THRIVE: LIVING IN REAL JOY

Transcription

1 THRIVE: LIVING IN REAL JOY 96

2 Don t just survive. Thrive! The Book of Philippians addresses many of our deepest questions. Where can we find full and lasting joy? Look and listen to Paul. He radiated a contagious joy throughout his letter. Indeed, the happiest man in Rome was the apostle in prison! 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 full. It s joyful. It s the kind of life you ve always been looking for and always wanted to lead. Of course, 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 can do more than just live as we follow Christ. We can thrive! TO N Y 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, North Carolina. He s the author of several books, including Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 97

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 4:10-20 Find additional tools and resources to support this study, all available online at BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra. 98 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

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 A few years back, Pharrell Williams launched the song Happy as a global sensation. But I wonder if the people singing it then have remained happy over the years. These days, perhaps many of them would prefer U2 s I Still Haven t Found What I m Looking For. Such people wouldn t be alone in history. King Solomon, who had an abundance of wealth and women, confessed: Absolute futility. Everything is futile (Eccl. 1:2). Alexander the Great is reported to have wept in his tent saying, There are no more worlds to conquer. Tom Brady, after his third NFL championship, remarked, There s got to be more than this. Where can we go to find full and lasting joy? If you re interested in finding the answer to this question, welcome to the Book of Philippians! This is a letter full of joy interestingly, one written by a man in prison. The Setting The apostle Paul had established the church at Philippi on his second missionary journey (see 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 99

5 What does the Bible say? Philippians 1:3-11 Partnership in the gospel (v. 5) Partnership indicates joint participation or cooperation in a specified activity. Elsewhere it is translated fellowship (see 2:1; 3:10), contribution (see Rom. 15:26), and sharing (see 1 Cor. 10:16). The day of Christ Jesus (v. 6) Unknown yet imminent time when Christ returns to the earth; reference to the day of the Lord is 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. 100 Session 1

6 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. GET INTO THE STUDY 5 minutes LEADER PACK: Display Pack Item 9, Thrive, to introduce the major theme of this study, along with the specific focus of each session. Notes DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 81 of the PSG: When has a personal letter or note meant a lot to you? Note: Remind group members that they don t have to share any details they prefer not to share when answering. GUIDE: Direct group members to The Bible Meets Life on page 82 of the PSG. Introduce the theme of finding true joy by reading or summarizing the text or by encouraging group members to read on their own. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point at the top of page 82 of the PSG: Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Supplement The Point for this session by inviting your group to begin this study with an extended time of prayer. If your meeting space allows for it, encourage everyone to stand together in a circle. Then, ask volunteers to pray for the movement of God s Spirit in the weeks to come. Also encourage group members to lift up any requests or concerns that may be weighing them down and limiting their capacity for joy. Note: You can also lead your group in a more exuberant experience with a concert prayer. In this method, encourage all group members to pray together at the same time, lifting up a joyful noise to God. PRAY: Transition into the study by asking the Holy Spirit to bless your group as you study His Word. 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. TIP: When helpful, use this Notes column to record additional discussion questions, concepts, and activities that connect the study content with your specific group. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 101

7 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 1:3-6 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. READ: Philippians 1:3-6 on page 83 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG). Read the text out loud or ask a volunteer to do so. DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 83 of the PSG: How would you describe the difference between happiness and joy? GUIDE: Conclude your discussion of Question #2 by asking a volunteer to read aloud the second paragraph on page 83 of the PSG. ALTERNATE QUESTION: Where do you currently see God s good work in your life? SUMMARIZE: Help group members work through the remain points from pages of the PSG. 1. We find joy in knowing Christ deeply. This may sound cheesy or elementary, but the secret to joy is in keeping our priorities arranged in this order: Jesus, Others, and Yourself. 2. Notice that we don t find Paul giving God thanks for things; Paul gave thanks for people. Paul could see evidence of God s grace in others and praised God for His work in them. 3. As part of his prayer, Paul expressed gratitude for the believers in Philippi whom he considered his partners in the gospel. 4. 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. TRANSITION: As we continue with verses 7-8, we ll see a helpful example of what it looks like to pray with joy even when circumstances are not ideal. 102 Session 1

8 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. Philippians 1:3-6 Commentary [Verse 3] Paul s opening verses of remembrance and prayer are warm and personal. He looked back on his experiences at Philippi with thankfulness and joy. While his labors there were fraught with difficulties, his memories of the diverse people and their genuine faith undoubtedly brought a smile to his face. From Paul s ministry in Philippi, the Book of 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. We pray with greater intensity and regularity for people and causes that bring us joy. [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). All believers are to participate together in the saving power and message of the good news as the Philippians did. [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. No wonder his memories and prayers were filled with joy! BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 103

9 15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 1:7-8 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: Philippians 1:7-8 on page 84 of the PSG. GUIDE: Use the third and fourth paragraphs on page 105 of this Leader Guide to explain the legal terms Paul used in these verses. SUMMARIZE: Help group members walk through the major points from pages 84 and 86 of the PSG. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you connected with others through a shared ministry experience? 1. Here we see the great emotion and warmth Paul had for the church. It s not enough to learn Paul s theology and disciplines; we also need to see how the truths he taught were evident in his life. 2. Paul rejoiced because the Philippians displayed their partnership in loyalty to Paul and the mission. They not only supported Paul as he shared the gospel, but they also supported him in prayer and with financial support during his imprisonment. 3. Paul was united to Christ, and because of this unity, he shared Christ s love for the church. This is a deep love that goes far beyond sentiment. It s a love we can experience, as well. 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 86 of the PSG: How can our group life help us build the kind of relationships Paul described in these verses? TRANSITION: Let s move to verses 9-11, where we ll find a helpful example of praying for the spiritual growth of others. 104 Session 1

10 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. Philippians 1:7-8 Commentary [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 s 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 crowds (see Acts 22:1 22), the Jewish Sanhedrin (see 23:1 10), Governor Felix (see 24:1 21), Drusilla (see vv ), Festus (see 25:4 12), and King Agrippa and Bernice (see 26:1 32). Indeed, his presence in Rome was for yet another official hearing. It s possible he had already had a preliminary inquiry before Caesar, predating his letter to the Philippians. His experience at defending his actions and the gospel message was vast, but his efforts were made easier by knowing he had loving support. [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 s 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 Eccl. 4:7-12 for an example; 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 and God-sized results. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 105

11 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 1: 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. DO: Direct group members to complete the activity Give Thanks on page 85 of the PSG. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share what they can do to make giving thanks a more prominent part of their lives. Giving thanks to God is a great way to experience joy in your prayers. Use the space below to record five blessings that have brightened your life this year. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What steps can we take to grow in knowledge and discernment? What steps can you take to make giving thanks a more prominent part of your prayer life? READ: Philippians 1:9-11 on page 87 of the PSG. RECAP: Call attention to the first paragraph on page 87 of the PSG: A Christ-centered love grows in knowledge and every kind of discernment. Knowledge asks the question, What is right? Discernment asks the question, What is best? Love leads us to live out what is both right and best. In short, a mature Christian is both biblically informed and deeply affectionate. DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 87 of the PSG: Why are both knowledge and discernment necessary ingredients for loving others? 106 Session 1

12 THE POINT Prayer is an opportunity to experience joy. Philippians 1:9-11 Commentary [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 (see 2 Cor. 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 continue 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. This was 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. [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 Rom. 12:2, discern ). Here, the term suggests maturing believers determine correct moral conduct and values. They do so in order that their lives will be pure and blameless. [Verse 11] This growing and discerning love would result in a growing character. 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 (see Gal. 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 Pet. 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. The chief end of people is the glory of God. Therefore, the glory and praise belong to God, not to us. 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 107

13 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to page 88 of the PSG. Encourage group members to consider these suggestions for incorporating joy into their prayers. > > Cultivate gratefulness. Take time each day to count your blessings. As you pray and thank God for all He s done for you, let His joy fill your heart and be seen as you serve others. > > Memorize Philippians 1:6. It s 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. Join with others to pray about your lives and your opportunities to serve God and others. Emphasize the importance of joy each time you pray together. Wrap It Up TRANSITION: Read or restate the Conclusion from page 88 of the PSG: Don t buy into the lie that joy depends on your present circumstances. Paul wrote his joyful letter to the Philippians (and prayed his joyful prayers) while being persecuted in a Roman prison. Choose today to seek the unshakable joy that is only available through Christ. PRAY: Conclude by expressing joy at the privilege of connecting with God through prayer. Commit to taking advantage of that opportunity in the days to come. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 108 Session 1