welcome [mygospelcity.org]...• put the passage in your own words and / or bullet point it out #3...

I love the message of Philippians! It’s been my favorite book of the Bible during my whole adult life. So when we decided to study Philippians during this year’s theme of Delight, I jumped at the chance to be involved. We originally planned to roll this study out during early spring, right before Easter. But we all know what happened….the whole world shifted. The truths I had PLANNED to teach before the pandemic were true before, but oh so much more REAL in my daily life today.

Here’s what I know. It will not be MY words that impact anyone who does this study; it will be God’s Word that impacts minds and hearts. So as you prepare to study this book together with a small group, or with your mentor/mentee, or even on your own this summer, the most important thing you can do is read the Scripture! That is why we have given you a full day of meditating upon/processing each section of te Scripture with the “5 P method.” If you get NOTHING else done, read through the book of Philippians, listen to it, and respond in prayer each week. But beyond reading the book of Philippians, we encourage you to respond to the observation, interpretation, and application questions that will help you delve into the themes of Philippians.

We are also giving you a way to take this study to a deeper level for life long impact. Philippians 2:6-11 is a beautifully condensed rendition of the Gospel. The challenge, if you choose to participate, is to memorize one of those six verses each week of the six week study until you have the whole section memorized. What a treasure you could have hidden in your heart long after this study is over if you commit those verses to memory! _Michelle HelmkampChildren’s Ministry Director

WELCOME

FORMAT

1. We will read the entire book of Philippians, broken into smaller passages.2. With each new section of scripture, we will first digest it by using the 5 P’s method from Priscilla Shirer. (See method below)3. After reading and processing the scripture, there are a series of observation, interpretation, and application questions.4. Members of the study will be encouraged to memorize Philippians 2:6-11.5. The weekly teaching/talk will cover the previous week’s homework (as opposed to introducing the NEXT week’s study.)

PRISCILLA SHIRER’S 5 P’S METHOD

#1 Position yourself to hear from God.• Get someplace quiet and without distraction • Pray and ask God to fill you with His Spirit and open your eyes to what He has for you in His Word that day

#2 Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points.• Ponder, contemplate, meditate upon His Word• Put the passage in your own words and / or bullet point it out

#3 Pull out the spiritual principles.• What does the passage mean?• What does the passage reveal to me about God’s character?• What commands or promises do you see?

#4 Pose the questions.• How would God have me respond?• Am I being obedient to the Word here?

#5 Plan obedience and pin down the date.• Is God asking you to do something specific? Write it down and do it.• Respond in prayer, repentance, praise as God leads you.

SOURCES

I am not a writer—I am more of a resourcer. I read several books that were instrumental in the collating of my thoughts, ideas, and questions for this study. Here is a list of books that I read and pulled from:

Suffering by Paul Tripp Anxious for Nothing by Max LucadoRestless by Jennie AllenPhilippians for You by Steven J. LawsonThe Man Christ Jesus: Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Christ by Bruce A. WareThe Five P’s Method is from Priscilla Shirer

3

WEEK 1

Week 1Theme: The GospelMemory Verse: Philippians 2:6

DAY 1READ PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11

DO THE FIVE P’s#1 Position yourself to hear from God.#2 Pore over the passage and paraphrase the major points.#3 Pull out the spiritual principles.#4 Pose the questions.#5 Plan obedience and pin down the date.

4

FROM VERSE 1:

Who is the author?

Who are the recipients of this letter? (If you have time and interest, take a look at the people who are part of the Philippian church by reading Acts 16:11-40).

Look up grace in a dictionary and write the definition.

Look up peace in a dictionary and write the definition.

In what way are you experiencing the grace and peace of Christ right now? Is there an area you need to grow in grace and peace? Ask God to grow you in this area!

DAY 1 CONTINUED

5



Paul clearly has a very deep love for the Philippians and has developed an intimate community with them. List some of the words that describe how Paul feels about the church in Philippi.

What does this show about Paul’s relationship with his little flock in Philippi?

Does Paul’s love for the church challenge you? How do you show/express love for your fellow church members? Where/when/why do you struggle to love the Body of Christ?

Philippians 1:6 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, a definite nominee for “The Hall of Fame.” Cross reference it with Romans 8:28, another often-quoted Bible verse. How are these verses similar?

What is the “good” mentioned in Philippians 1:6 and in Romans 8:28?

How are these verses sometimes taken out of context or misunderstood?

How does an understanding of what “good” is change your understanding of these verses? How does understanding this change your view of the hard things in your life?

“God finishes what He starts.” How does this comfort you when you face trials in life, or you are particularly aware of your own sinfulness or weakness?

6



Fill in the blanks for Paul’s prayer:

“And it is my prayer that your may abound more and more, with and all , so that you may approve what is , and so be pure and for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of that comes through Jesus Christ, to the and praise of God.”

List the key goals that Paul has for the Philippians in his prayer.

Look up discernment in a dictionary and give the definition here.

How does love abound through knowledge and discernment? Read these verses and try to find a connection.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Romans 12:2

Paul Tripp, in New Morning Mercies, says in his August 22nd entry, “Don’t be satisfied (with anything less than ALL God’s powerful grace is able to produce in you and through you)! We are too easily satisfied. Cry out for more rescue, transformation, and deliverance.”

LET’S FOLLOW PAUL’S PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF PRAYER AS WE APPLY THE SCRIPTURE TODAY:

PRAY FOR YOURSELF!

Pray Philippians 1:9-11 replacing the words “you” and “your” with a personal name and pronoun.

7

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH!

Spiritual warfare is real. Paul clearly has a God-given love for the church in Philippi. Praying for others is one of the best ways we can SHOW and GROW love. Today, choose a staff person, pastor, elder, small group leader, or other leader at Gospel City to pray for. Fill in that person’s name where it says “you” in the prayer of Phil 1:9-11. (As a follow up to this, it would be great if you dropped that person a card, text, or email to let them know you prayed for them today! See the church website for their contact info: mygospelcity.org/about/leadership).

PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE!

Cross reference 1 Timothy 2:1-4. If you read these verses, you will see that it is biblical to pray for all people, including the spiritual and/or government leaders in your life. Continue the prayer throughout the week, praying it each day for those who God brings to mind.

DAY 3 CONTINUED

8




9

Paul is in prison as he is writing to the Philippian church. How does Paul decide if an event (like his jailing) is good or bad?

What are some good things that came out of his imprisonment?

What is Paul’s main concern for what is going on? Philippians 1:18

Paul was in chains and could not leave his situation, but the Roman guards assigned to him were also chained to him and could not escape his witness for Christ. No matter what hard place we find ourselves, God can use us to advance His word in that very situation. List out the difficulties you are facing right now in life. Do you see how they are (or might in the future) be used by Christ to further His kingdom work?

Who do you know who, like Paul, is willing to suffer for the gospel and rejoice in adversity?

How is this person an example and challenge to you?

Pray that God would give you eyes to see how your suffering can be used by Him.

DAY 4 CONTINUED

10


DAY 5RE-READ PHILIPPIANS 1:12-18

Several years ago we had the churchwide theme BE BOLD. (The implication was to Be Bold for the sake of the gospel.) What keeps us from being bold?

Who do you know who is bold in sharing the gospel?

Paul says, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” How could you grow in imitating his boldness for the Gospel?

Philippians 1:15 says, “Some indeed preach Christ out of envy and rivalry.” Is that shocking to hear that some people preach out of envy or rivalry? It shouldn’t be. We are all human and in danger of living in the flesh. Although we could interpret this verse to be speaking only of pastors, it’s not clear exactly who Paul is speaking of. However, we are ALL called to boldly share the gospel. So let’s not let ourselves off the hook and assume these verses are not applicable to us personally. First, let’s look at envy or rivalry in our own lives.

Have you ever struggled with envy/rivalry in an area? What causes such envy? Explain the last time you remember struggling in this way.

What have you done with those thoughts?

These three verses help us address this issue of envy and rivalry in our hearts:

READ 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31

How does this verse help to redirect or realign us when we are struggling with envy or rivalry? What SHOULD be our aim/goal?

READ 2 CORINTHIANS 11:3

Paul was afraid for his congregation in Corinth that their thoughts would be led astray. We must preach truth to ourselves. What word do you see repeated both in this verse from Corinthians and in the prayer we have studied this week in Philippians 1:10?

11

DAY 5 CONTINUED

READ PHILIPPIANS 4:8

Paul desires for us to have a pure thought life—that we would not be bound up in envy and rivalry is part of that. So we are going to jump ahead to another Philippians “Hall of Fame” verse so we can apply it here. Fill in the blanks.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is , whatever is , whatever is , whatever is , whatever is , whatever is , if there is any , if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things.”

Paul is giving us an actionable way to enter the spiritual fight for our minds. This too would be a great verse to memorize!

ACTION:

Pray that we would all speak the TRUTH in love (Ephesians 4:15). Pray that we look only for God’s approval in what we say and how we say it. Also, pray for the leaders of our church and other churches in our area that they would speak truth boldly and without comparing themselves to others.

Paul also had friends who loved him and stood with him. Their loyalty bolstered him in this difficult time. Do you have a friend who is in need of encouragement right now? How might God be leading you to come alongside that person?

From Philippians 1:12 and 18, what was of primary importance to Paul?

We throw around the term “The gospel” in church. What IS the gospel? Can you put it into your own words here? (You could use Philippians 2:1-11 and/or 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 to assist you.) Do your best to eliminate as much “religious jargon” and “church words” as you can!

Is the gospel at the center of your thinking? Is it at the center of your life? Ask God how He would ask you to respond to the gospel this week with the next “Yes Lord” that He shows you.

12

WEEK 2

Week 2Theme: Unity of the SpiritMemory Verse: Philippians 2:7 (review 2:6)

DAY 1READ PHILIPPIANS 1:18B-26


13

Week 2Theme: Unity of the SpiritMemory Verse: Philippians 2:7

DAY 2RE-READ PHILIPPIANS 1:18B-26 AND REVIEW 5 P’S

What does Paul do in the midst of his imprisonment/suffering? (Philippians 1:18b)

Paul is not allowing his circumstances to shape his worldview, but instead, he is letting his view of GOD shape his worldview. Where has your suffering caused you (either currently or in the past) to believe things that are not true about God?

What two things does Paul mention that help him have hope? (Philippians 1:19)

Look up these verses about what we have been given with the gift of the Holy Spirit and then write a short summary next to each verse.

• John 14:16-17

• John 14:26

• John 15:26

• John 16:7-8

• 1 Corinthians 3:16

• 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

• Acts 1:8

• Ephesians 1:17-20

• John 16:13

• Ephesians 1:13

• Romans 8:26-27

• Romans 8:9-11

• Galatians 5:22-25

14

DAY 2 CONTINUED

It is an awe-inspiring thing when we realize that the power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us as God’s children. (Romans 8:11) How did these verses give you hope today?

Stop now and pray for the help of the Holy Spirit in your current area of trial or suffering.

15


DAY 3RE-READ PHILIPPIANS 1:18B-26 AND REVIEW 5 P’S


Paul had a strong desire for Christ to be honored in his earthly body. What ways can you think of to honor Christ with your earthly body?


Another nominee for a verse worthy of the “Hall of Fame.” (Yes, I am going to say that several times. That is why I LOVE Philippians! It is so full of groundbreaking truth!) Why would Paul say, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”?

Very few of us, if we are honest, have such a clear view of eternity like Paul did. Paul kept eternity in mind and held loosely to this temporary life. How can we aim to imitate Paul and grow in this area? What are some ways THIS WEEK that you could live out this verse and grow in fruitfulness?

What conclusion does Paul come to? (Philippians 1:23-26)

As you close for the day, pray about dying to self. Look at Philippians 2:7, our memory verse for this week. Pray that your life would grow to look more like Christ who held to this world lightly and emptied Himself for us.

16




17

READ PHILIPPIANS 1:27 AND FILL IN THE BLANKS:

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear that you are standing firm in Spirit, with mind striving by for the faith of the .”

Put into your own words what Paul is urging the Philippians to do.

Now take this verse and pray it with a specific audience in mind (ie. your children, your church, your country, your extended family).

UNITY among believers is evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. Conversely, one key way that the enemy attacks is by trying to DIVIDE (families, friends, churches.) Spiritual battles are most often waged in your mind/between your ears. Drag your thoughts out of the dark corners of your mind and lay them out before the Lord (He knows them anyway!) Where are you being tempted toward division in your relationships? Are there areas you are feeling isolated and left out?

Lay those angry or painful thoughts out before the Lord TODAY and Pore His Word over them right now, confessing them and asking God to help. Pray Philippians 1:27 over this situation if the situation involves another believer.

Look up Psalm 19:14. Write it out and put it someplace that will remind you throughout the day/week to let God shape your thought life in this area.

DAY 4 CONTINUED

18


DAY 5RE-READ PHILIPPIANS 1:29-30

These verses tell us that we not only have the privilege of believing in Christ, but to suffer for Him as well.

Vs. 30 reminds the Philippians that they are not alone in their suffering. Paul is suffering in prison as they suffer under persecution. Bonds of unity are being forged in suffering together!

For most of this study, we have cross referenced other letters from Paul. But let’s see what some of the other friends of Jesus had to say about suffering as well.

READ 1 PETER 4:12 AND JAMES 1:2

What do these authors say about the possibility of suffering as Christians and our response to it?

Whether you have suffered yet in this life or not, suffering will come. It is important to understand what God’s Word says about suffering in order to be prepared for it. How you face discouragement and suffering will shape how you live your life. What do YOU do when you are in the midst of suffering or discouragement? Where do you look for help? What do you focus on? Do you run TO someone or do you run AWAY and isolate?

“Standing firm” is mentioned several times in Philippians. In Paul Tripp’s book Suffering (page 11) he says, “Because of His advocacy, you have reason to stand strong.” Hebrews 4:14 says, “Let us hold fast our confession.” It doesn’t take long for suffering, trial, and difficulty to become a crisis of faith. We must stand on the truth that God is FOR us! This is our motivation to stand firm.

When you are confused by God’s rule, one of the most helpful things we can do is to “lift up our eyes” and focus on WHO God is, to stand firmly on the foundation of His character. Listed here are some foundational characteristics of God. These are your anchors/your point of focus in the storm of suffering/pain. Pick one or two of these characteristics to cross reference and explore more deeply. How can you use these truths as a focal point in the future to stand firm in suffering/difficulty?

• Sovereign, faithful, omnipresent, omniscient, holy, wise, good, kind, loving, righteous, all powerful.

19

WEEK 3

Week 3Theme: The Humility of ChristMemory Verse: Philippians 2:8 (review 2:6-7)



20


DAY 2RE-READ PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 AND REVIEW 5 P’S

Reading between the lines, what was wrong with the church in Philippi? (2:1-4)

Look up humility in a dictionary and write the definition.

Humility is not a popular word in our culture. The culture’s view of humility has negative connotations with weakness. Contrast biblical humility with the culture’s view of humility using the T diagram below:

Biblical humility What the culture says about humility

How is unity related to humility?

21

DAY 2 CONTINUED

What do we learn about living with unity and humility in these verses?

• Galatians 5:25

• Ephesians 4:2

• Romans 15:3

• 1 Peter 5:5-6

How would things change if Philipians 2:3-8 marked your life? Your family life? Your church life? Your work life? Your thought life? Be specific. Ask God to help you grow in one of these specific ways. Write it down here.

How might the prayer of Philippians 1:9-11 be an effective prayer in this situation that Paul is alluding to in the Philipian church in question 1? Take time to pray now for unity and humility in the areas that God has shown you.

22



How did Jesus exemplify His humility? Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus became man—Immanuel—God with us—God Incarnate. Fully God AND fully man. We can take for granted the familiar story that Jesus came to earth as a baby. Really think on this and list some of what He would have given up and some of what He would have endured in this choice/action. Use these verses to get your thinking started, but don’t stop there. Think outside the box.

• John 1:1


• Mark 10:45

•

“We will belittle the magnitude of what Jesus has done if we fail to see the kind of obedience He rendered and the extent to which He was willing to go in ensuring that He fulfilled the will of His Father. The antidote to such trivializing and belittling is found in deep and prolonged meditation on the magnitude of the humble obedience and agonizing suffering of our Lord.” Ware, P. 27

God sent His Son to take on human nature in order to do some things that could not have been done apart from Him becoming fully human. What are some aspects of what Jesus did here on earth that could only be brought about because He was fully human?

23


DAY 4

It’s beyond our comprehension when we consider the extent to which Jesus the Son obeyed God the Father. Meditate on what must have been true of the Son’s life and experience with the Father and the Spirit prior to the incarnation. Give some words describing that relationship.

Philippians 2:5 calls us to action saying, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”. Paul is telling us to be like Jesus by the way we humbly serve others. How can you stoop and serve in ways that reflect just a small part of what Christ demonstrated in His love for us?

Philippians 2:8 says that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Every “yes” to Jesus in obedience is an opportunity to grow spiritual strength. In light of that, there are really no “little” obediences. They are all important. What are some “little” ways you have either obeyed or disobeyed this week?

Can you see in these small opportunities ways in which your heart was strengthened by obedience, or how disobedience did the opposite?

In Acts 10:38 we read that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” In Acts 1:8 we are told that “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” We have access to the same Spirit that was upon Jesus. This is hope giving as we consider the call to “have the mind of Christ” and follow Him in obedience. End in a prayer asking God to fill you with the power of the Holy Spirit today to reorient your mind to be that of Christ Jesus.

24



Verses 9-11 are some of my very favorite in the Bible. They encapsulate the END GAME—THE GOAL—to bring GLORY TO GOD. Both Paul and Jesus kept the END in mind at all times. As Christians, we often struggle to keep the END in mind but get caught up in the temporary instead. Jesus has SEEN Heaven. He has SEEN the Father. This SEEING helped Him endure until the END. Let’s lift up our eyes now and focus on the joy set before US in the END.

What do we learn about heaven in these verses?

• Isaiah 25:8-10

• John 14:2-4

• Colossians 3:1-4

• Revelation 7:15-17

• Revelation 21:4-7

How would your life be different today, this week, and in the end if you keep the END in mind?

25

WEEK 4

Week 4Theme: Be a LightMemory Verse: Philippians 2:9 (review 2:6-8)



26


DAY 2RE-READ THE WHOLE PASSAGE AND REVIEW 5 P’S

LOOK AT PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13

We’ve all heard the statement that “Character is who you are when no one else is looking.” Paul was encouraging the Philippians to continue in obedience even though he could not be with them.

In light of our previous study of the verses in Philippians 2:1-4, what does it mean to “work out your salvation?” What part is up to God? What part is up to you? (This is not an easy question. This is something we will delve deeper into during our teaching this week.)

Read Philippians 2:14. This verse is a command, not a side note or suggestion. It comes on the heels of verses about unity in the body and humility. How are these topics linked?

How in the world do we keep this very difficult command to not grumble? Read Philippians 2:16. Where do we find the power to obey?

God has given us His Word (in 2:16 it says to “hold fast to the Word of Life.”) How do these verses show us how to keep His command to not grumble or dispute?


• Hebrews 12:14-15

In Paul Tripp’s book Suffering he said, “Don’t let envy/suffering embitter your heart. Don’t let bitterness shape your world view, or it will steal your hope and joy. My hope is in God—He should be the center of the telling of my story.”

How specifically this week can you replace grumbling and disputing by putting God at the center of your story? For example, look for a God Sighting—someplace where God has met you this week—and share it with someone!

27



READ PHILIPPIANS 2:14-17

Philippians 2:15 shows Paul’s deep love and care for his church in Philippi. He wants the very best for them. God’s best! List the adjectives that he is hoping and praying that will describe his little flock in the end.

Paul says that as Christians we are lights in the world. Let’s look at what the Word says about being a light:

• Psalm 27:1 Who is THE light?

• Matthew 5:14-18 What happens when we shine/reflect Jesus to others?

Is there anything hindering your light from shining right now?

Pray in response to what God has shown you in His Word today.

28




29

How does Timothy show himself to be Christlike in this short passage?

How does Epaphroditus show himself to be Christlike in this passage?

If you had to give a character reference for Timothy or Epaphroditus, what would you say? How do these men illustrate Philippians 2:1-4?

DAY 4 CONTINUED

30



Hebrews 6:12 implores us to “be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Who are the models of humility and service you can look up to today, as Paul looks to Timothy and Epaphroditus?

HOW DO THEY CHALLENGE YOU TO GROW?

Find someone who is godly and imitate them….and remember that people are watching you as well.

I’ve heard it said, you should always have a Paul and a Timothy in your life. Find someone ahead of you who is running the race well and watch them. Find someone a few steps behind you in the race and help them along. If God has already given you a Paul and Timothy, thank Him. If you have a God-given desire for this in your life and are not already involved in our women’s mentorship program, let your small group leader know.

Take today to catch up on your study, work on your memory verse, and/or review.

31

WEEK 5

Week 5Theme: Christlike SufferingMemory Verse: Philippians 2:10 (review 2:6-9)



32


DAY 2


The theme of rejoicing is laced throughout Philippians. Go back in your Bible and mark and read the verses on joy/rejoicing that we have already covered.

What can you rejoice in TODAY?

Paul will return to the theme of rejoicing next week in chapter 4. But today he mentions “dogs” in Philippians 3:2. The ESV Study Bible explains that when Paul says “dogs” here, he is referring to Judaizers. Judaizers were of the opinion that Christians had to obey the Old Testament ceremonial laws like circumcision.

If this problem with the circumcision party had gone unchallenged, how could this have hurt the clarity of the gospel message?

In Philippians 3:4-6, Paul lists some of the reasons he could take confidence in his flesh. List some of those here:

What are some reasons that YOU have to take confidence in your own abilities/giftings? List those out. (This is part of being honest with our own thought life. We pull out our thoughts honestly before the Lord. He knows them anyway. You will not be asked to share these in small group.)

Jesus left the glory of heaven to become human flesh for us as we saw in Philippians 2:6-11. Paul, in his pursuit to be like Christ, left behind privileges that he had as well. Has God ever called you to forsake any of the privileges you have for the sake of the gospel? Is He asking that of you right now in a specific area?

33



FOCUS IN ON PHILIPPIANS 3:7-11

Paul has suffered much for the sake of Christ. From what you know of Paul just in the book of Philippians, what are some of the ways that he has suffered?

2 Corinthians 11:22-29 lists more of the sufferings of Paul. Bullet point those sufferings here:

Paul did not allow his sufferings to become his identity or his hope of salvation. Where did Paul place his hope?

Where do you tend to find your identity apart from God, and how could it impact your suffering?

READ 2 COR. 1:3-9

In Paul Tripp’s book Suffering, he says, “Suffering prepares us for how God will use us. God uses suffering to make us both willing and ready to be part of what He’s doing in the lives of others. Suffering is not meant to drive us inside ourselves but to lead us out to offer to others the beautiful hope, comfort, joy, and security that God has given us. We tell others our stories not to point to us, but to point to God.”

Where has God given you stories of suffering and comfort so that you can bring comfort to those around you who are suffering?

34

“You have reason to rejoice in the middle of your travail because of how God is using your suffering to produce in you what you could never produce in yourself. (Remember the goal—Christlikeness!) Our greatest problem is the sin within—not our suffering. In our suffering, God is at work to give us something much better than what we want. He’s not content to dispense temporary relief when eternal change is what we really need.” (Suffering, P. 180-181)

When have you experienced a time like this where you could rejoice in the midst of suffering because of what God was doing in you on a deeper level, making you more like Christ?

Philippians 3:9 speaks of being “found in him.” How can a person know he/she is “found in Christ?”

The gospel is the good news that we can be saved from our sin through Christ. I use this simple tool with kids and adults for clarity.

1. God Rules: The Bible tells us God created everything, including you and me, and He is in charge of everything. (Genesis 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17)

2. We sinned: We all choose to disobey God. The Bible calls this sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God’s punishment of death. (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

3. God Provided: God sent Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It’s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9)

4. Jesus Gives: He lives a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God’s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! (Romans 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18)

5. We Respond: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He’s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. (John 14:6; Romans 10:9-10,13)

If you have any reason to doubt that you belong to God, that you would be “found in Him” if Jesus were to return today, we would invite you to talk with your small group leader or another trusted person who has a growing walk with Jesus. There is nothing more important than that we would be “found in Him.”

DAY 3 CONTINUED

35


DAY 4READ PHILIPPIANS 3:12-4:1


36


DAY 5

Paul has lived with a goal in mind. Taking what you have already learned about Paul, along with these verses, what would you describe Paul’s life goal(s) as?

What is the prize that he is after?

How is he going to reach the goal?

READ HEBREWS 12:1-3 AND PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14

Compare and contrast these two passages. How are we to run the race? What is to be our focus?

Have you taken the time to think about/write out/plan your life goals? As we imitate Paul (who imitates Christ) write out the goals that God lays on your heart.

Twice in this passage, Paul says that he “presses on.” A huge part of the Christian life involves being faithful, sticking with it, PRESSING ON. What discourages you from “pressing on”? What do you find that encourages you to “press on”?

37

Comparing your spiritual life to a race, are you sitting it out due to lack of practice, an injury, or no warm-up? Are you at the starting blocks? Going full-tilt? Ready to give up? Why? Speak to the Lord about this and ask Him to meet you where you’re at and help you to continue the race!

Earlier in the letter, Paul encouraged the Philippians to “stand firm” in the Lord. “Standing firm” and “pressing on” are similar commands. Look back to Philippians 1:27-30 and reread what Paul says about “standing firm.

How might you come alongside someone else right now to help them “press on” or “stand firm”?

DAY 5 CONTINUED

38

WEEK 6

Week 6Theme: RejoiceMemory Verse: Philippians 2:11 (review 2:6-10)



39

Euodia and Syntyche are called out on the carpet by Paul in this letter. What attitudes of these women could be used to harm the church?

This issue of lack of unity has shown up several times in Philippians. What verses that we have studied together come to mind as ones that could speak truth to these women and how?

How are we to respond when there is disunity within the body of Christ? Cross reference with Ephesians 4:1-16 for more insight.

Refer back to Week 2 where we looked up a lot of verses on the benefits of the Holy Spirit. We have been given everything we need for life and godliness through Him. Are you aware of disunity within your family, friends, work associates, or church body? Ask God for wisdom and do what He tells you to do.

DAY 1 CONTINUED

40


DAY 2REREAD PHILIPPIANS 4:1-9 AND REVIEW 5 P’S

READ PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9

Yesterday you did the five P’s on this passage. Rewrite this passage out in your own words again. This passage is so familiar to many of us, we want to delve deep and make sure to really soak it in.

According to verse 4, what are we supposed to do and when are we supposed to do it?

How will you express your joy for God’s goodness today?

What does a “reasonable” person look like/talk like/act like?

What is an area of your life where you struggle to be reasonable? How could you allow God’s Word to shape this area of your life?

From verse 6, define anxiety in your own words based on your experiences. (What keeps you awake at night or distracts you?)

What role does anxiety play in your life?

41

From verses 6 and 7, God does not leave us alone with our worries; He invites us to action. What does He tell us to do and how?

According to verse 7, what is the promised result?

Ponder this statement by Max Lucado: “The mind cannot at the same time be full of God and full of fear.” How might this truth affect how you spend your free time?

What action steps can you take to discipline your mind?

Meditate on this passage throughout the day today. Ask God to recall it to your mind.

DAY 2 CONTINUED

42


DAY 3REREAD PHILIPPIANS 4:1-9 AND REVIEW 5 P’S

As Christians, we are in a spiritual war—for our hearts and minds. Paul is giving us a way to fight the good fight in these verses in Philippians 4:4-9. Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks! Now in Philippians 4:8 (another Hall of Fame passage!), Paul continues to show us how to win the battle for our minds. Read Philippians 4:8 and write out the words that should describe your thought life.

Paul is not unaccustomed to spiritual warfare. He wrote about it famously in Ephesians 6:10-20 where he tells us to put on the whole armor of God. Read these verses and take note of the specific commands given.

Pull out the themes that you see crossing over/repeated between this passage in Ephesians and the whole book of Philippians.

How is God asking you to respond to what He has shown you?

43




44


DAY 5What were Paul’s circumstances at this time? (Refer back to Phil. 1:13-14)

How do you think Paul discovered the “secret of contentment” while in prison?

What outside force is most likely to upset your contentment?

Since God does not always change negative outside forces, what can He change in you so that contentment is possible?

How can you help the process?

How can Paul’s attitude towards giving and receiving enable you to be a better giver? A better receiver?

Take time to review the study and your notes. What one thing from this study/the book of Philippians do you especially want to apply in your life? Has God changed your thinking in any specific way? Be prepared to share that with your group.

welcome [mygospelcity.org]...• put the passage in your own words and / or bullet point it out #3...

Documents