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.

GBMBC MEMBERS: April 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: We should strive for a spirit of excellence (Daniel 6:2).

May – Plan of Action

The Lord Supper can be received on Sunday, May 3rd between the hours of 10:00 am and 12:00 noon at the church.

The Sanctuary Choir is scheduled to rehearse and record on Thursday, April 30th and Thursday, May 21st at 6:00 p.m.*

The Male Chorus is scheduled to rehearse and record on Thursday, May 7th and Thursday, May 28th at 6:00 p.m.*

The Men and Women Fellowships are scheduled to lead the Corporate Prayer Call on Monday, May 11th – Saturday, May 16th and Monday, May 25th – Saturday, May 30th 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, May 5th, Tuesday, May 19th, and Tuesday, June 2nd.**

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.

In honor of Mother’s Day, the Greater Beulah Church is donating 200 care packages to the women of House of Mercy and Open Door Community House (100 care packages to each shelter). Deliver your donation to the church any Sunday in the month of May between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. (Dr. Mickles is overseeing this mission project.)

  • Recommended Items: brush, comb, deodorant, feminine care products, lotion, shampoo, shower gel, soap, toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, washcloths, etc.

Copies of the By-Laws of the Greater Beulah Baptist Church are available from the church office by request.

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 Pastor Rondale V. Watts.
To Deacon Freddie Blackmon, Jr.
To Deacon Willie Hornsby.

*This rehearsal time is subject to change. The music ministry will provide music for parking lot services when scheduled. More information about Sunday, May 17th will be announced.
** Specific teaching assignments and recording times TBA.

Choose Joy: MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

Discussion Guide for Sunday, April 26, 2020

MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

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

Big Idea

This week, Pastor Mickles began a new sermon series on the book of Philippians with a study of the church’s origins in Acts 16. We learned that the story began with a series of closed doors. After season of tremendous ministry success, the Apostle Paul was “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak in Asia” and was “not permitted” to go into Bithynia (Acts 16:6-7). An easier way to wrap our minds around this is to say that the Lord allowed hindrances to Paul’s plan, and if he would have continued anyway, he would have went without the Lord’s approval and blessing. Through these experiences, Paul learned (and we should too) that when God says no He typically has something greater in mind. God’s plan for his life was much greater than his plan for his life.

God put a dream in Paul’s heart for Macedonia. He concluded “that God had called them to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:10), and as a result the church at Philippi was founded. Paul’s ministry philosophy was simple: Meet People Where They Are. On the Sabbath day, he went out of the city down to the riverside. There he found a group of Jewish women praying. He sat down and talked with them about the Word of God. As Paul opened the word to the people, the Lord opened their hearts to the gospel. Open hearts led to open homes. That’s the first principle we learned: meeting people where they are means sharing the message. Eventually, Paul would rebuke the demonic spirit in a slave-girl being used for profit. This was an act of mercy. This young lady was possessed by a devil and oppressed by devilish men, and it “greatly annoyed” the Apostle. So much so, he had to do something about it. That’s the second principle: meeting people where they are means showing mercy. The powers that be did not appreciate Paul’s act of mercy and had him and his ministry companion beaten and thrown in prison. There they made a conscious decision to sing and to pray while the other prisoners listened in. When an earthquake came in the middle of the night loosing everyone’s chains and opening all of the doors, the jailer prepared to commit suicide, but Paul saw an opportunity for ministry. That opportunity led to the salvation of the jailer and his entire household. That’s the third principle: meeting people where they are means stepping in with ministry.

Discussion Questions

  • Has someone ever meet you where you were? What was your experience? What was the end result?
  • Have you made a conscious decision to choose joy regardless of the circumstances? Can you remember a time when you sang your way through a trying time? Has it ever been hard to pray through a struggle? How did the experience strengthen your relationship with God?

Prayer Focus

You are the God of closed doors, and I am grateful. Your plans for me are always greater than anything I can ask, think, or imagine. Help me to stand still until Your will is clear. I want to be sensitive to the God-sized dream that You have for me, and when the time comes, I don’t want to hesitate. May my answer be an immediate yes! May I follow You into great adventures of faith that change the course of history…even if it’s just mine.

Next Steps

Paul concluded that his mission in Macedonia was to preach the gospel to them, but we don’t ever read of him preaching a sermon. He had a conversation with the women down by the riverside. He showed mercy to the slave-girl on the way. He (and Silas) sang and prayed loud enough for the other prisoners to hear, and he simply answered the jailer’s question – with one sentence. The word used for “preach” in this passage simply means to share the good news about Jesus. This week, find a creative way to preach. No, I don’t mean taking a text with three points and poem, but I do mean finding a way that fits your context to share the good news about Jesus with someone who may need to hear it.

Want to Get Ahead?

Read and meditate on Philippians 1:1-11 in your devotional time this week.