R EAD THIS FIRST

This Bible Companion is a summary of Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s teaching

of the book of Philippians heard on THRU the BIBLE. These summarized
lessons get to the heart of Bible passages and are intended to stir your
own thinking, prayer, and study.

Begin with prayer. Dr. McGee said, “We are living in the day of the
ministry of the Holy Spirit, the day of grace, when the Spirit of God
takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us.” Before you start
each lesson, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He is revealed
in that section. Dr. McGee said, “This is the secret of life and of
Christian living.”

As you study, read the Bible passage first. Invite God to open your
eyes and deepen your understanding of His Word. That’s a request
God loves to answer!

If you want to listen to Dr. McGee’s complete teaching on any

specific passage, go to TTB.org/Philippians (or any book of the Bible).
The corresponding audio messages are listed at the top of the
summaries. You can also use this Bible Companion to follow along
and take notes while you listen to Dr. McGee teach a book of the
Bible on the radio or online.

After every lesson, several questions are listed for your

personal consideration or, if you’re reading this as a group,
for your discussion. Ask the Spirit to help you take to heart what
He wants to show you.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you

richly in all wisdom and teaching….
COLOSSIANS 3:16A
 TABL E OF CONTENTS

LESSON 1 THE JOY OF TOGETHERNESS ..............................................1

LESSON 2 NO CHAINS FOR GOD’S GOSPEL.. ................................8

LESSON 3 HUMILITY PERSONIFIED.............................................. 17

LESSON 4 FAITH’S WORKOUT.. ..................................................... 24

LESSON 5 HELP FOR WORRIERS . . ................................................32

LESSON 6 A GRACEFUL DISMOUNT . . ......................................... 40

 L E SSO N 1

THE JOY OF
TOGE THE RNESS

Begin with prayer

Read Philippians 1:1-13

Listen at TTB.org/Philippians to Philippians Intro—1:1, Philippians 1:2-6,

Philippians 1:6-9, and Philippians 1:9-13

Philippians opens with a swirl of joy as the apostle Paul wrote his most
personal letter to a group of friends he deeply loved. He wrote to the
Christians at Philippi, an ancient city in eastern Europe tucked slightly
inland from the sparkling shores of the Mediterranean. Paul visited Philippi
on his second missionary journey. This was one of the letters Paul wrote to
churches while in a Roman prison. Though chained to guards, Paul shared
his heart with his beloved Philippians, reminding them not only of the joy
of being together but also the importance of humbly remaining devoted to
Jesus Christ even when persecution mounts. The spiritual value of this short
letter runs deep for followers of Jesus of all generations.

Philippians is all about finding joy in our relationship with Jesus Christ and
with each other. Paul wasted no time in emphasizing that in his opening
greeting. We read about joy 19 times in this letter—and also about the
person of Jesus Christ (40 times). Jesus is the center of this epistle, and He’s
the one who is the source of our joy!

Paul loved the people in the church in Philippi. He also mentions his friendship
with Timothy, a young pastor. Paul calls Timothy a fellow “bondservant” of
Christ. He met Timothy on a visit to Lystra and encouraged him to join him on

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his missionary journey (Acts 16:1). It was a friendship of genuine affirmation

and mentorship for several years, right up until Paul’s death. Timothy
remained a faithful and loving apprentice to Paul as his “true son in the faith”
(1 Timothy 1:2).

When Paul wrote to the Galatians and the Corinthians, he identified himself
as an apostle in order to establish his rightful authority. Yet, he didn't need
to defend his authority in this letter. The Philippians’ love and admiration for
Paul compelled them to honor him as their spiritual authority.

In addition to the Philippians, Paul addressed this letter to all the saints and
portrayed every believer as being set apart by God. “Saint” means “holy
one,” or one who is “set apart for God.” Anything holy is separated for the
use of God. Even the old pots and pans in the tabernacle were called “holy
vessels,” and no doubt looked beaten and battered from 40 years in the
wilderness (Numbers 7:1). They may not have looked holy, but they were
because they had been set aside for God’s use. Saints are not considered
saints by the church, we become saints—made holy—when we put our faith
in Jesus Christ. In other words, we are saints not because of our conduct,
but because of our position in Christ.

To be a saint is to be “in Christ Jesus.” In fact, that’s what it means to

be saved—to be in Christ. When you put your trust in the Lord Jesus,
the Spirit of God comes to live in you and baptizes you into His body
(see 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

Through the miracle of inspiration, the Spirit of God chose just one little
word—the preposition “in”—to explain the nature of salvation. It is to be in
Christ. How do you come to be in Christ? God places you in Christ when you
trust Him as your Savior.

This letter also addresses church leaders, the ones who oversee the church’s
great work. “Bishop” means overseer or shepherd. The word “bishop” refers
to the office, while the word “elder” (1 Timothy 3) refers to the individual
who serves that office—spiritually mature men. “Deacons” refer to spiritual
men who perform hands-on acts of service for God’s people (Acts 6). Paul
blessed these followers of Jesus Christ with a special blessing, “Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2).

“Grace,” or charis, was an everyday word of greeting in the Greek world. If

you walked down the street in that day—or even today in Greece—you may
hear someone greet a friend saying, “Charis!” It means grace.

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In the Bible, “peace” always follows and never comes before grace. While
charis has its roots in Greek culture, “peace” (shalom) originates in the
Hebrew language. To this day, it is a common greeting in Hebrew.

But this expression also has a deeply spiritual meaning. This “peace”
greeting promised to the believer is only available by the grace of God. In his
letter to the believers at Rome, Paul wrote: “Therefore, having been justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans
5:1). The entire teaching of how we are saved by faith flows from the heart
behind this simple greeting to the Philippians: The peace we as sinners can
have with a holy God is possible because Jesus Christ died for our sin, paid
the penalty for it, and made a way for God to offer us His salvation—and it
all comes through grace!

Paul wants his friends at Philippi to know every time he thinks about them,
he thanks God for them! What a blessing for these Christians to know
someone with such stature and grace feels such great affection for them.
He also prays for them. The church wasn’t free of conflict to be sure. In fact,
later in this letter, Paul asks them to help two ladies in the ministry, Snytyche
and Euodia, who had allowed something to come between them. Even in
conflict, Paul expresses gratitude and affection for each believer and joyfully
prays for them regularly. He got a lot of joy from telling them so.

Why does Paul thank God for them? Because of “your fellowship in the
gospel” (1:5). Relationships in Christ are everything for the followers of
Jesus. We can celebrate how God does such a work in each other’s lives and
how we can share in the things of the Lord with them. That’s fellowship—the
Greek word, koinonia. In other words, “sharing in the Lord” means praying
for one another, worshipping together, and financially supporting God’s
work. All this is “fellowship in the gospel.”

From the first day he met Lydia and the other early believers at Philippi
praying by the riverside until now, Paul has enjoyed wonderful fellowship
with them. And he is confident in the Lord that God will complete the
spiritual work He started in their hearts. That same work continues today
in our lives. Our confidence is always in Jesus Christ. His finished work will
ultimately be on full display all the way “until the day of Jesus Christ”—the
day He will return to call all Christians to be with Him forever. Amazing! No
wonder this letter is called joyful.

Yes, joyful … even when they suffer adversity. (Remember Paul is in prison as
he writes this.) That’s when fellowship is even sweeter.

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These dear Christians were not only on Paul’s mind and their names on
his lips in prayer, but they were in his heart. This kind of faithful fellowship
sustains us in good times and trials. Does anyone in your life come to mind?
We can follow Paul’s example and pray for each other to move toward a
deeper understanding of the Lord and a wider experience of His love. We can
pray for each other to aim towards and experience a life of excellence and
sincerity. We can encourage each other to be the genuine item. No pretense.
No putting on spiritual airs that a watching world sees right through.

Certainly, the Christian life and the preaching of the Word of God will
offend someone, but loving and serving God with sincerity will give us our
ultimate spiritual prize: “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which
are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (1:11). The fruits of
righteousness is proof the Holy Spirit is growing you up to be like Jesus. The
Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life of the believer, that is love, joy, peace,
long-suffering—all the things we’ve talked about so far in this rich little letter.
Bearing this fruit is the goal of the Christian life.

Someday, Jesus Christ will return for His children. On that day, we will offer
Him the “fruits of righteousness” that brings glory and praise to God alone.
Together in the joy of fellowship with other believers, including these choice
Christians in Philippi, our lives will be brought to fullness as we share not only
the sufferings of Christ but also the joy of sharing the Good News together.

If you remember from the book of Acts, when Paul got saved the Lord Jesus
said he was going to appear before kings and authorities. Up until now,
Paul had given the gospel to the ordinary citizens in the Roman Empire. But
now he is in a Roman prison, be sure on many occasions a Roman soldier
would say to the man who relieved him, “Boy, am I glad to see you. This
man is about to make me a Christian.” In fact, many of the Roman guard did
become Christians.

Even in prison, Paul is accomplishing the exact thing Jesus said he would. He
has members of the royal guard chained to him. What an opportunity! Can
you imagine having your unsaved coworkers chained to you? What would
they learn about Jesus? You can further the good news of the gospel—even
in hardship. Keep pointing them to Jesus.

NEXT: Learn of Paul’s unswerving commitment to

preach the gospel despite his difficult ordeal.

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FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
1. How does an apostle, writing while chained to prison guards, write a
letter about joy?

2. If you believe in Jesus, you are a saint. How does this reality change how
you see yourself?

3. Why do you think we must experience grace before we can

experience peace?

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4. Who in your life do you need to thank God for whenever you think of
them, as Paul models in this epistle?

5. Fellowship with other believers is an absolutely necessary part of the

Christian life, but it takes effort. What other work can do you do in this
area with fellow believers?

6. Righteousness produces fruit in our lives. What fruits of the Holy Spirit’s
work can you see in your own life?

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7. If you could go back in time and ask Paul, “What is the secret to having
joy in suffering?”, what do you think his answer would be?

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NO CHAINS FOR
GOD’S GO SPEL

Begin with prayer

Read Philippians 1:14—2:6

Listen at TTB.org/Philippians to Philippians 1:14-30 and Philippians 2:1-6

It’s all turning out for good …. Even when Paul sits in prison, he tells the
Philippians that a lot of good was coming from his struggle. The gospel is
spreading—perhaps even farther—even when he is in chains.

Paul explained the gospel had been shared with the whole palace guard
and many others understood he was in prison because of his confidence
in Jesus Christ. The palace was actually Caesar's court. While a prisoner,
Paul had access to Caesar’s family and employees of his house—a direct
fulfillment of what Jesus said Paul, the once Christian-killing zealot, would
do one day: Stand in His name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of
Israel. (See Acts 9:15.)

Paul’s imprisonment invited him into Caesar's household with the gospel,
and it also modeled to the other Christians what confidence in the Lord
looked like and how to speak God’s Word boldly and without fear.

While Paul suffered in prison, a whole new wave of bold preachers took
center stage in their own fearless sharing of the Good News. Likely many
people in the new church there wanted to share their faith in Jesus Christ,
but they couldn’t compare to the apostle Paul. “Paul is going up and down

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Roman roads preaching the gospel, and he does it so much more effectively
than I can do it. So I won’t be going out.” They probably felt like a lot of
people do today. I’m not worthy. I’m not competent. I’m not trained.

But now word got out that Paul is in prison. He can’t go out as a witness
for Jesus Christ. So now hundreds, maybe thousands, hit the Roman road.
They really moved out and even went from door to door and began to tell
people about Jesus Christ. They said, “Paul can’t go, so I will.” Paul is being
multiplied. He says, “What has happened to me happened to further the
gospel” (1:12-14).

Paul’s prison letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon)

were also a huge benefit of his prison years. We would be hard pressed to
imagine our Christian life without the grace and truth that flow from these
important and favorite New Testament letters.

Still, a tragic reality remained: People also got jealous of Paul’s effectiveness
and started preaching the gospel with spite. Even Christian ministry is
vulnerable to envy’s subtle attacks. We compare ourselves to others and
come up short. An answer to envy within the body of Christ is to remember
the Holy Spirit has given each of us a gift to be used to build up the body in
love. Every gift is to be exercised in love. If it is, you won’t envy somebody
else. You’ll recognize your gift is from God. “What do you have that you did
not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Everything you’ve got to serve the Lord
today, God gave it to you.

Some had forgotten that in Philippi. Paul mentions “strife” and “envy”
several times in this letter—perhaps because it was a real issue in Philippi.

“Strife” means “to stir up.” Often it refers to unseen, demonic forces set
on stirring trouble among God’s people. When you think of opposition to
gospel preaching, usually you think of that trouble coming from outside the
walls of the church, but too often it comes from within the church.

In Philippi, some people motivated by envy and strife preached the gospel,
but not sincerely. They seemed determined to add insult to Paul’s injury of
imprisonment. Still, Paul found God’s silver lining in all of it. He was grateful
that whatever people’s motivation for preaching about Jesus Christ, God
would honor His Word, not the person or ministry sending it out. He was
glad for however it went out—that people would hear about Jesus Christ.
God’s Spirit, the only One who can bless, would bless His Word.

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Paul counted on that truth for his own release from prison. He had such
confidence in the power of the Spirit that was unleashed when God’s people
prayed that he wrote with an exuberant abandon. He wasn’t afraid of
anything. He wasn’t ashamed of anything. He could be bold in his preaching
because he wanted nothing more than to show others how great it was to
trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. He hoped it led to his release, but even
if it meant his death, he didn’t want to be ashamed of his witness while he
suffered in front of them nor when he stood in front of the Lord Jesus Christ!

IN LIF E O R IN DEATH
This season of suffering compelled Paul to write one of the most confident
statements about God’s purpose for his life. Paul said as long as he lived
there would be good work for him to do. If he lives, he will share God’s
message with the world. But if he dies, he gains heaven—and life everlasting.
On some days he can’t decide which he wants more.

Paul’s transparency in letting them know about his internal battle about
whether to die and be with Christ or live and serve His gospel, only makes
his friends at Philippi love Paul more. And he loves them back and wants to
help them grow in this life of trusting God. But he also loves Jesus and longs
to be with Him.

It is God’s choice in the end, after all. Paul remains practical in his struggle—
he still has work to do. The Philippians need his ministry. He wants to get
out of prison and go be with them again, but if he doesn’t, he wants them to
stay unshakable in their faith.

Stand fast, he tells them. Live worthy of Jesus Christ. Let your reputation be
honorable. Let your faith stand the test of time and any adversity that comes
your way. Be true to your calling and be united in spirit as you work together
to get out the gospel of Jesus Christ (see 1:27).

Finally, because he knows the Philippians will face all kinds of danger
because of their faith, Paul encourages them like a good shepherd to stay
strong and to see their own suffering as a badge of honor in reward for their
faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

It’s a privilege not only to believe in Jesus Christ, but also to suffer for His
name’s sake. And Paul knows exactly what it means to suffer for Jesus. His
life and attitude toward his trial models courage and a buoyant faith to his
friends at Philippi. Such courage and faithful endurance encourage us, too.

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Do you face what seem to be impossible odds today? Be courageous like

our brother, Paul. God has not turned His face away. In fact, this suffering is
evidence of God’s blessing.

Jesus is at the very center of Paul's life. His summary of what it means to
live the Christian life? “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). In
the original language there’s no “is”—“For me, to live … Christ. And to die …
gain.” What gain? Paul thinks of them—If I stick around, it’ll be for your gain.
I’ll get to share more of Christ with you. But if I die, well, I’m going to go be
with Him. You can’t hurt a man like that.

The most important thing in our lives as Christians is to have the reality of
Jesus Christ in our day-to-day reality—to live in fellowship with Him. Then
your joy will be full and you will know His power. Then you will witness for
Him. The source of those actions is your love and fellowship with the Lord
Jesus Christ. You do it because you love Him and want to please Him.

THIN K IN G LIK E J ESUS

What does that look like in a Christian’s life? Philippians 2 shows us the
pattern for godly living—it’s thinking like Jesus. So how can we do that?

Jesus—the one God lifted high in glory through suffering and resurrection—
was also Jesus, the one who humbled Himself, took on flesh, and became a
servant to the needs and brokenness of a sinful world. Even though we can’t
begin to understand all that it took for God to become a man, we can look
at Jesus’ very practical and personal model. Jesus made Himself nothing so
that He could meet the needs of others.

“Others” is the key. It is the Christian faith which first made that word
important. Why did Christ come from glory to this earth? It was for others.
Why should we carry the gospel and endure the suffering that may bring?
For others. To think of others above ourselves is to think like Jesus Christ.

As Paul sits in prison, he is glad in the Lord—why? Because he remembers

how Jesus loved and how His example is the perfect call to unity. Is the
gospel working in your life? You’ll know if you’re living like Jesus if you’re
thinking of others.

Paul never stops thinking about other’s spiritual welfare. He wants the
Philippians to see what Jesus Christ did when He came to earth was an
example of what they can accomplish in living a similar life of sacrifice and
service to others.

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With the same passion he holds for the gospel, Paul urges his friends at
Philippi to stay strong in the face of persecution and to live humbly. Not
thinking of their own ambitious plans but to think of others’ needs first.

Remember Paul had just called out those who stirred up trouble out of envy.
So, in contrast, he calls the Philippians (and us) to adopt a selfless attitude
toward meeting the needs of others.

Above all things, he wants every believer to embrace the mind of Jesus
Christ and to think like He thinks—not just about your own interests, but
about the interests of others.

Others! Such an important word in the body of Christ.

NEXT: Learn the power of genuine humility

as it’s formed in us by Christ.

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 LESSON 2
FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
1. How would you describe Paul’s mentality about his imprisonment?
Are there places in your life where you need to follow his example?

2. Does it surprise you that envy was a problem in the early church?
How does remembering each person’s gifting by the Holy Spirit help
with envy?

3. What does it tell us about God that He honors the preaching of His Word,
not the messenger doing the preaching?
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4. What can you learn from Paul’s freedom and boldness in spite of
his circumstances?

5. Why is it so important for believers to prioritize the needs of others?

6. How can we follow Jesus’ example of humility in our own lives?

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7. Imagine you were a companion of Paul’s. What from his example could
you have learned about being selfless?

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HUM ILIT Y
PE RS ONIFIED

Begin with prayer

Read Philippians 2:5-11

Listen at TTB.org/Philippians to Philippians 2:5-8 and Philippians 2:8-11

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (2:5). What kind
of mind did Jesus have? In a word: humble. Jesus thinks of Himself with
humility. He is God, yet He left heaven’s glory where He is worshipped to
come to a world that dismissed Him, locked Him out. It’s beyond human
comprehension to understand what our Lord did for us. And He did it with
delight, no reluctance. He held nothing back but willingly sacrificed for us.

And we can follow His example. In another letter, we are encouraged to

walk “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one
another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). To embrace genuine humility is to focus
on meeting others’ needs—with delight, even when it requires personal
sacrifice. That’s what Jesus Christ Himself did.

On our own we can try, but never live with such humility. Left to ourselves,
we demand our rights, we insist on our needs being met, and we easily
overlook those around us who need God’s grace. We need the Holy Spirit to
form humility in us. Jesus showed us what it looks like to empty our lives of
all self-serving bents and habits in order to serve other people.

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First, Jesus left His Father to come to earth. Having existed throughout
eternity past, He willingly came down to where we are without even a
thought of what it would mean to leave the wonder and splendor of heaven.
He willingly left His Father’s presence and though He remained fully God, He
became human so He could be with us and live as we live.

The second step down was when Jesus willingly surrendered His reputation.
He didn’t give it a second thought to becoming a lowly servant, not
demanding people’s respect and worship, but joyfully coming to serve. He
became a human servant.

Jesus surrendered not His deity, but all the rights and prerogatives He
deserved as God. He was 100 percent God when He was a baby sleeping
helplessly in His mother’s arms. At that moment He could have spoken
this universe out of existence. Why? Because He’s God. There was never a
moment when He wasn’t God. (Read John 1:1-3, 14.)

At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus got His disciples together on His
final night on earth and prayed an awesome prayer: “And now, O Father,
glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before
the world was” (John 17:5). He wasn’t asking to be restored as God, but
instead He asked His Father for His glory to be restored. Jesus gave up His
glory to serve us as a human, and now He wanted it back.

In His coming, Jesus didn’t cling to His rights and privileges. Not like us—we
are always pushing for promotion, recognition, and applause. Pause for a
moment and praise God for such a wonderful example Jesus is to us—He
surrendered heaven so you could know His Father in heaven. He gave up all
these rights so you could have a relationship with Him.

Next, the apostle Paul described how Jesus took this humble position to its
absolute end in order to fulfill God’s purposes. He willingly offered His own
life as a sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. He chose to come, to be
a simple servant, to make Himself a substitute for us. Even in disgrace. Even
in all the weak limitations and constraints of the human body. Even with all
the frailties of our human emotions. Even willingly as a bondservant, a slave,
the lowest of human statuses.

Why? So He could take our place on a cruel cross and pay the penalty of our
sin. Someone had to pay—either Him or us. Jesus died in our place.

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Death is the most humiliating of all human experiences. Death is not natural.
God didn't create humans to die. Death entered the human experience
because of sin (read Romans 5:12-21). Death came because one man sinned;
because of Adam, death passed down to all humans. Only one man, who
had never sinned, could pay sin’s price. Only Jesus could die for us.

Yet, when Christ came to this earth, He came so different from the rest of
us. We long to live, but Jesus came to die. Why? In order that He might save
you when you trust Him with your life. (See John 10:15, 17-18.)

Finally, Jesus stepped down from heaven into the most humiliating forms
of death—death by crucifixion. Not only did He obey His Father’s directive
to die, but He died on the cross. This kind of death was an execution—like
death through lethal injection, in the electric chair, or at the cruel aim of a
firing squad. It was that kind of disgraceful death. He came from the highest
glory to the lowest place of humiliation.

Why did He do it? He did it for us. He went to a selfless extreme to secure
our spiritual destiny. He was the perfect example of being “others-oriented.”

Let Jesus Christ Himself be your example as to what your attitude should be.
Do you share His willingness to give up your rights in order to serve others?
This is what Jesus was thinking when He came and died for us.

THE E XA LTE D C H RI ST
But someday, God the Father will turn it all around. More than anything, His
great desire is to put His Son, Jesus Christ, in His proper place. Because of
Jesus’ obedience to Him, God will make sure every creature in heaven and
on earth will bow in worship before Jesus Christ. On that day, we will join
with everything that has breath in calling out praise that Jesus—who once
was a bondservant—now is Lord and master of all.

God the Father will make sure Jesus Christ will be glorified in the universe
He created and be glorified on the earth where all His creation lives and,
ironically, on the planet where mankind rebelled against Him.

God gave Him the highest exalted name, the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
His name will be reverenced in praise and in worship. This is the name in
which we pray, the name that satisfies our deepest longings in prayer.

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When Jesus’ name is mentioned in glory, every person on earth—from every

nation, every tribe, everyone from every language—will bow and praise
Jesus Christ. We will worship and adore Him. And even those who will not
worship Him, will bow in full surrender and submission to His name.

The name Jesus means “Savior” or “Deliverer.” Before His birth in Bethlehem,
the angel visited Joseph in a dream and told him to call the baby, “Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins.” This also fulfilled prophecy that
a virgin will give birth to a son, and they should call Him, Immanuel, which
means “God with us” (see Matthew 1:21-23). Before His Father could exalt
Him, Jesus came to be with us, one of us.

Now God says Jesus’ name would be put in its proper place—above everything
else. His lifting up of Jesus would happen in heaven and on earth. Jesus will be
Lord of both. At His name, every knee must bow, no matter where you live in
the universe—in heaven, on earth, and everywhere in between.

In another of Paul’s letters, we learn that in Jesus’ victory on the cross, God
puts everything in heaven and earth in its proper place—fitting together
perfectly, working as it should (Colossians 1:20-21). Jesus’ death redeems
everything to how it should be. But why isn’t hell mentioned as part of
Christ’s redeeming work?

Jesus brings redemption to heaven and earth—but there is no redemption

in hell. Interestingly, even those chained in hell’s darkness for eternity will
admit that Jesus Christ is Lord—but not their Savior.

This scene prompts each of us to make certain Jesus Christ is Lord of our
whole lives. It’s easy to call Him “Lord,” but it takes a deep commitment
to surrender every area of our lives to make Him Lord. In the end, it’s not
enough to say we follow Jesus, but we make Him Lord when we surrender
control to Him and allow Him to lead (Matthew 7:21-23).

Talk with Jesus about this new picture of His proper place. Ask Him to show
you any areas of your life that still need His rule and lead—those places
you’ve insisted on clinging to and try to control. Let Him have all of you;
surrender to Him your will and life. He is your exalted Savior. It’s time to
make Him your exalted Lord.

NEXT: Learn the practical ways you can show the

mind of Christ in your relationships.

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FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
1. The world around us may not value humility. Do you find it difficult to
practice humility when it is so neglected by others?

2. Much of following Jesus’ example is allowing the Holy Spirit to train

our minds to think like Christ. What challenges you about changing
your thoughts?

3. What would be necessary for us to follow Christ in surrendering

our reputations?

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4. What does it tell us about Jesus that He surrendered His life willingly for
our sins?

5. Compare your attitude about other people to the way in which Jesus
viewed others. Where does your attitude fall short, and what needs to
happen for yours to become more like His?

6. We don’t have to wait until the day that every person on earth will
praise Jesus, we can do it now. What do you personally have to praise
Jesus for?

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7. Think about that day in the future when all of heaven and earth will
worship Jesus. What do you think it will be like when believers from east,
west, past, present, and future come together to worship their Savior?

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FAIT H’S
WOR K O UT

Begin with prayer

Read Philippians 2:12—3:9

Listen at TTB.org/Philippians to Philippians 2:12-26, Philippians 2:25—3:1,

Philippians 3:2-6, and Philippians 3:7-14

Attitude is everything—that’s what we learn from Jesus’ example. And it

should be for us, too. When Paul wrote, Think like Jesus thinks, he pointed us
to Jesus’ humble attitude.

But then we get this curious instruction—we are to “work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12). What does that mean? What does
that look like?

Don’t be selfish, Paul said. Don’t allow constant complaining, grumbling

toward each other, and petty arguments be part of your lives. Instead, let
those negative attitudes (and many others) give way to a humility like Jesus
showed us. Be like a light in a dark world. You’ve got the word of life—so live
like it! (See 2:12-16.)

With attitudes like that on display in the lives of his friends at Philippi, Paul
smiled. His ministry among them had been time well spent. The best kind
of life, we learn, is lived in sacrifice and service as Christians joyfully work
together for the gospel (2:16-18).

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M O D E L S O F HUMI LI TY
Though Paul sits confined to a prison cell as he writes this letter, his love for
those Philippian believers only deepens. He wants to see them and serve
them as he had done in the past. He also wants them to have an accurate
report of his situation. So, instead of him visiting them himself, he sends
Timothy—the young man in whom he has invested so much of his ministry.
Paul trusts Timothy because he is a man of solid character, who shares Paul’s
selfless desire to make much of Jesus Christ. Like Paul, Timothy genuinely
cares for the spiritual well-being of God’s people.

Timothy lives like Jesus in His grace and humility. He shares Paul’s passion
for the gospel, and—in Paul’s mind—has become a worthy partner in
ministering to the Philippian church.

Paul’s high marks for Timothy remind all of us who follow Christ how to
respect and respond to people who serve God with humility and at great
personal sacrifice. You’ve known people who have modeled that for you,
right? Take a moment right now and thank the Lord for those among you
who serve like Jesus with humility and integrity. Ask the Lord to bless their
lives and ministries and to provide for their needs.

Epaphroditus is another Christian, the pastor of the church in Philippi,

who follows Jesus’ humble example. He and Paul and Timothy are spiritual
“brothers,” serving the Lord together.

Though Paul founded the church at Philippi, Epaphroditus never showed

jealousy or envy of Paul’s ministry. Like Timothy, Epaphroditus demonstrates
sincere humility and serves the Philippian church at great personal risk to his
own health. In fact, Epaphroditus nearly died serving Christ on their behalf,
yet God preserved His life.

When Epaphroditus got deathly ill, word reached the Philippian church. That
news grieved them. Yet, when he received word back that the church was
mourning for him because of his illness, he nearly had a fatal relapse. God
mercifully healed him, which was a huge relief not only to Paul personally
but also to the Philippian believers.

Paul loves and respects this pastor from Philippi. We should all respect the
one who teaches God’s Word to us. If he or she has a gift of teaching which
God uses in your life, both the gift and the teacher should be respected.

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That said, we should focus our primary attention on God’s Word and not the
person. Epaphroditus models the mind of Christ as one who would pay any
price—even death—to teach others this message of grace.

When we yield to God’s Spirit at work in our lives, He produces the kind
of humility that serves others and helps us think like Jesus. Oh, how
desperately we need to yield humbly to God’s Spirit at work in us today.

E N E M IE S O F TRUTH
In sharp contrast to Timothy and Epaphroditus, who lived like Jesus and
served others like Jesus did, Paul calls out another group of people who
threaten the body of Christ with more self-serving and insidious ways. As a
shepherd, Paul not only loves the Philippians, he watches out for their souls.

Though Paul writes this letter to urge the Philippians to rejoice in all they’d
come to experience from their relationship with Christ, he also warns them
of a serious threat from people he calls “dogs” and “evil workers” (3:2).
These were the false Judaizers trying to lure the Philippians back to an old
system of following Old Testament Law by insisting they be circumcised.

Paul passionately defends against that sort of false, misguided focus on

keeping religious rules. In his past, Paul had taken first place in religious
zeal. And he isn’t shy in repeating all his “religious qualifications.” No one
had earned more merit badges than Paul. He was the Hebrew of Hebrews, a
zealous Pharisee. He had defended the Law to the point of death.

Now, Paul refuses to boast about anything other than His relationship with
Jesus Christ, which he had received, not by worth of his own, but as a free
gift of grace from the Lord. Remember? That’s the mind of Christ!

Instead, the wise pastor warns the Philippians about the dangers posed
by people who constantly comfort them but don’t give them the Word of
God. Christians in our day must also guard against such shallow preaching
and teaching. Every culture wants to be trendy and fashionable rather than
present only what God’s Word says is truth. We’re tempted to water down
the truth and deliver a safe message that makes people simply feel better
about themselves.

If you’re a child of God, a follower of Jesus Christ, don’t put any confidence
in the way you lived before you came to Jesus Christ. Trust His work alone
to save you and keep you. Don’t look to yourself to accomplish anything
that would qualify you spiritually or religiously for salvation. You can’t live

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the Christian life by relying on your own wisdom or smarts. None of those
things amount to any spiritual value when it comes to pleasing God. It must
be Christ in us.

These legalizers follow Paul throughout his missionary journeys and hassle
new believers about the importance of keeping all the requirements of the
Old Testament. They even remain among the new Christians long after Paul
leaves in order to gain a foothold in their gatherings and try to lead them
away from the truth. But Paul passionately defends the gospel and warns
them—and us—against trusting anything other than Jesus Christ alone and
His work on our behalf to secure our life in God.

Paul's conversion to Christianity was not just an experience of a moment.

He has been completely changed from being a religious fanatic, bent on
doing the will of God, to becoming perhaps the most humble, effective
spokesperson for Christ the world has ever known.

Many people think you can go to some altar and have an experience, see a
vision, and be carried to the heights of religious ecstasy. But that’s not true.
When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, that experience and all it includes
remains with you and takes deep root in your mind and your soul. It’s not
all emotion. Although it happens in a moment of time, that new relationship
continues for a lifetime. The process of growing deeper in your love for Jesus
and becoming more like Him may include an emotional experience, but—
more importantly—it’s a daily walk in dependence on Him and His Spirit.

Do you know God that way? Have you turned away from trusting in your
own ability or a personal understanding of what it means to live a good life?
Have you fully put your faith in what Jesus Christ did for you? That’s when
you will be truly saved.

Paul feels so strongly about the importance of that truth he sums up his
own personal experience of what it means to be saved. He said nothing
could compare to what it’s like to know Jesus Christ as Lord. Nothing is
worth as much, nothing he could bring to the relationship could ever be
enough, no amount of religious practices could measure up to what Jesus’
righteousness gives him before God.

Paul has long given up on trying to make himself right with God. He instead
has learned to throw himself completely on Jesus’ mercy and to receive the
true righteousness only Jesus could offer—a righteousness we can receive by
faith, not in ourselves, but because of our relationship with Jesus Christ alone.

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God’s Word asks of you: In what or in whom are you trusting for your
salvation? If you are trusting in yourself or in your own brand of religion,
or if you are trying to please God by living a good life or keeping a set of
religious rules, you won’t measure up to God’s standard. No one can. That’s
why you need Jesus.

We can trust fully in Christ alone for not only our salvation, but for the daily
motivation and ability to “work out” our salvation in humble obedience to
God’s Word. Salvation remains God’s gift of grace to anyone who recognizes
their need for a Savior and who calls on God in faith. Have you done that?
Will you? He will be faithful not only to begin “a good work in you” but also
to “complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6).

NEXT: Discover how the real goal in life is to know

Jesus intimately and experience His power.

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FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
1. The presence of Timothy reminds us that even someone like the Apostle
Paul needed other believers. How can you develop relationships like the
one shared by those two men?

2. If people looked to you as a model of service, would you be a good

example? What is necessary for you to serve better?

3. Why do you think Christians struggle so much at times with focusing on

the teacher instead of the teaching?

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4. How can you focus on serving God well without turning good things into
religious rules?

5. What are some ways, even as a believer, you might be tempted to trust in
yourself and your own wisdom rather than the working of Christ in us?

6. What positive role can emotions play in the Christian life? What negative
role can they play?

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7. Imagine you were a companion of Paul and Timothy. How do you think
you would describe their relationship?

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HE LP FOR
WOR R IE RS

Begin with prayer

Read Philippians 3:10—4:3

Listen at TTB.org/Philippians to Philippians 3:7-14, Philippians 3:15-20,

and Philippians 3:20—4:3

Paul’s personal encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus

brought him to his knees, literally, and in his heart (see Acts 9:1-6). Under the
Law, the once Jewish fanatic was willing to go to Damascus to stamp out
the followers of Christ and try singlehandedly to squash Christianity’s rapid
growth across the known world.

But everything changed for Paul after Jesus laid him out. Paul surrendered
his life to boldly proclaim salvation through grace and by faith alone in Jesus.
His life was transformed. Grace changed everything. Once he tasted the
freedom of grace’s refreshing stream, he wanted more power and a deeper
intimacy with the risen Jesus. He didn’t just want to meet Jesus, he wanted
to know Him—even if that meant suffering just as Christ had suffered for him.

That passion for intimacy with Jesus fueled his message to the Philippians
and to us today to also experience the power of the Holy Spirit, a far greater
source of strength than any human effort. Salvation isn’t just an experience
of a moment. Nor is it about that mountaintop experience where you’re up
in the clouds. Conversion is something that stays with you. It may happen in
a moment, but it continues on. Sanctification is a walk right down here, day
by day and moment by moment.

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Paul said that when he came to Jesus Christ, he wanted more and more of
Him. Jesus became first in his thinking. Paul said in effect, All the things I
counted on to make me a religious man, I no longer count on them. What
I thought before was a prized possession, I now think is dung. When I was
converted, I lost my religion and found Jesus Christ. A revolution has taken
place in my soul (3:7-9).

TA K IN G A IM AT HEAVEN
We can know Jesus more and more and reach a level of spiritual maturity
he called “perfection.” He didn’t mean perfection as we would understand it
today—but rather it means a completely, distraction-free nearness to Jesus
that lasts all the way to heaven. We can really know Jesus in the fullest
possible way, but that level of spiritual experience means leaving everything
from our past behind us—worth it all, if that means we can know Jesus more!
Is that your aim, too? Not only to believe in Jesus but to pursue Him with
everything in you—like an Olympic athlete going for the gold?

This aim to know Jesus deeply, to running a race where we can win the
ultimate prize—intimacy with Jesus and an eternity with Him—is the “upward
call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14). What could be a higher calling in our lives
than to know Jesus like that?

P UR SUE JE SUS
Paul holds himself up, humbly, as an example for us to follow. He wants us to
pursue Jesus like he did—with a longing to go deep in our awareness of Him,
desire for an experience of His power that helps us to live, and a commitment
to suffer for His name. The promise of eternal life, a wonderful eternal
intimacy with Jesus in heaven, is the goal for all who follow Him to the end.

Some people, then and now, really hate the gospel and go to great lengths
to stop the spread of Christianity. Paul calls them “enemies of the cross of
Christ” (3:18) because of their heartless intimidation of his friends. These
enemies make us weep, as you think about the damage their evil causes.

These enemies of the cross have no appetite for grace—they only gorge
themselves on the foolish indulgence of sinful and evil ends. Grace always
has enemies. You may have people like that in your life. Jesus calls you to
resist them in His name and continue to run the race with the assurance of

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the prize of eternal life waiting for anyone who keeps their focus on Him.
Someday, you will not only be with Him, you will be like Him! That’s the prize
for running the race of faith.

SO M E DAY—A N E W BODY
As we battle on in the Christian life, we feel the pain of our own daily
struggles against sinful attitudes, thoughts, and actions. Someday, when we
see Jesus face to face, He will transform our earthly bodies into glorious,
redeemed, heavenly bodies. No more pain, no more aches and strains, no
more temptations to sin physically with our bodies. Our hope is set squarely
on Jesus and a future day when God transforms us to be like Him. There’s
far more to life for us ahead. Paul fixes his hope on heaven as he endures the
stormy times here—especially true as he writes this letter from prison.

What is your heart set on for the future? Are you looking to Jesus and the
promise of spending an eternity with Him? We have so much more to look
forward to than anything we experience on earth. In fact, Paul struggles to
keep his feet planted on earth while his heart soars toward heavenly things.
Do you see your earthly life through the lens of heaven? You can have that
mindset even as we live temporarily in this world.

How can we deal with daily worries and anxious thoughts? Prayer.

Thankfully, these heavenly lessons come with practical help in coping with
life’s natural anxieties. For the Philippians, this urge to pray came at a time
of increasing persecution. No doubt they felt a heightened anxiety about
living for Jesus in desperate times. So, Paul urges them to pray.

Stand firm in the Lord. Don’t lose heart in the face of circumstances. When
you face difficult times, be encouraged in your faith. Do all you can to reach
unity in Jesus among you. Get along with each other. Resolve whatever
differences between you so you can experience God’s grace offered to
you in Jesus Christ. In all of it, as a congregation and individually in your
relationships with one another, live in harmony based on your common faith
in Jesus Christ (see 4:1-7).

If we do this, we will know pure joy. Joy is the goal, not gloom and despair
the way many experience church life. The goal is to know the pure joy of
a deep relationship with Jesus so we don’t give in to the temptation to
despair. In fact, God commands us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4).
Over and over, joy should prevail no matter the circumstances. Whether it’s

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dark or bright, difficult or sublime, chock full of trouble or lined with blues
skies and smooth sailing, the believer’s heart can rejoice. What a vision for
our lives.

Do you follow your negative emotions or painful thoughts when life crowds
in, or do you determine to find your joy in Jesus? That’s an important
question for anyone who trusts God. We have a unique opportunity—instead
of slipping into depression and despair—to show the world Jesus’ gentleness
(4:5). In other words, our joyful, Spirit-filled response to trouble can shine
the light of Jesus to unbelievers around us. That’s why our response as
followers of Jesus to our own predicaments can carry such enormous
impact—especially when people see the joy of the Lord in us.

The Christian life is powerless without joy. One who does not experience the
joy of the Lord has no power at all. This joy only comes from our walk with
Jesus and from the love we share with each other (4:1-4).

We can also trade our anxieties for the peace that comes from knowing Jesus.

The key to turning anxiety into peace is prayer. Tell the Lord about
everything, instead of endlessly worrying over things you can’t control or
change. For all followers of Jesus, resisting anxious thoughts is not an option;
it’s a command. The Lord not only commands His children to rejoice in our
circumstances, He also commands us to resist the natural tendency to fret
and worry about them and instead let thanksgiving come out of our mouths.

Is that your experience? Is that how you respond to trouble in your life or
to those situations that fall well beyond your control? So many hours and
valuable energy are wasted every day by Christians who, for whatever
reason, fail to see this connection between prayer and worry. Instead of
worrying about everything (and who doesn’t do that from time to time?),
pray about everything. That’s where the peace comes from.

This powerful peace not only guards your emotions (your heart) but also
places a protective shield around your thoughts. Wouldn’t you rather think
peaceful thoughts instead of anxious ones? Prayer is the answer—and the
joy of the Lord won’t follow far behind the prayers.

NEXT: One more challenge for the people God loves.

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FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
1. It may not be as dramatic as what happened to Paul, but how has grace
transformed your life?

2. Why do you think it is so much easier to focus on spiritual experiences

than maturity?

3. God doesn’t just want to know us; He wants us to strive to know Him
intimately. How can this idea change our thoughts and actions?

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4. The battle against sin can be exhausting. How can the realization of a
future heavenly body bring us hope today?

5. What difference could it make in your attitude if you saw your earthly life
more through the lens of heaven?

6. How is standing firm related to experiencing joy in the Christian life?

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7. Imagine you could hear God verbally responding to your prayers. What
do you think He would say? And how would that change your prayer life?

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A GR ACE FUL
DISM O U NT

Begin with prayer

Read Philippians 4:4-23

Listen at TTB.org/Philippians to Philippians 4:4-6, Philippians 4:6-7,

Philippians 4:8-13, and Philippians 4:13-23

The Lord Jesus could come back at any moment. Every day could be the
day of His return. Isn’t that a great reminder to start every morning?

This letter to the Philippians urges us to live with that expectation. If we

think Jesus could return at any moment, it would sharpen our focus, realign
our priorities, and purify our thoughts and actions.

And worry? It would be a thing of the past. Since the battle against worry is
primarily a mental battle, so much is won or lost in the mind. We can control
what we think about and then what emotions follow by bringing everything
to Jesus in prayer. Prayer is the secret of power.

We can bring everything in our lives to the Lord in prayer. He wants us to

trust Him so that we worry about nothing and pray about everything. And
when we pray, we should do so with an attitude of “thankfulness,” which
will in turn usher in a replacement for worry—the overwhelming peace of
God (4:6-7).

Thankfulness is not a result of our prayers being answered, but thankfulness

is what guides us to prayer in the first place. As a result, the peace of God
flows into our anxious minds and brings relief and calm.

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The Bible describes other kinds of peace, too. When Jesus returns, a peace
will blanket the world. God assures us in His Word that someday peace will
cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. It will come through the person
of Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Bible also describes a spiritual
peace, when the human heart is reconciled to God through faith in Jesus
Christ (Romans 5:1). Then there is the peace of tranquility—like the calm that
covers a lake following a storm. Jesus promised His disciples His peace that
would come over their hearts as they trusted Him (John 14:27). The peace
of Jesus overcomes anxious thoughts and fear and comes when we turn to
Him in prayer.

If joy is the source of power, prayer is the secret of peace.

This battle for peace is fought in the mind. Focus your thoughts on things
honoring to Jesus. Meditate on things true, moral, reputable, authentic,
compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly;
things to praise, not things to malign. How easily we can pollute our thoughts
with things that bring us down, lead us away from purity and truth, and
cause more and more anxiety. A constant stream of cultural input, though
at times appealing, only further draws our attention away from those things
God has given to us to raise our thoughts to Him and to His Son, Jesus. In
Jesus, everything worthy and pure, wholesome and praiseworthy, honorable
and true, resides. So why not think about Jesus and those things that He
teaches us to admire and consume? And just like prayer brings a peace
over our worry-ridden lives, so does focusing on things that are worthy of
Jesus. Anxiety comes when we focus on the unwholesome things around
us, filling our minds with sinful images, unholy lyrics, or soiled messaging
from a society that despises anything related to Jesus. How much better to
experience the peace of Christ when we fix our minds on and meditate on
His words, His truth, and His holiness and majesty (Isaiah 6:1-3).

We need a place to go mentally when our worries threaten our confidence

in the Lord. Simply put, we need a safe, peaceful sanctuary for our minds.
Doesn’t that sound like a good place to be? That sanctuary is Jesus. We
need something to think about that will clean up our minds. That place
where we can meditate on Jesus is the Word. The Word is like a mirror
shining back to us the person and glory of Jesus—and as we meditate
on Him, we are changed, our thoughts purified, and our minds renewed
(2 Corinthians 3:18). The only way you can see the living Christ is in the
Word of God. As you look at Him there, He provides a freedom and a growth
you can’t come by any other way.

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When Paul was writing this, he reminded the Philippians they could follow
his example in their quest to focus on things honorable to the Lord. At
first glance, it sounds like Paul was full of himself. Instead, though, he
humbly suggests that the things he is teaching and preaching are a reliable
foundation on which to build their own lives. Together they can bring praise
and glory to Jesus. Do you have someone the Lord has placed in your life
that consistently lives a life worth following? No doubt you have several and
they, too—like the Word—are gifts from the Lord to you just as Paul was to
the Philippian believers. When your relationship honors Jesus, it’s a special
one to be sure.

When the Philippians heard about Paul’s imprisonment, they sent him a
generous gift, grateful for the opportunity to show him how much they
loved him. Paul was so encouraged and grateful that he wrote them this
loving thank you note.

For two years the church in Philippi had lost touch with Paul. They didn’t
know where he was after he had been arrested in Jerusalem and then put
in prison. The next time they heard about him, he had been transferred to
a prison in Rome. Through Epaphroditus, they had apologized to Paul for
losing touch and not providing him financial support. Paul never doubted
their faithfulness to the work or to him personally.

Even this thought became a teaching moment for this gracious, seasoned
pastor. He explained to the Philippians how he has learned—through
both times of financial need and in those times when he had plenty—to
be content in knowing Jesus. Jesus was enough for Paul, regardless of
his financial situation. How encouraging is that! Do you have that same
attitude toward your situation? Whether you’re in a pinch or living well, your
happiness comes from knowing Jesus intimately. That’s what Paul meant by
being content.

Paul had not asked his friends for financial help nor sent any request for
support. He only trusted the Lord, all the while knowing Jesus would sustain
in good times or in times of financial hardship. Paul had gone through
everything in his ministry. He had gone hungry, he had been left for dead,
he had even spent a few days in the ocean after his ship ran aground. That’s
why Paul’s encouragement carried weight with his friends. They knew he
had learned how to be full and how to be hungry, both to be flush as well as
to suffer need (4:12). And it was no secret how he did it. Remember: It was
never about Paul, and it was always about Jesus. He told the Philippians he

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could endure any situation because of the strength he possessed from Jesus
(4:13). That kind of Jesus-centered thinking is really freeing, isn’t it? You
don’t have to let your circumstances or your needs—good or bad—dictate
your thoughts and emotions. Over and over, Jesus proves He’s enough!
That’s the message of Philippians. And being able to share that joy in Jesus
with other believers—that was just icing on the cake for Paul.

That’s what Paul had in mind when wrote of the “fruit” he wants the
Philippians to experience (4:17). The Philippians joined their hearts to Paul
through their prayers for him and through their faithful giving to his ministry.
Their thoughtfulness reminded Paul of incense on the altar and how its
sweet smell drifted up to God. Same as now, a Christian’s generosity to God
when given in the right spirit, is more than just making a donation or taking
up a collection. It is an offering, an aroma of a sweet smell to God. It pleases
God when it comes from a heart of faith (4:18).

Thinking of their sacrifice to supply his need, Paul assures his friends
how God would supply all their needs, too. He didn’t promise them God
would meet all their wants, but all their needs. More than the money, the
Philippians’ financial faithfulness was to Paul an outward expression of an
inner work of Jesus in their lives. They stood out as shining examples of
sacrificial faith and joyful generosity among all the churches Paul served in
Macedonia—they were to him his most prized congregation, and he blessed
them for it (4:19).

Is Jesus’ work in your life coming out in real ways? Do you happily share
your resources—financial and otherwise—with others, particularly those
serving the gospel? A byproduct of the generosity of Jesus in your life
would be your sharing His goodness to others in need. That’s the way
of Jesus. What better way to demonstrate your love and admiration, for
instance, for Christians serving Jesus in difficult places around the world,
than to support them financially and with your prayers?

Paul finished his letter of love to his dear friends at Philippi with a heart
filled with praise to God and an affectionate greeting to them from all
the brothers and sisters who knew Jesus in Rome. This must have been a
most exciting greeting from Paul as he closed his letter—for the Philippian
believers to know they had brand-new brothers and sisters in Christ in Rome
and even among royalty. How’s that for the fruit of their faithfulness?! Paul
was thrilled to see so many people come to know Jesus in Rome and equally
thrilled to tell the praying Philippians about it.

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Paul closes the letter with, “Now to our God and Father be glory for ever
and ever. Amen” (4:20).

Does God get the glory in this letter of joy? Yes, He does—every time you
receive and experience God’s grace yourself.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, amen.

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FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION
1. How can prayer help us focus our thoughts and help with worry?

2. What things that are true, moral, reputable, authentic, compelling, and
gracious can you intentionally think about?

3. What things could you be allowing into your mind that are causing
you anxiety?

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4. What scriptures can you meditate on to center your thinking on Christ?

5. What do you think was the secret to Paul’s ability to find contentment,
both in good times and bad?

6. Paul sacrificed for the Philippians and the Philippians sacrificed for Paul.
How is this a good pattern in the church today?

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7. If you could go back in time to try and encourage the Philippian church in
their suffering, what would you say to them?

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