Scripture
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Other Resources:
Prison Epistles
Joy of the Lord: The Secure Mind
Philippians 4:1-23
1. Don’t worry about
anything. Worrying doesn't change anything. It’s stewing without doing.
There’s no such thing as born worriers; worry is a learned response. You
learned it from your parents. You learned it from your peers. You learned it
from experience. That’s good news. The fact that worry is learned means it can
also be unlearned. Jesus says, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34
NLT).
2. Pray about everything.
Use the time you've spent worrying for praying. If you prayed as much as you
worried, you’d have a whole lot less to worry about. Some people think God only
cares about religious things, such as how many people I invite to church or my
tithing. Is God interested in car payments? Yes. He’s interested in every
detail of your life. That means you can take any problem you face to God.
3. Thank God in all things.
Whenever you pray, you should always pray with thanksgiving. The healthiest
human emotion is not love, but gratitude. It actually increases your
immunities; it makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to
illness. People who are grateful are happy. But people who are ungrateful are
miserable because nothing makes them happy. They’re never satisfied; it’s never
good enough. So if you cultivate the attitude of gratitude, of being thankful
in everything, it reduces stress in your life.
4. Think about the right
things. If you want to reduce the level of stress in your life, you must
change the way you think. The way you think determines how you feel, and the
way you feel determines how you act. So if you want to change your life, you
need to change what you’re thinking about.
This involves a deliberate,
conscious choice where you change the channels. You choose to
think about the right things: focus on the positive and on God’s Word.
Why? Because the root cause of stress is the way you choose to
think.
When we no longer worry, when we
pray about everything, when we give thanks, when we focus on the right things,
the apostle Paul tells us the result is, “The peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).
What a
guarantee! He is guaranteeing peace of mind.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
What is the
best thing that happened to you this week?
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity -- Philippians 4:1-23
1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long
for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same
mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help
these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel,
along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book
of life.
Final Exhortations
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard
from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with
you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your
concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show
it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any
and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in
want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me
strength.
14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the
early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,
not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you
only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent
me aid more than once when I was in need. 17Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is
that more be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am
amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according
to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The
brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.22All God’s people here send you greetings, especially
those who belong to Caesar’s household.
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
- God is ... What do we learn about God?
- We are ... What do we learn about people?
- What does it mean to stand firm in the Lord? v. 1)
- What do we know about Euodia and Syntyche? How are these women harming the church? (vv. 2-3)
- What is the book of life? Where else is the book mentioned? (v. 3)
- What is Paul’s prescription for stress? Why should we rejoice in the Lord always? (v. 4) How does compare to philosophy and psychology?
- In what sense is the Lord near? (v. 5)
- Why is the command to not be anxious about anything so difficult? (v. 6) What is the greatest thought pollution of today?
- How are we to pray? (v. 6)
- What will the peace of God bring us? (v. 7)
- What are we to think about? (v. 8)
- What is our Father the God of peace? How would you explain it to someone who is not a Christian? (v. 9)
- What did the Philippian congregation do that made Paul have great joy? (v. 10)
- List the things Paul had learned since coming to Christ. (v. 11) What is Paul’s secret to contentment?
- How could Paul "be able to do all things in Christ"? (v. 13) Please explain.
- How did the Philippians share in Paul's distress and trouble? (v. 14)
- How long had the Philippians been assisting Paul? (vv. 15-16)
- What we Paul seeking? (v. 17)
- What did the Philippians send to Paul? (v. 18)
- What will God supply to His children? (v. 19)
- In light of Paul’s imprisonment for the sake of his preaching, could some “tongue in cheek” irony be intended in verse 22? (Hint: Caesar Augustus was emperor of Rome at the time.)
- Who were "those who belong to Caesar's household"? (v. 22)
Reflective
Questions — Live it today.
- What are you “standing firm” in your life?
- Who do you disagree with in Christ’s church and what conversation needs to be had to “agree in the Lord”?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, what is the stress level in your life? What is your body saying to you?
- What are some things from this chapter and God that you need to “learn”?
- What outside force is most likely to upset your contentment? Since God does not always change negative outside forces, what can he change in you so that contentment is possible?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
- How does this equip us be a better disciple and help empower us to “make disciples”?
Contentment is not found
in having everything--but in being satisfied with everything we have.
