Choose Joy: THE MISSION MATTERS MOST

Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 17, 2020

THE MISSION MATTERS MOST

Series: Choose Joy: An Exposition of the Book of Philippians

Big Idea

Philippians 1:27 is the main proposition of the entire book. Everything Paul will say throughout the rest of this book will flow from the exhortation: “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”. Philippi was a colony of Rome, and as such enjoyed Roman citizenship. Thus, Paul called on their cultural reality to challenge the Philippians spiritually. What was the challenge? You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20), so live like it. How do citizens of heaven live? “…in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” So what is the gospel? The word, “gospel”, means the good news concerning Jesus Christ, but the content of the gospel can be summarized in the words of 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Here’s the bottom line: Each believer must intentionally live a life consistent with what we believe every moment of every day.

This understanding of the opening phrase of Philippians 1:27 makes sense of the rest of this passage. It helps us understand that the mission (the gospel) should matter most in the lives of kingdom citizens. In the first section, we see how the mission matters most to the minister. Paul had a desire to experience the actual presence of God in its fullness. That meant he would have to die, and he welcomed that possibility. However, the more needful thing was that he would continue sharing the gospel for “their progress and joy in the faith.” The second section teaches that the mission matters most to the membership. In these verses, Paul highlights the unity of the body in their progress of the faith He uses 5 ways to describe it: 1) standing together, 2) striving together, 3) being sanctified together, 4) suffering together, and 5) struggling together.

Discussion Questions

  • Paul wanted one thing, but he made a decision for the more needful thing for the congregation. In what area have you had to choose the more needful thing over the thing you’ve desired? How did it turn out?
  • How can you more effectively represent the kingdom of God in your everyday life?

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 in your devotional time this week.

Choose Joy: THE UPSIDE

Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 10, 2020

THE UPSIDE:
IT’S ALL IN HOW YOU SEE IT

Series: Choose Joy: An Exposition of the Book of Philippians

Big Idea

This week, we get into the meat of Paul’s message to the Philippians. We’ve already learned that Paul wanted to accomplish four things with this letter: 1) to say thank you for their pastoral support gift, 2) to warn them of the false teachers, 3) to encourage them to practice the spiritual grace of joy, and 4) to give them a report on his circumstances. In Philippians 1:12-20, Paul shares about his experiences, but in a peculiar way. Rather than sharing the facts of his situation (that’s recorded in Acts 21-28), Paul shares the effects of his situation. He opens this section with the long and short of things in verse 12: “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” God is using Paul’s circumstances to advance His purposes.

Rather than being discouraged because of what he’s going through, but he decides to concentrate on two higher objectives: 1) Christ is proclaimed because of his circumstances, and 2) Christ will be exalted through his circumstances. People who had never heard the gospel were having the opportunity to hear the gospel because of Paul’s imprisonment. People who were hesitant to preach Christ were encouraged to share the gospel message because of Paul’s bold defense of the gospel. Of course, some had ulterior motives, but that was beside the point. The message was getting out, and Paul was convinced that regardless of what happened God would be glorified. In the meantime, he would be sustained through the prayers of the saints, the support of the Holy Spirit, and his enduring hope in God’s deliverance.

Discussion Questions

  • This passage teaches us that although the facts can be discouraging, the effects can be an altogether different story. What good has come out of your negative situations?
  • Paul lists several things that sustained him through his imprisonment – the prayers of the saints, the support of the Holy Spirit, and his enduring hope in God’s deliverance. What has sustained you through difficult seasons?

Prayer Focus

Thank You for being a God who works all things together for my good. Help me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind so that I can see You advancing Your purposes through my situation. Allow others to see Your work in my life and come to trust in You for the first time or to commit serving You with boldness. Thank You for putting people in my life who regularly pray for me and for the provision of Your Holy Spirit that assures me that I will not be disappointed because of my enduring hope in You.

Next Steps

Philippians 1:12-20 is an exercise of choosing to look on the bright side of things. He could have been discouraged, and he could have been discouraging in his report. However, Paul decided to focus on the positive effects of what he was going through and to redirecting the focus of the Philippians toward those positive effects. This week, make a conscious effort to see the bright side of things. Yes, be aware of the facts, but intentionally put more emphasis on the effects than on the facts.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Philippians 1:21-30 in your devotional time this week.

Choose Joy: IT FEELS GOOD LOVING SOMEBODY

Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 3, 2020

IT FEELS GOOD LOVING SOMEBODY WHEN SOMEBODY LOVES YOU BACK!

Series: Choose Joy: An Exposition of
the Book of Philippians

Big Idea

When we studied the names of God, we learned that God often allows crisis situations in our lives that genuinely test our faith because He wants to reveal Himself to us. However, He also allows such crisis situations, not just to reveal Himself, but to reveal the people in our lives. That’s what happened in Paul’s life. He was in a crisis situation – under house arrested in Rome awaiting the final verdict from the emperor, and this crisis has once again shown that the Philippian church really did love Paul. Their love was not just with words, but with deeds. The Philippians has provided financial support on at least four occasions, and Paul is writing to them to say “you are in my heart” and I love you with “the affection of Christ” (Philippians 1:7-8).

The lesson of this week’s text is that people who love you think the best and want the best for us. Paul demonstrated this in Philippians 1:1-11. Paul thought the best about the Philippians. He calls attention to their relationship with God by referring to them as “the saints in Christ” (v. 1) who participated in the gospel (v. 5) and partook of grace (v. 7). Yes, there were overseers and deacons in the church, but their position in the church was not as important as their position in Christ. Also, Paul wanted the best for the Philippians. In Philippians 1:6, Paul shifts his attention from the already to the not yet and talks about his confidence in God. God had begun a good work in them, and God was responsible for completing that work. Until God completes His work in them, Paul resolved to trust God with the progress of the Philippians. This is why Paul prayed for the Philippians. Paul’s prayer included both praise (vv. 3-4) and petition (vv. 9-11). His desire was to see the church glorify God by loving people like Jesus loved people.

Discussion Questions

  • The word “saint” in the original language literally means “to be dedicated to God.” How are you living out your dedication to God in your everyday life?
  • What area in your life do you trust God to continue working on? How can you cooperate with God in “perfecting” process?

Prayer Focus

Thank You for loving me so much, Father. Your Word says that Your thoughts about me are good, and not evil. They are designed to give me a hope, a future, and an expected end. I trust you to complete the work You’ve begun in me. Teach me how to cooperate with what You are doing in my life so that I will bear the fruits of righteousness and that You will be glorified in all that I do.

Next Steps

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians was that their love would abound more and more (v. 9). They possessed the spiritual gifts of hospitality and generosity, and they had used those gifts to demonstrate their love for the apostle. However, Paul wanted their love for God and for people to lead to a lifestyle that resembled the life of Jesus. For example, the word “blameless” in verse 10 means that the Philippians would live in a way that would not cause others to stumble. Pay close attention to how you handle trying situations this week. Be ever mindful that someone else is watching and that your behavior might cause him/her to stumble.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Philippians 1:12-20 in your devotional time this week.