FirstSF

Sermon Discussion Questions
For the Week of July 4, 2021

Sermon Information:

In the Lord
Philippians 4:1-9

Stand firm in the Lord. (v. 1)
Agree in the Lord. (vv. 2-3)
Rejoice in the Lord. (v. 4)
Trust in the Lord. (vv. 5-7)
Walk in the Lord. (vv. 8-9)


Discussion Questions:

1) Do you tend to think of the Christian life as living for the Lord or living in the Lord? What is the difference between the two? Why might we need to keep both phrases in mind as we live the Christian life?

2) What was Paul’s solution to the dispute between Euodia and Syntyche? Can you think of a time when you saw a disagreement in the church resolved in a God honoring way?

3) Paul calls us to rejoice in the Lord always. What does it look like for you to rejoice in the Lord during a difficult or sorrowful season of life? How might the peace of God, which comes from trusting in the Lord, be connected to this?

4) What usually makes you anxious? What do you do to relieve your stress/anxiety? Read Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:6-7. How can you apply these verses to the anxieties in your life?

5) What do you often think about? Where does your mind tend to wander? Consider what Paul says in Philippians 4:8. What does it practically look like for you to think about these things? How can you intentionally do this?

Sermon Discussion Questions
For the Week of June 20, 2021

Sermon Information:

Pressing on Toward the Goal
Philippians 3:12-20

We must press on from our position in Christ.

How do we do this?
Stay humble, hungry, and faithful.
Look at faithful followers, look out for enemies of the gospel, and look to our Savior.

Discussion Questions:

1) When it comes to running the race of the Christian life, do you resonate more with Harold Abrahams or Eric Liddell? Abrahams ran because he felt pressure to prove himself. Liddell ran because he felt God’s pleasure. Which better describes you?

2) Read Philippians 3:13. Do you tend to think more about your past failures or successes? What past thing do you need to “forget”?

3) When do you tend to struggle to stay hungry for God? Are there certain times or seasons of life where your passion tends to fade? Have you found certain practices that help you to regain your hunger for God?

4) Read 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9. Discuss what these different verses state about imitating faithful followers of Jesus. Are you someone that other Christians can imitate?

5) When it comes to those who don’t follow Jesus, we must love them, but we also must be careful not to join them on their journey to destruction. How can we do both? Which of those two (loving and watching out for) do you tend to struggle with most?

Sermon Discussion Questions
For the Week of June 13, 2021

Sermon Information:

Rejoicing in Knowing Christ
Philippians 3:1-11

When it comes to pursuing joy, there are two options:
We can place our confidence in ourselves.
We can place our confidence in knowing Christ.


Discussion Questions:

1) What are the most common ways that people in the church tend to put their confidence in themselves? What are the ways people outside the church tend to put their confidence in themselves? In which areas are you most tempted?

2) Read Philippians 3:3. What are the three marks of a Christian listed in this verse? Read John 4:23, 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, and Galatians 6:14. Discuss how these verses speak to the three marks that we see in Philippians 3:3.

3) Do you ever approach Christianity as an “addition” to your life? Or think of following Jesus as one of many things that you’re called to do? What’s the danger of this way of thinking? What can you do to reset your thinking on a regular basis?

4) What are the different types of sufferings that we face as Christians? How does suffering enable us to know Christ better?

5) These are the words on William Borden’s tombstone: “Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life.” Would people say that about your life? What changes might God be calling you to make so that others could see your faith in Christ more clearly?

Sermon Discussion Questions
For the Week of June 6, 2021

Sermon Information:

Model Servants
Philippians 2:19-30

In Timothy and Epaphroditus, we see:
Christlike Companionship Christlike Concern Christlike Courage
Faithful followers of Jesus are a way for us to experience the joy of Jesus. We must be changed by Jesus in order to do the work of Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. When you think of a ‘model servant’ or a ‘faithful follower of Jesus’, who comes to mind? What specifically comes to your mind about them?

2. Read Acts 16:1-3, 1 Corinthians 4:16-17, and 2 Timothy 1:3-7. How do these verses speak to the Christlike companionship of Paul and Timothy? Do you have a Paul in your life? Do you have a Timothy?

3. Read Philippians 2:3-4 and 2:20-21. Can you think of a time when someone thought of your interests ahead of their own? How can you put the interests of others ahead of your own this week?

4. There’s a good chance that we will never have to risk our lives for the sake of the gospel. If that is the case, then what will Christlike courage look like in our lives?

5. Over the past year, have you missed the joy that comes from fellowship with other believers? What can you practically do to experience that joy more often?

6. Why is it important to remember that we can’t just follow the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus, but that we need to be changed as they were?

Sermon Discussion Questions
For the Week of May 30, 2021

Sermon Information:

Shining As Lights
Philippians 2:12-18

God’s grace empowers believers to work out their salvation for His glory and for their joy.

Process
Power
Purpose
Product

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the difference between ‘working for your salvation’ and ‘working out your salvation’? What can you do to keep the proper mindset (working out instead of for) in your daily life?

2. What are you most tempted to grumble and complain about? How does grumbling and complaining damage your witness?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:10, Colossians 1:29, and Philippians 2:13. What does it look like for God and His grace to empower your work? Have you experienced this in your own life?

4. How has FirstSF done a good job of shining like lights in our city? In what ways could we improve?

5. The product of working out your salvation is joy in all seasons of life. Have you seen this in your own life? How could you work to cultivate joy in the midst of life’s difficult seasons?