Philippians 3:1-11

Philippians 3:1-11

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Knowing Christ

3 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.

² Watch out for “dogs,”^[a] watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— ⁴ although I once also had confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ^[b]—the righteousness from God based on faith. ¹⁰ My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,¹¹ assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Questions

1.       Watch out for dogs?  What does that mean?

A.      To watch out for bad people, people who tempt us with fleshly desires. 

2.       How do we boast is Christ Jesus?

A.      To preach the good news and tell everyone about Christ Jesus.

3.       When was it when Paul had confidence in the flesh?  Have you ever had confidence in your flesh?

A.      He was Saul and boasted in himself, not Jesus. 

4.       Why should we not have confidence in the flesh?

A.      Because the flesh will always fail us.  

Philippians 2:19-30

hPhilippians 2:19-30

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you. ²⁰ For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; ²¹ all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. ²³ Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.

²⁵ But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need— ²⁶ since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. ²⁷ Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another. ²⁸ For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious. ²⁹ Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

Questions:

1.      How would the people of Phillipi welcome Timothy and Epaphroditus?  They expect Paul, but get these 2 men. 

A.     They aren’t going to be as excited to see these 2 men, but they will respect them because Paul puts them in high esteem. 

2.      What was the reason Paul sent Timothy and Ephahroditus to the Phillipian Church?

A.     He wanted Timothy to be an encouragement to the Phillipian Church because he knew their needs and wanted to help. 

3.      Why did Paul trust Timothy to go to the Philippian Church?

A.     Timothy is a kindred spirit and genuinely care for the people of Philippi.  Plus he is Paul right hand man.

4.      What does the passage teach about the importance of team work?

A.     Because not all people have the same skills and they can work together to promote the word of God.

5.      Why do you think God had mercy on Epaphroditus?

A.     God must have had more work for Epaphroditus.

6.      Epaphroditus has 5 roles listen in verse 25.  What role do you find to be the most important and why?

A.??????

Philippians 2:12-18

Philippians 2:12-18

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Lights in the World

¹² So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling and arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.¹⁶ Hold firmly to^[a] the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Questions:

1.       We must obey the Lord.  When our parents ask us to obey them, we should, even if they aren’t around.  Paul is making sure that the people of Philippi obey the Lord even though he isn’t with them.  Why is it important to obey when no one is looking?

A.     You want to be obedient to the Lord.  You shouldn’t need a pastor, or parent to teach you everything, and to be there all the time telling you how to live.  You need to take ownership of your Christian walk.

2.      How do we work out our own salvation?

A.     By reading the Bible. Praying to God for wisdom, listening to God, obeying His commandments. 

3.      How is God working in us?

A.     He is perfecting His masterpiece to be perfect.  We are His masterpiece

4.      In verse 17 Paul says, “Even if I’m poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”  Why does he say that

A.     Even if Paul dies he knows he would die because he teaches the word of God.  He knows he will be in heaven with God and that he would be an example to others.

5.      How can we do everything without grumbling?

A.      Ask God for help, it’s not easy, but can be done.  Pray for help, pray that he would soften your heart.  

Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5-11

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

⁵ Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

⁶ who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.^[a]
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
⁸ He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
⁹ For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
¹¹ and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,^[b]
to the glory of God the Father.

Question:

1.      What does it mean that Jesus did not consider himself equal with God?

A.     He shows true humility and He is our example.

2.      Jesus humbled himself so much that He died on the cross for our sins.  He is King of the Universe.  We need to look at Him as an example.  We need to humble ourselves and not esteem ourselves.  How can we do this?

A.     ??????

3.      How can we confess that Jesus is Lord?

A.     Just do it?  Pray , and tell other people about Christ.  

Philippians 2:1-4

Christian Humility

2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. ³ Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Questions

1.   How can we acknowledge that Jesus is our Lord?

A.   Tell others about the gospel, we can love, fellowship, show mercy, be joyful, think the same, and be focused on Jesus alone. 

2.   How can we start our day with having a mindset for God?

A.   Praying, reading the Bible, worshiping Him, think about Him

3.   What does it mean to humble?

A.   ???

When you win a game, how do you act when the game ends?

4.   How do we show interest for other over ourselves?

A.   Listen to what people are saying, show interest in all area.