Mission report 2: Christ-likeness and coworking
Philippians 2:12-30
I. Introduction.
Continue with Phil. 2 where you left off last time, and be sure to work thru all the major points from the last Bible study that you didn't cover (SB#3). If by some fluke or miracle you got thru all the material, touch on the major points again to make sure people understand it, clarify things, and encourage some sharing on these points.
Phil. 2:1-18 is an important and deep passage, so be sure to cover and/or review the main points, their importance for our lives, and how they relate to each other and their context:
II. Philippians 2:19-30
Think about the negative examples that Paul mentions in v21.
What kind of people do you think Paul is referring to?
What does this kind of self-interest look like? How does it harm the working of a fellowship or church like ours?
What does it mean to to put our interests ahead of Christ? To put Jesus Christ ahead of our own interests?
Do our lives conform to the correct standard? How so?
Describe the relationship between Paul and Timothy, based on this passage.
Describe the relationship between Paul and Epaphroditus.
How were these guys helpful to Paul and to other Christians? Why does Paul commend them?
Can you think of some Timothy's or Epy's in your life? What were they like, and how did they help you? How can you be a Tim or Epy to others?
How do the commands to be like Christ affect how we serve and work in the church or fellowship?
What spiritual qualifications are necessary for serving as a coworker in the fellowship, especially in the light of this chapter?
Notes.
v19. Paul intends to send Timothy from him in Rome to Philippi to check on the church that Paul founded.
v24. Paul is optimistic about his release in the forseeable future reasonable if he is just under house arrest.
v25. In English, we usually put the main stress on the 3rd syllable of the name: Epaphroditus. A few people may stress the 4th syllable, but that sounds unpleasant to my literary ears.
III. Sharing task or activity. [optional]
Paul wrote this as a missions report to the church in Philippi. How does it differ from a missions report that you might get from your favorite missionary?
Now your task as a small group leader is to have everyone spend about 15 minutes writing his/her own "missions report" to another Christian. They may address it to whatever Christian friend(s) they like. Ask your group members to not only include encouragements and such, but sharing about what God has been doing in their lives, and how they need to grow more. After each person has written his/her letter, have each person share the main points to the group. This sharing can form the basis of prayer requests for your final sharing and prayer.
IV. Prayer.
Share and pray for yourselves, each other, and the whole fellowship, for our Christ-likeness, not only individually, but as coworkers and co-servants of the Lord.