Tag: Philippians 2020

OUTLINE

INTRO: The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (v. 20a)

What do faithful laborers look like?

I. Faithful laborers are concerned with the welfare of the saints (v. 20b)

II. Faithful laborers have real affection for the saints (v. 19, 23-24)

III. Faithful laborers seek Jesus’ interests (v. 21)

IV. Faithful laborers are servants (v. 22)

DISCUSSION

I. Read verses 19-20. What do we learn about Timothy and therefore about faithful gospel ministry? What do we learn about unfaithful gospel ministry from verse 21?

II. According to verse 22, how did Paul view Timothy? Why? What did Paul “therefore” want Timothy to do, according to verses 23-24?

OUTLINE

How must we live in this crooked and twisted generation? We must live as shining lights (v. 15)

I. If we would be lights in the world we must not grumble or dispute (v. 14)

II. If we would be lights in the world we must hold fast and hold forth the word of life (v. 16)

III. If we would be lights in the world we must pour ourselves out for others (v. 17)

IV. If we would be lights in the world we must be glad and rejoice (v. 18)

DISCUSSION

I. What things are we commanded to do “without grumbling or disputing” in verse 14? What does Paul mean by “grumbling”? What does Paul mean by “disputing”? 

II. To what end are we to “do all things without grumbling or disputing” according to verse 15? How does Paul describe the public witness of the Christian? How does Paul describe those not united to Christ by faith?

III. According to verse 16, what must we “[hold] fast to” if we are going to live “as lights in the world”? What does Paul mean by “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain”? 

IV. According to verses 17-18, what else marks the Christian life besides “[shining] as lights in the world”? What does Paul mean by “poured out as a drink offering”? How should this encourage you as you suffer for Jesus’ sake? What does Paul say we “should be” in verse 18?

DISCUSSION

I. In light of Christ’s humility by which he saved us, what does Paul command in verse 12? How does Hebrews 5:8-9 help clarify?

II. How do Romans 8:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 5:5 help us understand how we “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”? 

III. According to verses 13, who is it that is working in us as we “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling”? To what end is God working in us according to the last part of verse 13?

IV. What danger do we fall into if we live only according to verse 12? What danger do we fall into if we live only according to verse 13?

OUTLINE

I. THE HUMILIATION OF JESUS
I) Jesus humbled Himself by releasing His divine rights (v. 6)
II) Jesus humbled Himself by emptying Himself (v. 7a)
III) Jesus humbled Himself by taking the form of a servant (v. 7b)
IV) Jesus humbled Himself by obeying His Father in life and death (v. 8)

II. THE EXALTATION OF CHRIST
I) Jesus is exalted now (v. 9)
II) Jesus will receive His final reward (v. 10-11)

DISCUSSION

I. Read verse 5. In what sense does Paul use the word “mind”? What does Paul mean by “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”? How do Romans 15:3 and Matthew 11:29 help clarify?

II. Read verses 6-7. What do we learn about Jesus in these verses? What does Paul mean by “he was in the form of God”? How does John 5:18 help clarify? In what sense did Jesus “[empty] himself”? How does the following part of the verse help clarify what he does and does not mean?

III. According to verse 8, what is the pinnacle of Jesus’ humility? Why did Jesus “[humble] himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”? How does this stir your love for Jesus and encourage you to humble yourself?

IV. “Therefore” what has God the Father done because of Jesus’ humility, according to verses 9-11? What will every single person eventually do before Christ? To what end will they “bow” and “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”? What does Paul mean by “bow” and “confess”? Do you “bow” before Jesus? Do you “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”?

OUTLINE

I. If we are in Christ, we must be united (v. 1-2)
II. If we would be united, we must humble ourselves (v. 3b)
III. If we would humble ourselves, we must avoid self ambition and conceit (v. 3a)
IV. If we would humble ourselves, we must count others more significant (v. 3c-4)
V. We humble ourselves for Christ because He humbled Himself for us (v. 5)

DISCUSSION

I. What does Paul hope to see in the lives of these Philippian Christians according to verse 1? What do each of these mean?

II. According to verse 2, what will “complete [Paul’s] joy”? What does it mean to “[be] of the same mind”? What does it mean to “[have] the same love”? What does it mean to “[be] in full accord and of one mind”?

III. Humility is truly the theme of verses 1-4. What will the humble Christian’s life look like according to verse 3? What does “selfish ambition” mean? What does “conceit” mean? Do you count others more significant than yourself? If not, how can you start? If so, how can you grow in that grace?

IV. What is Paul not saying in verse 4? What is he saying? Look ahead to verses 5-7. What is the root of such humility?

OUTLINE

We must live worthy of the gospel

I. We live worthy of the gospel when we stand firm together (v.27a)

II. We live worthy of the gospel when we stand firm together…striving side by side for the truth of the gospel (v.27b)

III. We live worthy of the gospel when we stand firm together…not frightened by opponents (v.28)

IV. We live worthy of the gospel when we stand firm together…suffering for Jesus’ sake (v.29-30)

DISCUSSION

I. According to verse 27, how will “our manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”? What does Paul mean by “striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”? How does Jude 3 help clarify in what sense Paul uses the word “faith” here?

II. In verse 28, what is another clear way we “let [our] manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ”? What is a “clear sign” to someone of their “destruction”? What is a “clear sign” to someone of their “salvation”? Who is the salvation from?

III. According to verse 29, what has been granted to Christians? How should the gift of faith assure you of God’s love? How should the gift of suffering for Jesus’ sake strengthen you in afflictions?

IV. What is this conflict of which Paul writes in verse 30? What can we learn from this?

OUTLINE
I. Jesus advances the gospel through us as we suffer for His name’s sake (v. 12-13)
II. Jesus advances the gospel through us as we are confident in Him (v. 14a)
III. Jesus advances the gospel through us as we boldly speak the word of God without fear (v. 14b)

APPLICATION
I. Whatever comes your way, learn to see it not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to proclaim the ultimate value of Christ Jesus.
II. Jesus’ plans are always better than our plans.
III. Suffering with joy as you proclaim the Gospel is one of the best ways to show the magnificent worth of knowing Jesus.
IV. Look at the example of others whom Jesus has used to suffer for the sake of the gospel, and become more confident and bold by their example—see how God sustained them to be faithful and worked mightily through them.
V. Good words are the seeds and good works the fertilizer that we scatter and water; God causes the growth.

DISCUSSION
I. What does Paul want his brothers and sisters in Christ to know, according to verses 12-13? What is he referring to when he says “what has happened to me”? What has his imprisonment produced in the “imperial guard”? Who is this all “for” according to the end of verse 13? What can we learn here concerning how Jesus advances the gospel in the world?

II. What did Paul’s suffering for Jesus’ sake do to “most of the brothers” according to the first part of verse 14? This is crucial: who are they confident “in”? What can we learn here concerning how Jesus advances the gospel in the world?

III. According to the second part of verse 14, what did this “confidence in the Lord” result in? What can we learn here concerning how Jesus advances the gospel in the world?

OUTLINE
I. The Basics of our Sanctification (v.8-10)
II. The Fruit of our Sanctification (v.11a)
III. The Source of our Sanctification (v.11b)
IV. The Goal of our Sanctification (v.11c)

DISCUSSION
I. What does Paul pray for according to verse 9? What do these words mean? Is this like or different than typical prayer requests you have witnessed? How can you better pray like the Holy Spirit guides us to in the Bible rather than how our flesh would guide us to? 

II. What does Paul desire to come about from answered prayer, according to verse 10? *hint: notice the words “so that.” What do these words mean in verse 10? What is “the day of Christ”?

III. According to verse 11, what does Paul desire the Philippians to be filled with? What does he mean? How can Galatians 5:22-24 help clarify? Where does this “fruit of righteousness” come from? Why does it come through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, according to the last part of verse 11?