Wednesday

Week 5 – Wednesday – Confession

From tracking stats on this site, I know that some of you readers were not there on Sunday night – specifically because you follow from other states or countries. I just wanted to fill you in real quickly on what went down at our Baptism Gathering. We planned to do the baptism outside at an amphitheater on the Riverwalk in West Columbia, but God had better plans and rained us out. We quickly packed up shop and moved over to our secondary location – inside a parking garage at the state museum. We set up a baptismal and as many chairs as we could find and watched over forty people publicly proclaim “JESUS IS MY LORD.” Now here’s the thing about Midtown, we like to celebrate, and I don’t mean with a golf-clap. The crowd of five hundred people sitting and standing shook the garage each time one of the forty-three were raised out of the water.

Without a doubt, baptism gathering has to be one of, if not my absolutely favorite night of the year. Watching family and friends gather around the baptismal while their loved one was being baptized -- seeing brother baptize sister – husband baptize wife – teammates baptize each other – fraternity brothers – the whole night was beautiful. And for refreshments we all kicked back on glass bottled cokes and moon-pies.

“God is God”
Based on all that recap, this is a pretty hard claim to make, but I think my absolutely favorite moment during the whole baptism gathering was when a member of the USC track team who told his own story from the pool, said this simple statement: “Last October I finally admitted that God is God.”

Go Read Romans 10:8-13
<> What does the word confess mean?
<> Where else do we use the term regularly?

The funny thing about confession is that somehow we’ve relegated it to the thought of admitting when we’ve done bad stuff. The word is a much bigger idea. Confession is admitting that something is true when you’ve been denying it. Whether it’s confession to a friend or to God of a behavior past that we wish wasn’t true, or whether it’s confessing your love for someone – confession carries the notion of no other options. There’s a certain desperation to confession. “I’m tired of acting like this isn’t true when I know that it is . . . I’m a liar if I keep living like this is not true . . . hey wait a minute, I need to say something.”

Can you imagine a more simple confession than “God is God”? And yet, at the same time it changes everything! There are so many implications and truths wrapped up in that simple admission. God is not me. God is an external reality. God reveals Himself to me. I am not God. I'm desperate to confess it's true.

<> What life changing confessions have you made in your life?
<> How much of your life is a living confession of the fact that “Jesus is Lord”?
<> Does the confession of your life carry an appropriate nature of desperation?

Tuesday

Week 5 – Tuesday – Reminders

Ebenezers
Yesterday we talked about baptism being a symbolic reminder. We’re going to talk about symbols later in the week, but I wanted to talk just for a moment about reminders. If you have spent much time around church in your life, you have probably heard this verse from the Hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”:

“Here I raise mine Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I’m come,
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.”

Ebenezer is a weird word. It sounds like a grandmother’s name or something. It actually comes from the Scripture and is a pretty beautiful picture:

Go read 1 Samuel 7:10-14.
<> Why would Samuel set up a rock?
<> Have you ever set up something in your life to remind you, “Thus far has the Lord helped us”?

Relying on Rocks
Throughout my life I have learned two things about the way people learn: 1.) We are very slow to learn. 2.) We are very quick to forget. Here’s the beautiful thing about Samuel’s Ebenezer. There’s a certain notion that rocks change much more slowly than we do. In some ways, rocks are smarter than us. It’s like Samuel assumes, “there is going to come a day when we all start to forget what God has done for us, and we are going to need this the testimony of a rock – this rock that doesn’t fluctuate with every selfish notion, theological trend or unexplainable hardship.”

<> What are areas of your life that you need to set up an Ebenezer – an unchanging reminder of what God has done in your life?
<> What are some lessons God has taught you that you have been struggling to live out recently?
<> How did he originally teach you? What’s getting in the way of your obedience now?

LifeGroup Creative Idea - Stories

Please don't be confused - these LifeGroup creative ideas are never going to be exactly groundbreaking earth shattering ideas. They're simple ideas. But they're good.

If you haven't yet, in some way at some point the people in your LifeGroup need to tell personal stories of how God has worked in their lives. Stories do a number of things for your group:

1.) Breed unity and intimacy. Telling your story is a relatively easy way to open up honestly and help other people understand where you're coming from.
2.) Encouragement against sin. According to Heb. 3:12-13, sin's number one goal is that we would be discouraged -- that we would grow an evil, unbelieving heart and that we would fall away from the living God. As I listen to my friends praise Jesus for what He's done in their lives, I'm reminded of what He's done in my life and sin loses it's ability to convince me that He's not at work.
3.) Help us love each other better. When you know where someone's coming from, it can help you know when to be gentle, when to push hard, and what kind of language to use and to avoid as we help each other grow toward Jesus. "Hey remember when God did _________ in your life, He's not going to fail you now as you're dealing with ________ ."
4.) Learn spiritual maturity of the group and recognize areas of needed growth. Sometimes listening to someone tell their story in their own language can help a group recognize theological misunderstanding. You're not all looking to jump down each other's throats, but with gentleness, "No, God doesn't think of you like that. . . " can be one of the most needed encouraging moments in anyone's life. Even, "you know as I was listening to your story I got a little concerned that you might be dealing with _________" can be a necessary step towards growing towards Jesus.

Monday

Week 5 - Monday - Baptism

Ok guys we're popping out of Philippians for today to recap last night. (We will either continue with external topics -- there were enough nuggets last night for a month's worth -- for the rest of the week or keep plugging along through Philippians)

Baptism
We do not believe that baptism saves you. We believe that Jesus saves you. Baptism is a physical symbol of what Jesus does to us spiritually. It is very similar to communion or a wedding ring. They are all beautiful symbols of something much bigger.

Check out Romans 6:1-14 (the scripture Dustin read last night plus a little more.)
<> What issue is Paul addressing before he starts talking about baptism?
<> How does the symbol of baptism speak to the issue he's addressing?
<> How are you doing with obeying vs. 11-14?

The symbol of baptism is a reminder to ourselves of what has happened spiritually inside of us. In moments of deepest darkest temptation we can look back to our baptism as a moment that reminds us that we have proclaimed to the world - Jesus is Lord; He has cleaned me of my sin; I am dead to my old way of life and alive in Christ alone.

Along with being a personal reminder, baptism is a communal reminder. Any person in the crowd watching is reminded of their own baptism. We cheer for salvation in the life of the person being baptized. We cheer for our own salvation. We cheer that God is good at what He does and He keeps advancing His gospel -- even through jacked up punks like us.


Why Don't Midtown's Pastors Baptize?
Well, our pastors do baptize people -- we just don't reserve the right for our pastors. We don't see that as a Biblical mandate. Read John 4:1-2.

<> Why would Jesus have his disciple's baptize people?

Read Ephesians 4:11-13.
<> What is the job of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers?
<> Who is performing "works of service"?

We honestly believe that ministry is supposed to be done by all believers, not just by a few guys with titles. The dudes with titles' job is to equip the body for works of service. When members of the body play a spiritually significant role in someone coming to know Christ, we think it is less awesome for a random pastor with almost no relationship with the person to baptize them.

Saturday

Week 4 - Saturday - Overflowing Joy

Read Philippians 1:21-26
“. . . so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me”

<> When is the last time that your joy in Christ Jesus overflowed?

We’re going to keep it real quick this Saturday morning. God wants us to be overjoyed. He wants our joy in His Son to overflow. If you aren’t relishing moments in life that are full of the richness and goodness of God, you aren’t matching His hope for you. He wants you to labor and seek and strive and push and prod and He wants to work in you and change you and encourage you and grow you.

But, at the end of the day sometimes He just wants you to sit and bask in the glow of His love.

<> How often do you pause to consider the depth of your sin and the startling fact of God’s love despite your failing performance?
<> In the midst of circumstantial pain, discomfort or confusion, do you ever pause to meditate on the truth of the gospel?

Here’s the deal. Jesus died on a cross for you because He loves you. You don’t deserve that love. You can’t earn His love. But He gives it anyway. He gives His pain for yours. He gives His life for yours. SIT IN IT. Deal with His love. Right now.

Developing a deeply gospel centered identity is essential to you developing a chaotic joy; a deep seeded joy that weathers any circumstance, BUT it comes with diligence. It takes regular pausing to sit in the truth of the gospel in order to walk out its implications for your life.

<> Spend the day thinking on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Get with some friends and just talk about it. Let your joy overflow. Take communion. Don’t miss the life-giving opportunity to bask in the glow of His love.

Friday

Week 4 – Friday – Progress and Joy

Read Phil 1:21-26
<> What two aspects of faith does Paul mention in vs. 26?
<> Do you have faith that is making progress?
<> Do you have increasingly joyful faith?

While we have been down here in Orlando, we had the opportunity to hear from a pastor named Darrin Patrick who planted a church called the Journey out in St. Louis, MO. He made this quote and I think it’s very applicable for what we’re studying in Philippians today:

“You need to have a deeply gospel centered identity. Your daily job is to cultivate a very deep gospel identity that you are jacked up beyond belief and that you can bask in the glow of Jesus’ love. In this manner you can walk in both the humility and the confidence of the gospel.”

In vs. 26 Paul states that he’s going to sacrificially stick around to help the church of Philippians working for their “progress and joy in the faith.” These are two aspects of faith that need to be held in balance with each other. Progress implies a need for change. Deep faith in Jesus and learning to walk with Him teaches us constantly how much we are in need of progress. Meanwhile, joy implies contentment and complete satisfaction right now. These two aspects of faith are not opposed to each other, but rather recognize that Jesus freely gives His righteousness causing joy, and that out of His love we seek to be transformed by His Spirit until we look like Him (progress).

Progress
Recognizing our need for progress means we know we’re not complete yet. Seeking progress combines humility in accepting that we need to change matched with a hope that change is possible. We aren’t content with our current growth, our current love for Christ, our current maturity, but we are confident that He is growing us, teaching us to love Him more and maturing us until the day of completion (remember Philippians 1:6). If you don’t think you need progress – you have a problem with pride. If you don’t think you can progress – you have a problem with doubt.

<> What are areas of your spiritual walk that you need progress in?
<> What steps do you need to take to see progress? (Beyond prayer, it may be as simple as asking someone smarter than you how you should get started.)
<> Do you generally struggle more with a lack of humility to see where you need progress or a lack of hope that Jesus can work in you toward your completion?

Progress always comes with a cost. If you’d like a lengthy discussion of this truth check out Mark Driscoll’s sermon entitled “Pain and Progress”. If you just want a quick example of this truth consider the cross of Jesus Christ. In order for your spirit to move from death to life it cost Jesus intense pain. The great lie of our culture is that you can progress with minimal effort and cost to yourself. The truth is that progress is always the result of painful pushing, labor and growing pains.

Joy
Joy and Progress are a powerful combination. Without joy, progress is tiresome. It becomes emotionally depressing and physically exhausting to continuously face our sin and pray, move and hope for Jesus’ righteousness to show up and transform our everyday lives. Joy is the foundational support that makes progress possible. It is the result of knowing that Jesus loves you right now! He’s not waiting for you to get better before He’ll start loving you. He wants you to walk with Him as He changes you. When you daily live out of the joy that is birthed from Christ’s love for you and your soul’s complete satisfaction in Him, progress becomes a much less strenuous task.

Go Read Romans 2:4.
<> How does God’s kindness lead us to repentance?
<> Reveling in God’s kindness is (joy / progress).
<> Repentance is (joy / progress).

If you are struggling to progress in your spiritual walk, it’s probably because you aren’t taking enough time to be overjoyed by God’s love. Seriously take a few minutes to remember what God has done in you.

<> What are areas of your life where you have seen God give you freedom?
<> What are areas of your life where God is giving you His heart?
<> How do you experience God’s love?

Whatever that is, go do it. Carve time out of your schedule to sit at Jesus’ feet and revel in the fact that He loves you exactly like you are, and too much to let you stay that way. As He washes you with His kindness and leads you to repentance, humbly accept the repentance that He leads you to. You need it more than you know.

Thursday

Week 4 – Thursday – Sacrifice to Avoid Depression

Read all of Philippians 1.
Reread Philippians 1:22-25.

A Funny Dilemma
Understanding and embracing that being with Jesus is better by far than anything this world has to offer is a good movement in your life. Over-embracing this idea leads to depression. Honestly, if you never open your eyes to see Jesus here at work in you and in the world, and think of Him as ONLY being far away, waiting for you in heaven, you’re setting yourself up for a miserable life. That’s different than what He promises in John 10:10. Go read it.

<> Are you experiencing what you would call abundant life?
<> What does Paul say in Philippians 1:24-25 as to staying on earth?

Remember the two options that Paul is debating between here. Option 1: he DIES and goes to be with Jesus intimately (the better option according to him) or option 2: he continues on earth because it is necessary for the Philippians that he remain with them in the body.

<> Out of the two options which one is more selfishly satisfying?
<> Which option is easier?
<> Which option does Paul expect will happen?
<> Why doesn’t Paul seem angry about that fact?

Sacrifice
Paul literally says that considering the fact that he’s more needed here on earth, he’s convinced God will leave him here for the moment despite his desire to be with Jesus. I don’t think he’s sad about the fact. I don’t think he’s mad at God or bitter that God would do this to him. I think Paul understood deeply and personally one of the craziest paradoxes of following Jesus.

Go read Matthew 10:39

<> What does our culture teach is the best approach to finding life?
<> How does the paradox of finding life by losing your life play out practically?

I don’t think this verse is referencing the ecstatic goose-bump-causing feeling you get from helping someone. I think the paradox is much more Christian and meaningful than surprisingly finding selfish sensuality where you didn’t expect it. I think it works like this: As you give your life away, you become more like Jesus. Jesus is life. Giving away your life helps you find Jesus so losing your life is finding your life . . . in Jesus.

Where humanism teaches us to look deep inside of ourselves to find our deepest truest desires and purposes, Jesus teaches us to pick up a cross and die to ourselves (Matt. 10:38, Luke 9:23). Jesus literally teaches us to look outside ourselves in order to find life and that it’s going to take intense sacrifice in order to get to it.

<> If knowing Jesus is the goal, how does this change your motive to serve?
<> What changes about your attitude in life understanding this paradox?
<> Is this the kind of idea that you can just know in your brain and never think about it or is it going to take some time to work out fully in your life?

A Funny Solution to a Funny Dilemma
Paul is faced with a dilemma: live or die. Die and get Jesus, live and help other people get Jesus while getting Jesus though not as fully as if I died. His response to this dilemma is to consider which option he wants less and assume that God will push him toward that solution because in his less preferred choice, Paul knows he will become more like Jesus.

The funny thing is that if you focus too much on dying and being intimately connected to Jesus someday, you risk becoming depressed with the constant struggle of separation while here on earth. The solution is that your life is not about you. AND as you learn to selflessly give your life away, Jesus is most glorified and you are most satisfied.

<> How are you giving your life away?
<> Are you growing in intimacy with Jesus through daily decision to sacrifice?
<> Where are accidentally missing out on the joy of Jesus by wasting yourself in pursuit of selfish desires?
<> How often do you run major decision through the filter of “Does this get me more Jesus?”

Wednesday

Week 4 - Wednesday - Better by Far

Go Read Philippians 1:21-26
<> Read it out loud and imagine that you are Paul writing this passage. Imagine that you are writing to a young church plant. What’s going through your brain? What effect do you want this passage to have on your audience?
<> Are you gaining depth of understanding as you read this passage over and over?

Better
In vs. 23 Paul writes that he “desire[s] to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far”. This is not just some religious cliché Paul is throwing around. He claims that it would be better to leave this planet, his friends, his life, his churches and his work to be with Jesus. Not just better. Better by far.

The funny thing about this is that it is contrary to the very core of the deep-seeded human desire to survive at all costs. Ask an evolutionary biologist what the one single law of living organisms is and he’ll tell you, survival of the fittest. Ask a sociologist why impoverished and homeless people often act in socially deviant manners, and he’ll tell you he’s acting out of survival mode. We are wired to survive. Suicide is a psychologically impossible pill to swallow because it contradicts what may be the deepest of all goals: survival.

Paul seems to be defying the laws of nature. Facing his immediate possible death, he writes that he would rather die and be with Jesus. There are two options: 1.) Paul’s life isn’t all that good or 2.) Being with Jesus must be amazing. The problem with number one is that Paul’s all the time talking about how joyful he is.

<> Do you honestly believe that being with Jesus is better than all else?
<> What would change about your life if you began to make every decision through the grid of “will this choice get me more of Jesus?”

The Tension Caused by Our Deepest Desire
The truth is that Paul makes two interesting claims in this verse. The obvious one is that to him dying to be with Jesus is better by far than living. The second one is “Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two”. Despite the fact that intimately being in the presence of Jesus would be better by far according to Paul, he is still torn. The way he addresses it is odd because he’s not really in control of whether he dies or not but he treats it as if he has a tough choice to make. It’s tearing him up.

<> When is the last time you got torn up thinking about your desire to be with Jesus that is in conflict with your very life?
<> What does this passage reveal about Paul as a person?

In this very honest and vulnerable passage, Paul reveals his deepest desire. Despite any personal desires he has, Paul’s deepest desire is to be with Jesus. Just to be with Him. It’s causing him tension as he considers other desires.
Can you imagine living in the freedom of being torn up about how equally good the options of dying and living are? If I die, I get intimacy with Jesus right now, and if I keep living I get to labor towards other people knowing Jesus right now. If you are a Christian then you have new deepest desires. There shouldn’t be any hesitation in you when considering the ultimate joy of being with Jesus in physical death. That is so much better that I’m almost walking in tension of whether or not I even want to keep living anymore.

<> How much do you desire to be with Jesus?
<> When you boil everything in your life down, what is your deepest desire?
<> What would have to change for Jesus to be your deepest desire? What’s getting in the way?

Tuesday

Week 4 - Fruitful Labor (Part 2)

Philippians 1:22 "If I am going to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me."

Midtown's staff is in Orlando this week at a church planting conference called Exponential: National New Church Conference. We are not just big conference people, but we do want to be continually learning and growing in our spiritual maturity and leadership abilities as we seek Jesus in leading our church family. This is the second year we've come down here and and last year we heard some amazing solid Biblical teaching along with some very interesting ideas (and by interesting I mean wrong). For instance, one man said, "It's not your job to develop your people. Let someone else do that if you want to, but as a pastor, that's not your job." Essentially his point was that a pastor's job was to be a flashy, attractive salesman and convince people to say yes to Jesus, end of story. The only problem with this idea is the Bible.

Jump ahead to Philippians 2:12-13.

Yesterday we talked about Paul's labor in Jesus' mission of spreading the gospel; the good news of salvation by faith in Christ's death and resurrection. That labor is not finished at the point that someone puts his hope and trust in Jesus. The labor is finished as we learn to walk daily by the Holy Spirit in hope and trust of Jesus, working out our salvation with fear and trembling.

The Fruit of Discipleship
Go read Galatians 5:16-25
<> What promise is in vs. 16?
<> List out the contrast between the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

The goal of the mission is not to create a bunch of converts who trust Jesus but have no idea what changes that brings about in life. The goal of the mission is that we would become people who walk by the Spirit. This happens as we send more time with Jesus growing in intimate knowledge of Him, and as older, mature Christians pour their wisdom into our lives.

When we understand the fruit of the Spirit, it changes both the way we minister to other people and our hope for our own walk with Christ.

Your Walk
<> Are you dealing with the tension that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:17?
<> Are you more controlled by the deeds of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit?
<> Where do you see God growing the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
<> Who do yo know whose life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit?
<> What do vs. 24 and 25 mean for your life?
<> What would your life look like if you walked by the Spirit?

Too many of us settle for far too little in our spiritual lives. We are harassed by sin, temptation and old habits with no real hope for freedom or any ability to live the new life that Christ offers (2 Cor. 5:17). In a blissfully ideal world someone older than you should be pursuing you and pouring their wisdom into you and training you to walk by the Spirit. In our somewhat demographically lopsided church family you may need to just ask someone to hang out with you for lunch or coffee. Here's the good news! Regardless of whether you can find the perfect mentor or not, the Holy Spirit wants to mentor you daily through the Scriptures (1 John 2:27-29). That's a good option.

Your Ministry
<> Who are you pouring your life into?
<> Considering the fruit of the Spirit, are you hoping too little for them?
<> What do you pray for people you love and minister to?
<> Do you see God working out the fruit of the Spirit in their lives?

As we fall in love with Jesus and with our city, God will continually break our hearts for those who are far from Him. He will also break our hearts for those who know the way and have tasted salvation but are struggling to walk in intimacy (including ourselves). I was thinking about a coworker of mine who is far from God and as I started to pray for Him, I felt Jesus asking me, "what do you really want for him?" I realized that I don't just want him to come to know Jesus, but my real prayer for him is that someday he will know Jesus so intimately that he would be qualified to be an elder of a church family.

<> Do you hope for people's spiritual growth in such a way that only Jesus could possibly accomplish your prayers?
<> Do you hope for people's spiritual growth in such a way that you will never run out of possible labor in their lives?

Monday

Week 4 – Monday – Fruitful Labor (Part 1)

Read Philippians 1:19-26
(We all need to read this passage about one hundred times so it will sink in deeply to our souls and through it Jesus will change us.)


Now check out Philippians 1:22 -- “if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.”
<> What labor in your life is bearing fruit?
<> Are there areas of your life where you are putting in effort but seeing no fruit?
<> How do you respond when your labor doesn’t produce the expected result?

Paul makes a bold claim here as he wrestles between the thoughts of dying and being with Christ or continuing to live on earth. The claim is definitional, challenging and confident. If I am going to keep living in this body, this will mean fruitful labor. You can strip his statement down to this core idea:

Living in the body = fruitful labor.

There are no other options for Paul; no fallback plans. It’s as if he says, “Look I’d much rather die and get to hanging out with Jesus face to face, but if I’m going to stay here, you better believe I’m going to be busting my butt and my labor is going to pay off.” In the words of Dustin Willis, “This ain’t no game.”

Fruit of Salvation
Go read Colossians 1:3-14
<> Are you aware of the ways the gospel is bearing fruit and growing all over the world?
(Check out http://www.commissionstories.com/ for a little glimpse.)
<> In verse ten what does Paul say about fruit?

Paul’s desire for the church at Colossae is that their good works would bear fruit for the gospel. He doesn’t say I hope you have a neat social-service-Kumbayah club where you do nice people and no one ever comes to know Jesus. Since Christ’s death on the cross the good news of His salvation has been spreading like wild fire and we have been invited into His story. The problem is that far too many of us will never labor for it, and far too many of us will labor in such a way that we never see any fruit. (Matthew 9:35-38)

Choosing to Labor
Neither of those were options for Paul. If I’m alive, it means labor and it means labor that bears fruit. The difference in whether you choose to labor or not is generally an indicator of your knowledge of Jesus. The more intimate we become with Him the less able we are to ignore His missional call on our lives. You cannot know intimately a Savior who loves the lost so much that He died for us, and claim to be aligning yourself with His values while simultaneously ignoring all the lost people He puts in your life. More bluntly: If you are not growing to care about the lost in a way that transforms the way you live, it is an indicator that you might not know Jesus.

Wisdom and Sacrifice
The difference between fruitful labor and fruitless labor is generally an issue of sacrifice and wisdom. Some of us just aren’t willing to do whatever it takes to advance the gospel. We want to care about people who don’t know Jesus and we definitely talk about the idea a lot and feel convicted whenever we read the overwhelming amount of scripture that pushes us toward Jesus’ mission, but at the end of the day we settle for doing just enough Christiany service that no one will call me out and I won’t feel guilty.

Some of us are completely surrendered and submitted to Jesus’ mission and willing to sacrifice all but doing so in such a hideously foolish manner that most of our labor builds more obstacles to the gospel in people’s lives than bears fruit. Some of us in an attempt to build relationships with the lost end up being tempted and disqualified. Zeal and excitement for the gospel without any amount of wisdom can be damaging to ourselves and to the people we are trying to love. Wisdom and caution are not the enemy of passionate sacrifice. They are the guardrails that allow your passionate labor to last for a long time.

Questions That Beg for Honest Answers
<> Are you laboring for the gospel that is bearing fruit all over the world?
<> Are you seeking relationships with people who don’t know Jesus?
<> Do you love your lost friends enough to pray desperately for their salvation? (spiritual labor)
<> Do you love the lost enough to have open honest conversations about the gospel?
(Romans 10:12-15)
<> Are you seeing God bear fruit through your labor?
(1 Corinthians 3:5-7)
<> Are you fully committed to fruitful labor or are you half-committed to social goodness?
<> Do you seek wise counsel about the way you try to love people who don’t know Jesus or do you carelessly put yourself in damaging situations?

Go reread 1 Corinthians 3:5-7. The honest truth is that God doesn’t need you to advance His gospel and His kingdom. He’s more than adequate on His own. AND, He has invited you into His story where you get to be a part of what He’s doing. So pray that He will send out laborers into His field, and pray that He will show you how He wants you to be one of them.

Saturday

Week 3 – Saturday – Three Week Review

For the most part we’ve used this blog as a personal tool for you to study through Philippians in depth verse by verse or even phrase by phrase sometimes. After three weeks, we still haven’t gotten out of chapter 1. From time to time it’s good to go back through and look at what God’s been teaching you. Reread any journaling you’ve done.

One of the aspects we haven’t really explored very much is the community aspect of a blog. Below this post there is a small link that says how many comments have been left on this post. By clicking that link you have the opportunity to leave a comment. We think some healthy discussion could be useful and this post is specifically geared towards feedback.
(All comments will be moderated and if you think this would be a good place to start intellectual fights or verbally abuse someone else, you’re wrong.)

Logistical:
<> How are you using the blog? (Daily hang out time with Jesus, quick encouragement/boost, semi regularly, etc.)
<> When you work through a post, reading it, reading the Scriptures and writing down answers to the questions, how long does it take you?
<> What has been your favorite aspect of the blog?
<> What would you change?

Spiritual:
<> What has been the most challenging part of Philippians chapter 1?
<> What has God been teaching you specifically?
<> Can you think of a time when God used what you were studying in Philippians to prepare you for something coming up later that day or that week?
<> Go back through the posts and list out the topics we’ve covered. Don’t just write down the post titles, put it in your own words. Can you see where God has been working on those things in your life?

To Do List:

→ Don’t feel pressured to comment the answers to all those questions. Some feedback on the logistical questions would be really helpful. Anything you want to share and think is appropriate from the spiritual questions would be sweet too.
→ Go back through Philippians and memorize the verses that God has really been using to shape your heart.

Friday

Week 3 - Friday - Die is Gain

Embracing Death
I’m fairly certain than in the past 5 years no less than six hundred and four thousand movies have been made about someone who gets a shortened expectancy for life and starts to live all crazy and fun and meaningful all of a sudden. (My personal favorite of course, being “Last Holiday” starring Queen Latifah.)

The reason this story line will continue to be told over and over again is because it contains a two pretty basic truths about life: 1.) You are going to die someday and 2.) Most people live in a passionless, meaningless way and it takes their own sure and certain death to wake them up to that fact.

Go read Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
<> What seemingly insane claims does Solomon make in the first two verses?
<> Can you think of a time in your life when a sad face was good for your heart?
<> Why are the wise found in the house of mourning?

While these statements sound a little crazy, think back to our movie phenomena. How many people will never really start living until faced with their own death. I think we are too afraid to think on death. Jonathan Edwards, one of the greatest American theologians to ever live would regularly spend time in cemeteries where he would consider his death and the end of men’s lives that had gone before him. He wasn’t a morbid gothic, emo kid. But regularly considering the end of his life fueled the way he spent his moments here on this earth.

Fatal Gain
Go read Philippians 1:21-26.

Paul was not afraid to think about his own death. In fact, it seems like he was looking forward to it! That really doesn’t fit very well into our American thinking that goes something like this: I want maximum pleasure for minimum pain and I want it now! Also, I want God to fit into those goals in some way that guarantees me a godly spouse someday. Also I want both of my twix bars and you can’t have one.

<> According to vs. 23 what is Paul’s hope in death?
<> When someone is not afraid of death, how hard is it to steal his joy?
<> How often do you think about your own death? What are your thoughts?

The key to understanding “to die is gain” is walking out “to live is Christ”. Too many of us have a theological belief that when we die we go to heaven but our fear of death reveals 1.) that we don’t really believe that too strongly and 2.) that we think the stuff we’re experiencing here on earth is BETTER than being with Christ intimately. The problem is even with all the intimate pursuit of Jesus that can be found here on this earth, it is always incomplete. Our sinful flesh still shows up and destroys our communion with our Savior. That’s going to end someday and it’s going to be a GOOD thing.

The Movie Fallacy
But, the light bulb does not just switch on when you are about to die. What you value now is what you will value as you approach your death. If the most important thing to you is knowing Jesus, then death becomes a looked-forward-to removal of obstacles. If physical pleasure and the pursuit of money and selfish desires are your passions now, that’s not going to change when you find out that you have stage-two stomach cancer someday.

<> What do your thoughts on death reveal about your desire to know Jesus?
<> Are you living now in a way to prepare for your sure and certain death?

As Christians, there is no fear in death. It’s an upgrade. When we start to embrace that, we’re going to become dangerously joyful. It could radically impact the way we live, and the way we love and how we spend our everyday. The joy in death is not that we get heaven, but that then as now, we get Jesus. Bring it on reaper.

Thursday

Week 3 – Thursday – To live is Christ

Go Read Philippians 1:20. Go ahead and memorize it.
<> What does “to live is Christ” mean?
<> What did Christ’s life look like? As much as you possibly can, outline His life and public ministry on earth.
<> What should our response to His life be?

Reductionism
There is a major danger in Christian culture and the self-seeking culture at large that we live in: the theological sin of reductionism. Ok, calm down I know that’s a big word but it’s a simple idea. Reductionism is when we emphasize and claim certain aspects of truth while ignoring others. For example reductionism happens if you only define sin as actions and ignore attitudes or thoughts that can be sinful.

The good news is that the Scriptures are going to constantly work against reductionism in our lives and I think they will help us have a full understanding of the question: “What does it mean to be able to say “to live is Christ”?

Go read John 14:1-6.

John 14:6 is one of those “popular verses” that we like to slap on coffee mugs and under inspirational pictures of sunsets and geese flying over a moose. Whether you grew up in the church or not, you’ve probably heard it some number of times. But what does it mean?

The Way
This is probably the easiest aspect of the answer to understand, while NONE of the aspects are easy to live out. The difference in a student and a follower (or disciple) is that a student learns what the teacher knows, but a follower learns to do what the master does. In other words, if you are ever going to claim like Paul does that “to live is Christ”, it’s going to take more than just believing Jesus died on a cross and rose from the grave and gives you a free, all expense paid vacation to Heaven when you die. It requires that you model His actions and live in the way that He lived.

If you read the gospels and watch Jesus interact with society and His followers and respond mentally “wow that Jesus sure is neat” while running back to your life with no question as to how you should change, you’re in danger. You’re in danger of being a very religious Christian person, and not being a Christ follower. This is an unfortunately huge danger in our Bible-belt culture.
<> When you look at Jesus life, do you ask yourself what needs to change in your actions in order to be a reflection of Jesus?
<> Is your pursuit of Jesus purely academic/ritual, or are you allowing Him to transform your daily actions?
<> How much do you really know about what Jesus did?
(One of the best things for any follower of Jesus to do is to take a step back and look at the gospels. List out actions that we see Jesus doing (loving the poor, preaching the Word of God, confronting religious people, sacrificing to serve, breaking social norms, healing the sick, etc.) and then list out the actions you see yourself doing and compare the two lists.)

The Truth
This is not a popular aspect of following Jesus. The reason is that in a response to enlightenment culture, the church tried to figure God out into a whole bunch of formulas. To anyone with a brain, that doesn’t work well. God is bigger than our neat little formulas. BUT, that doesn’t mean that He isn’t true, and that He doesn’t make Himself knowable through His revelation and that He doesn’t contradict every world religion that teaches anything other than the fact that we need Jesus.

In order to follow Jesus you have to follow His model AND you have to trust that what He says is true. Sometimes they are hard things to accept are true because of what they mean for other people (i.e. the end of vs. 6 “no one comes to the Father, but through me.”) Sometimes they are hard things to accept are true because they contradict our feelings (i.e. Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God . . . “).

<> How much do you know about what Jesus says is true?
(Just like following in His Way, a simple study through the gospels looking for what He said was true would be awesomely good for you.)
<> Are there things Jesus said that you disagree with? When that is the case what should you do?
<> Are you willing to speak the truth to people (who agree and need a reminder or who disagree with Jesus)?

Here’s why this is such a HUGE issue. Hebrews 3:11 says “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Ultimately our enemies goal is not that we would fail morally and cheat on our wives or fail to raise our kids well (although he wants that very much). Ultimately our enemy wants to have a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from Jesus. That process begins with doubt that Jesus is truth.

The Life
If you followed obediently in the way and truth of Jesus you would be a pretty dang good Christian huh? You act like Jesus, you talk like Jesus, AND you think like Jesus!? Dang son. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He continues to say that He is the life. What is something without life? Dead. Please take careful note: You can waste your entire life trying to be exactly like Jesus, and you could memorize every doctrinal truth ever written in the scriptures and contend publicly for the truth of Jesus, and you could still be dead inside.

Go read John 10:1-18.
<> What does Jesus claim about Himself in vs. 7 and 10?
<> Have you entered by the gate that is Jesus? Have you come to a point in your life where you’ve put your whole hope and trust in Jesus as your only shot at life?
<> What does Jesus claim about His sheep in vs. 4?
<> Do you know His voice? Are you learning to hear Him in a daily way?

Jesus being our life has two main implications: 1.) At some point either He birthed new life in us or we are still dead and 2.) Either He is daily giving us life as we listen to His voice or we are continuing to walk walking in our old death (SIN).

Balance
If you just follow in the way of Jesus and agree with His truth, inevitably you’ll end up prideful because you think it’s based on what you do and think and not based on the life that He has given you and is giving you.

If you just follow in the way of Jesus and trust Him to provide your life, but don’t agree with what He says is true, you are confusing to everyone around you and eventually your own duplicity will cause you to have an unbelieving heart as you fall away from the true living God.

If you just think that Jesus is true and are assured of the life He is giving you, you become a lazy, religious person who has none of the impact that Jesus wants you to have in this world and you never look like Him.

So, go seek Him. Seek to follow His Way, to agree with His truth, and to live out of His life. “To live is Christ.” Get to it.

Wednesday

Week 3 – Wednesday – the Source of Hope

Hopeful Rejoicing
We need to back up a verse and check out Paul’s motivation for his hope that he will never be ashamed but he will continue to exalt Christ.

Go read Philippians 1:18-30. Focus on vs. 18 through 20.
<> What does Paul say he is busy doing at the very end of vs. 18?
<> What causes you to rejoice? When was the last time that something happened in your life that caused you to well up with joy and praise Jesus with thanksgiving?
<> What does Paul say is the reason he is rejoicing and will continue to rejoice?

I love Paul’s HOPE. Read the last five words from vs. 18. Paul says, “I’m already rejoicing because Christ is going to preach, and I’m not going to quit rejoicing.” And as much as I love the hope evident in Paul, I love even more the reasons he lists for his hopeful rejoicing.

Faithful Prayer
We haven’t even gotten out of chapter one yet and we’ve had four entire posts about the nature of the relationships we have and need to have with other followers of Jesus. Let’s add a new characteristic. Paul says that his rejoicing stems from two places: the prayer of other believers and the help of the Holy Spirit. For far too many of us, we value both of those too little. If I was honest, they seem imbalanced. “Holy Spirit helps me out; AWESOME! My friends are praying for me . . . who cares?”
<> Why does Paul care so much that his friends in Philippi are praying for Him?
<> Who cares that people pray? Why does it matter?
<> Write a brief description of how you pray. How often? What are the circumstances? What does it reveal about your trust in God?

Go read Matthew 7:7-11.
(A quick disclaimer: If your response to this passage is “Nuh-uh, I prayed for something and it didn’t happen.” Then there are a few things to consider. First, Hebrews 3:12 says “take care brothers, lest there should be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God.” Second, Matthew 7:11 says “. . . how much more will your Father who is in heaven give WHAT IS GOOD to those who ask Him!” The implication is that He knows better than you do and sometimes you pray for DUMB stuff that would destroy you, even if you think it is good.)

There are so many texts on prayer that we are not going to go into. It’d be a good study to do on your own. (James 1:5-8, 4:1-3, Matthew 6:1-34 are good places to start and you can just biblegateway.com search for pray or prayer to keep going for about the next two years.)

Here’s the deal; being surrounded by people who are willing to pray for you faithfully is a huge encouragement for a few reasons: 1.) God listens to the requests of His children. 2.) If Satan’s goal is to create in us a faithless unbelieving heart, then knowing that someone else has enough faith to pray for us can be the most encouraging thing possible.
<> Do you have people in your life who you now would stop everything and pray for you if you asked them to?
<> What kind of encouragement is it when you are going through something hard and someone tells you they’ve been praying for you?


The Help of the Holy Spirit
We don’t talk about the Holy Spirit enough. Too much of the time we get weirded out by people who claim the Holy Spirit makes them fall backwards or yell out impossible to understand noises. The truth is the Holy Spirit is awesome. Seriously.

Read John 14:25-26
<> What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?
(The word Counselor also means Helper. It’s the same title God gave Eve in the garden when He said, “I will make a helper suitable for him.” [Gen. 2:18] Dudes, if you want a wife, you want the Holy Spirit.)

Read Romans 8:26-28
<> What does the Holy Spirit do for us?
<> How humbling and encouraging is it to realize that even when we don’t know how to say what we want the Holy Spirit is interceding for us?

Paul writes to the church in Philippi and tells them there are too reasons why I hope and rejoice and I’m not going to stop. First off, you guys are praying for me and secondly, the Holy Spirit is helping me. In other words, even isolated in this prison cell, I’m not alone. I’m never alone. I’m not fighting this battle on my own strength. Your prayers are advocating for me and so is the Holy Spirit of God. I’m doing alright.

Self-Analysis
<> How much and in what ways do you actively rely on the Holy Spirit in your life?
<> What gets in the way of trusting the Holy Spirit and asking for prayer?
<> How can you combat these distractions/hesitations?
<> Are you starting to see how Paul’s joy is founded, structured and defended?
<> What is the foundation of joy in your life?
<> Do you have good structures and defenses for your joy?

Friday

Week 3 – Tuesday – Avoiding Shame

Read Philippians 1:19-26
We're going to break this part down and unpack it a good bit. Reread vs. 20.
<> What does Paul hope will not happen?
<> According to the verse what would count as shame in Paul’s book?
<> What causes you to feel ashamed?

One Shame from One Goal:
Paul says I eagerly hope and expect that I will not be ashamed but instead that Christ will be exalted in my entire life. In other words, Paul says that the only thing that can put him to shame is if his life does not exalt Christ. Paul has one goal: that the daily decisions, thoughts and actions of his life would all lift Christ’s name higher no matter what the cost.
<> Considering what makes you feel ashamed, what does that reveal about your main goal in life?
<> What would you have to change in your heart for your only shame to be if the sum total of your life didn’t exalt Jesus?

Following Jesus is not about a one-time decision, or semi-regular experiences or a head-knowledge belief system that has no daily expression. Following Jesus is about daily surrender and submission to Christ’s will being better than your will. It is daily dying to your selfish desires, sinful attitudes and ignorance in order to follow Christ (Luke 9:23, 1 Peter 1:14-15). When you narrow the focus of your life to one goal, even menial tasks can be thought of and conducted in ways that glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31-32).

The Cost of Avoiding Shame:
<> In Philippians 1:20, what does Paul say it will require for him to not be ashamed?
<> Why does it require courage to exalt Jesus no matter what?
<> What does the end of vs. 20 reveal as a very real threat to Paul?

The truth of the matter is that following Christ costs. Obedience costs us our desires. Accepting grace costs us our pride. Love costs us everything. This is one of the simplest truths that Jesus teaches on the cross. Love costs. Grace costs. Obedience costs. Paul writes that his one hope is that in his body, Christ would be exalted whether by life or by death. That is an amazingly huge and beautiful goal for life. Whether I die in this prison, or whether I continue to life, I pray that I would not be ashamed, but that in everything I will exalt Jesus. There is a way to live that exalts Jesus and a way to die that exalts Jesus and there are thousands of ways to live and die that do not.
<> How does your life exalt Jesus?
<> Where does that rank on the meta-priority list of your life?
<> In what ways do you need to repent and follow Paul’s example?

Week 3 – Monday – Responding to Teachers

Read Philippians 1:12-18 
(Six verses in one day. That almost doesn’t seem possible.) 
<> What is Paul’s tone throughout this passage? 
<> Who are the characters in the passage? How is each group responding to Paul? What is each group of people doing? 

The Palace Guard: 
<> What is Paul’s environment as he’s writing this letter? 

Paul never stopped looking for opportunities. To the guards who took care of him, it didn’t take long to realize that his imprisonment had nothing to do with any crime and everything to do with his connection to Jesus Christ. This passage reminds me of the moment when Jesus went before Pontius Pilate. 

Read Mark 15:1-15. Now reread vs. 3-5 
Pilate is facing two very distinct uses of power. The Jewish leaders are playing the inside outside game, both hurling accusations at Jesus (vs. 3) and stirring up the crowd (vs. 11). They are using every bit of their power to crush their opponent. Then there’s Jesus: quietly surrendering His power in order to serve His opponents. “. . . and Pilate was amazed.” In the face of imprisonment, Paul is not sorrowful. He’s not angry or frustrated. He’s not trying to start a revolt. He’s joyful. And He won’t stop talking about this Jesus guy. “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”
<> This might sound weird, but what power do you have in this world? What influence do you have?
<> Do you willingly lay down this power to serve or do you abuse it for your own benefit? 

Roman Brothers: (vs. 14-18) 
<> How are Paul’s brothers in Rome responding to His imprisonment? 
<> Why does Paul’s imprisonment encourage boldness in His brothers? 
<> What could possibly cause these two groups? 
(It’s kind of a confusing question/situation. Feel free to check out some commentaries. Borrow one from a friendly local pastor or check some out on the internet.) 
<> What is the bottom line for Paul? 

At first glance this is a very confusing passage to me. Philosophically speaking, utilitarian, bottom-line, end justifies the means doesn’t seem to line up with Scripture as a whole. Hebrews 4:12 says Scripture “judges the hearts and attitudes of the heart.” That doesn’t sound like the end justifies the means. Here are my questions: 
<> Why is Paul so pumped despite the fact that some people are preaching the gospel with horrible motives? 
<> Why doesn’t Paul rebuke them like he does to me all the time? 
<> Does this passage really mean that televangelists and criminals who abuse the gospel of Jesus in order to make money are cool by Paul’s account? 

Here’s my take on it: I don’t think Paul is saying as long as the gospel goes forward by any means necessary it’s cool with Him. I think He’s saying that as long as the gospel is preached, our reaction can be joyous. In other words, I don’t think he’s giving anyone a license to sin, but I think he’s challenging the way we respond to people who teach the gospel. Regardless of any personal questions we have about their lives or motivations, we should rejoice in the fact that the true gospel is being preached. If you have personal problems with someone you have two joyful options: confront them in love if you know them personally or pray for them.

In Summary: 
1.) When a follower of Jesus suffers willingly and joyously for the sake of the gospel, rejoice because God uses that to spread the gospel. 
2.) When someone preaches the true gospel with bad motives, praise Jesus that the gospel goes forward and pray that He would change their heart. 
3.) When someone preaches the true gospel with good motives, praise Jesus. 
4.) When someone preaches false gospel, oppose it, ask Jesus to shut their mouth and pray against deception for people who are listening.

Thursday

Week 2 – Saturday – Pure and Blameless

Reread Philippians 1:1-11
<> Roughly how many times have you read this passage at this point?
<> Have you started to naturally memorize any of it?

<> Are you seeing life-change as a result of these devotionals or are you just feeling smart and self-righteous because you’re so good at being religious?


Goal #2: Pure and Blameless

Stop for just a second and consider Paul’s second goal of real love. It’s NOT SMALL. Notice that he doesn’t say, “I hope you’re getting MORE pure and some what LESS blameful than you used to be.” He doesn’t use relative terms. He uses absolutes. I hope that pure and blameless would be two concrete descriptions of your life. This goal’s magnitude and gravity grow when you consider who you are and what the two words pure and blameless actually mean.


Pure:
The original Greek use of this word described a process employed to test clay pots. Clay pots often contained small cracks and merchants would use wax to fill the cracks. The problem is wax is a poor replacement for clay. It hides the hole well but it creates a weakness in the pot’s integrity. To ensure the solidarity, pots would be held up to a source of light that revealed wax filled cracks.
<> Are there any areas of your life that God has been holding up to the light to reveal to you wax-filled cracks?
<> Are there areas of your life that you are refusing to talk to God about because you know He would reveal wax-filled cracks?


Read John 1:1-18

<> Who is the Word?

<> According to vs. 4 what two things were in the Word?


Jesus has an amazingly exposing effect on our lives. He continually pushes and digs deeper into our hearts than we want Him to and reveals our weaknesses. The problem is too many of us have tried to fix our own cracks and have created weaknesses that will be exposed when put to the test. Jesus doesn’t want to put a band-aid on your deep issues. He wants to heal them. He’s a master potter so to speak. He wants you to be a new pot without cracks, not a duct-tape held together ready to bust pot.
<> Have you been trying to fix broken areas of your life instead of allowing Jesus to heal you and provide the help you need?

<> Why do we try to fix ourselves?

<> What are weak spots in your life that Jesus wants to heal completely.
<> How does this require discernment?


Blameless:
Go read 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
The word blameless is the same idea as being above reproach from 1 Timothy 3. The idea is that you would live your life in a way that if someone accused you of sin, everybody around would laugh at the notion. This is not an easy task nor is it one that happens overnight. Being blameless has everything to do with consistency.

<> Are there areas of your life that could be easily accused because of a careless lifestyle?


Like being pure, being blameless requires intense amounts of discerning what is best. Just because an action, environment or situation is permissible does not mean that it is beneficial. Too often, this idea has been taken to mean in traditional churches, that you are not allowed to go anywhere questionable (You know, places where sinners go). This is preposterous. 1 Timothy 3:7 says you “should have a good reputation with those outside the church” and you can’t grow your reputation with un-churched people if you never hang out with them.

Being above reproach or blameless is all about living an OPEN BOOK life. I’m not hiding anything and I’m not trying to hide anything. This is what I stand for. People who know me and love me dearly know when I’m in a dangerous environment. People who don’t know Jesus know that I don’t love sin the same way that they do and they know the reason is because I love Jesus.

<> Are there areas of your life that you aren’t exposing to the light?

<> Do you live an open book life?

Week 2 – Friday – Discerning What is best

Read Philippians 1:9-11
In these few verses Paul lists out 4 distinct goals for his prayer that the church of Philippi would be full of real love that abounds more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. Three of the goals are personal tangible changes in their lives and one is more of an indirect result of the other three. We’re going to spend the few days talking about these goals.
< > What are the three personal tangible change type goals of love?
(Hint: two are in vs. 10 and one is in vs. 11.)

<> Do you see these goals taking shape in your life?


Before we talk about them anymore, take some time to pray that God would continue working these goals out in your life.


Goal #1: Discerning what is Best

Discernment is the ability to differentiate between the truth and a lie. It is made up of open eyes and ears to hear and see reality and a well-trained mind that recognizes deception. It is an incredibly important gift for a number of reasons. If you haven’t been paying attention, the culture we live in is somewhat addicted to lies. Our enemy has a certain gift for fooling humans into believing things that are completely opposed to the truth of God. Without discernment, we will fall for crafty false teachings and interpretations of Scripture that ultimately glorify us instead of God. (2 Peter 2:1-3)


Along with false teachers, discernment helps you avoid the danger of wasting your life. I love the phrase Paul uses in Phil. 1:10; “able to discern what is best.” Discerning what is best goes beyond avoiding false teaching and sin, diving straight into the core of our heart’s motivations. When you understand that God has bought you at the price of Christ’s blood on the cross and has called you personally (and us communally) into His mission, many things that are morally-neutral just aren’t worth our time anymore. There can even be GOOD things in our lives that aren’t BEST. They aren’t what God has specifically called us to.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 and 10:23-24

<> Are there things in your life that you are allowing to master you?

<> Why does Paul reference sexual immorality specifically in chapter 6?

<> What are some permissible things that you are allowing to consume large amounts of your life that really aren’t beneficial?
<> How is discernment a result of real love?

Love that Grows Discernment
At the end of the day, we are NOT able to discern what is best for our lives without help. This help is completely the result of Jesus being at work in our lives and He gave a regular tool that He plans to use: other Christians who are willing to speak the truth into your life. As they do, we grow in our ability to recognize our own sin faster, to repent faster and to ask for help faster. When you really love people towards Jesus you should not only help them see what is true for their life RIGHT NOW, but also how to see it coming in the future.
<> Do you have people in your life who are willing to speak the truth in love?
<> If so, have you willingly invited them to do so? If not, when are you planning on willingly inviting some godly people to do so?
<> Have you taken time to thank people who regularly speak the truth in love to you?

<> How do you see God growing your discernment as a result of their correction?

LifeGroup Creative Idea – Relational Apathy Repentance

Question:
Has the Holy Spirit convicted you of anything you need to confront someone about in love?

Action:

Have everyone write down anything they need to say and who they need to say to it. Individually: pray for repentance for your inaction and lack of love. Group: without talking about anyone’s situation and risking gossip, commit to praying for each other and approaching the situation before the next time your LifeGroup hangs out. Follow up with each other and celebrate where God brings repentance and reconciliation. Continue to pray if any of the confrontation does not go well.

Tuesday

Week 2 – Thursday – A Loving Family

Go read Philippians 1:7-11
Now go read Ephesians 4:11-16

<> Who are given the responsibility to perform works of service?

<> What is the end goal of these works of service?

<> Go back to last Saturday’s personal study – what are areas in your life that are not yet matured to the “whole measure of the fullness of Christ”?

<> What are the two possibilities for our church family according to Eph. 4:14-15?


A Difficult Task:
Speaking the truth in love is never an easy task. There are huge self-heart-analysis issues that need to be addressed. There is pride and incorrect assumptions that need to be accounted for and prayed against. The entire notion of speaking with grace when someone is walking in sin is not an easy or natural concept. Our natural emotions are sadness or anger; hurt, surprise and frustration. I haven’t even mentioned the actual part about looking someone in the face and telling them that part of their life is against what God’s Word says is His will for their life. Speaking the truth in love takes nerve; Nerves that are lined with love and grace and courage – nerves that are sensitive to the Spirit and the ability of someone to receive correction and the form that rebuke needs to come in. I’m not trying to scare you off. I’m trying to help you understand some things:
1.) You’re probably going to blow it the first time you try it.

2.) You will get better with practice and consistent obedience.

3.) You will learn over time when you are being legalistic and when the Holy Spirit is prodding you to say something.

4.) YOU MUST BE CAREFUL AND PRAYERFUL. PLEASE DO THIS.


Go reread Eph. 4:13 and 15

<> What is the result of speaking the truth in love?


Growing Towards Jesus:

The most beautiful thing about learning speaking the truth in love is that we all grow towards Jesus as a result. Vs. 13 says that the goal is that we would be built up in our faith and knowledge in Jesus and vs. 15 says this happens WHEN we speak then truth in love to each other. Reconciliation between people is a secondary goal and benefit of rebuke and correction. Growing towards Jesus is the ultimate goal. The reason this is beautiful is that according to vs. 16, when we are all connected to Him we learn how to build ourselves up in love. We will never properly operate as a family until individually we are connected to Jesus, the head and until all of us little body parts learn to do our part and to tell each other the truth.

<> When has someone confronted you in a way that helped you grow towards Jesus?
<> What was your initial reaction to their confrontation?

<> Has anyone confronted you about an area of your life that you are refusing to deal with Jesus about?


Balance:
One of the reasons that speaking the truth in love is such a difficult task is because it requires GREAT amounts of balance. There are seemingly thousands of factors to call into play and it’s situations like these that help us understand why Suggestion #4 isn’t a suggestion. IT’S A DESPERATE PLEA. If you don’t pray through the task of correcting someone in love, you will almost surely ruin the situation, say the wrong thing, and do it all with a prideful ignorant attitude. This attitude is almost never responded to in a beneficial way. Another issue of balance is that speaking the truth in love does not ONLY speak to issues of confrontation, correction and rebuke. It also speaks to regularly encouraging and praising and recognizing Jesus at work in people. In other words, speaking the truth in love can’t ONLY happen when someone is screwing up. If this is the case they will assume that you hate them, and are watching them waiting for them to make a mistake. You earn a stage with someone by loving them and walking through life with them. The more regularly you speak truth of all kinds (good, mundane, bad) and the more often you demonstrate love (sacrifice, hanging out with them, random acts of kindness, random gifts, etc.), the easier it will be to confront that person with VERY difficult truth. Real Love is awesome.
<> How can you develop balance in the way you communicate in your relationships? Are you capable of pulling this off on your own?

<> Do you generally struggle more with speaking the truth or being loving? Are you more of an angry person or a pansy?

<> How often do you take the time to tell and show people how much you love them?

Saturday

Week 2 – Wednesday – Partakers of Grace

Go read Philippians 1:7-11

I love the phrase Paul uses in Philippians 1:7. Paul references the two main environments he has been finding himself in recently: 1.) prison and 2.) defending and confirming the gospel. And then he says that in both environments the church of Philippi has shared in God’s grace with Paul.

<> What are the main environments you find yourself in?


Remember the way we talked about grace one week ago on Wednesday. We briefly touched on the fact that grace is a much bigger, much more inclusive concept than just accepting the fact that God has erase your sin from His memory and covered it with the blood of Jesus Christ (sidenote: WHICH IS FLIPPIN’ HUGE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.) Paul just expanded the realm of grace to two specific areas:


Suffering and Ministry

Here’s what Paul’s saying, “This time while I’ve been stuck in prison – GRACE. Oh yeah, and when I’m out there on the streets preaching the gospel of Jesus – Yeah, that’s grace too.”

<> Have you ever suffered for the gospel in any way?

<> Have you ever felt persecution or pressure to stop believing and ministering the gospel of Jesus?


While we’ll get into more details later in the book, Paul just called his imprisonment for the gospel the grace of God. That doesn’t connect with our brains at all. Our American brains are so centered around the idea that we are central to the universe; God’s grace is only that which makes our lives easy, comfortable and pleasant. THIS IS NOT A BIBLICAL IDEA.
(sidenote: If you like this idea, you can tune into any number of televangelists regularly and listen to them confirm this lie in you over and over. God wants you to be wealthy and healthy. Blah, blah, blah; lie, lie, lie.)

<> In what regards have you experienced ministry in your life?

<> Have you vocationally or personally taken intentional effort to pour into people you love and see them grow closer to Jesus?

<> Was there any hardship or frustration in that process or was it a cakewalk?

<> How often do you check out and remember the fact that it’s God’s grace to be involved in His ministry?

<> Do you regularly take time to re-center on the initial grace God showed you as your motivation to continue in ministry?

Week 2 – Tuesday – Affection that Hurts

Let’s revisit Paul’s emotional connection to the church of Philippi that we talked about yesterday. The term affection refers to internal organs. Paul is communicating to this church plant, “I love you so much it hurts. I get a little queezy inside when I think about how much I care for you.”

<> Have you ever loved someone so much that it hurt?


Honestly I can only think of two types of relationships that involve this kind of emotional intensity: A spouse’s love and a parent’s love for a child.
(If you are coming from a broken marriage or family, please work with me here: Do everything you can to turn off your own experience regarding the pain of divorce and think on how you wish your spouse or parents had loved you.)

There’s a reason why these are the two types of relationships that come to mind: They are the two main relational pictures God uses for His love for us.
This is not the only time Paul references affection that hurts.

Go read Romans 12:9-15.

<> Is vs. 15 a prescription or a description? Does Paul command them to act in a certain way or talk about the way they are all acting?

<> Why does Paul say to mourn with those who mourn?


When following Jesus there is a certain assumption that trial and suffering are on the way. Jesus promised it in John 15:18-20. So as we follow Jesus in a community of believers, there is an assumption that those close to us are going to hurt at regular intervals. In those moments, the questions is will you walk through the pain with them and “mourn with those who mourn” or will you walk away because it hurts too much?


Before you get all defensive or cowardly, remember that Jesus is our model for this kind of affection that risks pain. Aren’t you glad that Jesus was willing to love you no matter what pain it cost Him?

<> Who are people in your life that you have chosen to love no matter what it costs?

<> Are there any areas of your life where you have failed to walk through someone else’s pain with them and you need to repent?

(** BE CAREFUL: The overreaction to apathy is a messiah complex where you think your ability to love is the answer to everyone’s problems. You will burn out. Your pride will fail. You are not the answer. Jesus is. So, learn how to rely on Him and follow His leading as He walks helps you love people through pain.)

Extra Resources – Audio Sermon - Matt Chandler

For an incredibly interesting perspective on love
go check out Matt Chandler’s Sermon “Sex – Week 2 – Rhythm”

http://www.thevillagechurch.net/resources/audio/20050522AA01S_MattChandler_SexPt2-Rhythm.mp3

Matt is the pastor of the Village Church in Highlands Village, Texas and is one of the most solid Bible teachers in the country.

Week 2 - Monday - Feeling this Way

Read Philippians 1

After his magnum thesis, Paul continues the letter with an interesting defense of his affection for the church of Philippi: Read Philippians 1:7.

<> What are the two reasons Paul gives for why he feels the way he does about their church?

Emotional Connection:

If you had to categorize the two reasons, “because I have you in my heart” ranks up their with some of the most emotional things my mom has ever said to me (We’ll talk about reason #2 in two days). It’s not exactly a logical statement. It sounds like a Hallmark greeting. It reminds me of trips to my mom’s house where she starts crying on day one because she’s going to miss me when I leave. I’m only teasing Paul because of my insecurity and jealousy of course. Check out Philippians 1:8 for his full explanation.
<> When’s the last time you told any of your friends that you “long for them”?

<> What amazingly powerful claim does Paul make in vs. 8 about his affection for the church at Philippi?


At the point when you claim God as your witness and then tell someone that you long for them with the affection of Jesus Christ, you’re ready to get married. That’s an INTENSE emotional affection Paul is referencing.

<> What is the affection of Jesus Christ?

<> How much does Jesus care about those He loves?
(Think about how He evidenced His love: Matthew 27:33-54, etc. Romans 5:8)

<> Have you cared about anyone in a way that rivals this kind of affection?


Choosing to Care:

Most of the time we think that we just “fall” for people. Our natural chemistry with certain personalities is the only thing that dictates who we will care about. This is an exceedingly shallow view of love.


Read Matthew 5:43-48.

> What does Jesus have to say about only loving people who are like us?

<> What is evidenced when you start to love people who aren’t like you?


I’m not talking about the pathetic, weak tolerance of humanism that says “EVERYBODY is awesome so you should like everybody and believe what they believe and fail them utterly at a soul level by refusing to speak the truth to them.” That’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is choosing to care about people because God chose to care about us: Despite our ridiculous failures. Despite the way we had cheated on Him. He loved us anyway.


<> When we consider the cross and the affection of Christ Jesus, what excuses do we have to withhold love from anyone?