GRACE TO YOU; GRACE BE WITH YOU: Philippians 4:23

OUTLINE

I. Think on the PRAYER-GUIDING grace we have received in this book!

II. Think on the SIN-CRUSHING grace we have received in this letter!

III. Think on the HEART-LIFTING grace we have received in this epistle!

IV. Think on the MISSION-FUELING grace we have received in this letter!

V. Think primarily on THE SURPASSING WORTH OF KNOWING CHRIST that we have been reminded of in this epistle!

IN CHRIST, THINGS ARE NEW: Philippians 4:21-22

OUTLINE

I. In Christ, you have new fellows—fellow believers who cherish you

II. In Christ, you have a new identity—SAINT

III. In Christ, you have a new Family—BROTHERS AND SISTERS

IV. In Christ, you have a new King—CHRISTOS KYRIOS

DISCUSSION

1. What should we learn from the final greetings in verses 21-22?

GOD WILL SUPPLY EVERY NEED: Philippians 4:19-20

OUTLINE

I. You can give generously because EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS DONE TO THE SAINTS IS AN ACT DONE TO GOD HIMSELF (v. 19a)

II. You can give generously because GOD HAS PROMISED TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS (v. 19b)

III. You can give generously because YOUR FATHER HAS A NEVER ENDING SUPPLY OF GLORIOUS WEALTH IN CHRIST JESUS (v. 19c)

IV. You can give generously because YOUR JOB IS TO GLORIFY GOD AND GOD’S JOB IS TO GLORIFY HIMSELF BY MEETING YOUR NEEDS (v. 20)

DISCUSSION

1. According to verse 19, what is the promise given to the generous Philippians?

2. What is the ultimate goal of all such generosity, according to verse 20?

WHY WE GIVE: Philippians 4:17-18

OUTLINE

I. GIVING IS NOT ABOUT THE GIFT AS MUCH AS THE ONE IT IS GIVEN TO—NAMELY, GOD (v. 17a)

II. GIVING PRODUCES HAPPINESS BOTH FOREVER AND NOW (v. 17b)

III. GIVING MUST MAINLY BE FOR THE ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL AND FOR THOSE IN NEED (v. 18a)

IV. GIVING IS TO BE A SWEET FRAGRANCE TO GOD (v. 18b)

V. GIVING IS TO BE A SACRIFICE TO GOD (v. 18c)

VI. GIVING IS ACCEPTABLE AND PLEASING TO GOD (v. 18d)

DISCUSSION

1. What does Paul not mean in verse 17? What does he mean? How does Matthew 6:20 help clarify?

2. Read verse 18. What were the Philippians gifts to Paul? What were the gifts before God? What do we learn here concerning Christian generosity?

MISSIONARIES NEED CHURCHES AS PARTNERS: Philippians 4:14-16

OUTLINE

  1. Missionaries are sent and supplied in obedience to Christʼs command in the Great Commission
    (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
  2. Missionaries are either Church-Planters or Church- Strengtheners, sometimes both
    (Ti. 1:5, 2 Tim. 2:2)
  3. Missionaries should be approved, sent, and supplied by local churches (Acts 13:3)
  4. Missionaries should be accountable to local churches
    (Acts 14:27)
  5. Missionaries should meet the same qualifications as pastors, because they are pastors (Eph. 4:11, 1 Tim. 3, Ti. 1)
  6. Missionaries are sent and supplied for the sake of Christʼs name among the nations (Rom. 1:5, 2 Jn. 7)
  7. Missions exists because worship does not
    (1 Chron. 16:31, Is. 4996, Rev. 599-12)

I. MISSIONARIES NEED CHURCHES TO SHARE THEIR TROUBLES BY MEETING THEIR NEEDS (vv. 14, 16)

II. CHURCHES MUST PARTNER WITH MISSIONARIES BECAUSE SENDING FINANCIALLY IS JUST AS VITAL AS GOING PHYSICALLY (v. 15)

III. MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE TREATED MORE LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER AND LESS LIKE A BEGGAR (v. 16)

IV. MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED EVEN AT GREAT COST TO THE SAINTS (2 Cor. 8:1-3)

DISCUSSION

1. In verses 14-16, Paul is clarifying his gratefulness for the Philippians’ generosity. What did they do for him? How does 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 shed further light on their generous spirit?

2. How does Acts 16 help us understand what Paul is referencing in verse 15?

YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS: Philippians 4:13 (pt 2)

OUTLINE

  1. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT.
  2. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
  3. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD.
  4. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.
  5. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT GLORIFY GOD.
  6. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT ENJOY GOD.
  7. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT WORSHIP GOD.
  8. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT STAND FIRM IN SUFFERING.
  9. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT STAND FIRM FOR THE TRUTH.
  10. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT BE CONTENT WITH GOD’S PROVIDENCE.
  11. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH CONFIDENCE.
  12. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT BE FREE FROM SIN.
  13. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING BUT SIN.
  14. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION.
  15. Apart from being united to Christ by faith & strengthened by Him, YOUR VERY MEMORY WILL BE SOUR.
  16. Apart from being united to Christ by faith & strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT SURVIVE THE JUDGEMENT.

YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS: Philippians 4:13 (pt 1)

OUTLINE

I. PHIL. 4:13 DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS THROUGH CHRIST (Phil. 4:10-12)

II. PHIL. 4:13 MEANS YOU CAN BE CONTENT NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE—YOU CAN FACE ALL THINGS WITH HAPPINESS AS YOU GLORIFY GOD

III. APART FROM CHRIST YOU CAN DO NO GOOD THING (Jn. 15:5)

IV. IN CHRIST YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS GOOD (Phil. 4:13)

DISCUSSION

1. According to verse 13, what is “the secret of facing” all the things mentioned in verse 12? What exactly does Paul mean? What does he not mean?

THE SECRET TO FACING ALL THINGS WITH JOY: Philippians 4:10-13

OUTLINE

I. SINFUL DISCONTENTMENT IS A COMMON DISGRACE

II. CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT IS A RARE JEWEL (v.11c)

III. CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT IS A DIVINE ART TO BE LEARNED (v.11b-12)

IV. THE SECRET TO LEARNING AND PRACTICING CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT: GET STRENGTH FROM CHRIST (v.13)

DISCUSSION

1. Read verse 10. Why did Paul “[rejoice] in the Lord greatly”? What exactly is he referring to?

2. In verse 11, what is Paul quick to clarify? What does it mean “to be content”? Are you content in whatever situation? How can you grow in Christian contentment?

3. Read verse 12. What does Paul know how to do? What do each of these mean? What is he getting at?

4. According to verse 13, what is “the secret of facing” all the things mentioned in verse 12? What exactly does Paul mean? What does he not mean?

WE MUST STAND FIRM BY DOING: Philippians 4:9

OUTLINE

I. YOU MUST STAND FIRM BY DOING (v.9a)

II. GOD MUST CALM YOU WITH HIS PRESENCE (v.9b)

DISCUSSION

I. What is the last “[final]” exhortation Paul gives in this section, according to verse 9? What promise is given to those who “practice these things”?

WE MUST STAND FIRM BY THINKING: Philippians 4:8

OUTLINE

I.You must meditate on whatever is TRUE
(factual, legal evidence)

II. You must meditate on whatever is HONORABLE
(revered, venerable, dignified, respectable)

III. You must meditate on whatever is JUST
(righteous, holy, Phil 1:7 “it is ‘right’ for me to think this way)

IV. You must meditate on whatever is PURE
(clean, innocent)

V. You must meditate on whatever is LOVELY
(acceptable, pleasing)

VI. You must meditate on whatever is COMMENDABLE
(well spoken of, of good report, good-fame)

VII. You must meditate on any EXCELLENCE
(moral excellence)

VIII. You must meditate on anything is PRAISEWORTHY
(worth that leads you to praise)

DISCUSSION

I. What is the first of the “[final]” exhortations Paul gives in this section, according to verse 8? How can you better “think about these things” day to day?

Ekklesia Muskogee is a reformed baptist church that gathers for worship in Muskogee, Oklahoma. We confess the 1689 second London baptist confession of faith. We affirm the five solas of the Reformation as well as the doctrines of grace (otherwise known as the five points of Calvinism), and each of our pastors would not be ashamed to be called a Calvinist. We are a church led by elders, of which there is a plurality (also called pastors and overseers in the Scriptures). Our mission is to make disciples, love cities, and plant churches.