Joy Ride: Final Destination
Philippians 1:1-11
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out— what did God do in and through you (Phil 2:13)? Celebrate those together!
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Read:
Review: Remind the group of the focus of this series:
o The point of the letter from Paul to the church at Philippi is that Joy is possible through the power of Jesus, unity around Jesus and serving others for Jesus.
o This sermon was about the final destination that God has planned for us!
Read the passage together: Philippians 1:1-11
Reflect:
Paul’s initial visit to Philippi happened after he was stopped from going where he had planned to go!:
o Describe a time in your life where God closed a door you had planned on walking through— what happened, how did that feel, what was the result of the closed door in your life?
o Do you trust God more, or less, after this experience? Explain.
Read Phil 1:3-6. Discuss this passage.
o Paul seemed to enjoy a special kind of joy in relation to this church that partnered with him (where no one else did). Talk about that— why does cooperation, not just consumption, of the Gospel make a difference? (John 4:35-38, 1 Cor 3:6-9)
o Paul had a sense of confidence about an ‘imperfect’ church of “imperfect” people because God was “not finished yet”. Talk about the difference between a “You’re not good enough” religion and a “you’re not finished yet” faith.
Read Phil 1:9-11. Discuss this passage
o How do love and truth work together? (Eph 4:15, John 8:32, Col 4:5-6)
o How does the ‘destination” God has in mind inform our understanding of the way Truth, knowledge, depth of insight… and love… work together for god’s purposes. (Heb 12:11, 1 Peter 4:12-19, 2 Cor 3:16-18)
o Discuss the phrase, “We love people based on Who God is and what He desires.”
o God works in us so that “…you may be pure … blameless… fruitful…to the glory and praise of God.” If we are the ones who are becoming better, why and how is God glorified? (John 15:1-8, Phil 2:13, Gal 5:22-23)
Respond: (Divide the group into pairs)
o Getting to the destination God has in mind requires our participation, and there is a distinct, exquisite joy in willfully choosing, day by day, moment by moment, to be part of what He is doing— in us and through us!
Pray that the Lord would search our hearts and show us if anything is preventing us from following whole-heartedly in that pursuit of His purpose in us— to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ!
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