Other Resources:
Glorifying God During Times of Adversity - Philippians 1 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/lessons/philippians/1/
Prison Epistles
Joy of the Lord: The Single Mind
Philippians 1:1-30
JOY IN SERVICE — The story is told of a man in a fancy restaurant who started to choke on a bone. A doctor rushed over, identified himself as a doctor, and reassured the man that he was going to be all right. He performed the Heimlich Maneuver and the bone popped out.
As the man's breath and voice returned he said, "I'm ever so grateful, doctor, how can I ever repay you?"
The doctor smiled and said, "I'll settle for one-tenth of what you were willing to pay while you were choking."
It's true, isn't it, that when you're facing a crisis (especially a life-threatening crisis), you would give everything you have to get through it. Money is no object!
We do the same thing on a spiritual level. How many times have you faced hardship and prayed, "Lord, if you'll just see me through this, I'll serve you faithfully the rest of my life!" or something similar? But what happens when the crisis passes? Those feelings of urgency about serving God pass as well. If we could commit ourselves to doing one-tenth of what we're willing to do in those moments, most of us would ascend to a new level of commitment.
Paul wrote, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
PRAYER: Father, there are moments in my life when I am reminded of how much I need you and how urgent it is that I commit my life to you. All too often, though, those feelings disappear, and I quickly revert back to a less-than-satisfactory level of commitment. Please forgive me and strengthen me in my resolve to reach the point where I can say with the apostle Paul, "To me, to live is Christ." In Jesus' name, amen.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
Are you the kind of person who sees the glass half-empty or half-full?
Philippians 1:1-30
1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deaconsa:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3I thank my God every time I remember you.4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,bwhat has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guardcand to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.14And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.16The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,19for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.d20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,26so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,etogether as one for the faith of the gospel28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
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 are Paul's feelings for this church? Why did he thank God for them? What does that show about his leadership style?
- What is "the day of Christ Jesus" (vv. 6, 10)?
- How is God at work in a believer's life according to versus 6 and 9-11? How does this make you feel about uncertainties in your life when you pray?
- What is the difference between knowledge and insight (v. 9)?
- How does one "decide what is best" (v. 10)?
- What is the difference between Paul's view of life (vv. 12-14) and the view of the Stoics (grin and bear it) and the Epicureans (eat, drink, and be merry)?
- How does Paul decide if an event (like his jailing) is good or bad? How would this example encourage others?
- What motives for preaching does Paul speak of (vv. 15-17)? How would the preaching of some add affliction to Paul?
- In what was Paul's confident hope (v. 20)?
- How would you describe Paul's attitude (v. 21)?
- Explain the conflicting desires of Paul (v. 23).
- How can our conduct "in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" (v. 27)
- What is one sign of our salvation (v. 28)?
- Why has Christ allowed us to suffer for Him (vv. 28-29)?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
- Who is your spiritual “cheerleader” now? For whom do you encourage and cheer?
- What difference has your personal faith in Jesus Christ made in your attitude toward death and dying? In your attitude toward suffering?
- “For me, to live is ____.”
- 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”?
Paul Harvey has rightly said, "If you don't live it, you don't believe it."
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