Campaigners – Philippians 4:1-23 (Randi)
Posted by tatescreekyl on October 7, 2008
Review of Philippians
- Chapter 1 talks about Paul’s situation. Though he is in prison, he is still doing his best to be faithful to his calling.
- Beginning of Chapter 2 Paul talks about imitating Christ humility.
- Humility – A quality by which a person considering his own defects has a humble opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God’s sake.”
- Middle of Chapter 2 Paul talks about working out your faith and also standing out like stars in the dark sky because of the life we choose to live.
- The end of chapter 2 discusses the character of Epaphroditus and how he was Paul’s brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, and messenger. He had a servant’s heart and was one of the only ones who stood by Paul’s side till the end.
- The beginning of Chapter 3 talks about the difference between having “confidence in the flesh” and confidence in Christ no matter the obstacles and hardships because life with Christ is always better than life without Him.
- The end of Chapter 3 talks about “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” as we seek to draw closer to God and serve him and people.
Read Philippians 4:1-23
Chapter 4 focuses on Paul wrapping up his letter to the people of Philippi. He begins by telling them how dear they are to him in verse 1. The message version says it like this “My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.” Even though Paul is urging them to press on and be faithful, he is telling them not in a judgmental or critical way; he is pleading with them to pursue hard after Christ because he loves them so dearly. He just wants them to live life to the full and in doing so glorify God.
In verse 2, it’s interesting that Paul seems to be mentioning a personal fight between Euodia and Syntyche. He isn’t calling them out and trying to shame them, but rather he acknowledges that they are his fellow workers and that his concern is genuine. Notice he doesn’t choose a side or preach about what is right or wrong; he merely these women and others who know them to help them resolve their disagreement. Pau’s concern is like Christ’s concern for us in that he is not just worried with the big issues of the heart like being faithful in times of trouble, but also the smaller, but just as important, concerns like a fight between friends.
Questions to read and reflect on your own:
1. What does it look like to rejoice in the Lord looks like? When is it easier or harder for you to rejoice or be glad or joyful in Him? (verse 1)
2. What are things that you are or have been anxious about before? Why does it make you anxious or what about it makes you worried or scared? What does Paul urge us to do instead of dwell and worry about things? (verse 6) ?
3. The Message Version of the Bible says verses 6&7 like this…
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
When is a time you have felt this kind of peace before? If you haven’t, what is holding you back?
4. In verses 8-9, what are the things that you feel are easy or you usually think about? What are the things that are harder or you forget to think about? Why do you think he asks us to make an effort to think about these things?
5. Read verse 13. What areas or situations do you need the strength of God to help you? Why might it look like to rely on God’s strength and not your own? What are practical ways that you could do this, or how might this look?
I pray that God would help you “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.”
