Philippians

God Is Here

Philippians 4:5-7

Faith Talks

With a friend talk about a time in your life when you really believed you needed God’s presence in order to get through that situation. Why is that different from how you live everyday? What’s a step you could take to try and live that everyday? 

God is the protector of our emotions. But sometimes we try to guard ourselves without him. Talk about what that looks like in your life when you try and be the protecter of your heart. What happens to you? What happens to those around you?

Relational Harmony

Philippians 4:1-5

Faith Talks

Talk together about why relational harmony is important in the church, among Christian friends, in a family. Pray together about specific broken relationships you have that need harmony.

Relational harmony is impossible without being filled with the Gospel. Talk together about the 4 G’s and your relationships:

  • When I see evidence of control…I have rejected that God is great.
  • When I see evidence of proving myself…I have rejected that God is gracious.
  • When I see evidence of greed… I have rejected that God is good.
  • When I see the evidence of fear... I have rejected that God is glorious

The Kind of Dad Your Kids Need You to Be

Philippians 3:17-21

Faith Talks

  • Talk about a time when the hope you had in something influenced the way you lived, even though you didn’t yet have what you hoped for. What are the ways your hope in someday being with Jesus effects the way you live now?
  • We all need mentors — people we “mark.” Who are people you want to spend more time with? What steps will you take to be with them?

Choose Your Path

 

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Faith Talks

  • Philippians 3:17-4:1 teaches us how we can know the outcome of a person’s life and, in that way, choose the people we are to follow. Review the kind of people whose outcome will be ruin. Are there people you are allowing to influence you whose “end is destruction”?
  • Paul also teaches us to pay attention to those who follow his example, whose end is glory. Who are the people in your life who live that way? Are there ways you can be with them more?

Choose friends who are going somewhere

Philippianslogo.jpeg
 

Philippians 3:12-16 

Faith Talks

  • Philippians 3:12 speaks of Jesus “tackling" His people. Tell the story of how Jesus “tackled” (i.e.. apprehended, arrested, laid hold of) you. Keep in mind your story may include Jesus strongly intervening in the lives of your parents or grandparents.
  • Of the four attitudes of people who are advancing in the Gospel, which one challenges you most? Why?
  1.     I belong to Jesus, and He is in this with me
  2.     My past doesn’t define me
  3.     I have a hopeful future
  4.     Now is NOT the time to give up

 

Philippians - Is Confident Cool?

 

Philippians 3:2-9

Faith Talks

  • Talk together about how you would answer this question: Suppose you were to die tonight, you immediately stand before God, and He asks you, “why should I allow you to enter My Paradise?” What would you say?
  • Look again at Philippians 3: 3 and 9. Based on your answer to the first Faith Talk questions, would you say your confidence before God is based on yourself and on fulfilling some “law?” or would you say your confidence before God is based on a righteousness that has been given to you through faith in Christ?

Philippians - Choose Your Friends Wisely (Part 3)

Philippians 3:1-3

Faith Talks:

  • Of the three kinds of relationships to look out for, which type of relationship has had the most affect on your life (dog, evildoer, mutilator)? Why did/does it have such an influence? What is one step you can take to break free from that kind of influence?
  • What are some ways you can share the Gospel with someone who fits descriptions listen in Phil 3:2? What are some ways you can leverage your influence to point them to Jesus?
  • For Kids/Teens: What makes someone a really good friend? Do you think friends like that are easy or hard to come by? Explain. What kind of friend would you say you are to others? Explain.

Philippians - Choose your friends wisely (Part 2)

Philippians 2:19-30

Faith Talk

  • Who are the people in your life who, when you are with them, you are a better person? Who are the people in your life who, when you are with them, you do sinful things you wouldn’t normally do? 

  • Are there people in your life who, when they are with you, they become better people? Are there people in your life who, when they are with you, they do sinful things they wouldn’t normally do? 

Philippians - Grumbling & Arguing

Philippians 2:12-18

Faith Talks

  • Philippians 2:14 calls us to do everything without grumbling or arguing. Have someone in your group act out what it looks and sounds like when someone is grumbling and when someone is arguing … or when they grumble and argue not outwardly, but on the inside? When do you find that you grumble and argue the most? the least?
  • Philippians 2:16 says the way we can avoid grumbling and arguing is to hold fast to the “word of life.” Talk about specific truth from God’s Word that helps you when you feel tempted to grumble and argue. What healthy patterns would you prefer to walk in when you feel tempted to grumble or argue?

Jesus First

Philippians 1:18–26

Faith Talks

  • Some People might change Philippians 1:21 and say, “To me, to live is to have people like me” or “to be popular with my friends”  or “to be on top of my bills” or “to have all my family be safe and happy.” Talk about how you might complete the phrase, “To me, to live is _________.”
  • Since for the Apostle Paul, to live was Christ, he could say, “to die is gain.” His life was all about Jesus, so through death, he had all to gain and nothing to lose. Talk about what you live for that you would lose if you were to die. 

Don't Forget Who You Are!

Faith Talk

  • Review the five reminders of who we are found in Philippians 1:1-2. Talk about the way your life is to be shaped and impacted by each one. (1- “saint”; 2- “in Christ Jesus”; 3- “under overseers and deacons”; 4- “child of God our Father”; 5- “servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.”)
  • We learn from Philippians that as difficulties rise, so does our need to be reminded of who we are. Talk about how the difficulties you are facing try to shake and cripple the truth of who you are in Christ.

Think: The Centrality of Jesus’ Majesty

Philippians 2:5-11

Faith Talk:

  • Dig deeper: What examples can you point to in Jesus’ life when He was willing to NOT be recognized, exalted, or known to be who He was?
  • Talk about times you have insisted on your own exaltation, where you attempted to be known or significant. Talk as well about times you embraced being overlooked, unrecognized, or unknown.
  • What are the situations in your life where following Jesus may call you to be content with being humble, unknown, or insignificant? Pray for each other.

Think: The Centrality of Jesus’ Humility

Philippians 2:5-11

Faith Talks

  • Jesus’ humility led him to embrace costly obedience. Celebrate points in your life when the cost of your obedience honored Jesus. 
  • None of us find ourselves in situations, like Jesus, where the call to obedience requires us to embrace a humiliating death. Still obedience is typically costly. Talk about ways you feel obedience to Jesus carries a high price.

Think: The Centrality of Jesus' Divinity


Philippians 2:5-11

Faith Talk

  • Talk about examples of the power of attitude … how the attitude you choose is more influential than the circumstances you face.
  • The fact that Jesus is God never changes. But the attitude that comes from denial of that fact will greatly effect your life. Talk about areas of life where you need to adjust your mindset to embrace that Jesus is God. 

Philippians - Snapshots 2

Acts 15:26-16:40

Faith Talk

  • Paul, like all of us, was a man in process. Talk about the ways Paul’s journey from selfishness to love impacts you or gives you hope for your journey.
  • In Acts 16 we saw 3 different people experience the truth of the Gospel in 3 different ways (1) reasoned dialogue; 2) power encounter; 3) exposure to a remarkably different life). Talk about the people in your life who don’t know Jesus yet. What might they need before they “get” the Gospel?

Philippians - Snapshots

Acts 15:26-16:40

Faith Talk

  • Paul, like all of us, was a man in process. Talk about ways Paul's journey from selfishness to love impacts you or gives you hope for your journey. 
  • In Acts 16 we saw three different people experience truth of the Gospel in three different ways: 1)reasoned dialogue; 2)power encounter; 3)exposure to remarkably different life. Talk about the people in your life who don't know Jesus yet. What might they need before they "get" the Gospel?