Hello friends!
How is your week? How is the reading going? I am amazed at how much is packed into just a few verses!! Here are some questions to help you dig a little deeper as you study.
Questions for Philippians 1:1-11
- In verse 2, Paul extends a greeting of “grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
-Take time to remember an instance that grace was extended to you. This can be painful because it causes us to reflect on a situation where we needed grace…aka we messed up big time! However, it is so important to reflect on how this gift changed your life because it allows us to extend grace to the people in our lives today.
-Define peace as it relates to your life. When do you experience peace? What causes you to feel anxious? What are your tools when you need to turn anxiety into peace?
-Now, grace and peace in human terms are beautiful. In this verse, we are talking about “grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Power beyond words. Reflect on the grace that God pours over your life. How does that define you? How does His promise of peace change your situation today? What does this supernatural grace and peace look like practically in your heart, mind, and life right now? - In verse 3, Paul moves into a time of prayer for the Philippians. Who is God calling on you to intercede for this week? Take time, right now, to pray for those whom God places on your heart.
- In verses 1-11, Paul is not only building a foundation for who we are in Christ, but he is also painting a picture of who we are becoming. Reread verses 9-11, notice all of the growth, the maturity that the Holy Spirit is working out in our lives. Let’s take time to write out a prayer asking the Lord to work specifically in these areas of our lives, giving us insight into our daily activities and wisdom for the complexities of life. Commit to pray this each day as we study together and record the ways in which you are observing the Lord growing you in your relationship with Him.
Questions for Philippians 1:12-26
- In verse 12, Paul references his imprisonment as a means to advance the Gospel. This seems counterintuitive. How does being stuck in house arrest help to advance the Gospel more than being able to move freely would do so? Do a little research to see what you can find out…then, analyze our current situation. How does “shelter in place” allow for sharing the Gospel in new and unexpected ways. Prayerfully, make a list of your thoughts and then ask the Lord to open doors of opportunity in your life this week.
- Verses 15-18 are sticky and awkward. We might be tempted to move by them quickly without engaging our brains, but, since we have the time…let’s get brave and dive in. First, let us take courage from the promise in verse 18, the Gospel is eternal truth and will ultimately not be taken down by those who preach with false motives. It can be easy for us to judge the motives or methods of others. And while it is wise to use discernment regarding false teachers, it is not wise to judge the hearts of others. So, the question here is not about others, but about ourselves. When do you tend to get judgemental? What brokenness or insecurity in your life is bubbling up when you find yourself picking apart the life of someone else. How can you use this red flag behavior and allow the Lord to work in your heart? Focusing on the weaknesses of others is counterproductive. This week, let’s take notice of our tendency to do so, repent of that sin in our lives and ask the Lord to reveal and heal the brokenness that is at the root of our behavior.
- The final verses of our study this week focus on the glory that exists in eternal security. God promises to deliver us from the current circumstances of our fallen world, either in this life or in the next. Pain is temporary.
-“To live is Christ and to die is gain.” While we walk this life, Christ walks with us. When we go to Him in Heaven, He will welcome us to eternal peace. Either way, we are not alone. We are not abandoned.
– In verses 19-20 Paul gives us a glimpse of how the circumstances of imprisonment, with all its suffering and oppression, constitute a temptation for Paul to abandon the Gospel. He is dependent on prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit to give him the strength to persevere.
-What causes you to be tempted to abandon the Gospel? Maybe those words seem too strong…think of it this way; What draws you away from God? Where do you attempt to control instead of surrendering? Where do you tend to hide your heart? Ask the Lord to reveal the areas to you and then to fight the battle for your heart and peace.
Thank you for studying with me this week! I am going to grab a notebook and record my answers to these questions so that I have a journal of my study and this crazy time that we are all experiencing. Maybe you want to do the same?
I look forward to hearing from anyone who is open to sharing on Friday…just comment or email.
Hugs!
Kinsee
