A Study in the Book of Philippians

Christians have a common purpose to share the grace of God.

Philippians 1:1-11

Question 24: Why is the Bible so weird? It seems there are all kinds of strange things in the Bible that don't seem to make sense in today's world. What do I do with those?

TITLE: Stranger Things

TEXT: I Corinthians 2:6-16

THEME: THEME: There Bible reveals to us things that we could not otherwise know.

Why is the Bible so weird?

I. It provides with a wisdom that has eternal value. (I Corinthians 2:6-7)

A. It is granted only to those who are spiritually mature.

B. It is a wisdom that supersedes cultural and political ideologies.

C. In contrast to worldly wisdom it leads to something of eternal value.

II.  It addresses issues that go beyond what can be empirically observed.

A. It reveals to us what God purposes are for you. (8-13)

B. It gives truth that can only be known through the Spirit revealing it to us.

A. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s Heart.

III. The Spirit of God enables us to share the mind of Christ. (11-16)

A. The mature believer understands spiritual realities. (13)

B. The mature believer accepts the things that come from the Spirit of God. (14)

C. The mature believer has God’s perspective on every aspect of life. (15-16)

Question 23: Why is the resurrection of Jesus so important?

If Jesus did not raise from the dead then our faith is worthless.

Question 22: Why is the death of Jesus so important to believers?  Apart from the voluntary, sacrificial death of Jesus no one has any hope for salvation.

TITLE: Someone has to Pay

TEXT: Hebrews 9:22, Colossians 1

THEME: Apart from the voluntary, sacrificial death of Jesus no one has any hope for salvation.

Why is the death of Jesus so important to believers?

I. Jesus had to die in order for the new covenant to take effect. (16-17)

A. The word “covenant” in the Bible includes the idea of “testament or will.”

B. In a will a person must die- and the death must be proven.

C. Because Christ died we receive a rich inheritance.

II. The old covenant required the blood of animals to be shed. (18-20)

A. The sprinkling of blood provided cleansing and purification.

B. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. (21-22).

C. The act was intended to be messy and gruesome.

III. Only a perfect, holy sacrifice could satisfy the holy requirements of God. (Col. 1:15-23)

A. As God Jesus was able to satisfy those requirements.

B. Through His death Jesus was able to reconcile all things to Himself.

C. By being reconciled by God we are made holy before God.

TITLE: The Company of the Committed

TEXT: Acts 2, I John 1:1, Eph. 4.

THEME: We are called to be part of a devoted company of committed, spirit filled believers devoted to building each other up.

Why does community matter and how do you create one that reflects Christ’s love?

I. God created us for community for our good. (Genesis 2:18, 1:27-28)

A. He created woman so that man would not be alone.

B. He created them both with the capacity to reproduce.

C. He created them so they would produce families and community.

II. Sin disrupted the nature of the community God intended.

A. It tainted the relationship between man and woman.

B. It tainted the relationship between families and communities.

C. It tainted the powerful influence of community so it can now be used for evil.

III. God restores biblical community through the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2)

A. The believer becomes part of God’s church at salvation.

B. In Christ we are united in Him as one.

C. Community is formed as believer walk in the Spirit of God.

Question 20: Where can we find hope in the midst of a crisis? 

TITLE: Finding Hope in the Midst of a Crisis

TEXT: Psalm 93:1-3; Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 21:1-5

THEME: The Bible declares the story of an unshakeable hope in the Living God who is with us at all times.

Where can we find hope in the midst of a crisis?

I. God is the only source of hope. (Psalm 93:1-3)

A. In creation, God brought complete order out of chaos.

B. We worship a God who is in the process of bringing order out of chaos.

C. We have to understand that hope is found in God alone.

II. God is with us through chaos. (Romans 8:18-25

A. God is with us in seasons of chaos.

B. The one who calmed the seas is the one who separate sea from the land at the beginning.

C. When hope doesn’t seem obvious we need to remember that God is with us.

III. God will triumph over evil. (Rev. 21:1-5)

A. In the perfected creation, evil and chaos will be completely eradicated.

B. Hope will be realized when the day comes when our desires are fulfilled.

C. We worship a God who brings goodness from intended evil.

Question 19: Why pray if God seems to answer only some prayers but not others?

TITLE: Praying in Jesus Name

TEXT: John 14:12-14, 15:16, 16:23-24

THEME: The believer who prays in Jesus name is given a promise.

Why pray if God seems to answer only some prayers but not others?

I. Because we have a promise that God will do great things through us (12)

A. Those who believe in Jesus will do the things He has done.

B. Those who believe in Jesus will do even greater things than Him.

C. Like a father when we ask something of God He decides how to answer.

II. Because His answers are intended to bring glory to the Father (13)

A. Jesus will be going to the Father and His work is now assignedto us.

B. Whatever we do in the name of Jesus brings glory to God.

C. Not everything we ask for will bring glory to God.

III. Because we have a promise that that what we ask in Jesus name will be done. (13-14)

A. Prayer in His name is not a rabbit’s foot or secret formulato get what we want.

B. The promise is limited to doing what Christ was doing.

C. The praise "in my name" means we ask in a way consistent with the name of Christ.

Question 18: Why did Jesus claim to be God? Did He lie?

TITLE: No Brag - Just Fact

TEXT: John 1, 8, Rev. 22. Exodus 3

THEME: Jesus Christ claims to be God and proves it through prophecy, miracles and the resurrection.

Why should you believe that Jesus Christ is God?

I. Jesus claimed to be God and His ____________ supported it.

A. Jesus claimed to be God of the OT. (Jn. 8:52-59, Ex. 3:1-16)

B. His disciples claimed He was God. (Jn. 1:1-3)

C. Jesus was crucified for _________________. (Mt. 26:63-67)

II. Jesus supported His claim through _____________, miracles and the resurrection.

A. Jesus fulfilled up to _______ Messianic prophecies. (Is. 53)

B. Jesus appealed to His miracles for proof of His claim.

(Mt. 11:2-6)

C. Jesus appealed to the resurrection for proof of His claim.

(Mt. 12:38-40, 26:61)

III. The deity of Jesus is fundamental to our faith and

________________.

A. Only God can achieve His standard of Holiness. (Is. 6:5-9, Ro. 3:10ff)

B. Only God can ____________ sin. (Mt. 9:1-8)

C. Our eternal destiny is dependent on the deity of Jesus.

(Rev. 21:1ff)

Question 17: Why are we so prone to deception and how can we protect ourselves from it?

TITLE: Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

TEXT: Genesis 3, John 8:28, John 16

THEME: The truth of God enables us to avoid the dangerous consequences of deception.

How can we protect ourselves from the dangerous consequences of deception?

I. Powerful ____________ are at work that attempt to deceive you. (Gen. 3:1-7)

A. Satan and his minions strategically want to turn you from God.

B. Institutions and people influenced by Satan and _________ seek to mislead you.

C. Even our own hearts are corrupt and deceitful. (Jeremiah 17:9)

II. Succumbing to the deception can produce devastating

_______________. (Genesis 3:14-19)

A. The curse has affected you and all of creation. (Romans

8:20-25)

B. We __________ what we sow. (Galatians 6 :7-10)

C. Broken trust can have emotional, economic and spiritual consequences.

III. Only God offers the truth we need to _____________ us from deception. (II Cor. 4:11ff)

A. Truth and reality is the only protection from deception. (II Cor. 4:1ff)

B. Need Humility- pride makes us prone to deception.

C. We need the _________________ to guide us to ultimate truth. (John 16:8-15

Question 16: Why do Christians hate gays and transgender's? Why are the Bible and Christians so hung-up about sex?

TITLE: God - The Equal Opportunity Offender

TEXT: Romans 1:18-32, 3:10-23

THEME: You must deal with same sex desires just like any other sinful temptation.

Why do Christians hate gays and Transgenders? Why are the Bible and Christians so hung-up about sex?

How should Christians view gays?

I. God created sexuality and marriage to be ____________. (Gen 2)

A. All are created in God’s image and matter to Him.

B. Sex was _____________ by God for three interdependent reasons.

1. Procreation- Be fruitful and multiply.

2. Companionship- It is not good that man is alone.

3. Intimacy - The two become one flesh.

C. Homosexuality deviates from God’s design. (Gen 2, Lev. 20)

II. Homosexuality, like all other sins, is outside God’s _________. (Romans 1)

A. To have a strong same-sex desire does not make it legitimate.

B. Everyone has strong desires that must be _______________.

C. Same sex attraction must be resisted like all other temptations. (James 1:14)

III. Salvation is available to all based on ________________ and faith.

A. Through the power of Christ there is ___________ for all of us.

B. Believers in Jesus take on a new identify and purpose.

C. Homosexuals can find freedom from the homosexual lifestyle.