Posts with the tag “philippians”

Whatever is right (Just) Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.Another word for “right” that is used often in translations is “whatever is Just.” So maybe we need to look into what it means to be Just. Justice ha...  Read More

Whatever is true. Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.So, what should we add to our lives? The above list is probably a great place to start, but let's break that list down a bit more. “Fix your thoughts on wha...  Read More

INTRODUCTION The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things. OPEN QUESTIONS What has been your favorite travel destination so far in life, and what is one you’d still like to visit? HEAD 1. Read Ph...  Read More

Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.Don’t worry about anything. . .Yeah, right. That would be great, wouldn’t it? To live a life that doesn’t have a...  Read More

Philippians 4: 2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—r...  Read More

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work. I love what Paul has to say here. He feels as if the joy that comes from this work is incarnated in the person he gets to share it with. His joy and reward are those people who accept the gospel and allow God to work t...  Read More

INTRODUCTION The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things. OPEN QUESTIONS Share about a goal or accomplishment that you are particular proud of, that took you some time to achieve. What kept you ...  Read More

Philippians 3:15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.Let's talk about spiritual maturity for a moment. What actually does it mean to be spiritually mature? Hebrews says it this way: Hebrews 6:1-2 says: Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary...  Read More

Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race a...  Read More

INTRODUCTION The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things. OPEN QUESTIONS What’s one thing about your life, your accomplishments, or even your family and your ancestry that you are particularly p...  Read More

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!Resurrection. For Paul, and for Christians in general, the idea of resurrection cannot be underemphasized or undervalued. It is the foundation of Christian hope, and Paul...  Read More

INTRODUCTION The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things. OPEN QUESTIONS When you think back over your life about someone who had a great attitude no matter their circumstances, who comes to min...  Read More

Philippians 2:12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize...  Read More

Philippians 2:5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6 Though he was God,    he did not think of equality with God    as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;    he took the humble position of a slave    and was born as a human being.When he appeared in human form,8 he humbled himself in obedience to God    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.9 There...  Read More

Philippians 2:3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.All of this is good. No. All of this is exactly what the world needs right now and probably has always needed. Let's break it all down: Don’t be selfish. This one seems pretty simple. Look to others...  Read More

Philippians 2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.I know; we talked about this yesterday. However, I don’t think we have plumbed the de...  Read More

Philippians 2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.This week we are studying one of the most famous passages that Paul ever wrote. It be...  Read More

27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them t...  Read More

Philippians 1:12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.15 It’s true that ...  Read More

Philippians 1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.Yesterday, we did a lot of the background work for this little letter, but today, I’d like to jump into the exegesis of this text...  Read More

Philippians 1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.Philippi is located about 9 miles or so inland from the Northern Shore of the Aegean Sea. It became a colony of the Roman Empire ...  Read More

The Epistle to the Philippians is a well-known writing from which most Christians can quote. The top three quotes are listed below: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ.” (1:6)“For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (1:21)“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (4:13)These are great texts from which to memorize and find inspir...  Read More

WEEK 5 OF 5       End Statement #5: Crosswalk will be a community that exemplifies servant leadership.INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENThink about and share a time when your true self (authentic self) was revealed. What happened and what was...  Read More