During this year’s series through Philippians, we will be issuing a series of devotionals. The aim of these devotionals is to aid you in reading the Bible so that you can begin a devotional life of your own. The format is simple and easy to follow. Each week we will have four personal devotions. The first two will refer to the previous Sunday’s sermon readings (to help you process what was preached). The second to will refer to the upcoming Sunday’s sermon readings. Take time every morning to go over these devotionals. Use the extra days in the week for either catch up or review. Along with these personal devotionals, we will be offering a weekly family devotional with an activity. Pick one night a week and commit to meeting together as a family for Bible study and devotional time. In all these things, remember the most important part of a vibrant devotional life is the movement of God’s Spirit. Be diligent in praying before every devotional for God to help you understand His word and then at the end for help to follow His word.
Philippians 1:1-11
Pray: “Open my eyes that I might behold wondrous things out of your law!” Psalm 119:18
Day 1
In these verses, Paul gushes with joy over his relationship with the church in Philippi. In fact, joy is the dominant theme of this letter. Paul will use the word ‘joy’ in one form or another 15 times in the 104 verses of this book. This view of the Christian life is very different than what many people grew up with. A lot of people grow up with a version of Christianity that’s all about doing your duty and has nothing to do with joy. In his famous sermon, “The Weight of Glory,” C.S. Lewis says this, “we are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately find if we do so contains an appeal to desire. If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith.” Joy lies at the heart of Christianity. God made us to rejoice in Him. When we turn our relationship with God into a joyless discipline, we tell God that He is not worth rejoicing in.
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. Do you normally think of Christianity as a way to find joy? How about going to church? Reading the Bible? Sharing your faith?
4. What do these verses have to say about joy?
Heavenly Father, although you have formed us to have joy in you, daily we turn our faces from you. Give us grace to see what it is we seek our joy in besides you, repent, and turn to you, so that we might know the fullness of joy that you have promised us in your gospel, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day 2
“I am your servant, give me understanding that I may know your testimonies!” Psalm 119:125
Not only does Paul have a deep and profound joy in the church in Philippi, but he does so for some very specific reasons. First, Paul says he rejoices “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”(1:5) It is the centering of their lives and their community on a mission that solidifies their joy together. Have you ever noticed there is a certain camaraderie that arises when people are engaged together when they feel that they are working together on something they feel is significant? Nothing has power to produce this kind of communal joy like laboring side by side for the Gospel. This is so because the Gospel is the greatest cause we have this side of heaven.
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. Have you ever experienced this kind of fellowship? What would our church look like if we were all working together for the Gospel?
4. What other specific things is Paul thankful for in these verses?
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for your church where you have brought together peoples from every tribe, language, and nation and made them one blood in Jesus, your Son. We pray that you would so work in our church that we would know the joy of living and working together for your Gospel, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day 3
Prayer “Give me understanding that I may keep your commandments and observe them with my whole heart!” Psalm 119:34
Philippians 1:12-14
Paul is writing to the Philippians from jail (probably on house arrest in Rome). Although he has much that he could be discouraged or bitter about, Paul is able not to lose heart. Despite all that has happened to him, Paul seems to be well pleased with his situation. This is not just a case of positive thinking or optimism. Paul is able to have joy in difficult circumstances because he has a different set of priorities. Since he’s more concerned about the preaching of the Gospel than his own comfort, prison is an opportunity and not an obstacle. Many people in America are chronically displeased with their lives because they are chasing a dream that either can’t be reached or cannot last. The mission of the Gospel gives a purpose to life that cannot be overcome.
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. If someone were to look at your life, what do you think they would say your top priorities are? What do you wish your top priorities were?
4. How would your life look different if you were mostly concerned with the Gospel of Jesus? How would you handle difficulties differently?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you alone know the affections of our hearts. Help us to see the greatness of your beauty, so that we can know those things which we have put in your place and repent, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Philippians 1:15-18
Prayer
“I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.” Psalm 119:63
In this section, Paul talks about a group of Christians who were at personal odds with him. These people used their ministries to prove how they were better than Paul. It is possible that they boasted, saying “Look at all the people who come to our church, and Paul is in prison!” We do not know exactly why they did not get along with Paul. One thing that we learn here is that sinful people can be used by God. If that weren’t true the church wouldn’t have a chance! Although Paul is being treated contemptuously by these Christians, he does not berate or demean them. Again, because the ministry of the Gospel is so central to Paul, he simply measures them against the litmus of Gospel ministry and rejoices at what God is doing through them.
1. What does this passage say?
2. What does this passage mean?
3. Have you ever been surprised by politics in the Church? Why do you think that happens?
4. What is the specific reason that Paul decides not to oppose these Christians who are demeaning him? (vs. 18)
4. Are there any groups of Christians that you tend to look down on? Are they faithfully preaching the Gospel? Why do you think you look down on them?
Almighty God, we thank you that in your church you have bound together men and women from every tribe, language, and nation. Help us to see where we work not to reconcile one to another, but to create divisions. Forgive us for thinking of ourselves as better than other Christians. Give us grace so to love your gospel that we will rejoice whenever it is proclaimed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Family Devotional Making Brownies: Philippians 1:1-11
Welcome to our first Family Devotional. We are starting off at the beginning of Philippians following what Rob taught on this past Sunday. First, mix up your favorite brownie mix and start the cooking. Don’t forget to set the timer! Next, pray together that God would bless your time together and your time in his word.
Read Philippians 1:1-11 and talk about these questions:
1. Who wrote this letter?
2. To whom is it written?
3. What do we partake with Paul and Timothy? V. 7
4. What are they praying for? V.9
5. Where does the fruit come from? V. 11
6. Why do we produce fruit? V. 11
Read Philippians 1:6 and talk about your brownies:
When you first mixed up the brownies they were unfit to eat because they contained raw eggs and they weren’t cooked yet. Paul talks about “a good work” that was begun in you. That raw brownie mix is like a good work that has begun. As the brownies are cooking you can smell their goodness but they still aren’t done. You can’t eat them because the outside may look done but in the middle they are still raw. How frustrating? Not until the timer has gone off and the toothpick comes out clean are the brownies done. This verse talks about our walks with Christ like this brownie mix. The good work is begun and on the day of Jesus’ return, the good work in us becomes complete, like the timer that goes off and lets us know that the brownies are done.
1. Has a good work begun in you?
2. Do you get frustrated sometimes that you are still struggling and the work is not complete? How?
3. Do you see ways in which the good work is continually being done in you?
4. Do you look forward to the work being finished?
Going Deeper (For older students and Adults to Discuss):
1. Is there a good work begun in you?
2. Talk about the promise in Verse 6 that God has made.
3. How does our Love abound more and more?
4. Is your life producing fruit? If so what? How would you like for it to?
5. How can we give God all the praise and glory in our lives?
Closing prayer:
Ask that God would continue to do his work in your life and that he may be glorified.
