Studies in Philipians Studies in Philipians
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [15]
Date: November 5, 2005
Passage: Philippians 4:14-23
Message: Give ‘till it Helps
Series in Philippians [15]
Why is money such a touchy subject to talk about?
Jesus talked about our money and possessions all the time.
Can you think of examples from the gospels?
What does it mean to honour God with your life and possessions? What specific ways can you honour Him through your wealth and influence?
Read v14-17
What does God hold you accountable for in regard to your money and possessions?
How does your wealth affect you?
How does giving affect you?
How is generous giving a blessing to the giver?
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [14]
Date: October 30, 2005
Passage: Philippians 4:10-13
Message: How Much is Enough?
Series in Philippians [14]
How much is enough?
Share some examples of where you have had to try and answer that question. [Refer Matthew 18:21-22,
Exodus 16:11-20]
Why do we have trouble working out when and where we have enough?
How much of this dilemma can we attribute to the materialistic, ‘must have’ world in which we live?
Or is it more personal than that?
1. Contentment is GRACIOUS Read v10
Paul was in prison and it seems that in recent times the care from the Christians in Philippi had dropped off.
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [13]
Date: October 9, 2005
Passage: Philippians 4:2-9
Message: The Bottom Line
Series in Philippians [13]
Imagine being in the congregation when this letter was read for the first time.
Read v2-3 How do you think Euodia and Syntyche felt having their dirty laundry aired publicly?
How would you react to this? Why?
“One of the things I love about the Bible is that it never seeks to cover up what seems to contradict it!
We have the sins of all the saints in clear view.
We have the failures, doubts, impetuousness, fear, ignorance of the people of God on full display!â€
Give examples.
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [12]
Date: October 2, 2005
Passage: Philippians 3:15-4:1
Message: Finishing Well
Series in Philippians [12]
What sort of things would you like someone to include in a eulogy about you?
‘So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.’ [v15-16 The Message]
What ‘goal’ is Paul talking about?
How focused are you?
Share what you do to help you stay focused.
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [10]
Date: September 4, 2005
Passage: Philippians 3: 4-11
Message: Trash and Treasure
Series in Philippians [10]
Many testimonies emphasise how bad we were before we became a Christian and how Christ changed us. Paul’s testimony was just the opposite. He tells us how good he was before he came to Christ. However he knew that even his best was worthless when it came to making him right with God.
Share something of your testimony? How similar or dis-similar is it to Paul?
“One of the hardest things in life is to be clear and focused about something. The second hardest thing is to stay clear and focused about it…… Within every one of us, there is a pull from CLARITY to FUZZINESS or CONFUSION.â€
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [9]
Date: August 28, 2005
Passage: Philippians 3:1-3
Message: Some Things Are Worth Repeating
Theme: Series in Philippians [9]
Talk about how much our society has become engrossed in safety concerns. How has this changed us?
Paul is concerned about safeguarding their Christian lives.
He talks about saying ‘…..the same things again’ v1
What sorts of things do we need to be saying again and again to one another as Christians?
Paul wanted to safeguard them from a COLD Christian life.
……rejoice in the Lord v1
How can we keep our spiritual life from going cold?
What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [8]
Date: August 7, 2005
Passage: Philippians 2:19-30
Message: A Few Good Men
Theme: Series in Philippians [8]
1. Share something you remember from the sermon on Sunday
2. Share a time when you had to work closely with other Christians and it worked out better/ worse than you expected.
3. List of the various ways Paul talks about Timothy and Epaphroditus. Discuss the practical realities of these things in our situation.
4. “Here you have two average people. One of them was timid, the other one was sick. They were just ordinary people, yet they made a difference.†Share about someone who has made a difference in your life. Why do you think they had such an impact?
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [7]
Date: July 31, 2005
Passage: Philippians 2:14-18
Message: Whine or Shine
Theme: Series in Philippians [7]
1. Complaining = could be translated 'grumbling'. It's from a Greek word -'gongusmosai', which is an onomatopoeic word - that simply means a word that sounds like what it's describing.
Arguing = Greek word 'dialogismos', and this is a little bit different because it's inner reasoning. It's complaining in your mind and in your heart - 'dialogue', it's like talking with yourself.
If grumbling is an emotional thing, where these deep guttural sounds of moaning and murmuring come, this is an intellectual moaning. It's like an arguing with yourself:
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [5]
Date: July 3, 2005
Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
Message: Descending into Greatness
Theme: Series in Philippians [5]
Read Philippians 2:5-11
What stands out to you in this passage?
This is regarded as one of the most glorious passages in the New Testament, yet in its context Paul is challenging us about unity in the Church.
How does this passage help us in terms of our relationship with one another?
…..in very nature God [v6]
Why is Jesus deity so important in Christian theology and practice?
…..equality with God not something to be grasped [v6]
Jesus was willing to let go of his privileged position.
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [4]
Date: June 19, 2005
Passage: Philippians 2:1-4
Message: A Church with Attitude
Series: Philippians [4]
What is it about ‘attitude’ that makes such a great difference to our lives?
Why can two people face the same crisis and it makes one a ‘better’ person and the other a ‘bitter’ person?
Share a time when you were encouraged, inspired or challenged by someone’s attitude?
Read v1
If = If this is true….and I know it is…
Put into your own words how these things in v1 can change our attitude to others and to life itself.
…..like-minded = not thinking the same things, but having our thinking under the control of the same Spirit.
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [3]
Date: June 12, 2005
Passage: Philippians 1:27-30
Message: Whatever Happens
Series: Philippians [3]
1. When Paul says, Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ [v27] what comes to your mind?
2. How does being an Australian citizen affect you? How does being a citizen of the Kingdom of God affect you? [See also: Philippians 3:17-21] How has being a Christian made a difference to your life this week?
3. Paul describes living in a manner worthy of the gospel in terms of our corporate responsibilities.
a) Stand Together v27a
Share your experience and thoughts on Christian unity.
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [2]
Date: June 5, 2005
Passage: Philippians 1:12-26
Message: When Things Don't Work Out
Series: Philippians [2]
Things don't always work out the way we planned or the way we think they should.
Give an example from your own life or from something you have seen.
Read Philippians 1:12-26
What stands out to you from this passage?
What is one thing you can take from it into your own life?
Paul learned
1. Suffering may mean an end of all we had planned
Read Romans 15:23-25
What were Paul's plans?
Why is it so hard to give up our plans?
Study Questions - Series in Philippians [1]
Date: May 29, 2005
Passage: Philippians 1:1-11
Message: Partner or Passenger
Series: Philippians
Read Philippians 1:1-11
Share what stands out to you in this passage.
I was taken by the phrase “partnership in the gospelâ€
Talk about what that meant to Paul and how it applies to us here at UPBC.
Partnership seems to affect a number of things.
It has to do with how we –
1. Value each other [v3-4]
…..all of you [v4] Discuss how the gospel brings dignity and value to every member of the Body of Christ.
How can we show that or communicate that better?
2. Encourage each other [v6]