We’ll return to Acts next week, but now that we have spent 3 weeks on 3 who made up the first church in Philippi, I’d like to bring that knowledge to increase our understanding of just Philippians 1. No sermon, just the text and seeing it through new eyes.
Sunday:
- How did you experience the goodness of God this week?
Monday: Philippians 1:1-7
I have a sense of how Paul felt about the Philippians. There are some whom God allowed me to join Him in bringing them to Himself that fill be with such joy because of the fruitfulness in their lives. Their joy rippled out and brought others to Christ, who brought others to Christ. That’s what Paul is seeing happening in the Philippian church. The church at Philippi gets more praise from Paul than any other church.
2. Make one observation or comment on each of these six verses.
3. Knowing what you do about the first believers in Philippi, why do you think this church was so strong?
4. You can do this silently — but give thanks now for believers for whom you thank God upon every remembrance! (Two for me were Sharon’s parents-in-law in Oregon. Their joy brought my husband’s faith from his head to his heart.)
Tuesday: Praying Philippians 1:8-11
5. Make at least 6 observations or comments on this passage.
6. Use it to pray for someone you love who is a fairly strong believers. Do it here.
7. Now pray it for yourself.
Wednesday: Philippians 1:12-18 How Suffering Advances the Gospel
8. How did the suffering of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 advance the gospel?
9. How has your suffering advanced the gospel?
10. Make an observation or comment on each verse.
11. What stands out to you the most and why?
Thursday: Philippians 1:19-25 Hard Pressed Between the Two
12. Read through this passage and explain why Paul was hard pressed between two choices.
Paul’s expectation of remaining for them proved true, for he was not beheaded until 35 years after Christ’s resurrection.
13. What does it mean, in your life, to say “For to live is Christ?”
14. What do you look forward to after death? Be specific.
Friday: Philippians 1:27-30 Engaged in the Same Conflict I Had
15. Make observations and comments for each verse.
16. What c0nflict did these believers of Philippi see that Paul had when he was with them. (Look again at Acts 16.)
17. What two things have been granted to us for the cause of Christ, according to Philippians 1:29?
18. We often don’t think of suffering for Christ as a privilege, but it is. Think of one way you or someone you love has suffered for Christ and how God brought good from it.
19. It also gives me joy to see the growth of Christians on this blog — and how you sharpen and encourage one another. True friendship is possible online. What do you think has helped you the most here?
Saturday:
20. What’s your “God Shot” or take-a-way?
13 comments
Cheryl — I did a little research on your question on yesterday’s blog — circumcision. Since it had to be just for men, what about the women? It was as I thought that the head of the household (whether father or husband) covered the women. But also interesting because of the covenant referring to Abraham’s seed – the seed comes from the male organ but creates both males and females.
And this is a rabbit trail but women were often blamed for bearing only girls (queens were beheaded) yet it is the mail seed that determines the gender. 🙂
1. How did you experience the goodness of God this week?
Summer has been good this year! Not too rushed which is nice.
We took a trip to my husband’s home state of NJ to visit family. Sarah and her husband came to see the kids. She has started a nursing program (?!) and needed help with some homework. I spent an hour or so helping her. I felt like we were a “normal”mother and daughter. That was nice.
We met new “friends” at our family’s beach house last week who have young children and whom our grands could play with jumping waves and having fun at the boardwalk riding the rides.
Finally, my husband and I are traveling to Sweden this week to be with our son and his wife for a few days. We are taking her Croatian (long story!) cat back to them, and boy has that been an experience, getting everything all ready to go. Please pray for us traveling, but more so for my sister who will be watching Cooper and Grace while we are gone. That is my stress right now; that the kids will be well behaved and it will go well for her. My sister is 70 and the total opposite from me. I want it to run smoothly. Ugh! I have no control over this and it’s difficult. Thank you for prayers. I will be checking in, hopefully as I normally do, each day or so.
Thank you Lord, for your faithful guidance and loving hands in my life.
Laura! I am thanking God for your “normal” time with your daughter! I will be praying for you, Grace, Cooper and your sister during this time! I pray for safe travels, peace of mind, good health and a lovely trip (safe kitty too).
Laura — I love that you are having such a good summer. Returning the Croatian cat. Yes, has to be a story there.
Laura, so glad to hear you and your husband can get away for a few days! Croatian cat! Hmmm…interesting. Praying for a safe, fun trip and peace as your sister watches over Grace and Cooper. God go with you!
1. How did you experience the goodness of God this week?
Hi ladies. I have not been here for awhile and have missed you.
My daughter Annie and her two children came for a visit and it was a refreshing joy to have them here. I was tired, but only in the best of ways. Meaningful conversations and lots of laughter. Grateful. (It is too quiet now…)
Nila — so glad to see you!
Hi, Nila! So good to see you here, and glad to hear about Annie and the children coming for a visit.
So wonderful you are here today! Welcome back! Yes…quiet…
A little long here…
Sunday:
How did you experience the goodness of God this week?
Dee, the picture above of Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful echo of heaven where praise will always be on our lips and fellowship is among brothers and sisters from all nations! I do believe I will look at Philippians 1 in a new way this week.
Richard and I went on a day’s trip to Omaha, NE for his birthday and our 38th anniversary. Before we left, we committed ourselves not to talk about ministry and the world’s problems (I asked him to do a pinkie-swear lol). We will just enjoy each other’s company, and we will drive around the city for meals, desserts, and shopping (me spending the money and him driving our vehicle). We did a quick catch-up on something church-related, but we did not spend a lot of time on it.
God is the God of little things that concern us. He led me to a store where I found a special paper needed for a banner we were making for an appreciation luncheon for the school staff. It was a long shot, but there they were on a rack in the sale! First God wink!
I have often thought of buying a “lucky” bamboo plant, and I saw some fresh ones in a bucket at the last store we were at. But something prompted me not to; I thought I could always look for it some other time. When we got home, there were cards on our front porch and a potted plant. And guess what the plant was? A lucky bamboo! I could just see God smiling down on us and saying, “Surprise!” God wink 2 and then etc. later on!
And this morning I watched Tim and Kathy Keller do a gospel in life devotional based on Habakkuk 4:7 “…though there are no figs…grapes. sheep…cattle…yet I will rejoice in God my Savior.
The goodness of God is always there even when we are in difficult circumstances, and not only in the special paper or the “lucky” bamboo desires of our hearts.
Bing, I love this post! Happy anniversary (and birthday)! We are married 37 years this year in December. I love the lucky bamboo story!
Loved this post Bing 🙂
And this reminder from Habakkuk. Timely.
Dee, I can’t seem to edit anymore in the editor (where it gives a time limit for editing a post). I have never had this problem until the last few weeks or so. Just thought I would mention it. Is anyone else having this trouble? I have tried on two different devices with two different web browsers. Not sure what’s up…