THRIVE: LIVING IN REAL JOY

Transcription

1 98 THRIVE: LIVING IN REAL JOY

2 Why settle for an average life? In Christ, we can thrive. The Book of Philippians answers many of our deepest questions. Where can we find full and lasting joy? Look and listen to Paul. He radiated a contagious joy in this letter. Indeed, the happiest man in Rome was in jail! Paul reminds us that we don t derive ultimate joy from comfortable circumstances, but from a living, vibrant communion with Christ. Joy isn t about attaining more stuff; it s about treasuring Christ more. Where can we find meaning and purpose in life? Paul teaches us about a life worth living and a death worth dying. He shows us the path to living this life by pointing us to Jesus, who provides the power and the example we need. The Christian life isn t an easy life, but it s a full and joyful life. Jesus never promised us that life would be easy, but He did promise He would always be with us. And if He is with us, we have everything we need for joy and peace. We don t just live; we thrive! TONY MERIDA Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C. He also serves as associate professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He s the author of several books including Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down (B & H Publishing, 2015). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 99

3 Thrive: Living in Real Joy Session 1 Praying with Joy Philippians 1:3-11 Session 2 Sharing with Joy Philippians 1:12-21 Session 3 Following with Joy Philippians 2:1-11 Session 4 Growing with Joy Philippians 3:12-21 Session 5 Practicing Joy Philippians 4:4-9 Session 6 Giving with Joy Philippians 4:

4 SESSION 1 PRAYING WITH JOY The Point Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. The Passage Philippians 1:3-11 The Bible Meets Life Too often prayer is limited to asking God to do something, to intervene in a crisis, or to fix a problem. To be sure, the Bible is full of invitations for us to call on Him to work, but our prayers should also reflect the fact that God has already been at work and continues to work in our lives. When we reflect on His work in our lives and the lives of others, it should cause us to rejoice and motivate us to continue praying joyfully for God s ongoing work. The Setting The apostle Paul had established the church at Philippi on his second missionary journey (Acts 16). It had not been one of the destinations he intended to visit, but after being prevented by God from going to some of his intended destinations, and after a pleading dream, Paul and his traveling companions arrived in the city. Then, near the end of his life and from a prison cell, Paul wrote to that church the letter we will study. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 101

5 What does the Bible say? Philippians 1:3-11 (HCSB) Partnership in the gospel (v. 5) Partnership indicates joint participation or cooperation in a specified activity. Elsewhere it is translated fellowship (2:1; 3:10), contribution (Romans 15:26), and sharing (1 Corinthians 10:16). The day of Christ Jesus (v. 6) This phrase refers to the unknown yet imminent time when Christ returns to the earth. References to the day of the Lord are common in the Old Testament. 3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. 102 Session 1

6 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, gather some examples of junk mail and personal mail (cards or letters). Display both and invite your group members to share their initial reaction to both types of mail. Discuss how personal letters are special because they reveal the depth of a relationship. In this six-week study, we ll explore Paul s Letter to the Philippians and gain fresh insight into their relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ. Notes Want to know about biblical culture, people, archaeology, and history? Biblical Illustrator has articles that tie to each session in this study at lifeway.com/bi. DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question #1 on page 81 of the PSG (Personal Study Guide): When has a personal letter or note meant a lot to you? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 82): What will bring you deep joy and happiness? Everyone is seeking it. The quest for happiness is built into the fabric of the United States, where we value life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights. Sometimes, though, what we expect to deliver joy or happiness, falls short. Prosperous King Solomon, who had an abundance of wealth, women, and wine, confessed Absolute futility. Everything is futile (Ecclesiastes 1:2). SAY: What do you need in order to have full and lasting joy? The Book of Philippians is a letter full of joy written by a man in prison. From the apostle Paul we discover how we, too, can experience abundant joy. LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #9, Thrive poster, to introduce the topic of this six-week study. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 82 of the PSG: Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. Thank God for all He has done in the past, all He is currently doing, and all that He will do in the future. Post Pack Item #9 to highlight the focus of this six-week study. Display Pack Item #10 to use with your discussion of Philippians 1:3-6. PLAYLIST PICK: Everything Comes Alive by We Are Messengers BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 103

7 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 1:3-6 (HCSB) 3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. LEADER PACK: Use Pack Item #10, Paul poster, to give a brief profile of the apostle Paul at the time he wrote this Letter to the Philippians. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Philippians 1:3-6. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 83-84): Paul began his Letter to the Philippians with expressions of thanksgiving, joy, and affection. Joy runs throughout his letter, and the first time he used the term, he spoke of praying with joy (v. 4). Paul expressed gratitude for the believers in Philippi whom he considered his partners in the gospel. This church had supported Paul and served as coworkers in the mission from the beginning of his time in Philippi. ALTERNATE QUESTION: Where do you currently see God s good work in your life? DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 83 of the PSG: How would you describe the difference between happiness and joy? SAY: While happiness is often based on external things or circumstances, we can have joy regardless of what we re experiencing. Joy goes deeper than happiness. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 84): In verse 6, Paul gave another reason for his gratitude to God: confidence in God s nature and purposes. He was sure that God would continue and complete! the work He had started in the Philippian believers. God works in our lives just as He did the Philippian believers. He graciously inaugurated this work in us, graciously continues this work in us, and will graciously complete this work in us until the day of Christ Jesus (v. 6). TRANSITION: Paul didn t just praise God for what He d already done. In the next verses, he prayed for what God was currently doing. 104 Session 1

8 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. Philippians 1:3-6 Commentary Pray with joy for what God has done. Verse 3: Paul s opening verses to the Philippians are warm and personal. He looked back on his experiences at Philippi with thankfulness and joy even though his labors there were fraught with difficulties. From Paul s ministry in Philippi, Acts introduces us to Lydia, a demon-possessed slave girl, and a Roman jailer, each of whom heard the words of Paul, believed, and followed Christ. Such a diverse population of individuals coming to faith in Jesus Christ and joining together to worship and serve Him so enthusiastically was cause for great thanksgiving (see Acts 16:14 34). It is understandable why Paul would give thanks to my God each time he remembered them. Verse 4: These powerful memories caused Paul s prayers for the Philippian believers to be filled with joy, a characteristic feature of this epistle. In fact, the wording indicates that the Philippians formed the very basis of Paul s thanksgiving. The entire body of memories brought thanksgiving and infused his prayers for them with joy. This joy was in spite of his current circumstances and past hurts. It was directly connected to the people with whom he had labored and suffered. Verse 5: Paul s joy was rooted in the Philippians partnership in spreading the gospel. This partnership involved believers joining together in the saving power of good news and the spread of its message. The Philippian church had contributed to Paul s efforts in spreading the gospel. The word translated partnership is most often rendered fellowship. It means shared communication, distribution, and contributions. (See Acts 2:42 47.) Verse 6: As Paul wrote of his confidence in God s work in the Philippians, he glanced backward to their salvation and forward to the completion of their character at the day of Christ Jesus. Because he had been present when God started His good work of salvation in the Philippian believers, he was sure God would carry it on to completion according to His divine plan and timetable. Paul could pray with joy and thankfulness because he knew God was working among the Philippian believers, and His work would end in the maturity of His church. The day of Christ Jesus characterized Paul s thoughts. He recognized the bodily return of Jesus as the consummation of God s plan for His redeemed. Jesus will appear to receive His people to Himself. God s work in us will continue until the end of our lives or until Jesus returns. The settled confidence expressed in verse 6 stems directly from the fellowship of the intercession of verse 4. Paul s joyful and frequent prayers for the Philippian church had produced a rich dividend of ongoing spiritual maturity and faith. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 105

9 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 1:7-8 (HCSB) 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Philippians 1:7-8. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you experienced joy while connecting with others through a shared ministry experience? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 84-85): In verses 7-8, we see the great emotion and warmth Paul had for the church. In verse 7, Paul said he held the Philippians in his heart. In Philippians 2:17, Paul went on to say that he had poured out his life for the Philippians. Paul and the Philippians modeled for us what it means to have Christian friendships centered on the gospel. Paul said, It is right for me to think this way about all of you because the Philippian believers were all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel (v. 7). Being a partner in grace meant more than just receiving saving grace; they also had suffered for Christ and were sharing in the struggle for making the gospel known (1:29-30). The believers at Philippi went on to support Paul in prayer and with financial support during his imprisonment. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 84 of the PSG: What are some obstacles that hinder us from building deeper relationships? DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 85 of the PSG: How can our experiences as a group help build the kind of relationships Paul described in these verses? ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Using a smartphone or tablet, take a group photo of everyone present. Share how Paul s relationship with the believers at Philippi was grounded in their shared faith and passion for the gospel. Pray for God to develop the same kind of love and friendship within your group. Text, , or send the image to your group members as a reminder to pray for each other. 106 Session 1

10 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. Philippians 1:7-8 Commentary Pray with joy for what God is doing. Verse 7: Paul s joyful remembrances and earnest prayers for the Philippians were entirely proper and correct, as they stemmed from his deep love for them. The phrase I have you in my heart could just as accurately be rendered you have me in your heart. Either translation demonstrates a strong mutual love forged in faith and trials. It is obvious that Paul and the Philippian believers shared this bond from their troublesome experiences in giving birth to the church in their city. They were indeed partners who had both experienced God s grace and showed it in their actions to others. Grace is defined as both God s unmerited favor toward sinners, and His divine influence upon the heart. Grace in turn reflects in the life of the believer. The Philippians reciprocated Paul s love and demonstrated God s grace by not abandoning or disowning Paul because of his imprisonment. They sent Epaphroditus to his jail with financial support. The Philippians were thus gracious partners in his imprisonment and stood with him in his defense and establishment of the gospel. These are legal terms, essentially official language from a formal defense. The first is a judicial term for an attorney presenting a verbal defense. Paul had presented himself and the gospel to various groups and political officials in Palestine: the rioting crowd (Acts 22:1 22), the Jewish Sanhedrin (23:1 10), Governor Felix (24:1 21), Drusilla (vv ), Festus (25:4 12), King Agrippa and Bernice (26:1 32). Indeed, his presence in Rome was for yet another official hearing. It is possible he had already had a preliminary inquiry before Caesar, predating his letter to the Philippians. Verse 8: Paul s love and longing for the Philippians was a distinctly Christian tie to which God Himself could bear witness. Witness refers to one who bears testimony. It is the word from which we get our English word martyr. Paul could solemnly appeal to God to testify of his love for the Philippian believers. Affection is a word referring to the region of the heart, lungs, and intestines. This was thought to be the very seat of human emotion. And yet, it was not with merely a human love that Paul longed after his brethren, but with the very love of Christ Jesus. The supernatural love of God was felt by Paul for the Philippian believers. Paul could pray with joy over what had been accomplished in the past, but he could also pray with joy for the Philippians current stand with him as he suffered for and defended the good news of the gospel. Standing alone is supremely difficult, but it is not necessary. (See Ecclesiastes 4:7-12; also, study the one another commands of the New Testament for great practical teaching on this important truth.) God has designed and commanded His church to stand together. When believers labor together in prayer for the work of God in our world, we become joyful witnesses to supernatural God-sized results. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 107

11 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 1:9-11 (HCSB) 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Philippians 1:9-11. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What steps can we take to grow in knowledge and discernment? DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 86 of the PSG: According to this passage, how is God actively working in a believer s life? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 87): A Christ-centered love grows in knowledge and every kind of discernment (v. 9). Knowledge asks the question, What is right? Discernment asks the question, What is best? Why did Paul desire for them to grow in this kind of love? He desired for them to approve the things that are superior (v. 10). To approve or discern means to put to the test; to examine. Paul prayed for the Philippians to choose the things that are best in this life and in their relationships. He desired for them to be pure and blameless in the day of Christ (v. 10). Paul expressed this life of purity in another way: filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (v. 11). Paul called for the Christ-followers to live a blameless, godly life because Jesus would return. Thankfully, we don t have to accomplish this on our own. The righteousness of God is given to the believer by faith alone (Philippians 3:9). We re declared righteous and made acceptable to God through Christ. DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 86 of the PSG on their own. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share their responses. HE IS WORKING: What has God done in the past for which you re grateful? What is God currently doing in your life? What are you praying for God to do or continue in the future? 108 Session 1

12 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. Philippians 1:9-11 Commentary Pray with joy for what God will continue to do. Verse 9: We pray only the best for those whom we truly love. Notice Paul did not ask for riches or worldly prosperity for those at Philippi, although it seems they were poor (2 Corinthians 8:1 5). He knew spiritual blessings are more important and valuable and much more enduring. Having witnessed firsthand their love (agape, sacrificial love), he prayed for it to keep on growing. This selfless brand of love given wholly to benefit others would be best guided by knowledge (gained by experience), and tempered by an enlarging understanding of God. It is not an intellectual knowledge from deductive reasoning, but a relational knowledge gained through the experience of loving others. This love would also be guided by every kind of discernment. This refers to a sense of moral perception and delicate sensibility that allows us to express our love appropriately. Christian love is not a raging flood of uncontrolled emotion overflowing its banks; instead, it is a powerful, guided stream that, within its banks, benefits all who approach its shores. The love and judgment Paul espoused here were those seen in Christ as the ultimate example, and those consistent with Scripture. Verse 10: With this kind of maturing love, the Philippian believers could approve (prove or test) everything they heard and experienced. Greeks used this word to describe candidates who had successfully completed their examinations and become doctors of medicine. It indicates the ability to sift or test by trial to recognize worth and therefore render a stamp of approval. (See Romans 12:2, discern.) Here it suggests maturing believers determine correct moral conduct and values. They do so in order that their lives would be pure and blameless. Verse 11: This growing and discerning love would result in a growing character. The term filled (perfectly supplied) is in a tense here meaning past action that bears on the present. Fruit is a harvest of evidence of the righteousness of Christ. The righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ is a harvest of morality and Christian character that glorifies and reveals God. This is a product of our relationship with Christ and His transforming work in us through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22 23). We have been filled with the evidence of Christ s imputed righteousness as a result of the ongoing work of God in us. The idea and future reality of the day of Christ characterized Paul s thoughts. Paul was not alone in his preoccupation with it. (See 2 Peter 3:10 13.) God s work in us and our cooperation with Him is to continue throughout our lifetimes, so at its end we will not be ashamed at Christ s coming. Paul viewed every aspect of salvation as the handiwork of God s grace and an offering to God s glory. Paul s joyful prayer for his Philippian brethren was for a discerning love that correctly chooses God s best for them and for others. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 109

13 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes SAY: How will you allow joy to be a part of your life this week? GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 88 of the PSG. Cultivate a grateful life. If you re a Christian, realize you re more blessed than you deserve. Regardless of your circumstances, remind yourself daily of all that s yours in Christ Jesus. As you pray this week, thank God for all He s done for you and let His joy be evident in your life. Memorize Philippians 1:6. It can be hard to be joyful when praying about a difficult matter, but Philippians 1:6 is a reminder that God is at work even when we don t yet see the result. Partner with others in the gospel. Like Paul, we need friends who are living on mission with us. If you have friends like that, take time this week to thank God for them and pray for them. If you need more friends like that, ask God to provide deep relationships like the ones found in today s passage. Wrap It Up SAY: Genuine joy doesn t have to be an illusive goal that s just out of reach. In his letter penned while he was in prison, the apostle Paul proclaimed this kind of joy to be found in knowing Christ deeply. No matter what our temporary circumstances may be, real and lasting joy is ours in Christ. Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog. LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry 110 Session 1