Tag: Philippians 2020

OUTLINE

I. YOU MUST STAND FIRM WITH THE SAINTS BY REJOICING IN THE LORD (v.4-5)

II. YOU MUST STAND FIRM WITH THE SAINTS BY REPENTING OF WORRY AND TRUSTING THE LORD OF PROVIDENCE (v.6a)

III. YOU MUST STAND FIRM WITH THE SAINTS BY PRAYING (v.6b)

IV. WHAT JEWELS GOD PROMISES THOSE THAT REJOICE, TRUST, AND PRAY (v.7)

DISCUSSION

I. In verse 4, how frequently does Paul command Christians to “rejoice in the Lord”? What can we learn from his repetitive “again I will say, rejoice”? What does Paul mean by “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand” in verse 5?

II. According to verse 6, how do we best battle anxiety? What does Paul command? What promise are believers given in verse 7 if we obey the command of verse 6? What anxieties do you need to pray about and thus have your heart and mind “guarded” with the peace of Christ Jesus? What does Paul mean by “which surpasses all understanding”?

OUTLINE

I. ONE SHIELD TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN UNITY IS BY REMEMBERING THE GENUINE AFFECTION WE HAVE FOR THE SAINTS (v. 1)

II. ANOTHER SHIELD TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN UNITY IS TO REMEMBER THAT WE ALL HAVE THE SAME LORD (v. 2)

III. YET ANOTHER SHIELD TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN UNITY IS REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE LABORING SIDE BY SIDE IN THE GOSPEL (v. 3a)

IV. THE FINAL SHIELD TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN UNITY IS REMEMBERING THAT OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN RIGHT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER’S IN THE BOOK OF LIFE (v. 3b)

DISCUSSION

I. After expounding the tremendous hope of future glory with Jesus, what does Paul “Therefore” command in chapter 4 verse 1? In addition, what do we learn about the Apostle Paul’s heart for these Philippians? What does he mean by “my joy and crown”?

II. Read verses 2-3. What is Paul “[entreating]” these women to do exactly? What is he “[asking]” any who are a “true companion” to do? How do we see the job of the whole church to preserve unity “in the Lord”? How can you better “help” your brothers and sisters in Christ “agree in the Lord”?

OUTLINE

I. SAINTS SET THEIR MINDS ON HEAVENLY THINGS (v. 20a)

II. SAINTS GLORY IN THEIR SAVIOR (v. 20b)

III. SAINTS’ GOD IS THE LORD JESUS (v. 20c)

IV. SAINTS’ END IS GLORIFICATION (v. 21)

V. SAINTS SET THEIR HEARTS ON JESUS’ SECOND COMING (v. 21b)

DISCUSSION

I. In verses 20-21, how are Christians contrasted with those that walk as enemies? Think about the contrast Paul is drawing. According to verse 20, what is a Christian’s “end”? What is a Christians “god” or “Lord”? What do Christians “glory in”? Are you awaiting your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ?

OUTLINE

I. Imitating mature christians is a great help in following Christ
(v. 17)

II. Rejecting the example of false christians is a great help in following Christ (v. 18)

III. You must reject imitating those whose end is destruction
(v. 19a)

IV. You must reject imitating those whose god is their belly (v. 19b)

V. You must reject imitating those who glory in their shame (v. 19c)

VI. You must reject imitating those who set their minds on earthly things (v. 19d)

DISCUSSION

I. According to verse 17, what is one of the means of grace in Christian sanctification? Are there mature men or women in your life that you can look to as examples and guides? Why is it important to have godly examples, according to verse 18?

II. In verse 19, how does Paul define those that “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ”? Work backwards in verse 19 and write down the progression, starting with “minds set on earthly things.”

DISCUSSION

I. What has Paul not “already obtained” in verse 12? Does this mean he is not yet justified or does he mean something else? How does the rest of verse 12 help clarify?

II. What do we learn about the motivation for the pursuit of holiness from verse 12—why does Paul “press on to make [perfection his] own”?

III. According to verse 13-14, what does Paul “do”? What is it that “lies ahead” that Paul is “straining forward to”? What exactly is the “goal” and “prize”?

IV. What is Paul getting at in verse 15-16?

OUTLINE

I. Knowing Jesus more is the highest internal goal of a saint (v. 10a)

II. Knowing Jesus more imparts resurrection power to saints (v. 10b)

III. You will know Jesus and his power more as you share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (v. 10c)

IV. You will know jJsus fully, when he vindicates all your sufferings, becoming like him in his death (v. 10c)

V. You must persevere in the faith—you will persevere only by fixing your eyes on Jesus (v. 11)

DISCUSSION

I. In verse 10 Paul returns to the subject of knowing Christ Jesus. By what “means” does Paul desire to “know him”? Why do you think Paul wants to “attain the resurrection of the dead”?

OUTLINE

I. Knowing Christ Jesus is worth more than everything else put together (v. 8a)

II. Knowing Christ Jesus makes everything else put together look like trash (v. 8b)

III. The worth of knowing the supremely worthy Christ (v. 9)

DISCUSSION

I. What does Paul “count as loss” according to verse 8? Why does he “count everything as loss”? Does he say this theoretically or from experience, according to the rest of verse 8? Why has Paul “suffered the loss of all things”?

II. Read verse 9. What does it mean to “be found in him”? What is the wrong source of our righteousness before God? Where must our righteousness before God come from? What does our righteousness before God “depend on”?

OUTLINE

If anyone could justify themselves through their privileges or achievements, it was Paul (v. 4).

I. Your religious actions cannot save you (v. 5a)
II. Your family cannot save you (v. 5b)
III. Your rule keeping cannot save you (v. 5c)
IV. Your passion cannot save you (v. 6a)
V. Your own righteousness cannot save you (v. 6b)

You can only be saved by counting all of your privileges and achievements as loss and trusting in Christ alone (v. 7).

DISCUSSION

I. What is Paul getting at in verse 4? Read verses 5-6. In what ways does Paul show that if anyone were to have “confidence in the flesh” it would be him? What do all of these things mean? Is your experience consistent with Paul or do you find yourself in a different place when looking at your life?

II. After Paul details all of the “gain” he had—reasons he has to place “confidence in the flesh”—what conclusion does he come to in verse 7? Can you, with Paul, say “I count everything as loss for the sake of Christ”? How is this the path to true joy?

OUTLINE

I. TRUE CHRISTIANS REJOICE IN THE LORD (v.1a)

II. TRUE CHRISTIANS LOOK OUT FOR FALSE CHRISTIANS (v.1b-2)

I) You must look out for those that teach salvation by works (v.2a)
II) You must look out for those that brag about themselves (v.2b)
III) You must look out for those that make a big deal of outward signs (v.2c)

III. TRUE CHRISTIANS HAVE HAD THEIR HEARTS CHANGED BY GOD (v.3a)

IV. TRUE CHRISTIANS WORSHIP GOD BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD (v.3b)

V. TRUE CHRISTIANS BRAG ABOUT CHRIST JESUS ALONE (v.3c)

VI. TRUE CHRISTIANS PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES (v.3d)

DISCUSSION

I. After giving the Philippian Christians many commands, as well as setting before them the shining examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus, what does Paul “finally” command in verse 1? Why do you think he says, “To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you”? What should we learn from this repetition?

II. Next, Paul turns but briefly to warn the Philippians of the false apostles that they are no doubt already aware of. *note the brevity of his warnings concerning these false teachers. If they were truly a threat to the Philippians Paul would have undoubtedly spent more time writing about them as he did to the Galatians.
What does he call them in verse 2 and what do these terms indicate? How are true believers (“we”) contrasted with these false teachers in verse 3? According to the last part of verse 3, what marks all true believers in Jesus Christ? Do you put “confidence in the flesh” or do you “glory in Christ” alone “by the Spirit of God”? 

OUTLINE

I. THE IDENTITY OF A FAITHFUL LABORER (v. 25)

I) A faithful laborer is a brother (v. 25a)
II) A faithful laborer is a fellow worker (v. 25b)
III) A faithful laborer is a fellow soldier (v. 25c)
IV) A faithful laborer is a messenger (v. 25d)
V) A faithful laborer is a minister (v. 25e)

II. THE HEART OF A FAITHFUL LABORER (v. 26-27, 30)

I) The heart of a faithful laborer longs for the saints (v. 26a)
II) The heart of a faithful laborer distresses over the saints (v. 26b-27)
III) The heart of a faithful laborer is willing to risk his life for the saints (v. 30)

III. HOW FAITHFUL SAINTS TREAT FAITHFUL LABORERS (v. 26, 28-29)

I) Faithful saints are concerned with the welfare of faithful laborers (v. 26)
II) Faithful saints receive faithful laborers with all joy (v. 29a)
III) Faithful saints honor faithful laborers (v. 29b)

DISCUSSION

I. Read verses 25-27. What do we learn about Epaphroditus and therefore about faithful gospel ministry?

II. According to verse 25, how did Paul view Epaphroditus? According to verse 27, how did Paul feel about Epaphroditus? What do we learn about faithful gospel ministry from verse 30?