Introduction
Most major world religions are marked by their strict moral standards, rules
and traditions that must be kept, rituals that must performed, holidays
that must observed. When people think of religion, they often assume a
fix-yourself, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, self-righteous, moralistic
elitism; a stereotype which is often perpetuated by television, music and
movies. Christianity is often seen as self-help, at it’s very best. Our culture
believes that to be a Christian, you’ve got to clean up your life; you’ve
got to finally become ‘good enough’ and have it all together. Why has our
culture fundamentally missed the message of Christianity?
and traditions that must be kept, rituals that must performed, holidays
that must observed. When people think of religion, they often assume a
fix-yourself, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, self-righteous, moralistic
elitism; a stereotype which is often perpetuated by television, music and
movies. Christianity is often seen as self-help, at it’s very best. Our culture
believes that to be a Christian, you’ve got to clean up your life; you’ve
got to finally become ‘good enough’ and have it all together. Why has our
culture fundamentally missed the message of Christianity?
Christianity is
less about what we do and more about what Jesus has done. Christianity is
less about being better and more about becoming new. How is it possible
that popular culture has so misunderstood the Christian faith and has
actually created a mutated form of belief?
less about what we do and more about what Jesus has done. Christianity is
less about being better and more about becoming new. How is it possible
that popular culture has so misunderstood the Christian faith and has
actually created a mutated form of belief?
The true, original, simple and beautiful message of Christianity is that God
has come to rescue us! Christianity isn’t simply punching your ticket for an
afterlife in heaven; it’s the good news of what Jesus has done on our behalf
to restore us to relationship with God. A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The Bible is
not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying
knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight
in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God
Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
has come to rescue us! Christianity isn’t simply punching your ticket for an
afterlife in heaven; it’s the good news of what Jesus has done on our behalf
to restore us to relationship with God. A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The Bible is
not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying
knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight
in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God
Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
This longing to know and
experience God is seen in the lives of biblical figures like King David, Mary,
and Paul. This longing is seen in church history in Polycarp, Augustine,
Martin Luther, and Amy Carmichael.
Does this same longing, yearning, and passionate pursuit of God mark us?
Is there a gap between saints of the past and ourselves? Are we too easily
content with low-grade, suburban spirituality?
Read
experience God is seen in the lives of biblical figures like King David, Mary,
and Paul. This longing is seen in church history in Polycarp, Augustine,
Martin Luther, and Amy Carmichael.
Does this same longing, yearning, and passionate pursuit of God mark us?
Is there a gap between saints of the past and ourselves? Are we too easily
content with low-grade, suburban spirituality?
Read
Philippians 3:1-4:1
Discussion Questions
Explore
1. Have you ever visited another country, either on vacation or for
work? What was your experience like? How was that culture similar or
different from your own?
work? What was your experience like? How was that culture similar or
different from your own?
Engage
2. What does Paul warn the Philippians to look out for in Philippians 3:2-3?
What does Paul mean when he says he could have confidence in the
flesh? How do modern people have confidence in the flesh?
What does Paul mean when he says he could have confidence in the
flesh? How do modern people have confidence in the flesh?
3. How does Paul contrast two different forms of righteousness in
Philippians 3:7-9?
Philippians 3:7-9?
4. In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul gives at least two reasons why Christians
should grow in their godliness; what are they and why do they matter as
motivations for holiness?
should grow in their godliness; what are they and why do they matter as
motivations for holiness?
5. Paul encourages the Philippians to follow his example in Philippians
3:17. Why is imitation such an important part of true learning?
3:17. Why is imitation such an important part of true learning?
6. Paul warns the Christian community about enemies of Christ in
Philippians 3:18-20. For the enemies of Christ, what is their outcome?
Who is their God? What is their glory?
7. In Philippians 3:20-4:1, what is Paul getting at when he encourages the
Philippians to live as citizens of Heaven?
Philippians 3:18-20. For the enemies of Christ, what is their outcome?
Who is their God? What is their glory?
7. In Philippians 3:20-4:1, what is Paul getting at when he encourages the
Philippians to live as citizens of Heaven?
Apply
8. Why do you think most of American evangelicals seem to be content
with a low-grade spirituality? Why do you think we, as modern
evangelical Christians living in America, are so distracted, indifferent,
and satisfied with lesser things?
with a low-grade spirituality? Why do you think we, as modern
evangelical Christians living in America, are so distracted, indifferent,
and satisfied with lesser things?
9. The main aim of the Christian life isn’t merely to improve our moral
actions, but to know God. How can we get so sidetracked with other
priorities? What is the relationship between morality and knowing God?
actions, but to know God. How can we get so sidetracked with other
priorities? What is the relationship between morality and knowing God?
10. What are some of the secondary pursuits and passions in your life that
distract you from the primary purpose of existence? What sorts of things
stir your imagination, affection and passion for Jesus to accomplish the
mission he has given us?
distract you from the primary purpose of existence? What sorts of things
stir your imagination, affection and passion for Jesus to accomplish the
mission he has given us?
11. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to lay aside everything that might hinder
us from our race of faith. What sorts of things can you identify in your
life that aren’t sin but do hinder you from what’s truly and eternally
significant? What practical steps can you take to re-prioritize?
us from our race of faith. What sorts of things can you identify in your
life that aren’t sin but do hinder you from what’s truly and eternally
significant? What practical steps can you take to re-prioritize?
Memory Verse - Philippians 3:8 ESV
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord.
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