Choose Joy: STICK TOGETHER

Discussion Guide for Sunday, May 24, 2020

STICK TOGETHER

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

Big Idea

In Philippians 1:27, the Philippians are described as citizens of heaven, but in Philippians 2:15, Paul challenges the believers to be “children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation”. This was one of Paul’s favorite churches. He loved them immensely, but even the best churches have their issues. People in leadership were motivated by envy, strife, selfish ambition, and pretense. Founding members were in such a contentious disagreement, people were beginning to take sides. False teachers were creeping in leading people astray. To sum it all up, the people of the Philippian church were not behaving like a family. They were brothers and sisters, but they were acting like enemies.

This week’s text is designed to make an argument for corporate unity, and Paul’s point is that corporate unity is an essential part of our public witness. The reason for our corporate unity is that each of us have heard the gospel and responded, resulting in salvation. We have been adopted into the family of God, baptized into the body of Christ, and are experiencing the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. That makes us brothers and sisters, and brothers and sisters stick together. The results of our corporate unity is that because of our common salvation experience, we are all striving to become more and more like Jesus Christ. We are all adopting the attitudes of our Heavenly Father and learning to reflect His character in our everyday lives. We accomplish this by meeting the requirements of our corporate unity. On the one hand, we pay attention to how we see. We don’t do things from selfish motives or for self-glorification. We see ourselves for who we really are, and we see the best in others. Most of all, we try our best to help others when we can. On the other hand, we pay attention to how we are seen. Because of the finished work on the cross, we stand before God and before men with a clear mind, with a pure heart, and changed life. It’s not about being perfect, but doing the best we can to live a spiritually mature life. This leads to our corporate life as the family of God being a shining light in a dark world.

Discussion Questions

  • Can you remember your salvation experience? What circumstances led to your conversion? How soon did you connect with a church?
  • Paul warns against grumbling (complaining) and disputing (debates). How do you handle conflict in your relationships? What can you do to improve how you communicate with the people you love?

Prayer Focus

Thank You for salvation. Thank You for the power of the gospel to convict and convert the hearts of men. Thank You for the assurance that comes from knowing You in an intimate way. Thank You for bringing me into the Body of Christ, and allowing me to experience Your love and compassion. Teach me to adopt Your attitude and to show Your love in all of my relationships as I hold fast Your Word.

Next Steps

Paul instructs the Philippian believers to “look out for…the interests of others”. This did not mean that they shouldn’t look out for themselves. On the contrary, they are expected to makes sure they honored all of their commitments, but in the process, when they were able to help a brother or a sister who was in need, they were to take the opportunity. This week, look for opportunities to help someone in need. Your act of random kindness may be the seed that God uses to pull someone through a tough season.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Philippians 2:5-13 in your devotional time this week.

GBMBC MEMBERS: May Leadership Meeting

Our Ministry Program

Moving from Maintenance to
Ministry and Missions

Philippians 3:12-16

Focusing on our Membership – Getting the Right Attitude.

Focusing on our Maturity – Getting the Right Application.

Focusing on Ministry and Missions – Getting the Right Approach.

Focusing on Management – Getting the Right Actions.

Leadership Nugget of the Day: Prioritizing God’s purpose over our preferences always results in progress (Philippians 1:21-25)

June – Plan of Action

Tentatively, all Worship Services will be held in the Greater Beulah Baptist Church parking lot every Sunday in the month of June.

The Lord Supper will be observed on Sunday, June 7th during the parking lot worship.

The Sanctuary Choir is scheduled to rehearse on Thursday, June 4th and Thursday, June 18th at 6:00 p.m.*

The Male Chorus is scheduled to rehearse Thursday, June 11th and Thursday, June 25th at 6:00 p.m.*

The Men and Women Fellowships are scheduled to lead the Corporate Prayer Call on Monday, June 8th – Saturday, June 13th and Monday, June 22nd – Saturday, June 27th at 7:00 a.m.

  • Men’s Fellowship leads prayer on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
  • Women’s Fellowship leads prayer on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
  • The Ministerial Staff leads prayer as assigned by Dr. Mickles.

The Sunday School Teaching Staff is scheduled to record lessons on Tuesday, June 2, Tuesday, June 16th, and Tuesday, June 30th.**

All ministries are to host their regularly scheduled meetings via the conference call line with the intent of preparedness for the return to onsite worship.

Ministry Project: Contact another member (especially members on the sick and shut-in list) to offer prayer and encouragement.

Thank You:

To our finance ministry.
To our men and women fellowships.
To our ministerial staff.
To our music ministry.
To our Sunday school teaching staff.

To Deacon Freddie Blackmon, Jr.
To Deacon Willie Hornsby.
To Sister Charity Jones.

*This rehearsal time is subject to change. The music ministry will provide music for parking lot services when scheduled.
** Specific teaching assignments and recording times TBA.

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.