PHILIPPIANS : TO LIVE IS CHRIST

Watch our overview video on the book of Philippians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Phillippians, Paul thanks the Philippian Christians for their generosity and shares how they are all called to imitate Jesus' self-giving love. #Philippians #TheBibleProject #BibleVideo

The church in Philippians was started by Paul. He was given a dream in the night by God that told him to help the people in their region.  Paul's new church plant loved him and helped him as he continued to spread God's word. Jailed for preaching the Gospel, He wrote a letter to the Philippian church to encourage them, challenge them, and urge them to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ.

Questions:

  1. What do you think are the main things Paul wants this letter to accomplish? (He wants his readers to…)

  2. What title(s) would give this letter?

  3. Look back at what you’ve read and thought about so far. Take a minute to praise God for something you saw in this letter.

  4. Ask God how He wants your life to be different after this study. Write down what you think He’s saying.

  5. Paul says, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (2:12-13). God will work in you, and He wants you to do your part by working out what He’s working in. You can think of it like working out at the gym, exercising the muscles you want to build. (Or if you hate the gym, think of it like something else you want to practice and get better at, like acting or the guitar or a game you love.) What is one thing you can do, or continue to do, that will help to work out what God wants to do in your life?

Connection (within a House Church):

  • In your group, share your first impressions of Paul's feelings, attitudes, and focus.

  • How are the things on Paul's mind like or unlike the things that tend to be on your mind?

  • What does Paul say that excites you, inspires you, confuses you, or convicts you?

  • How does it affect you to know that Paul is sitting in prison as he writes?

Go Deeper:

Acts 16:11-40 tells how the Philippians first met Paul. What does this story add to your impression of Paul as a person? What does it suggest about what it was like to be a follower of Christ in Philippi after Paul left?

Memory Verse of the Week:

Did a particular verse make you think? Is there a verse you can't get out of your head? Write it down and memorize it. Allow God's Word to permanently brand itself in your head and your heart.

More Resources: https://thebibleproject.com/explore/philippians/

Katie Erickson