Guest speaker, John McKendricks, shares from the book of Acts where Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. While there, a great earthquake happened where all the prisoners’ shackles fell of and doors were opened – yet everyone stayed and, as a result, the jailer came to know the Lord. John states there’s a lot of earthquakes going on in today’s environment, making us a bit insecure. Shaking needs to happen so God’s treasures can come out. While our sensibilities tell us to leave, it takes great maturity to stick things out and then reap the rewards. Where in your life are things being shaken up?
Digging Deeper into Philippians 2: 5-8
- Read Philippians 2: 5-6.
The New Testament is quite clear, Jesus has existed as God from eternity. Look up Hebrews 1: 1-3 and then John 1: 1-3 and discuss what you can learn about Christ’s preexistence as God. - Read Philippians 2: 6-8 below and discuss the significance of the words in “quotes”.
- though he existed in the “form” of God,
“He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”
but “He emptied” himself, by “taking the form of a servant”, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
“he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
- In light of Jesus humility, how should we carry out Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2: 3-4.
Digging Deeper into Philippians 1:27-2:5
- Survey through the following verses and define what it looks like to live worthy of the Gospel. How do you do this without falling into legalism or self-righteousness.
•Philippians 1: 27; Ephesians 4: 1-3; Colossians 1: 10;
1 Thessalonians 2: 12; 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12 - Talk through each verse in Philippians 1: 27-30 and determine what unity is and how it affects our ministry in the world. Make sure you discuss what it means for a church to have “one mind.”
- From Philippians 2: 2-4, define what humility looks like in your day to day life. Brainstorm how we can put this into practice in our church and community.
Digging Deeper into Philippians 1:12-26
- Paul has been in jail for between 2-4 years. Some would say that he had blown it by appealing to Caesar; he could still be free to proclaim Christ if he hadn’t. From Philippians 1:12-18, what is Paul’s attitude about his imprisonment and the advancement of the Gospel? What does this say about God’s power to accomplish His purposes even when our plans are greatly altered?
- Read Philippians 1:19-26
-Discuss what Paul mean by “to live is Christ!”
-Again, discuss what Paul mean by “to die is gain!” - To what degree are these two succinct sayings reflective of your walk with Christ and of our relationship with one another?
Cornerstone Church