BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE

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1 For by grace you are saved through faith, and 4EXPLORE)))THE)))BIBLE$ this is not from yourselves; it is God s gift BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE not from works, so that no one can boast. SPRING 2011 DEAF Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Move Forward, Please

2 4EXPLORING)))THE)))BIBLE$ BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE DEAF SPRING 2011 VOLUME 20 NUMBER 3 PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAM LAURA ALLISON Production Editor ASHLEY KRULIKOWSKI Graphic Designer ALAN RAUGHTON Lead Adult Ministry Specialist DAVID APPLE Adult Ministry Specialist OSCAR FERNANDEZ Editorial Project Leader MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL Bret Robbe, Director, Leadership and Adult Publishing Ken Braddy, Ron Brown, Ron Keck Managing Directors, Leadership and Adult Publishing David Francis, Director, Sunday School Bill Craig, Director, Leadership and Adult Ministry Gary Hauk, Director, Publishing LifeWay Christian Resources Printed in the United States of America Send questions/comments to Editorial Project Leader, Explore the Bible: Bible Studies for the DEAF One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN Or make comments on the Web at EXPLORING THE BIBLE: BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE DEAF (ISSN ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President, LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Copyright 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. If you need help with an order, WRITE LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions, FAX (615) or subscribe@lifeway.com. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, FAX (615) or CustomerService@lifeway.com. Order ONLINE Mail address changes to EXPLORING THE BIBLE, BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE DEAF, same address. We believe the Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of THE BAPTIST FAITH AND MESSAGE is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW CENTURY VERSION, Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas Used by permission.

3 CONTENTS PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON: MOVE FORWARD, PLEASE Introduction Unit 1 - Advance the Gospel (Philippians 1:1 4:23) Mar. 6 Link Up with Others (Philippians 1:1-11) Mar. 13 Lift Up the Gospel (Philippians 1:12-26) Mar. 20 Live Up to the Gospel (Philippians 1:27 2:11) Mar. 27 Light Up the World (Philippians 2:12-30) Apr. 3 Look Up to Heaven (Philippians 3:1-21) Apr. 10 Never Let Up (Philippians 4:1-23) Unit 2 - Advance in Christian Truth (Colossians 1:1 2:23) Apr. 17 Knowing the Truth (Colossians 1:1-20) Apr. 24 Believing the Truth (John 20:1-18)* May 1 Expressing the Truth (Colossians 1:21 2:7) May 8 Keeping the Truth (Colossians 2:8-23) Unit 3 - Advance in Christian Living (Colossians 3:1 4:18; Philemon 1-25) May 15 Be Focused (Colossians 3:1-17) May 22 Be Faithful (Colossians 3:18 4:18) May 29 Be Forgiving (Philemon 1-25) FEATURES Accepting Christ? How to Use the Lessons? Answers to Study Questions Vocabulary Guide Daily Bible Readings Leader Guide * Easter Evangelistic Lesson

4 Week of March 6, 2011 Link Up with Others Background Study Verses Philippians 1:1-11 Lesson Material: Philippians 1:1-11 Bible Truth Christians can work with other Christians to spread the gospel. 10 Link Up with Others

5 What These Verses Tell Us 1. Get Started (1:1-2) - Christians are linked together because of their love for Jesus. They must look for ways to work together to spread the gospel. 2. Be Involved Now (1:3-6) - It is never too late for Christians to start spreading the gospel. 3. Assist in Various Ways (1:7-8) - Paul loved the Philippian Christians because they helped him while he was in prison. 4. Stay with It (1:9-11) - As Christians become more mature spiritually, they will want to join with others to spread the gospel. STUDY QUESTIONS (Find the verses) 1. Which verse tells us who wrote the Letter to the Philippians? 2. In which verses did Paul tell the Philippian believers he was thankful for them? 3. Which verse tells us what Paul was thankful for? 4. Which verses list the things Paul was praying for? 5. Which verse tells the Philippian Christians how to bring praise to God? Introduction Share with Others Your Faith in Jesus young Deaf man moved to a large A city to work. He started going to a church with an active Deaf ministry. He became a Christian and learned how to tell other people about his faith in Jesus Christ. He became a more mature Christian. He felt he needed to do more to spread the gospel. He and several Deaf friends began meeting together to pray for missionaries, pastors, and Deaf leaders. They wanted to do more. They talked to their pastor. He suggested they contact missionaries to the Deaf in other nations. They sent s, letters, and birthday cards to encourage the missionaries. Their Deaf Christian friends helped them raise the money they needed to go on mission trips to foreign countries. They were able to do these things because they worked together with other Christians and with their church. They were linked together to spread the gospel. Week of March 6,

6 Today s Lesson All of us have seen chains of many sizes. Each chain has a different purpose. One chain may be small and beautiful and worn as jewelry. Another chain may be very large and connected to an anchor on a ship. Chains are made from different materials and may be different colors. One thing is the same for every chain. Each chain is made of small links joined together to make the chain. A link can do very little by itself. Links only become useful when they are joined together. These Bible verses help us to understand we can be more useful to God when we join with other believers to spread the gospel. 1. Get Started (1:1-2) Verse 1. In New Testament times, letters usually began by telling who wrote them. Then the letters explained who the letter was written to. While Paul was in prison in Rome, he wrote a letter to the Christians in the church in the Roman city of Philippi. Paul began by telling them who the letter was from. At that time Timothy was with Paul. Paul let them know he was the author of the letter. In the letter he said he and Timothy were servants of Jesus Christ. Paul sent the letter to all the Christians in the church in Philippi. He called them God s holy people in Christ Jesus. The word holy does not mean the people were perfect. It means the people were saved because they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul wrote the letter to all the Christians in Philippi, but there were two groups of leaders in the church: elders and deacons. The two groups worked together to be sure the church was doing the things Paul taught them. Elders helped people with spiritual growth. They taught members about Jesus. Elders helped church members learn to pray and worship God. They led the church by being good examples and pleasing God with their Christian life. Deacons helped supervise the daily activities of the church. They were responsible for managing the money given as offerings. They also helped members to find food and a place to live. They led the church to make plans to take care of widows and orphans. Paul knew the leaders in the church because they helped him in his ministry. This shows us the Philippian Christians had already started to support Paul s work as he preached about Jesus. When he first went 12 Link Up with Others

7 to Philippi he helped them start spreading the gospel. He helped the Christians start the Philippian church. We must work together with other believers the same as Paul worked with the Philippian Christians. Verse 2. In his letters, Paul always wrote about how he wanted his readers to have grace and peace in their lives. We see this desire in all of Paul s letters. You may want to read these verses for yourself. The verses are found in the first few verses of the first chapter in the letters to the Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. We have grace because of our faith in Jesus as our Savior. Grace also means patience and strength to live through difficult times. The word peace in Paul s letter means no confusion or conflict in our own lives and in our relationship with others. 2. Be Involved Now (1:3-6) Verses 3-4. Paul was in prison because he preached the gospel. He explained he had great joy each time he thought of the Philippians. He told them each time he thought of them he prayed for them. He always prayed for them with great joy. Many of us know how Paul felt. When we think of some special persons in our lives we smile. We have joy and thanksgiving when we think of them and pray for them. Verse 5. Paul said the reason for his thankfulness was the support and help the Philippian Christians gave him when he preached the gospel. They also prayed for him when he was in prison. The Philippian Christians started helping Paul the first day they became believers. Paul and the believers were partners in spreading the gospel. Not only did they work in their local church, they also helped Paul as he preached in other cities and countries. They were linked together to serve God. Believers today must begin spreading the gospel when they first become saved. Some older believers say they are too old to spread the gospel. A woman in her eighties attended a meeting where missionaries talked about their work. The missionaries asked for volunteers to come help with their work for a short time. The older lady stood up and said she was willing to go. It is never too late to start spreading the gospel. Verse 6. From the beginning of the church in Philippi, God began working in the lives of the believers. Paul was sure God would continue to work in them until Jesus returns to earth. The good work Paul wrote about was first, their belief in Jesus. Second, it was their involvement with Paul and other Christians as they worked together to spread the gospel. He encouraged them to keep up the good work and to stay involved. Week of March 6,

8 3. Assist in Various Ways (1:7-8) Verse 7. Paul told Philippian Christians he had a great love for them because they shared in God s grace together. God s grace meant they were able to be courageous. They had strength and confidence to continue to spread the gospel just as Paul was doing. Enemies of Christ and the church persecuted the Christians for their faith in Jesus and love for the gospel. The church at Philippi continued to support Paul with their prayers and offerings while he preached the gospel. Paul stood strong and spoke A GOOD WAY TO JOIN WITH OTHERS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL IS TO USE . PEOPLE LOVE TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEM. strongly in court during his trials. Paul said he was defending the gospel. This means he was debating the facts of the gospel. When he said he was proving the gospel, he meant he was showing proof to the judges and lawyers how the gospel is true. Verse 8. Paul said he loved all of the Christians in Philippi very much. He explained how God saw the great love he had in his heart for them. Paul probably felt lonely and wanted to be with the believers he loved. He wanted to be with believers who experienced the same things in their lives. There are ways we can help other Christians to spread the gospel. We can have fellowship with them at church, work, school, or in our homes. We can encourage them to stay strong and share the gospel with people who do not believe in Jesus. We can pray for them. We can fellowship with other believers. We can pray for missionaries, pastors, and church leaders. We can give mission offerings to be sure missionaries, pastors, and leaders have enough money to meet their needs. The International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board use our offerings to support many missionaries around the world. There are other things we can do to show missionaries to the Deaf we support them in their work to spread the gospel. At a meeting, a missionary told of her work among Deaf people in another country. She said she loved her work but she missed some things from home. One of the things she missed was her favorite kind of coffee. A Deaf couple was in the meeting where she described her work with Deaf people. They wanted to show her they supported her work to teach Deaf people about Jesus. After she returned to her mission work they showed their love by sending her a gift of her favorite coffee. That small 14 Link Up with Others

9 gift helped her know people loved her and supported her work with Deaf people. The special gift made her happy. A good way to join with others to spread the gospel is to use . People love to receive messages from people who love them and encourage them. 4. Stay with It (1:9-11) Verses Paul told the church at Philippi he was praying for them and listed five things he was praying about. 1. He prayed for their love to grow. He already said they showed love in many different ways. He prayed for them to love more and more. 2. He also prayed they would have knowledge and understanding. Paul was not talking about love based THERE ARE SPECIAL on emotions alone. He explained he wanted their love to be based OFFERINGS DURING THE on knowledge. The knowledge he YEAR. THERE ARE MANY prayed for was a deep understanding of Christ s love for them and their WAYS WE CAN SHOW OUR love for Christ. LOVE FOR MISSIONARIES 3. While they were developing knowledge, he prayed they would be WORKING WITH THE DEAF. able to see the difference between right and wrong. He wanted them to know the difference between good and bad. When they knew the difference they would choose the good thing. Sometimes several things are good and we must have knowledge and understanding enough to choose the best thing. 4. Paul wanted them to have this understanding so they could please God with their lives. Paul prayed the believers in Philippi would be pure when Christ returns. 5. He prayed they would do many good things with Christ s help. He wanted them to be sure they did those good things for the praise and glory of God. God calls all Christians to share their faith in some way. The example of Paul and the church at Philippi shows us we must join with other believers to spread the gospel. There are special offerings during the year. There are many ways we can show our love for missionaries working with the Deaf. Week of March 6,

10 What About You? People may have some success if they work alone. They are usually more successful when they join with others. Are you willing to be linked together with other Christians to tell people about Jesus? Have you prayed and asked God to lead you to find ways to link up with other Christians to serve Him? Applying the Lesson. Make a check mark beside activities you are willing to do to help spread the gospel. Tell others how to be saved. Pray for missionaries and pastors. Write letters or messages to encourage missionaries. Give money to mission offerings. Do mission activities in your community. Go on mission trips to other countries. Think about ways you can link with others to spread the gospel. List some ways you can use what you have learned in this lesson. How can this lesson help you grow in Christ? A verse to remember: I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you (Philippians 1:3-4). 16 Link Up with Others