on heavenly bodies, see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

Note: For further study on Paul’s goal, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

Jo challenged us to think about the ways we might be wavering in the race—whether we’re focused on the wrong things or we’re imitating the wrong people. What’s one thing you could do this week to focus yourself on Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

» LAST WORD

Perseverance in the Christian life can seem impossible at times. But Paul offers us a rich hope in this passage by reminding us of two important truths. One, we can persist in sacrificially following Jesus by looking forward to the end goal of eternity. We know our citizenship isn’t on this earth—it’s in heaven with God. With that perspective we can run after Jesus with endurance, keeping the goal ever before us.

Two, when eternity feels abstract or too far away to focus on, we can know that we are not alone. We have living examples around us of Christians who actively follow after Jesus. We can look to them for encouragement when we want to quit, instruction when we’re unsure what to do, and fellowship when we suffer.

Jo asked us to think about our own lives—whether we’re following after Jesus or the things of this world. Do we have eternity ever before our eyes? Do we set an example for others to follow? Prayerfully consider those questions this week and ask God to show you one tangible way you can persevere in your faith.



GO DEEPER The Go Deeper section has two potential functions. It can supplement your small group discussion by providing extra discussion material. We’ve highlighted a place where each of the following segments could fit in the Discuss section of the study guide.


1. PEEK AT THE GREEK: MATURE VIEW

In verse 15, Paul encourages all those who are mature to “take such a view of things.” The Greek word translated “view,” phroneō, pops up ten times in Philippians (1:7; 2:2, 5; 3:15, 19; 4:2, 10). It refers to your attitude—the way you think, your motivations, your mindset.

Paul sets up a contrast in the verses following 3:15 between those who have a mature view of their lives and those who set their minds on earthly things. We can look at how Paul uses phroneō earlier in Philippians to better understand this contrast.


The word phroneō shows up twice in verse 2 and once in verse 5. Paul not only encourages the Philippians to have a unified mindset, but he also tells them whose mindset they should have—Jesus’s. What do you think it means to have the mind of Jesus? Thinking back to what we read here and in the Gospels, what do you think Jesus thought about? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What, then, do you think it means to have a mature view, as Paul talks about in 3:15? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


According to these verses, what characterizes a person who has an earthly mindset? In what ways is having an earthly mindset different from having Jesus’s mindset? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

As followers of Jesus, we imitate him in all areas of our lives, including our attitude. That means the way we think about our friends, family, finances, career, and resources should be the same as how Jesus though about those things. It means selflessness, sacrifice, and humility. What could it look like to have the attitude of Jesus as you walk through this next week? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Pray for God to give you the mind of Jesus this week. Come back to Philippians 2:1–11 to remind yourself throughout the week what it means to think as Jesus does.



2. RUNNING THE RACE

Paul compares his life as a follower of Jesus to a race. He says he will endure the run, keeping his eyes on his goal: Christ and the resurrection. Paul uses this image several times in his various letters. Let’s look at three instances where he talks about running the race to see what else we can learn from his perspective.

Read 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Acts 20:22–24; 2 Timothy 4:7–8.

What stands out to you about Paul’s attitude towards his life in these verses? In what ways has the Christian life felt like a race to you? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

When is perseverance difficult for you? What makes you want to give up?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What, in your experience, helps you persevere in following Jesus?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

In the 1 Corinthians passage, Paul encourages the Corinthians to run with purpose, intent, and discipline. What are some ways you’ve disciplined yourself as you’ve been following Jesus? In what ways have those disciplines helped you keep going?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

In the 2 Timothy passage, Paul is at the end of his life. He knows the end is near as he’s awaiting trial in Rome. Even so, he’s confident in the life he’s lived for Jesus. If you consider your own walk with Jesus, what would you like to see in your life so that you can say that you’ve “finished the race…[and] kept the faith”?

The Christian life isn’t a walk in the park. It’s more like a marathon—a race we keep running until the end. This week come up with one way to remind yourself of the race you’re in. Consider memorizing one of these verses and reciting it to yourself any time you feel like giving up.

3. HEAVENLY BODIES

At the very end of the passage we’re studying this week, Paul talks about heavenly bodies. Though there isn’t a lot in the New Testament about what our bodies will be like when we’re resurrected, Paul does talk about them more in 1 Corinthians.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:35–44.

What words does Paul use to describe our heavenly bodies?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Our bodies will be physical, imperishable, and glorious. While we don’t get the details in Scripture, we can rest assured that we will be resurrected when Jesus returns and our bodies will be better than we can imagine. In what ways do we experience the effects of sin in our bodies today?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Because of the fall, we get sick, experience trauma, and lose control of our emotions. But we have hope beyond the pain we experience in our bodies in this life. What encourages you about the hope of the resurrection, specifically resurrection bodies? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

While the promise of the resurrection brims with hope, its main point isn’t that we’ll have cool, superhuman bodies. The point is that Jesus is king, Lord over death and co-heir with his people. What difference does it make in your life today to know that Jesus will one day return? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul’s encouragement throughout chapter 3 is to see our earthly lives through the lens of knowing Jesus and hoping in his return. We can live obedient, faithful lives as we wait for our king to return. What does faithfulness to God look like in your life right now? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Praise God this week for Jesus’s coming return. Pray he would show you one tangible way you can walk in faithfulness to him this week.

4. PAUL’S GOAL

As we’ve gone through this session, we’ve talked a lot about Paul’s focus on eternity. But we have to remember that Paul’s goal in life wasn’t simply to get to the end. If that were his sole focus, he could have lost the urgency of obeying Jesus in the present. We can look back on Paul’s words throughout Philippians to see a full view of the goal he talks about in 3:12–14.

Read Philippians 1:21–26; 3:10–11.

If we were to sum up Paul’s life into a purpose statement, it’d say something like this: Paul exists to know Jesus, to make Jesus known, and to care for Jesus’s people. In what ways do you relate to Paul’s purpose in life? Which of his three purposes resonates with you the most and why? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What does it mean for you to get to know Jesus in your daily walk with him? What habits or practices do you have in place to commune with Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What does it look like to tell others about Jesus in your context? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s one way you could practically care for another Christian this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

While focusing on eternity fueled Paul’s persistence, knowing Jesus informed his obedience. He shared the gospel with nonbelievers and took care of the church. This week, seek out one way to either care for another Christian or tell an nonbeliever about Jesus.


S T U D Y G U I D E

S E S S I O N 7 : P H I L I P P I A N S 4 : 1 – 9




SESSION GOALS


Main Idea: When we live sacrificially, we become more obedient to God our hearts, minds, and actions.

Head Change: To know practical ways we can obey God with our hearts, minds, and actions.

Heart Change: To feel convicted about the ways we aren’t obeying God.

Life Change: To surrender our attitudes, thoughts, and actions to God.

» OPEN

Every culture has unspoken rules—societal norms everyone follows but no one talks about. What are some unspoken rules you’ve noticed? What’s it like when someone doesn’t follow the unspoken rule? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Whether it’s allowing people to leave an elevator before you enter or lowering your voice in a museum, there are thousands of rules we follow without thinking twice about them. Obeying God, though, often feels harder than following an unspoken rule. It requires discipline, intentionality, and adherence to the Holy Spirit. This session will walk us through some practical ways we can walk in obedience to God so that it becomes as natural to us as following an unspoken rule.

» READ


» WATCH


What are the tools Jo talked about in this session? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................


» DISCUSS

Before we dive into this session, let’s take a minute to recap what we’ve talked about so far in Philippians. In the previous chapter, Paul explained his eternal perspective and how knowing Jesus is his greatest gain in life. What has stood out to you about Paul’s perspective about his life?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul continued to remind the Philippians to adopt his mindset, and now he gives his reason behind his encouragement in chapter 4.

Read Philippians 4:1.

What’s Paul’s goal for the Philippians? What does it mean for them to stand firm in their faith? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



The church faces opposition on all sides—from Judaizers to Roman persecution. Paul wants the Philippians to keep going—to remain faithful to God even when it is hard. When has it been difficult for you to stand firm—or endure—in following Jesus? What helped you keep going? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul loves the Philippians. He wants them to persevere in their faith because he knows it’s best for them. With that same attitude, he addresses some of the church members directly.


Jo reminded us that this letter would have been read out loud, which could have created an awkward moment for Euodia and Syntyche. She also pointed out that Paul doesn’t rebuke these women or take a side. Instead he begs them to reconcile. What stands out to you about the way Paul approached these women? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul confronted the women out of love both for them and the church. Why is it important to confront disunity in the church with love? What could the negative consequences be if we don’t confront in love? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul wants a unified church full of mature followers of Jesus. As Paul moves into his closing remarks, he offers practical ways the Philippians can obey God. Jo called them tools to a sacrificial life.


The first tool Jo talked about was rejoicing, as we see in verse 4. We’ve talked about rejoicing throughout our study on Philippians. What have you learned about rejoicing by reading Philippians so far? What does it mean to you to rejoice in God? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the word “rejoice,” see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.

The next tool is in verse 5—gentleness. Jo described gentleness as forbearance, softness, patience, moderation, a recognition of mercy. She said when we treat each other with gentleness, it helps our witness to the world. What does it look like practically speaking to be gentle? Why do you think being gentle towards each other could help our witness to the world? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on God being near, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

If we look at verses 6 and 7, Paul gives us another tool. He encourages the Philippians to go to God in prayer about their anxieties. When have you come to God with your anxieties? What did that look like? ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

To be clear, these verses do not say that if you struggle with depression or anxiety that you must only seek God for a cure. As Jo said in the video, seek medical and professional help if you’re experiencing mental health issues.



Note: For further study on prayer and petition see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

Paul urges the Philippians to go to God “with thanksgiving.” In what ways could gratitude help us when we’re anxious?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

What are three things you’re grateful for right now? What could it look like for you to pray with thanksgiving this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

In verse 7, Paul gives the image of peace as a guard around the fortress of our minds and hearts. When have you experienced God’s peace? In what ways has God’s peace felt like protection or a guard?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

After encouraging the Philippians to pray about their anxieties, Paul goes on to talk about their minds.


Verse 8 points to the next tool: setting our minds on good, holy things. If you consider your thought life, which of the words Paul lists stands out to you the most? Why? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Philippians 4:8, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

Pick one word from his list in verse 8. What could it look like to pursue those kinds of thoughts this week?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

And finally, the last tool in verse 9 reminds the Philippians and us yet again to look to Paul’s example. When has God used someone in your life to help you grow as a Christian?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul ends this section by reminding the Philippians that God is with them. The only reason they can stand firm, seek unity, cast their anxieties on God, maintain holy thoughts, and grow as Christians is because God is with them. What’s one way you can remind yourself this week that God is with you?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................... ...................................................................................

» LAST WORD

This session walked through a lot of practical ways we can live out the Christian life of sacrifice and obedience. Everything we talked about in this session is important—unity in the church, rejoicing in God, gentleness, thanksgiving, prayer, pure thoughts, discipleship. But we’d be at a loss if we didn’t remember the truth Paul leaves us with at the end of this section: God is with us.

It’s a revolutionary truth. Our God lives in us through his Spirit. He will never abandon us. He knows every pain and every joy we experience. For the Philippians who were under pressure from Rome and Judaizers and false teachers, these words would have brought immense comfort.

This week as we take practical steps of obedience—maybe using one of the tools Jo talked about in the video—let’s remember that God is with us.



GO DEEPER



1. REJOICE

As we’ve already talked about in this study, Paul continues to encourage the Philippians to rejoice. He repeats it again in Philippians 4.


To review what we’ve learned so far in Philippians, what was Paul’s situation when he wrote this letter? What do you think your response would be if you ended up in a similar situation as Paul? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Rejoicing can feel unnatural to us, especially when we face suffering. What’s your initial reaction when you encounter suffering? In what ways is rejoicing part of your response? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Paul encourages the Philippians to rejoice, even though he knows they’re encountering persecution, opposition, and inner conflict. What do you think it looks like to rejoice even when life is difficult? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

It can feel deceitful to rejoice when life is hard—as if being joyful belittles or betrays what you’re going through. But rejoicing in God doesn’t mean we forget our pain. It means we remember who God is and praise him as we suffer. What’s a good balance between acknowledging pain and suffering while also rejoicing in God? In what ways does Paul give us an example to follow? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Practically speaking, rejoicing in God is more than singing worship songs on Sunday morning. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. We can ask God to teach us to be joyful—to rejoice always. It has to do with how we think, what we say, and how we act throughout the day. What could rejoicing in God look like for you this week? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Pray for God to teach you to bear the fruit of joy in your life this week. Look for tangible ways you can pursue joy each day.

2. THE LORD IS NEAR

Paul gives a lot of nuggets of wisdom in this section of Philippians—so many that we might miss something that’s one of the most profound truths about following Jesus.


In verse 5 Paul reminds the Philippians that “the Lord is near.” In what ways is God literally near to us? What about spiritually near? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Through faith in Jesus, we have access to God like never before. God is with us always. He’s given us his Spirit who lives in us and he’s intimately working in our lives—both internally and externally. What reassures you about the truth that God is with you? In what ways is his presence encouraging to you? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

In these verses, Paul shows how God’s nearness changes us. Externally, we are joyful and gentle because we know our God loves us, is with us, and is faithful to us. In what other ways has God’s presence in your life affected your external actions? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

God is also present in our internal life. When we feel anxious, we can come to him in prayer knowing that he sees our troubles and walks with us through them. What difference does it make to you to know that God is not only present with you, but is also always available to talk to? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Spend a few minutes today thinking about this idea that God is near to you. Thank him for never leaving you or abandoning you and write down a prayer of praise to him.

3. PRAYER AND PETITION

Philippians 4 holds some of the most famous verses in the Bible. We’re going to walk through two of them slowly so we can prayerfully follow what Paul is teaching in this passage.


The beginning of verse 6 says to not be anxious. If we’re honest, we all encounter worry—often on a weekly, even daily, basis. What are you anxious about right now? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Whether you’re going through these questions as a group or on your own, write down what you’re anxious about. The next part of verse 6 says to come to God in prayer and petition in all situations. What situations do you tend to pray about? When are you less likely to pray about a situation? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What would be different about your life if you came to God in every situation you faced?...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul goes on to say to pray with thanksgiving. Why is giving thanks an important part of prayer? What effect can it have on our perspective? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

We can always present our requests to God. He hears and responds to us. While he might not say yes to the things we want, he hears every request we make to him. What kinds of requests do you make to God? What requests do you avoid taking to God about? Why do you avoid them?...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



God promises us his peace that will guard our hearts and minds. Rather than simply a feeling, peace is a fruit of the Spirit—a deep understanding that God is sovereign, present, and involved in our lives.

Take five minutes to read back through these verses slowly, praying as you go. Stop at each phrase and follow what it says to do—give thanks, present your requests to God, petition him. Pray about the anxieties you listed earlier, asking God to fill you with his peace through the Holy Spirit.

4. THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS

One of the things we’ve talked about in this study is having the mind of Jesus. Paul gives a direct command to have Jesus’s mindset in Philippians 2 and here at the end of the letter he provides a list of what a Christlike mindset looks like.


Paul lists eight words to describe a godly mindset. We’re going to do some deeper study on the word “true” to begin to unpack what Paul’s saying in this verse.

Flip back through Philippians and consider what you’ve learned about God and about yourself throughout the study. What are some truths about God and his character? What are truths about you? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

There are concrete truths about God and ourselves that we can find in Scripture. But we don’t always believe them. When have you thought something untrue of God? What did believing that lie do to your relationship with God? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

When have you believed a lie about yourself? In what ways did believing that lie affect you? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Why do you think Paul wants the Philippians to think about what’s true? What impact can believing and thinking about what’s true of you and God? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

There are lots of ways we can remind ourselves of truth. We can read Scripture, memorize it, and pray. What could it look like for you to remind yourself to think about what’s true this week? ...................................................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

This week, pick one or two of the words from this verse and take them through the questions we just used to unpack “true.” Ask God to give you opportunities to grow in having the mind of Jesus.


S T U D Y G U I D E





SESSION GOALS


Main Idea: When we follow the call to joyful sacrifice, we can find contentment in any circumstance and thus live generously.

Head Change: To know how contentment and generosity are each a part of joyful sacrifice.

Heart Change: To feel content in whatever situations we’re in currently.

Life Change: To choose to live out joyful sacrifice through choosing contentment and by being generous.

» OPEN

What’s your favorite gift you have received? What made that gift special? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Gifts can make a tremendous impact on a person. When we receive a gift from someone, it often says a lot about how that person feels about us. That’s certainly the case for Paul. In this session, we’ll learn about how the Philippians sent a gift to Paul and the impact it made on him.

» READ


» WATCH


What does Paul mean when he says he’s found the secret to being content?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s the significance of Paul mentioning Caesar’s household?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


» DISCUSS

We’ve made it to the final verses of Philippians. We’ve walked with Paul through his letter and learned what it means to lead a life of joy and sacrifice. Following Jesus means we become more like him, we pursue unity with other Christians, and we rejoice in God. Paul’s life has been an example of what it means to lay down our lives for Jesus and the end of chapter 4 is no different.


Paul rejoices because the Philippians have expressed their concern for him by sending a gift. Their gift reminds him of what he’s learned throughout his journey with Jesus—contentment in all circumstances. Knowing Paul’s current situation, what’s surprising about what he says in these verses? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Looking to verse 13, what’s at the source of Paul’s contentment? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Jesus is the one constant in our lives. He will never change. Paul leans on that truth in the turbulence of his life. What’s one or two ways that Jesus’s never-changing character has reassured you in life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Even though we know we have Jesus—and that he will never change—we can still struggle with contentment. In what instances can it be difficult for you to be content? What makes it hard? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Why do you think contentment can be so tough for us? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................

Paul has been a picture of Christian maturity for us throughout Philippians. In these verses he models maturity yet again through his attitude toward his circumstances—he is content. When have you experienced genuine contentment? What impact did contentment have on your life—your friendships, your work, your family? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Philippians 4:13, see Go Deeper Section 1 at the end of this session.

Even though he’s content in prison, Paul’s grateful for the Philippian’s gift. Their generosity has been one of the biggest examples of joyful sacrifice. Paul’s alluded to it throughout the book, but now he addresses it firsthand.


The Philippians have been faithfully generous to Paul since the beginning. What stands out to you about the Philippians’ generosity? What about Paul’s response to their gift? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on the Philippians sharing in Paul’s troubles, see Go Deeper Section 2 at the end of this session.

Paul joyfully receives their gift and recognizes what they’ve done is for God. When have you been on the receiving end of someone’s generosity? How did you respond? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What could it look like in your life to sacrificially give as the Philippians gave to Paul? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



Paul reminds the Philippians that God will provide for them. When have you had to trust God’s provision? In what ways does trust relate to the contentment we talked about? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................


Jo explained the significance of Paul mentioning Caesar’s household in the final lines of this letter. He’s reminding the Philippians once more that Jesus is Lord—not Caesar. God is bringing people into his family and Caesar can’t stop him. What’s hopeful for you about the fact that Jesus is Lord and that God can move despite human authorities? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on Caesar’s household, see Go Deeper Section 3 at the end of this session.

Jo summarized the lessons from the ending of chapter 4—rejoice in God, be generous, learn contentment, remember God is working, recognize this letter is about Jesus. Of these five principles, what’s one you want to put into practice this week? What could that look like practically? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Note: For further study on revisiting Philippians as a letter, see Go Deeper Section 4 at the end of this session.

What’s one thing you want to remember from this study of Philippians? What could you do this week to apply that truth to your life? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

» LAST WORD

Philippians gave us an inside look at what it means to joyfully sacrifice our lives for Jesus. It means we put other people before ourselves, we see our lives through the lens of eternity, and we find contentment in knowing Jesus no matter the circumstance. These closing verses remind us to live generous lives while also seeking contentment. They also point to the fact that God still works in our lives.

As we close this series, consider the truths we explored by studying Philippians. Consider re-reading the book slowly this week, revisiting what God’s taught you. Pray he’d solidify the lessons from this letter and ask him to show you one way you can choose to joyfully sacrifice this week.

GO DEEPER



1. I CAN DO ALL THINGS

Philippians 4:13 is one of the most-quoted verses in the Bible. We often see it recited before sports games or captioned on a social media post. But without its context, we can make the verse out to mean that Jesus is a spiritual steroid shot that empowers people to make game-winning goals or climb the corporate ladder.



What are some ways you’ve heard people use Philippians 4:13?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

People can often make Philippians 4:13 about themselves. But if we know anything about Philippians, it’s that Paul is not after personal gain. He advocates for putting others first, for seeing our lives as garbage compared to knowing Jesus, and to being content.


In the verses before 4:13, what is God giving Paul the strength to do? In what ways does reading Philippians 4:13 in context shape the way you understand the verse? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paul recognizes that his ability to be content comes from God. Philippians 4:13 isn’t about being able to do anything in God’s strength. It’s about being able to walk through anything—good or bad—with contentment. In what ways could Philippians 4:13 offer encouragement for you as you pursue contentment in all circumstances? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

When have you experienced God strengthening you to go through a situation with contentment?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

What does contentment look like for you right now? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

When contentment is difficult for you this week, remember Philippians 4:13. Ask God to give you the strength to walk through your day by trusting in him.

2. PEEK AT THE GREEK: TO SHARE IN TROUBLES

Paul takes time in this section to thank the Philippians for their gift. He describes their sacrifice as sharing in his troubles in verse 14. It might seem like a small detail, but Paul’s making a profound statement about their generosity in this verse.


The word Paul uses in verse 14 that’s translated “to share in my troubles” is sygkoinōneō. It implies a partnership with someone, often over a period of time. The Philippians we’re one-time givers. They partnered with Paul in his mission to spread the gospel from the beginning. What does it show about the Philippians that they not only gave, but also persisted in giving to Paul? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................



The Philippians partnered with Paul in his need and gave, even when no one else would. What do you think persistent, faithful generosity looks like today? What could it mean for us to partner with someone’s need? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


In verse 17, Paul’s making it clear that his primary desire is for the Philippians to gain the benefits that come with being generous—maturity, joy, and trust in God. In other words, he’s more concerned about the Philippians than himself. As the Philippians share in Paul’s suffering, Paul’s equally invested in them. What stands out to you about Paul’s attitude in this verse? What could it look like to receive gifts with a similar attitude as Paul?

In verse 18, Paul reminds the Philippians that their gift is ultimately for God. The same is true of us. When we give, our gifts are ultimately a sacrifice we make unto God. Consider the resources God has given you—your money, home, car, knowledge, food. What’s one way you could sacrifice what you have unto God this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3. CAESAR’S HOUSEHOLD

Right at the end of letter, Paul greets the Philippians on behalf of the brothers and sisters of Caesar’s household. Jo mentioned the significance of Paul calling out these Christians and we’re going to dive into it further.


We can gather from these verses that Paul’s been sharing the gospel while he’s been in prison. His zeal for Jesus has impacted others to share their faith too. What stands out to you about Paul’s actions and attitude toward being in prison? What do you think your first impulse would be if you were in a similar situation? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

We have to remember that for Paul to be imprisoned by Rome meant he was behind enemy lines. To some, the Romans might have seemed beyond salvation. But Paul continually reminds the churches in other letter that both Jews and Gentiles are part of the people of God, which includes Romans. Who are people you might consider “beyond salvation”? What would it look like for you to see those people the same way Paul approached the Romans? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................


Paul never says in chapter 1 if the Romans in Caesar’s house were becoming Christians—he just says they knew he was there for Jesus. He slips in at the very end that there are Christians who came from the “enemy camp.” What about the Romans’ conversions offers you hope for those you know who aren’t following Jesus? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................



Think about people in your life who aren’t Christians. Write their names down and commit to praying for them this week. Ask God for opportunities to talk about Jesus with them.

4. REVISIT THE LETTER

We’ve gone through Philippians in chunks—and we did that on purpose. It’s easier to dig into the depths of what Paul’s saying when we take it in bite-sized pieces. But that’s not how a letter is intended to be read.

Think about the last letter—or more likely, email—you received. Did you read one paragraph and come back to read the rest later? Or did you read it all in one sitting? That’s the way this letter to the Philippians would have been read. As Jo explained in the first session, someone would have read it out loud to the entire church in one go.

Carve out some time to read the entire book in one setting. If you’re in a small group, have some people volunteer to read the book out loud as a way to finish off the series together. If you’re reading it on your own, consider reading it out loud, allowing the words to sink in.

After you’ve read through all of Philippians, walk through the following questions:

What stood out to you as you read the letter? What did you notice this time that you might not have seen before? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

If you could summarize the message of Philippians in a sentence or two, what would you say?............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What’s one action step from the principles outlined in Philippians that you could practice this week? ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................

Even though we’re at the end of our study of Philippians, God is never finished teaching us through his Word. We can always grow in knowing him, in Christian maturity, in our relationships with other Christians. Take a few minutes to thank God for what he’s taught you through Philippians and ask that he continue to mature you.

Documents

THE BOOK OF philippians - Bay Harbor Church