Full product can be ordered by calling 1-800-333-8300 or ... · PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2 Paul in Chains In a Nutshell This opening lesson of our study introduces us to Paul’s letter to

Property of Faith Alive Christian Resources. All rights reserved.

Full product can be ordered by calling

1-800-333-8300 or by visiting

www.FaithAliveResources.org

From CRC PublicationsFaith Alive Christian Resources

http://www.faithaliveresources.org/

Phili

ppia

nsLEADER’SGUIDE

In-depth Small GroupBible Studies

Paul’sthank-you

letter

Edwin Walhout

PHILIPPIANS

Phili

ppia

nsLEADER’SGUIDE


Grand Rapids, Michigan

PHILIPPIANS

Paul’sthank-you

letter

Edwin Walhout

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations in this publication are fromthe HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, © 1973, 1978, 1984,International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Cover photo: The Image Bank

Faith Alive Christian Resources published by CRC Publications.Word Alive: In-depth Small Group Bible StudiesPhilippians: Paul’s Thank-You Letter (Leader’s Guide), © 2002 by CRCPublications, 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. All rightsreserved. With the exception of brief excerpts for review purposes, no part ofthis book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without writtenpermission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America onrecycled paper. r

We welcome your comments. Call us at 1-800-333-8300 or e-mail us [email protected].

ISBN 1-56212-848-5

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Lesson 1: Paul in Chains (Phil. 1:1-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Lesson 2: Two Churches: Philippi and Rome (Phil. 1:3-18). . 21Lesson 3: Christ Will Be Exalted (Phil. 1:18-30). . . . . . . . . . . 31Lesson 4: United with Christ (Phil. 2:1-11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Lesson 5: Working Out Salvation (Phil. 2:12-30) . . . . . . . . . . 51Lesson 6: Faith and Its Effects (Phil. 3:1-4:1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Lesson 7: The Peace of God (Phil. 4:2-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Lesson 8: Generosity and Contentment (Phil. 4:10-23) . . . . 73

Evaluation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

5

Introduction

This Word Alive leader’s guide provides background informa-tion and discussion suggestions for Philippians: Paul’s Thank-You Letter, an in-depth small group Bible study for adults.Edwin Walhout, author of this leader’s guide and the accom-panying study guide, is a retired minister of the ChristianReformed Church living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He hastaught in Christian schools in Michigan and New Jersey;served as a pastor of churches in Minnesota, New York, andMassachusetts; and worked as an editor of adult educationmaterials for CRC Publications.

Each member of your group, including each leader, shouldhave a study guide to use during this Bible study.

Using This Leader’s GuideThis leader’s guide is intended to be only what its title conveys:a guide. It is not meant to be followed like a cookbook, step bystep. It offers suggestions rather than prescriptions. As a dis-cussion leader, you should adapt all materials and proceduresin this leader’s guide to suit the needs and abilities of yourgroup members.

For each lesson in the accompanying study guide, thisleader’s guide adds background and supplementary materialthat you, as leader, can share as you see fit to enhance yourgroup’s discussion of the lesson. This guide also includesanswers to the General Discussion questions posed in the studyguide. These answers are meant to provide you with a begin-ning point for discussion, if you find that useful. No claim ismade for completeness, however, or for having the “last word.”

You’ll also notice a brief lesson plan for small group use(explained below) in both the study guide and this leader’sguide. We hope you find this feature useful as you and yourgroup explore this in-depth Bible study together.

Use what you can in this leader’s guide, but feel free toadapt, substitute, and revise. Pose your own questions and seekanswers based on your study and on the insights of group

6

members. Your ultimate goal is not simply to cover the lessonmaterial but to lead the group into an encounter with the liv-ing Word of God.

Small Group StudyEach of the following lessons contains a basic lesson plan thatyou can use or adapt to suit your own small group’s style andneeds. You’ll find the lesson plan under Small Group SessionIdeas at the end of each lesson’s material in both the studyguide and this leader’s guide.

Small groups tend to use various kinds of formats in theirmeetings. Some groups meet for a couple of hours every week;others meet for an hour every two or three weeks. Some studythe Bible for an hour and then divide into groups of two orthree for an additional hour of confidential prayer-and-sharetime; others study the Bible for a half to three-quarters of anhour and then spend about fifteen minutes in sharing andprayer. The formats may vary from one small group strategy tothe next, but each one will usually include most of the ele-ments found in the basic plan suggested in this study series. Sowhatever format you’re used to, we hope you’ll find most ofthe elements in the lesson plan adaptable to your group and toits particular style and needs. Feel free to add, omit, reorganize,or change any of the elements you find in this basic plan.

The lesson plan includes the essential elements of a smallgroup study, so if you’re new to the small group approach andyou’d like to try it, this will give you a taste of what small groupstudy is like. Many groups that have tried the small groupapproach find it extremely rewarding, mainly because the ele-ments of sharing one’s feelings and giving one’s personal inputcan become trust-building and friendship-building and confi-dence-building when coupled with group confidentiality andintegrity. Within the body of Christ and with direction pro-vided by the Word of God, small group study can result in fel-lowship and spiritual growth, to God’s glory. While beinginwardly focused in the areas of sharing and developing per-sonal expression, the small group approach, if it’s healthy, alsofocuses on looking and reaching outward for the benefit ofothers. Both the inward and the outward focuses are essentialin the church and in the individual Christian life.

Here’s a brief overview of the basic plan you’ll find underSmall Group Session Ideas in each lesson:

• The lesson plan is divided into several timed sections to helpyou keep pace for your group’s meeting time. The suggested

P H I L I P P I A N S : P A U L ’ S T H A N K - Y O U L E T T E R

7

times for each section total about 60-75 minutes. Somegroups will use 75 minutes or more; others will use 60 min-utes or even less. Use whatever time your group needs or ismost comfortable with. Never feel pressured to workthrough all of the discussion questions if you don’t haveenough time. Pick and choose the ones you and your groupthink are appropriate or most applicable.

• For the Opening of your session we suggest a brief time forbeginning with prayer and with sharing your past week’sexperiences, especially with regard to any personal and spir-itual goals you’ve set. You may also wish to include singingor a devotional-type reading during this time. Then weinvite you to focus on main points of the lesson to keep inmind as you move into Bible study.

• The Growing section of your session includes some brief sug-gestions on reading the Scripture passage and the studyguide notes, if your group likes to read before getting intodiscussion. Group members should be aware that it’s importantto at least read through the Scripture and study guide notes beforemeeting together. They may also wish to prepare answers to dis-cussion questions before meeting. Also included are suggestionsfor using some of the General Discussion questions alongwith process questions that are designed specifically forsmall group use. These questions generally guide yourthinking process from what you think to what you might do inJesus’ name in view of the topic for a particular session.

• The next section is Goalsetting, in which you commit to apersonal spiritual goal as a result of the Bible study you havejust completed.

• The Closing section of your session includes a time for shar-ing prayer concerns and praises before you join with thegroup in a concluding prayer.

• Several sessions also include group project ideas that someor all of your group members may wish to try. The projectsare for study or hands-on work or both, and their purpose isfor outreach or for teaching that can enhance the group’soutward focus.

Using the Study GuideEach person in your group should have a study guide to use athome and during meetings. The material for each lesson in thestudy guide includes the Scripture passage to be studied,

I N T R O D U C T I O N

8

thought-provoking notes and commentary on the Scripture,and several discussion questions that will help your groupapply the Scripture to their daily living.

Some groups like to read the Scripture passage and the les-son notes during their meeting—and that can be helpful formaking the material fresh in everyone’s mind while doing thesession together. Because of the volume of material in each les-son, however, we suggest that group members spend twentyminutes or so familiarizing themselves with the lesson materialahead of time so that when everyone meets together, any read-ing will serve as review and the group can move efficiently intodiscussion time.

Your Role as LeaderBeing a leader of adults can be a serious, humbling business.While you’re preparing for a lesson, the doubts may comethick and fast: “How did I get talked into this? I’m no Biblescholar . . . no teacher. . . . How do I dare instruct my friendsfrom church in the Word of God?” If that happens, bereminded that leading a group is more than methodology,more than a grab bag of skills. Leading a group study is a call-ing for which God’s Spirit will equip you.

And leading a group is not the same as teaching. A teacheris somewhat of an “authority” on his or her subject; a leader isless so. A teacher may be somewhat separated from the class; aleader is part of the group. A teacher carefully works towardspecific objectives, often centered on mastery of content; agroup leader works more with process and people than withobjectives, seeking to encourage each person to participate andgrow. Together, leader and group seek to understand and obeythe Word of God. Together they share their questions andinsights. Together they pray for one another and strengthenone another.

When you meet with your group, Christ will be there byyour side, through his Word and Spirit, gathering his people.This is what makes your role possible . . . and profitable.

Our prayers go with you as you lead others.

—Faith Alive Christian Resources


9

1

PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2

Paul in ChainsIn a NutshellThis opening lesson of our study introduces us to Paul’s letterto the Philippians by tracing events that led to Paul’s becominga prisoner in Rome. We can piece together most of the storyfrom Acts 21-28. This background is important for helping usunderstand many of the things Paul discusses in his letter. Wealso examine the address and greeting of this letter—what awealth of information they contain!

Understanding the ContextThis lesson deals mostly with the background of Paul’s letterbecause it’s important to understand the context from whichPaul is writing and teaching. Early in the letter Paul states thathe is “in chains for Christ” (Phil. 1:13). And since he doesn’texplain further or give more detail than to mention “the palaceguard” (praetorium, Greek—1:13), “Caesar’s household” (4:22),and Epaphroditus the messenger and gift-bearer (2:25; 4:18),we are left to try to figure out the reason for Paul’s imprison-ment and how that might be related to the writing of this let-ter. Thankfully the book of Acts records the story of how Paulbecomes a prisoner in Rome, so with a little guesswork we canput together a reasonable scenario. As the story in Actsexplains, Paul was doing his best to serve the Lord, but that gothim into trouble and eventually resulted in his being sent toRome for judgment.

Some scholars have suggested that Paul wrote this letterfrom Ephesus, but Rome seems the more likely location, espe-cially with the mention of Caesar’s household and the palaceguard. This imprisonment was apparently the first of twoprison terms Paul endured in Rome, both during the reign ofNero Caesar, who ruled from A.D. 54-68. (The second impris-

10

onment is referred to in 2 Timothy, in which Paul speaks ofbeing “chained like a criminal” and awaiting execution, appar-ently in a cold dungeon cell. See 2 Tim. 1:16-17; 2:9; 4:6-8, 13.)

Digging into this background material on Paul is worth-while, provided that you don’t try to fit in too much detail,since the facts we have on the matter are few. If you’d like topresent a brief review of the background supplied in the studyguide notes, the following points may be helpful:

• Paul and his associates returned to Jerusalem after his thirdmissionary journey, bearing a gift of money for poor peoplein Jerusalem.

• The Jews in Jerusalem and many of the Jewish Christianshad a low opinion of Paul because he was teaching peoplethat it was not necessary to keep all the traditional Jewishcustoms anymore—such as circumcision, abstaining from ahost of foods formerly called “unclean,” and so on. (Histeaching was, however, in line with the decision reached bythe Jerusalem council, as recorded in Acts 15:20: “to abstainfrom food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat ofstrangled animals and from sexual immorality.”)

• Roman soldiers put Paul into protective custody, saving hislife from rioting Jews who were trying to kill him.

• After more than two years of indecision by the Roman gov-ernors Felix and Festus, Paul appealed to be tried by Caesar.He was sent to Rome.

• The Philippian Christians heard about this and took up acollection to help with his living expenses, sending theirgifts with Epaphroditus.

• In his letter to the Philippians Paul thanks the church fortheir gifts—and adds many other encouraging and instruc-tive comments as well.

SaintsPaul addresses his letter to “all the saints” in Philippi (Phil. 1:1).As we noted in the study guide, there is no implication herethat a saint is a Christian who is better than some otherChristian, or that a saint is an extraordinarily good person. Theterm refers to a person who believes in Jesus and is set apart byGod for kingdom service in this world. In other words, everyChristian is a saint.

Typical English use of the word saint, however, stems fromRoman Catholic usage, which reserves the term to refer to an


11

extraordinary Christian who has performed miracles and/or issomehow outstanding in service to the church. (See any com-mon-usage English dictionary.)

Since the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century,Protestants have defined the church as the “communion ofsaints” or the “community of saints.” The biblical definition of“saint” supports this view, which teaches, as in the Apostles’Creed and the Heidelberg Catechism, that the church is thesum total of all who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. If everybeliever has all of his or her sins forgiven in Christ, then we allstand equal before the judgment throne of God. No one is bet-ter or worse than another (Rom. 3:22-24).

Overseers and DeaconsYou won’t want to get mired in the matter of church officeswith your group, but it won’t hurt to prepare for some basicquestions that might come up. In our churches today we arestill often unclear and uncertain about what constitutes achurch office and what doesn’t, about what authority theoffices imply, and so on.

The word “overseers” in Philippians 1:1 is often identifiedwith the office of elder in Protestant churches. The Greek wordepiskopos in the original text, however, does not literally mean“elder”; it means “bishop” or “overseer.” (The word elderderives from the Greek presbyteros.)

Today, after centuries of ecclesiastical tradition in somechurches, we might perceive a great difference between themeaning of “bishop” and “elder.” But in Paul’s day, the mean-ing of episkopos was probably closer to that of our term “elder”than to that of the term “bishop” today. Older, experiencedleaders—that is, elders—were appointed to oversee the affairs ofthe church. For this reason “overseers” is probably the betterEnglish translation.

As far as the term “deacon” is concerned, it derives from theGreek word diakonos, and in general it means a person whoserves in ministry (literally, “minister”). The office of deacongoes back to the earliest days of the church, when “seven men. . . known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” were appointedto take care of the needs of widows who were being neglectedin “the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1-3).

If your group members are from a variety of church back-grounds, opinions may vary from the idea that offices are nomore than functions that the church asks certain people to per-form for the benefit of all, to the opposite extreme that offices

L E S S O N 1 : P A U L I N C H A I N S

12

carry a great deal of prestige and authority in connection withdivine appointment. In Reformed and Presbyterian churchesthe offices of minister (pastor), elder, and deacon are generallyperceived as ordained by the Lord for the nurture and outreachof the church and are based on the example of Christ, wholeads by being a servant. Some of these churches also recognizeother offices, such as those of evangelist and teaching elder.

Grace and PeaceAlong with the brief treatment on the words grace and peace inthe study guide, you may wish to add from the following com-ments.

When examining the precise meaning of words used in theNew Testament, we need to remember that the authors of theNew Testament were almost always Jews who were using theGreek language but who generally thought in terms of OldTestament Hebrew and of their native tongues, such asAramaic and Syriac. For example, they would probably won-der, How do you say shalom in Greek? Along with this we haveto take into account Jewish and Hebrew ideas and ways ofthinking, and we must look at the way the Greek text expressesthose ideas—all the while interpreting in terms of our own lan-guage! When we think this through, we soon realize that wecan’t just simply take an English word out of our Bibles, look itup in an English dictionary, and think we have the originalmeaning. Anyone who has looked through a variety of Bibletranslations can see that scholars make many different wordand style choices as they translate the biblical text into English.And our own language keeps changing all the time. In thetranslation process it’s usually very difficult and often impossi-ble to avoid adding, removing, or otherwise changing mean-ing. In our Scripture passage for this lesson, the words trans-lated as “grace” and “peace” are a case in point.

In common English usage today peace usually means littlemore than absence of war or conflict or anxiety. Think, forexample, of the common terms “peacetime,” “peaceful set-ting,” and “peace of mind.” These terms hardly come close toconveying the meaning of the ancient Hebrew shalom. Shalompoints to a state of well-being in which everything in life is inline with God’s intentions for us. This situation includes notonly a person’s individual life but also that of the society theperson lives in. The Lord’s goal for Israel as a nation, for exam-ple, was that it would have a national shalom through whichall the peoples of the world would be blessed and live in righ-


13

teousness (Gen. 12:3). In its disobedience, Israel never achievedthat state of shalom, although it came close for a brief time dur-ing the rule of Solomon (1 Kings 3-10).

Many years later, after God punished the people for theirdisobedience and even sent them into exile, the people devel-oped a distorted view of shalom to picture a time when theymight be free of oppression and live as gloriously as they did inthe days of Solomon. But days like those never came again.During the Roman occupation of Judea, the people miscon-strued shalom to mean that a coming messiah would throw offthe yoke of Rome and set up his own kingdom of peace forIsrael alone. But Jesus, the true Messiah, whom the peoplerejected, showed that shalom was possible only through the lifeof suffering servanthood for the sake of God’s kingdom. Jesusopened the way to eternal shalom for all who believe in him.And by God’s Spirit living in us, the Lord grants us the begin-nings of shalom even now as we live in this troubled, brokenworld. In Philippians Paul appears to be using the term in asense that describes the church in Philippi (as part of Christ’sgrowing—now worldwide—church) experiencing glimpsesand expressions of the total joy and happiness of shalomtogether in Christ.

The situation is similar with the word grace. Grace is anEnglish word used to translate the Greek word charis (fromwhich our word charity derives). Since the Jewish authors ofthe New Testament tended to think in Hebrew terms, it’s likelythat when they used the word charis, they had in mind theHebrew word hesed (pronounced KHES-ed). In the OldTestament hesed is usually translated in terms of “lovingkind-ness,” “unfailing love,” or “mercy.” Hesed is a covenant wordimplying that God’s unfailing love is integrally related to allGod has promised in his solemn covenant for the people’sgood. Old Testament believers surely knew of the love andmercy of God, as demonstrated, for example, in the sin offer-ings that were part of their worship of God.

The whole idea of grace in the New Testament focuses onJesus and his atonement for sin. In God’s greatest act of unfail-ing love (hesed), Jesus became the ultimate sin offering, “theLamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John1:29). The gift of God’s saving grace is available to all whobelieve in Christ as Savior and Lord. And this grace has openedthe way for the Holy Spirit of God to fill every believer withGod’s love, enabling us to live for God in Christ rather than forourselves or whatever evils might influence us in this world.


14

GENERAL DISCUSSION1. What was the wisdom in Paul’s going to Jerusalem, especially

since he knew he would have a rough reception there? (See Acts20:22; 21:4, 10-36.)

Though he knew that the Jews in Jerusalem were spread-ing rumors and would be hostile to him, Paul really wantedto keep from exasperating them by showing that he hon-ored God’s law as well as their observance of it. Paul’sapproach, like that of Jesus, was that Christianity fulfills theJewish faith, not that it abolishes or competes with it.

Paul was also committed to keeping a promise made tomany generous believers throughout Greece and AsiaMinor. For years he had been taking up a collection for theChristians in Jerusalem who’d been struck by poverty andfamine. And, as a result, it seems he had a number of com-panions with him to help deliver the gifts to their intendeddestination (Acts 20:4). In Jesus’ name, Paul was just tryingto do what was right.

Besides, Paul had also been “compelled” by the HolySpirit to go to Jerusalem (20:22). In addition, the Spirit waswarning him continually that he would face “prison andhardships” there (20:23). “However,” he said, “I consider mylife worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race andcomplete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task oftestifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (20:24).

So the wisdom of Paul’s going to Jerusalem had to do withfollowing the Lord’s leading, even if it meant walking intodanger. Paul was an authentic believer in Christ. He knewwhat he was talking about when he wrote, “I can do every-thing through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).

2. Explain why so many people in Jerusalem distrusted Paul, someof them even hating him.

The Jewish customs in Paul’s day, all based on the law ofMoses (the Torah), were so deeply ingrained in the Jewishpeople that they often identified serving God with obeyingthe letter of the law. As some of Paul’s friends in Jerusalemput it, “All of them are zealous for the law,” even thoughmany of them were among the “many thousands of Jews”who’d come to believe in Christ (Acts 21:20). When thesezealous believers heard Paul was teaching Gentile convertsthat it wasn’t necessary to observe circumcision and someother parts of the law, they took it as a rejection of God. Soit was out of religious zeal that they opposed Paul. And


15

when some of them saw Paul in the temple with Trophimusthe Ephesian, whom they thought to be uncircumcised,they assumed Paul had brought him there in violation oftheir law. So they rioted and tried to kill him (21:27-31).

3. What makes a person a saint?As we’ve noted in the study guide and in the leader’s

notes, being a saint means being a sincere believer in JesusChrist, a devoted follower who wants to serve faithfully inthe mission of God’s kingdom. Technically, the word saintmeans “set apart, made holy,” which is also the meaning ofthe word sanctified. In the Christian context this meansbeing set apart by God to live a holy life in this brokenworld, not in seclusion or separation from it (Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 4:5-6). As saints today, we need to be openalways to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in us, notjust conforming to our local customs and being goodchurch members but living totally—with all our heart, soul,and mind—for the Lord, as Jesus did (Matt. 22:37; 1 Cor.10:31). As forgiven sinners made righteous in Christ (Rom.3:22-24), we can live gratefully by the power of the HolySpirit (Eph. 1:17-19; 5:19-20; Col. 2:6-7).

4. Reflect on grace and peace. What do these words mean, and howare their meanings interrelated?

As you think about and discuss grace and peace together,you’ll want to review the study guide section “A WonderfulGreeting” and the section “Grace and Peace” in the leader’snotes. A few additional comments follow, focusing on waysin which grace and peace affect our lives, to the glory ofGod.

Grace is a gift that includes all the benefits we receivefrom God by believing in Jesus. By grace we know we areforgiven and accepted by God in spite of our shortcomingsand failures. We are not too proud to repent and change ourways. We are willing to be led by the Spirit, even if it meanswe have to change our ways of thinking or doing things. Wegrow in understanding how the gospel works—in ourselvesas persons, in all of Christ’s church around the world, in ourcommunities and our country, in various cultures, and inworld history (including current events). Christ is our Lordand Master, in any and every situation we are in. Christ isalso the Lord of all things in heaven and on earth (Eph. 1:18-23). Whatever we can mention that traces back to faith


16

in Jesus or to Christ’s rule over all things—that is an effect ofgrace.

Peace is a gift resulting from grace. We can also say it’s anintent of grace. God wants us to enjoy the life of peace(shalom) for which we are created in the first place—all forthe sake of God’s glory. But we can’t know the peace of Godunless we first know our need for the grace of God. On theindividual level peace refers to a life lived in harmony withGod, with other people, with oneself, and even with God’sworld. On the church level, focusing on God’s people as thebody of Christ, peace refers to a fellowship of people who getalong well with each other, even if they don’t particularlylike each other or agree on everything, because they allknow they are united “in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2; see 2:1), allsaved by grace through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8). On thenational and international levels, peace means all people liv-ing God’s way and enjoying the full life of blessedness thatGod intends for everyone. It means loving God first, andour neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). It means “to actjustly and to love mercy and to walk humbly” with the onetrue God (Mic. 6:8).

SMALL GROUP SESSION IDEASNote: The following session plan is divided into several timedsections to help you keep pace for your meeting time. The sug-gested times add up to 60-75 minutes for a full session. Usewhatever time your group needs or is most comfortable with.Also feel free to choose or adapt these ideas to suit your needs.

Opening (10-15 minutes)Pray/Worship—As you begin this first session of your study ofPhilippians, pray for a gracious and peaceful Christian spiritamong you. Be open to the truth of God’s Word and the powerof God’s Spirit as you discuss Scripture together.

If you’d like to sing together, you could do so at this timewith a song that focuses on God’s grace and peace in ChristJesus, such as “My God, How Wonderful You Are” or “I KnowNot Why God’s Wondrous Grace.”

Share—This sharing time is intended to help everyone startfocusing on the study material for the session. This can also bea time for introductions if any members of the group haven’tmet each other or studied together before. (If group membershave prayer concerns they’d like to share, it may be best to do


17

so nearer the end of the session, while preparing for closingprayer—see the Closing section below.) As your study ofPhilippians unfolds, you may find that it’s helpful at this pointalso to review themes from previous lessons or to talk aboutgoals you’ve set and group projects you’ve decided to do.

To help everyone begin focusing on Philippians during thisfirst session, you might like to try one or more of the followingsimple exercises, which can also serve as “icebreakers” forgroup members who may not know each other well. As leader,be careful not to embarrass anyone by asking for everyone torespond during an exercise like this. Group members shouldhave the freedom to respond or not respond without feelingsingled out.

• Ask group members if they can state the main purpose orsome of the main themes in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.It can be wonderfully helpful for any believer to know atleast something about each book of the Bible—and evenbetter to have studied each book. Bible study is importantnot only for spiritual growth but also for equipping us asChrist’s witnesses.

• Ask if anyone in the group has a favorite verse to share fromPhilippians. Some well-known examples are “Your attitudeshould be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (2:5); “Work outyour salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God whoworks in you” (2:12-13); “I can do everything through himwho gives me strength” (4:13); “I have learned the secret ofbeing content in any and every situation” (4:12).

Focus—For this introductory lesson on the background andopening of Philippians, invite everyone to keep the followingfocus questions in mind: Why did Paul write this letter? What cir-cumstances was Paul in as he wrote, and why? What does all thishave to do with me? With my group? With my church?

Growing (35-40 minutes)Read—You may like to read together the Scripture for your les-son and to review portions of the study guide notes before mov-ing into your discussion time. Since our Scripture for this lessonis only two verses long, perhaps just one person could read italoud for everyone else to hear. If you also want to read some-thing from the book of Acts about Paul and the background ofthis letter, you could take turns reading verses or paragraphsfrom Acts 21:27-36 (telling briefly how Paul got into trouble inJerusalem), Acts 25:8-12 (telling why Paul went to Rome), and


18

Acts 28:16, 30-31 (describing Paul’s situation in Rome). Asleader, be sure to have some Bibles available, if necessary.

Discuss—The questions listed in the General Discussion sec-tion are mostly informational and objective (especially in thisfirst lesson of our study) and will sometimes encourage per-sonal reflection that can help group members work out a prac-tical response to the lesson material. Additional questions thatencourage personal reflection and sharing are included below.

As leader, you’ll want to strive for a balance of information,reflection, and application. Encourage group members, oncethey’ve grasped each question, to think about how God’s Wordapplies to them in light of the discussion at hand. Do your bestalso to keep the discussion from wandering as you move fromone question to the next—but of course don’t stifle a good dis-cussion if it’s reasonably close to the subject. Use whicheverquestions and discussion topics you think will work best foryour group. Also feel free to add questions of your own or toask if other group members have questions they’d like to raisefor discussion.

The following process questions may help you bring yourgroup discussion to a more personal level as they promptgroup members to make personal responses.

• How would you react if a visiting preacher came into yourchurch and began criticizing traditions you hold to? Arethere some traditions you could do without? Some youcouldn’t do without? Explain.

• What have you learned about the apostle Paul in this les-son? Can you picture yourself living the kind of life he had?Share your thoughts and impressions about Paul with therest of the group.

• What have you learned about grace and peace in this lesson?In what ways can (or will) this affect your relationship withGod? Your relationships with others?

Goalsetting (5 minutes)As you near the close of your session, try to determine one ormore concrete things you can do as a result of this lesson.

• One useful goal you might set for the coming week may beto think of yourself in Paul’s place as his enemies inJerusalem attack and plot against him, or as he languishes inprison for years, dealing with many difficulties. Reflect onyour own relationship with God. In what ways should it be


19

more like Paul’s? In what ways are you reflecting the “atti-tude . . . of Christ” already (Phil. 2:5)? Praise God and ask forcontinued guidance in your daily living.

• Another goal might be to look ahead in Philippians to seewhat’s coming next. Along with committing yourself to pre-pare for the next lesson, you might also want to readthrough the entire letter, since it’s only four chapters long.Then perhaps you could pick out a passage and reflect on itawhile, asking God to help you understand and live by it.

• You could also look ahead in this study to see if there’s afollow-up project you could do with some or all of yourgroup. Step out of your comfort zones, if necessary. Prayabout the ideas presented as Group Projects at the end ofsome of the lessons in this booklet. Ask for guidance and anopen heart to be available for service in Jesus’ name. Youmay be surprised by the way God responds!

Closing (10-15 minutes)Preparing for Prayer—Invite group members to mention per-sonal concerns and praise items that they’d like to bring to Godin prayer. Try also to focus on matters that have come up inconnection with the lesson material, such as new insights peo-ple have gained, or goals they’d like to set.

Some people may be more eager or comfortable than othersto mention prayer requests, so be sure to give everyone thefreedom to speak or be silent, as they feel led. As a group, try tomaintain a genuine pastoral atmosphere, in which memberslisten to and care for one another and are ready to help and tobuild each other up.

Prayer—As leader, you may want to lead the closing prayer dur-ing this first session, or you may find that another group mem-ber wants to do so, or perhaps that everyone would like to con-tribute to the prayer. As you close in prayer, thank God for thetime you’ve had together, follow up on prayer requests thathave been mentioned, and ask for the Lord’s guidance as youcontinue this study of Philippians. May the “grace and peace”of God in Christ go with you as you part till your next meeting.


Phili

ppia

nsSTUDYGUIDE


Paul’sthank-you

letter

Edwin Walhout

PHILIPPIANS

PHILIPPIANS

Phili

ppia

nsSTUDYGUIDE


Grand Rapids, Michigan

Paul’sthank-you

letter

Edwin Walhout

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations in this publication are from theHOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, © 1973, 1978, 1984,International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Cover photo: The Image Bank

Faith Alive Christian Resources published by CRC Publications.Word Alive: In-depth Small Group Bible StudiesPhilippians: Paul’s Thank-You Letter (Study Guide), © 2002 by CRC Publications,2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. All rights reserved. With theexception of brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may bereproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from thepublisher. Printed in the United States of America on recycled paper. r

We welcome your comments. Call us at 1-800-333-8300 or e-mail us [email protected].

ISBN 1-56212-846-9

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Lesson 1: Paul in Chains (Phil. 1:1-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Lesson 2: Two Churches: Philippi and Rome (Phil. 1:3-18). . 16Lesson 3: Christ Will Be Exalted (Phil. 1:18-30). . . . . . . . . . . 25Lesson 4: United with Christ (Phil. 2:1-11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Lesson 5: Working Out Salvation (Phil. 2:12-30) . . . . . . . . . . 43Lesson 6: Faith and Its Effects (Phil. 3:1-4:1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Lesson 7: The Peace of God (Phil. 4:2-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Lesson 8: Generosity and Contentment (Phil. 4:10-23) . . . . 71

Evaluation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

5

IntroductionPicture yourself in prison. You’ve been moved from one jail toanother, and now you’re chained to a guard all day, every day.For more than two years you’ve been waiting to appeal yourcase, and you don’t know how much longer you’ll have towait. On top of all this, you’re here on false charges. Youhaven’t broken the law, but you’re at the mercy of the legal sys-tem to deal with you as it sees fit.

What will you do with your time here? What can you do? Atleast you’re allowed visitors, so you can talk with people whocome to look after your needs. You can also talk with the guardyou’re chained to. And there are lots of people you’d like towrite to in the places where you used to work, so you couldspend some time writing letters, especially to thank your dearfriends who’ve sent help along the way.

As you do this, you know that the best thing you can do isto keep your mind focused on glorifying God and to tell every-one around you that the greatest thing in life is Jesus Christ.

That’s what the apostle Paul did. While in prison, he wrotea thank-you letter to his Christian friends in the Roman colonyof Philippi. And he took the opportunity to encourage themwith all kinds of practical advice for their own struggles, urgingthem to keep serving the Lord Jesus with all their strength, tothe glory of God.

Paul’s example of putting God first in his life, after theexample of Christ himself, is truly remarkable and inspiring. Asyou learn more about Paul’s situation and the joy-filled, wisecounsel he sends to the Philippians, may “the grace of the LordJesus Christ be with your spirit” (Phil. 4:23). Walk with theLord each day, press on toward the goal of full life in Christ,and rejoice in the God of your salvation!

—Paul Faber, for Faith Alive Christian Resources

Edwin Walhout, author of this study guide and the accompa-nying leader’s guide, is a retired minister of the ChristianReformed Church living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He hastaught in Christian schools in Michigan and New Jersey;served as a pastor of churches in Minnesota, New York, andMassachusetts; and worked as an editor of adult educationmaterials for CRC Publications.

7

1PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2

Paul in ChainsIn a NutshellThis opening lesson of our study introduces us to Paul’s letterto the Philippians by tracing events that led to Paul’s becominga prisoner in Rome. We can piece together most of the storyfrom Acts 21-28. This background is important for helping usunderstand many of the things Paul discusses in his letter. Wealso examine the address and greeting of this letter—what awealth of information they contain!

Why did Paulwrite thisletter?

Philippians 1:1-21Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus atPhilippi, together with the overseers anddeacons:

2Grace and peace to you from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Additional reading: Acts 13-28

How Paul Became a Prisoner in RomePhilippians is one of Paul’s four prison letters. The others areColossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. These writings are calledprison letters because Paul wrote them while he was a prisonerin Rome. “I am in chains,” he writes (Phil. 1:13; see Eph. 6:20;Col. 4:3, 18; Philem. 13). These letters come at a relatively lateperiod in Paul’s life, around A.D. 60-63. In fact, Paul refers tohimself in one of them as “an old man” (Philem. 9). The storyof how Paul came to be a prisoner in Rome is told in Acts 21-28, and some additional background is available in Acts 13-20. Here’s a brief summary of Paul’s long ordeal:

Near the end of his third missionary journey, most of itspent directing outreach from Ephesus, Paul made a quick tripto Greece by way of Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth.

8

Then he retraced his steps, bypassing Ephesus on his way toJerusalem.

Why was Paul on his way to Jerusalem? Paul and his com-panions were bringing a gift of money to the Christians there.For quite some time, Paul had been collecting this money, withTitus as his representative (2 Cor. 8:1-6), to help Christians inJerusalem who’d been struck by poverty. In recent years there’dbeen a huge famine in the Roman world, and it had hit hard inJudea (see Acts 11:27-30).

The closer Paul got to Jerusalem, however, the more warn-ings he received that he would face hardships there (20:22-23,38; 21:4, 10-12). Why? He was going for a good purpose, sowhy not continue? The trouble was that many people inJerusalem did not trust Paul. The Jewish authorities theredespised him because he had changed from being a JewishPharisee to a Christian missionary. And the Christian Jewsthere had heard rumors that Paul was telling converts theydidn’t have to obey God’s law anymore. Actually, Paul was say-ing it wasn’t important to keep all of the Jewish rituals any-more—such as circumcision, avoiding all “unclean” foods, andso on. And this teaching was right in line with what theJerusalem Christians had decided in a special council aboutfive years earlier (Acts 15). So when he arrived in Jerusalem,Paul was careful to show that he was living in obedience to thelaw. He even joined with several others in purification ritesconnected with a vow they had made (18:18; 21:20-25).

Still, trouble broke out when some Jews thought Paul hadbrought some Gentiles with him into the temple there—whereJewish law stated that Gentiles were not allowed. This falseassumption, along with the rumors that had been circulating,stirred the people into an angry mob. Paul soon found himselfin the midst of a riot in which he would have been killed ifRoman soldiers hadn’t come to restore order and arrest him(21:27-34). But even after Paul was put in prison for his ownsafety, his enemies plotted to kill him (23:10, 12-15). So theRoman authorities took Paul to their regional headquarters inCaesarea, about 50 miles (80 km) away.

In Caesarea Paul waited in prison for more than two yearsfor the regional governors, first Felix and then Festus, to decidewhat to do with him (24:27). Finally Paul appealed to be triedby Caesar in Rome (25:10-12). He was entitled to do thisbecause he was a Roman citizen (16:37- 39; 22:25-29). So off hewent to Rome, where he waited as a prisoner for another twoyears to appeal his case to Caesar (26:32-27:2)—and that’s


9

where we find Paul as he writes to his Christian friends inPhilippi.

Why Paul Wrote This LetterWhile waiting for Caesar to decide his case, “Paul stayed there inhis own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him,”preaching the gospel “boldly and without hindrance” (Acts28:30). At least he wasn’t locked up in a cold, dark dungeon. Butas a prisoner living under house arrest “with a soldier to guardhim” (28:16), Paul did have expenses to pay for his upkeep.

When the Christians in Philippi heard about this, they tookup a generous collection and sent a man named Epaphroditusfrom their church to bring their gifts to Paul in Rome (Phil.2:25; 4:18). So Paul’s initial purpose in writing this letter was tothank them for their support. As he wrote, Paul took the oppor-tunity also to encourage the Philippians about living theChristian life.

A secondary reason for writing, of course, was simply thatPaul had the rare opportunity to do so. (There was no con-venient postal or courier service in those days.) Since Epaphro-ditus would return to Philippi, Paul took advantage of theoccasion to write a thank-you letter and to send it along withthis man who had become a trusted friend (2:25-30).

How Paul Addresses His LetterThe letter that Epaphroditus carried to the church in Philippiwould have been written on a scroll, probably a rolled-up sheetof papyrus. A letter in those days usually began by identifyingthe writer. Next it would identify the recipient. So this is howPaul addressed his letter:

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, togetherwith the overseers and deacons: . . . (Phil. 1:1)

Many of Paul’s letters in the New Testament begin with asimilar kind of address. Because there may have been othermen by the name of Paul who wrote letters, it probably wasessential to include a description that identified Paul as anapostle of Christ or at least as a servant of Christ, depending onwho his intended readers were. In 2 Corinthians, for example,we find Paul identifying himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesusby the will of God” (2 Cor. 1:1), and we learn later that Paulwrote that letter, at least in part, to defend himself and thegospel message against false teachings being circulated in


10

Corinth by other teachers, who were calling themselves“super-apostles” (11:5).

Apparently the church in Philippi had not encountered asmuch trouble or distraction with false teachers as the church inCorinth had. In fact, Paul’s letter to the Philippians rings withthanks and joy for the believers’ faithful “partnership in thegospel” (Phil. 1:5). So in this letter Paul’s identification canunderstandably be more general as he states, in effect, I am thePaul who is a servant [slave, Greek] of Christ Jesus.

Timothy, who is with Paul in Rome, greets the readers also.(Timothy’s name also appears in the greetings of several otherletters of Paul: 2 Corinthians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessa-lonians, and Philemon.) It may be that Timothy is mentionedbecause he is actually transcribing the letter as Paul dictates it.Paul may well have poor eyesight by this time in his life—orperhaps ever since his blinding encounter with Jesus outsideDamascus (Acts 9:3-9, 18; 22:6-13; 26:13)—so he may beemploying someone else to inscribe his letter.

We also know that Paul often used the dictation method inother letters. For example, in 2 Thessalonians 3:17 we find thispersonal note: “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is howI write” (see also 1 Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:18). In light ofthese examples, it seems safe to say that after using the help ofa scribe (probably Timothy) to write down most of his letter tothe Philippians, Paul may well have written the closingremarks with his own hand (see Phil. 4:21-23).

Notice how Paul formulates the next part of the address: “Toall the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi . . .” (Phil. 1:1). If wewonder what Paul means here by “saints,” it’s important toknow that he’s talking about all the Christians in the church atPhilippi. The word saint is related to the word sanctification,which refers to being made holy, or set apart for service to God(though not in separation from the world). Everyone who issanctified by believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior and wholives by the power of the Spirit of Christ is a saint. Everyonewho is a Christian, then, is a saint. So Paul is addressing all theChristians in Philippi.

To emphasize his point that this letter is for “all the saints,”Paul notes that he is grouping them “together with the over-seers and deacons” (1:1). Though churches in those days werenot highly organized, they did have elders and deacons whohad special functions to help the congregation work togetherfor Jesus’ sake. With this in mind, it’s probably best for us not


11

to make too much of the word “overseers,” which comes froma Greek word often translated as “bishops” (see KJV, RSV,NRSV). The Philippian church leaders in Paul’s day certainlydid not have the authority we associate with bishops in somechurches today. As John Calvin suggests in his Commentary onPhilippians, Paul likely has in mind here the elders of thechurch. Further, Paul does not emphasize a great distinctionbetween clergy and laity (or laypeople), as some churches do(for example, giving preferential treatment to clergy, sayingthat only the clergy may read God’s Word and must interpretit for the laity, and so on). Paul’s address in Philippians showsclearly that this letter is meant for all members equally.

A Wonderful GreetingProceeding with a benediction (“good word”) for all, Paul says,“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the LordJesus Christ.” This wonderful greeting occurs almost word forword in every one of Paul’s letters in the New Testament. Andalthough it’s a standardized greeting for Paul, it’s a meaningfulone. Think of the depths of meaning behind the words “grace”and “peace” in connection with “God our Father and the LordJesus Christ.” Long chapters and big books have been writtenin attempts to explain the depths and interconnections ofthese words and phrases.

In simple terms we can say that “grace” refers to God’s giftof love to us in Christ (“by grace you have been saved”—Eph.2:5, 8) and that “peace” refers to the wonderful blessedness ofliving in line with God (going back to the Old Testament virtueof shalom). The two together remind us that the gospel of gracein the New Testament is built on the promises of peace andblessing in the Old Testament—and much more. More specifi-cally, grace is the blessing God provides us through Jesus sothat we can overcome the power of sin in our lives through theongoing work of the Holy Spirit. And peace is the result of thatgrace. Peace is the blessing of a well-ordered, harmonious life—not only for us as individuals but also for society as a whole.

Additional Notes1:1—“Paul and Timothy.” Most scholars believe this letter was

written around A.D. 61 in Rome, but pinpointing the eventsof Paul’s life can be difficult. It’s possible that Paul was aboutten to twelve years younger than Jesus, since Paul was appar-ently a student in Jerusalem under Gamaliel around thetime of Christ’s death and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit


12

(see Acts 5:34; 7:58; 22:3). But since we don’t know exactlywhen Jesus or Paul or Timothy was born, we can only guesshow old Paul was when he went to Rome as a prisoner.Perhaps he was about 50 years old, and at that time Timothymay have been about 30.

“servants of Christ Jesus.” The Greek word douloi is oftentranslated as “servants,” but it really means “slaves.” Farfrom inhibiting or crushing a person’s spirit, becoming aslave to Jesus liberates, expands, and fulfills. Paul andTimothy are willing and grateful slaves of their Master andSavior, the Lord Jesus. In our times the concept of Christianslavery is not popular, but it ought to characterize each of us.“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves torighteousness,” writes Paul in Romans 6:18. And the righ-teousness we claim is not our own, but Christ’s—what a gift!

“Philippi.” Paul’s missionary strategy was usually to visitlarge, important cities in a given region, establishingchurches that could then radiate the gospel message to sur-rounding areas. Philippi was just such a city. Named afterPhilip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, thisprosperous city became a Roman colony where many ex-soldiers of the Roman army came to settle down. Citizens ofthis city had the same legal rights as if the city were in Italyitself. See Acts 16 for the account of how the church wasestablished there.

1:2—“peace.” Our English word peace translates the Greekword eirene, which in turn translates the Hebrew wordshalom. This is what the Jews expected the Messiah to bring,a condition in which the Jewish nation would be inde-pendent and supreme, enjoying a golden age of Jewish pros-perity. When Jesus refused to be pressed into that mold, thepeople rejected him as an impostor. But the shalom Jesustruly brings is not first of all political, dependent on militarymight or economic success. True shalom is spiritual andmoral, bringing “the peace of God, which transcends allunderstanding” (Phil. 4:7). Shalom is characterized by theblessed life lived in faithfulness to Jesus as Savior and Lord.


13

GENERAL DISCUSSION1. What was the wisdom in Paul’s going to Jerusalem, espe-

cially since he knew he would have a rough reception there?(See Acts 20:22; 21:4, 10-36.)

2. Explain why so many people in Jerusalem distrusted Paul,some of them even hating him.

3. What makes a person a saint?

4. Reflect on grace and peace. What do these words mean, andhow are their meanings interrelated?

SMALL GROUP SESSION IDEASNote: The following session plan is divided into several timedsections to help you keep pace for your meeting time. The sug-gested times add up to 60-75 minutes for a full session. Usewhatever time your group needs or is most comfortable with.Also feel free to choose or adapt these ideas to suit your needs.

Opening (10-15 minutes)Pray/Worship—As you begin this first session of your study ofPhilippians, pray for a gracious and peaceful Christian spiritamong you. Be open to the truth of God’s Word and the powerof God’s Spirit as you discuss Scripture together.

If you’d like to sing together, you could do so at this timewith a song that focuses on God’s grace and peace in ChristJesus, such as “My God, How Wonderful You Are” or “I KnowNot Why God’s Wondrous Grace.”

Share—This sharing time is intended to help everyone startfocusing on the study material for the session. This can also be


14

a time for introductions if any of you haven’t met each otheror studied together before. (If you have prayer concerns you’dlike to share, it may be best to do so nearer the end of the ses-sion, while preparing for closing prayer—see the Closing sec-tion below.) As your study of Philippians unfolds, you may findthat it’s helpful at this point also to review themes from previ-ous lessons or to talk about goals you’ve set and group projectsyou’ve decided to do.

Focus—For this introductory lesson on the background andopening of Philippians, try to keep the following focus ques-tions in mind: Why did Paul write this letter? What circumstanceswas Paul in as he wrote, and why? What does all this have to dowith me? With my group? With my church?

Growing (35-40 minutes)Read—You may like to read together the Scripture for your les-son and to review portions of the study guide notes before mov-ing into your discussion time. Since our Scripture for this lessonis only two verses long, perhaps just one person could read italoud for everyone else to hear. If you also want to read some-thing from the book of Acts about Paul and the background ofthis letter, you could take turns reading verses or paragraphsfrom Acts 21:27-36 (telling briefly how Paul got into trouble inJerusalem), Acts 25:8-12 (telling why Paul went to Rome), andActs 28:16, 30-31 (describing Paul’s situation in Rome).

Discuss—The questions listed in the General Discussion sec-tion are mostly informational and objective (especially in thisfirst lesson of our study) and will sometimes encourage per-sonal reflection that can help everyone work out a practicalresponse to the lesson material. Additional questions thatencourage personal reflection and sharing are included below.

• How would you react if a visiting preacher came into yourchurch and began criticizing traditions you hold to? Arethere some traditions you could do without? Some youcouldn’t do without? Explain.

• What have you learned about the apostle Paul in this les-son? Can you picture yourself living the kind of life he had?Share your thoughts and impressions about Paul with therest of the group.

• What have you learned about grace and peace in this lesson?In what ways can (or will) this affect your relationship withGod? Your relationships with others?


15

Goalsetting (5 minutes)As you near the close of your session, try to determine one ormore concrete things you can do as a result of this lesson.

• One useful goal you might set for the coming week may beto think of yourself in Paul’s place as his enemies inJerusalem attack and plot against him, or as he languishes inprison for years, dealing with many difficulties. Reflect onyour own relationship with God. In what ways should it bemore like Paul’s? In what ways are you reflecting the “atti-tude . . . of Christ” already (Phil. 2:5)? Praise God and ask forcontinued guidance in your daily living.

• Another goal might be to look ahead in Philippians to seewhat’s coming next. Along with committing yourself to pre-pare for the next lesson, you might also want to readthrough the entire letter, since it’s only four chapters long.Then perhaps you could pick out a passage and reflect on itawhile, asking God to help you understand and live by it.

• You could also look ahead in this study to see if there’s afollow-up project you could do with some or all of yourgroup. Step out of your comfort zones, if necessary. Prayabout the ideas presented as Group Projects at the end ofsome of the lessons in this booklet. Ask for guidance and anopen heart to be available for service in Jesus’ name. Youmay be surprised by the way God responds!

Closing (10-15 minutes)Preparing for Prayer—All of you are welcome to mention per-sonal concerns and praise items that you’d like to bring to Godin prayer. Try also to focus on matters that have come up inconnection with the lesson material, such as new insightsyou’ve gained, or goals you’d like to set. As a group, try tomaintain a genuine pastoral atmosphere, in which you listento and care for each other and are ready to help and to buildeach other up.

Prayer—As you close in prayer, thank God for the time you’vehad together, follow up on prayer requests that have beenmentioned, and ask for the Lord’s guidance as you continuethis study of Philippians. May the “grace and peace” of God inChrist go with you as you part till your next meeting.


Documents

Full product can be ordered by calling 1-800-333-8300 or ... · PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2 Paul in Chains In a Nutshell This opening lesson of our study introduces us to Paul’s letter to