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Philippians Summary
Section I (1:1 - 1:26 Overall Theme: Circumstances mean Zero. God is at work.)
- Lesson 1: 1:1-5 A Picture of a Unified Community
Key Principle/Point: A unified community of believers has it roots in every person being a SLAVE for Christ.
(Called to be active participants. Engaged.)
Questions we asked: In what specific ways do you get in the way of others spiritual growth in the community of Christ? How do you encourage it?
- Lesson 2: 6-11 Good vs the Best
Key Principle/Point: Our calling as believers demands that we seek the BEST not just what is GOOD.
Questions: How can we spur one another on to this?
- Lesson 3: 1:12-18a What Really Matters
Key Principle/Point: The ultimate focus for us as believers is THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL..
Our ultimate focus is the be the progress of the Gospel!
- When I wake up in the morning what am I thinking about?
- We desperately need people today that live this way!
- Human circumstances lay in God's hand to advance the Gospel.
- What ever our chains may be we can look for ways that the gospel can be advanced through them.
- Biblical peace will come to those who make the gospel the focus of life and from understanding that God can advance the gospel under the most difficult circumstances.
- The church needs to remember that God's greatest work usually happens in the midst of hard circumstance.
- We should expect that the gospel will make the greatest strides in those places where there is no doubt that God is the agent of work.
- Remember that god usually works through means the world rejects.
- Make big what is big and small what is small when it comes to unity in the body.
- We are not advocating overlooking important theological issues, but when there are disagreements among believers, every effort must be made to resolve these issues or to accept our differences. Members of En Croix all come from different church and family backgrounds. We must do every effort to keep our differences in beliefs in perspective. The main purpose of our organization is to promote the gospel and to support one another. I think we have less real issues than we realize.
- The main issue is, is the gospel advancing?
Lesson 4: 1:18b-26 Spiritually Investing in others
Key Principle/Point: We are to seek the SPIRITUAL BEST for others.
**Principle #1: When praying for others, seek their deeper walk with Christ, not just their physical comfort.
**Principle #2: In order to build real biblical community, we must put our desires aside and work towards the spiritual good of others.
***COMMENTS FROM CRABB
- Section II (1:27 – 2:30 Overall Theme: Be unified in humility. God is at work)
- Lesson 4: 1:27-30 Citizens of the Kingdom
Key Principle/Point: Community has its foundation in being LIKE MINDEDNESS which is dependent on us conducting ourselves in a manner WORTHY of the Gospel.
- Means to take an active part in the affairs of the state
- Sort of a partnership
- A person developed his gifts and realized his potential not in isolation BUT in cooperation
- To the Roman and Greek the idea of polis meant not just rights and privileges but duties and responsibilities
Community without mission = nothing.
The community is to be the purification ground for my walk with Christ.
I am to be the same whether those looking at me are with me or not…..Integrity
I have responsibilities as a believer that I am to act on.
- Lesson 5: 2:1-4 The Keys to Community
Key Principle/Point: One of pivotal keys to community is INTENTIONAL SELFLESSNESS.
1. uniform direction (involves one's whole attitude and disposition) One in intent and disposition
2. Reciprocal love for one another. The focusing off of my needs to others in the congregation.
3. No Strife.
4. Life directed towards a single goal (similar to the way that a dance team prepares for contest, laboring together over the routines, for months, developing dance skills for years)
- Lesson 6: 2:5-11 Christ the example in the Incarnation
Key Principle/Point:
Principle #1: Community cannot take place unless we DIE to ourselves.
- Something within us must die
- Sin is any effort to make life work without absolute dependence on God.
Scripture Identifies at least four forms:
- Depending on your own resources to make life work (city builder)
To draw on their own resources in a determined effort to secure the advantages of life that God refuses to provide. Even though this is not home we try to make it look like home as much as possible and under our own efforts.
- Reducing the mystery of life to manageable strategies and following them (fire lighter) Isa 50:10-11
- Making it a priority to minimize risk (Wall White washer)
Isa 30:10-11
- Finding satisfaction wherever you can (Well Diggers)
Jer 2:13-14
Principle #2: It is my responsibility to KILL the flesh
- Lesson 7: 2:12-18 Applying the example of Christ in Community
Key Principle/Point:
1. Take your relationship with Christ SERIOUSLY.
Question: How flippant am I about my relationship with Christ?
Principle: My ATTITUDE towards God reflects my seriousness about my walk with Christ.
2. Take the witness of the body SERIOUSLY (vs. 14-16a)
Question: How would I rate myself at maintaining unity in the Body? Why?
Principle: The UNITY of the body directly impacts its witness to the world.
- Take your example SERIOUSLY.
Question: Is my example something that I would exhort someone else to follow?
Principle: My life is to be an EXAMPLE for others to follow.
- Lesson 8: 2:19-30 Faith in Action: Timothy and Epahphroditus
Key Principle/Point: There are three Powerful characteristics: HUMILITY, SELFLESSNESS, a WILLINGNESS to serve for others.
- Section III (3:1 – 3:21 Overall Theme: Push to maturity. God is at work. "Go for it")
- Lesson 9: 3:1-11 The True Circumcision
Key Principle/Point: The true believer is one that focused on the SPIRIT not the FLESH.
- Lesson 10: 3:12-16 Being Perfect
Key Principle/Point: The Christian life is a DISCIPLINED life with a view toward the FINISH line.
There is NEVER a point in the Christian life that you ARRIVED.
There is NOTHING wrong with the fact that YOU HAVE NOT ARRIVED!
- Seems to be a need in our culture to be free from the need of Grace.
- You and I will always be dependent on Grace no matter how mature in Christ that we become.
- Lesson 11: 3:17-21 Earthly Examples
Key Principle/Point: My life is to be an EXAMPLE to others seeking to know Christ.
- Section IV (4:1 – 4:23: Overall Theme: God is sufficient. He is at work.)
- Lesson 12: 4:1-9 Handbook on Standing Firm
Key Principle/Point: Standing firms requires an INTENTIONAL decision to do so.
- Requires that you seek HARMONY in the body of Christ.
- Is accompanied by an inner attitude of REJOICING.
- Is characterized by a FOREBEARING SPIRIT.
The Lord is near = THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
- Has no place for ANXIETY.
- Involves a redirection of my thinking to what is EXCELLENT and PRAISEWORTHY.
- Involves and is dependent on putting INTO PRACTICE what I know to be true.
- To do this, we must master one significant obstacle: FEELINGS.
- Lesson 13: 4:10-23 Contentment
Key Principle/Point: Contentment is FOUNDATIONAL for community and Christ-like living.
For Discussion
- What principles have you sought to apply from Philippians? How did it go?
- What principles from Philippians do think God is bringing to your attention for application in your life?
- How can the people around you pray for you?
A special thanks to John Kidd for preparing this lesson. It has been adapted for use by En Croix.
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