On Sunday, Bryan Holt spoke about “The Secret of Contentment” from Philippians 4:10-13. He reminded us that “contentment is learned through trials to display Christ.” Here are some questions for application:
- Since “contentment is learned,” it is a process that takes time. Looking back over the past year, in what ways are you growing in contentment?
- If “trials are the classroom of contentment” what circumstances is God presently using in your life to develop and display contentment?
- How is your response to these circumstances putting Jesus on display for the world around you?
This past Sunday, Jeff Purswell spoke from Phil 4:4-7 on “Counsel for the Christian Soul.” He pointed out that the Gospel focuses on the state of our hearts rather than a call for superficial obedience or behavior. As a result, the Christian’s soul is meant to put the Gospel’s power on display in three ways…joy, gentleness, and peace. All three are grounded in the Gospel– “in the Lord” — rather than being dependent on circumstances. In fact, God frequently uses trials to reveal happiness that is masquerading as joy so that we shift our confidence back to the Gospel.
Here are some questions for application:
- Where can you identify a dependence on circumstances for your well-being? How can you intentionally find joy in the Lord?
- Since the nature of biblical gentleness is to absorb wrong and injustice with grace rather than responding in anger and unforgiveness. How can you cultivate gentleness in your life? (Hint: see 1 Peter 2:23)
- Jeff said “the Bible provides a worldview where anxiety makes no sense…anxiety reveals a functional belief that God is not faithful or is not wise or is not powerful.” How does this apply to anxiety in your life?
As we approach the Christmas season, let’s remember the promise from this passage: “God is near!” He has drawn near to each of us through the sacrifice of His Son. May this truth explode in your heart in the weeks ahead!
This week’s message is “Pursue Harmony” from Philippians 4:1-3. In this text, Paul provides two imperatives for Christian living: Stand Firm and Pursue Harmony. First, because our homeland is in heaven & not on earth, and we have a Savior and a glorious hope, we must stand firm by contending for the Gospel even in opposition. One way we do that is by radically pursuing relational harmony. One man wrote, “It is against the nature of the church and the community of the redeemed to confess unity in heaven and practice disunity on earth.” What are some ways God is calling you to pursue relational harmony? Who do you need to express forgiveness to or to extend love toward?
Paul also contends for the ministry of reconciliation in the church by asking a “true companion” to “help these women.” From time to time, we all need a trusted mediator to help us resolve a dispute. Are there unresolved conflicts in your life where you could ask a friend or leader for help?
At the end of the message, we viewed a short video called Perspectives from Peacemaker Ministries. Take a couple of minutes to review it by clicking here.
On Sunday, Aaron Campbell spoke about our Citizenship in Heaven from Phil 3:17 to 4:1: “This World is Not Our Home!” He pointed to trials and adversity as God’s megaphone to show us our weaknesses and lift our gaze to Him. Our weakness reminds us that this is not the way things were meant to be. Consider: How have difficulties and adversities in your life caused you to see God and treasure His promises more clearly?
Aaron also talked about the mission God has entrusted to us. “Because the future is certain, the present has meaning… God uses imperfect people in imperfect circumstances for His perfect work to go forth.” How are you doing identifying and walking in the works God has created for you?
For further reflection, Paul Tripp’s excellent article that Aaron quoted from is available here: God’s Will for Your Wait
On Sunday, Johnny Duress spoke from Ephesians 1:3-7: “Look at What God Has Done for Us!” He pointed out that God began blessing in the first chapters of Genesis in creating man and placing him in a world of blessing on every side. But that blessing was eclipsed by sending His Son to be a propitiation for our sins followed by the promise of v. 3: “God… has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing!”
- As Thanksgiving approaches, let’s consider our thankfulness quotient. How often do you give thanks for God’s amazing blessings that fill your life? Make a list of blessings you’re aware of today.
- Paul goes on to list additional blessings… predestination, adoption, redemption and forgiveness. Johnny exhorted us to think of life from the perspective of Romans 8:28… to see all of life - both blessings and trials - as coming from the hand of a loving Father. In that light, how do you think of difficult times, trials and adversity? How can you prepare your heart so that you encounter God’s kindness in future trials?
On Sunday, Gene preached from Philippians 3:7-14. Verses 7 to 11 highlight our goal to live for “know Christ Jesus,” and verses 12 to 14 describe how we do that. Here are some questions to help in application:
- We must “forget what lies behind” in order to run the race. What ways do your successes, failures, or memories tempt you to run the race “looking backward”? What commitments is God calling you to make to press on to served God?
- “Straining forward to what lies ahead” protects us from distraction and discouragement. How can we live each day with “knowing Christ” continually in view?
- In verse 12, Paul exhorts us to “press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.” Literally, we grasp Him because He first grasped us! How does our daily walk reflect a dependence on God’s work in our lives?
In Sunday’s message, Gene preached from Philippians 2:19-30 on “Real Life Examples.” We saw how Paul included these two men as living illustrations of his admonition in Philippians 1:27 to “Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” The Gospel had dramatically transformed the lives of these two men!
Timothy is an example of selfless humility in his genuine concern for God’s work…putting Jesus’ interests ahead of his own. Can you point to choices you have recently made to set aside your rights to sacrifice for others?
Epaphroditus is an example of sacrificial obedience. He was proven when he had an opportunity to make the 800 mile trip to Rome to deliver Paul’s gift. He was faithful in serving Paul, even at the risk of his own life. He was ambitious for the Gospel! How is God calling you to invest sacrificially for His glory? What godly risks can you take to bear fruit for Him?
Last Sunday, Matthew preached from Phil. 2:14-18, how God has called each of us to a life of joyful obedience.
Here are a few questions for application:
- Why does God care so much about joyful obedience?
- Has observing someone else’s joyful obedience ever caused you to marvel at who God is or what he’s done for you?
- Where do you have opportunity in your life right now to proclaim the truth about God to those around you through your obedience? Is your light bright or dim?
- How can we continue to joyfully obey even when it means we walk a path of pain or suffering?
On Sunday, Matthew taught from Philippians 2:5-11 on Authentic Humility. Here are some questions that you can use for application:
- How would you define biblical humility?
- What do you find most provoking about Christ’s example of humility?
- Where does the practice of humility conflict with the preservation of a “right” you hold dear?
- How does the exaltation of Christ affect the way you respond to injustice in your own life?
Last Sunday, Matthew preached from Phil. 1:12-18, where Paul looks his suffering in the eye and rejoices at how it served to spread the kingdom of God. Why could Paul rejoice in the face of suffering? Because he had a supreme ambition for the glory of God and saw how his ambition was fulfilled through his suffering. Paul was bound in the chains of a Roman prison. But the Word of God was not bound. His witness spread the gospel throughout the Imperial Roman Guard, who in turn spread the gospel throughout the city of Rome. Not to mention the inspiring effect of Paul’s faithful evangelism on the Roman church. Both in outward witness and inward example, Paul’s suffering served to advance the gospel. That’s what he cared about. That’s what mattered most to him. And that’s what must matter most to us. If our ambition is God’s ambition, then there’s no circumstance where our ambition cannot be fulfilled, suffering included. Which means we’ve discovered the secret to joy in all circumstances.
Here are a few questions for application:
- What is your supreme ambition? Don’t just give the “right” response. How can you tell? Simply look at what you find joy in more than anything else.
- How is God giving you opportunity amidst present suffering to testify to the gospel? To yourself? To others?
- What examples can you look to of Christians who are suffering to the glory of God? If you can’t think of any, what does that say about your pursuit of Christian community? If you know at least one, what can you do to learn from them?
- How has God used suffering to refine your ambitions in the past, purifying you of lesser, rival ambitions that might otherwise rule your heart?
