Hello friends!
How is your week going? Have you remembered to take a deep breath and allow the Lord to work in you as we embrace the concept of kategazesthe? It is hard to believe that we are at the end of April and summer is upon us! New life and new hope are right around the corner! Here are some questions to help you dig a little deeper as you study.
Questions for Philippians 2:12-18
- Let’s break down verses 14 and 15:
Define each of the following: grumbling, blameless, warped/crooked
Reflect on what it means to be a child of God. Consider how you feel about and relate to your own children.
Consider our current “generation.” What are the strengths and weaknesses that you observe?
Write a brief statement putting all of this together to give you a deeper understanding of these verses and the call that they put on our lives. - Verse 15b-16 talk about “shining like stars in the sky.” Can you think of someone in your life who has been an example of Christ’s love for you? Take time today to thank God for them. Then, let them know! Make a phone call, send a text or even drop a handwritten note in the mailbox. Recognize that we are not called to idolize these folks, or get sucked into a comparison trap. Instead, we are called to recognize the Lord working in their lives and encourage them along their journey.
-Pray that the Lord would bless you by allowing you to be a star in someone else’s sky. Again, not in your own strength but by His grace. Pray for opportunities to share the love of Christ, the wisdom to recognize the moment and the courage to act in His strength. Jot down any experiences that the Lord provides in the next couple of days. Remember, “He who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Questions for Philippians 2:19-30
- In verse 24 Paul says, “And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.” This is an interesting contrast to his words just a few verses earlier. “Even if I am poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and will rejoice with all of you.” Paul seems to remain hopeful that God will rescue him from his current situation while maintaining that he is at peace with the reality that he might not make it out alive. It can be tricky to balance our desires with surrender to God’s will for us, especially when these two things seem to be different. How can we find this balance in our hearts and minds? Consider these truths and refer to the following passages:
God is the only one who can define good and bad
Isaiah 55:8-9/Proverbs 3:5-6
God only works for our good
Jeremiah 29:11-13/Romans 8:28/ Proverbs 19:21
God walks with us through all circumstances
Isaiah 41:10/Zephaniah 3:17/Joshua 1:9
God will provide insight and wisdom when we ask him to
James 1:5/Proverbs 2:6/Colossians 1:9
God promises us eternal victory, even when it seems we are losing a temporary battle
Romans 8:38-39/John 3:16/Jeremiah 31:3
-How do these passages of scripture change your perspective on our desires and comfort in relationship to the will of God being played out in our lives?
- In verse 28, Paul speaks of his own anxiety. Does anyone else find comfort in realizing that even this giant of our faith wrestled anxiety? In the footnotes of my Bible anxiety is defines as, “The legitimate cares and concerns that come with the Christian life and the gospel ministry.” How do you define anxiety? How do you cope with it in your life? Paul appears to be specifically asking the Lord to allow Epaphroditus to go to the Philippians so that he may have less anxiety. Do you share your concerns and desires with the Lord in such an intimate way? Perhaps we can respond to Paul’s vulnerability as an invitation to pour out our own anxiety before the Lord. I am confident that He will receive our cry for help with open arms and will bring comfort in ways that are unmistakably His own. Record your prayer and the way that He responds. It is upon reflecting on His faithfulness that our faith grows.
Thank you for studying with me this week! I look forward to hearing from anyone who is open to sharing with the group on Friday…just comment or email women@jfbc.org.
Hugs!
Kinsee
