Jesus comes in and gives that final rest… Sabbath is a reminder for us that God is the creator of it all. That although all of our striving and work is good, we can rest from it, because we find our identity not in the work itself but in Jesus.

The problem isn’t when you have a lot to do, everyone has a lot to do. The problem comes when you have too much to do and the way to keep up the quota is to HURRY. Jesus invites us into live our lives, present with Him.

When it comes to habits, who we are is a much more important starting point than what we do. What we do flows out of our identity.

If God Sent Jesus to be With Us… What does it look like to be With Him?

John 15:1-5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.


1) The Call Is to Become Like Jesus
2) We can only bear fruit if we are abiding in Jesus

3 Important Pieces To Abiding:
- Connection
- Dependence
- Continuance

"Onward, Onward"

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14

Life Group Questions

Opening Question:

How was your Thanksgiving? Share a few things that you are thankful for.

Scripture Reading: Read Philippians 4:2-9

Observation Questions:

1. What are some key words that come up in this passage that have come up throughout the book of Philippians? What themes do you see again in these verses?

2. We don’t know what the exact disagreement was in verses 2-3, but we can still learn from this passage. What do you notice here that we can learn from?

3. Look again at verses 2-9. As followers of Jesus what behaviors are we to put into practice? Discuss creative ways to put these behaviors into practice.

Life Application Questions:

1. Think about your relationships with others. Are there any relationships that you need to work towards healing? What would that look like to move toward healing?

2. How can you make prayer a bigger priority in your life?

3. When facing challenges how do you respond? (Isolation, worry, fear, bitter, angry, apathetic, etc)

4. Why do we need to remember our name is written in the book of life? (Homework for another time: Luke 10:1-24). How can we continue to remind ourselves that God is near, God is good and working in our lives?


Prayer: Spend time praying for each other as you also reflect on the following:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• What am I anxious about?
• What do I need to ask God?
• What do I need to be thankful for?
• God help me to experience your peace and trust that you will give it to us.

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Life Group Questions

Opening Question:

What was your favorite sport growing up? What is your favorite sport now?
Scripture Reading: Read Philippians 3:12-21

Observation Questions:

1. In verse 12 Paul is aware that he hasn’t “fully attained” spiritual maturity or “arrived at [his] goal”. Why is this important for us to know?

2. Reread verse 13. What is significant here?

3. Reread verse 18? Why is weeping significant?

Life Application Questions:

1. Paul defines maturity as realizing he hasn’t “arrived at [his] goal” yet is “straining toward what’s ahead.” There is a tension of striving toward what’s ahead and realizing we aren’t there yet. Before we strive ahead, we must be self aware and realize that we aren’t there yet.
a. What areas in your spiritual life would you like to grow? (Honoring God, Serving, Witnessing)

2. How has your past weighed you down? Where have you let your past weigh you down or keep you from achieving what God has called you to do?

3. Paul says to, “join together” and to “keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” Spend some time as a group sharing and affirming how others in your group have inspired you to follow God. How can this be a regular practice for your group?

4. There are people all around us that are “enemies of the cross”. (We were at one time in our disobedience enemies of God (Col. 1:21). Do you weep for enemies of the Cross? Who are 3 people in your life (Live, Work, Play) who you are praying for, that they would come to know Jesus? What are you doing to share Jesus with them? Invite them to Church?

5. Where have you seen God work powerfully despite your weaknesses? Spiritual maturity is knowing our limitations, but walking in God’s limitless power.

Prayer:

Spend time praying for God’s transforming power in our lives and spend time praying for each other.

Opening Question:

What does it mean to you to have confidence?

Scripture Reading: Read Philippians 3:1-11

Observation Questions:

1. Look closer at verse 2. Who are the dogs? The evil doers? Mutilators of the flesh? How do we watch out for them?

2. Look again at verse 8, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things”. Discuss what you think Paul means in these verse.

Application Questions:

1. Throughout your life where or in what have you mistakenly put your confidence in?

2. Looking at Verse 2, why is it important that we serve God in the Spirit?

3. How do we serve God? What does that look like in our daily life?

4. How can we substitute “Religion” as our savior instead of accepting Christ?

Prayer:

Be reminded of verses 10 and 11 as you spend time praying together:
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead”. Philippians 3:10-11.

Life Group Questions

Opening Question:

Would you consider yourself to be a more positive person or negative person? What would others say about you?

Scripture Reading: Read Philippians 1:27-2:24

Observation Questions:

1. What four things should serve as a motivation for unity? (Review)
- The consolation we have in Christ
- The comfort found in love
- The fellowship we have in the Spirit
- The affection and mercy we can enjoy

2. What should be the nature of our unity? (V.2)

3. What is the “Therefore” in verse 12 connecting to? Why is this important?

Life Application Questions:

1. Grumbling hurts the unity of the church. It hurts our relationships. What do you think is at the root of grumbling?

2. We can simply take behavioral modification steps and try not to grumble, but like the last series grumbling can be a heart issue. Take a moment to stop and be silent and reflect, and ask why do I grumble? Do I look for things in life that confirm I don’t have what I need? What steps can you take to address your heart this week?

3. One of the ways we can show unity to each other is valuing/loving each other? If we are going to do “life” together as a life group why is it important to know how to speak each other’s love languages? How do you feel best loved? How could we love you? (Everyone share).

4. Unity does not mean we all have to see eye-to-eye on everything, but is a necessary part of community together. How do we fight for and protect the unity of our life group? As a church?


Prayer: Spend time praying for each other and for unity in your group and in our church.