PVBC: Sunday School Philippians Chapter 2

JOY IN SERVING

Warm-Up Questions:

When you were a child, who was the one person you wanted to grow up to be like? Why?

Who would you like to emulate now? Why?

Did you list different persons in Question 1 and 2? Why do you think that is?

"IMMITATION is the sincerest form of FLATTERY."

What is the most difficult thing to emulate? Why? Humility

Philippians 2

¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Christ is our manual
⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature^[b] of a servant, servant = doulos

being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

• According to Verse 2, how can we make Paul's joy complete?
  

Why do you think we need encouragement from others? Shouldn't we be focused on our ministry and our personal relationship with God?

• Whose attitude should we be imitating according to Verse 5?
  

What makes it so difficult to imitate Christ's attitude?

• Selfish desires. Me first attitude.
  
• Pride. We don't want to be looked down upon. We don't want to be perceived as being frail or weak.
  

HUMILITY: Level 5 Leader (18 companies who had lasted more than 100+ years)

Mark 10:32-45

(Mega / Great vs. Deacons / Servants)

(Proto / First vs. Doulos / Slave)

doulos slave: a person without advantages, rights or privileges.

• What is the one area you would like to become more like Christ?
  

Now that you've identified an area, how will you ask God to help you be more like Christ in that particular area?

• Prayer
  
• Confession to God
  
• Confession to brothers & sisters in Christ
  
• Strive towards the goal God has set for you in that area
  
• Ask for encouragement and guidance from brothers and sisters in Christ (accountability)
  
• Repeat Steps 1-5
  

Humility To-Do List for this Week:

• Give a gift of money to someone who is less fortunate
  

• Write a note of encouragement to someone who you know is hurting
  

• Offer to help accomplish a task at church
  

• Sit next to someone you normally would not sit next to during lunch (at school or church) and get to know them better
  

• Generously and genuinely thank someone (for a kind deed, grocery worker, waiter/waitress, parking attendant, etc…)
  

Shining as Stars

¹²Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

¹⁴Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶as you hold out^[c] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

• What are two things in Verse 12 that show Paul's intimacy with the Philippians?
  
• Obeyed in Paul's presence. 2) Obeyed much more in Paul's absence.
  
  • Obedience = respect (remember…..sincerest form of flattery is imitation)
    
  • Is it easier to obey/imitate someone in their presence or in their absence?
    
  • Highest form of respect we can give God is to emulate Christ even when we can't see Him.
    

• According to Paul in Verse 15, what kind of world did Christians in Philippi live in?
  

Crooked and depraved generation (a dark world)

Sound familiar? Is our world similar to the world Paul is describing to the Philippians? How so? Do you think it's a darker world? Why or why not?

• What is Paul referring to in Verse 17 when he says, "I am being poured out"?
  

It is a reference to the word for Eucharist. A word we associate with communion and the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

As Christ poured himself out for us, he set the ultimate example for us to give our bodies and lived to others.

Top Uses for Light

1. Used to see (in darkness, brightens even more)
   
2. It detects (identifies things/people, obstacles, intruders, It's me!)
   
3. It guides / Marks Destinations (pathway, prevents you from being lost, gets you back on track, lighthouse)
   
4. Nurtures (Vitamin D form Sun, plants need Sun)
   
5. Energy Source
   

• How do you see yourself being a light in a "dark" world?
  

• What is one way you can pour yourself out to bless someone around you?
  

Timothy and Epaphroditus

¹⁹I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

• What were Paul's feelings towards Timothy (Verses 19-22)?
  

Paul has no one else like him.

Timothy takes genuine interest in your welfare.

Timothy has proven himself.

Timothy and his father had served with Paul in the work of the gospel.

• What were some qualities of Epaphroditus?
  

My brother

Fellow worker

Fellow soldier

Your messenger

Was sent to care for Paul's needs

He was DISTRESSED because Philippians had heard he was ill

Almost died for the work of Christ

• We were never called to live alone. Paul would have been miserable without these relationships; as would we. We are wired for relationships (friendships, relationships, marriage, etc…)
  
  • Genesis 2:18
    
  • Ecclesiastes 4:10
    
  • Proverbs 27:17
    

• How can isolation be dangerous?
  

We must not be fooled into thinking that we are connected relationally through email, text messaging, cell phone, and Facebook. Could these be tools the devil is using to keep us isolated? Could these be tools the devil is using to keep us from growing? (remember….as iron sharpens iron)