Philippians InJoy the Journey

Writers (1:1)Writers (1:1)  Paul  Persecutor of the Early Church (Acts 9:1-2)  Apostle/Missionary (Acts 9:15)  Church Planter (Acts 13:1ff)  Prisoner of Nero in Rome (Acts 28:16; Phil 1:13-14)

Writers (1:1)Writers (1:1)  Timothy  Paul’s “son” in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2)  Fellow missionary (Acts 16:1-4)  Pastor (1 & 2 Timothy)  Prison companion (2 Timothy 4:9-13)

Recipients (1:1)  All the Saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi with the Elders and Deacons  City  Economic basis in agriculture  Commercial footing on sliver and gold mines  Located at strategic pass between Europe and Asia  Roman colony as of 168 B.C.

Recipients (1:1)  All the Saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi with the Elders and Deacons  Church  Founded in Acts 16 on 2nd missionary journey  First church planted by Paul in Europe  First Converts: Lydia, slave girl, Roman Jailer

Relationships (1:3-8)  Persecution from the City Acts 16:22-24; 1 Thessalonians 2:2  Friendship with the Saints Acts 16:14-15; Philippians 1:7-8  Fellowservice with the Saints 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Philippians 1:3-6

Reasons  To Thank the Philippians  For Epaphroditus (2:25-30)  For Financial Support (4:10-18)

Reasons  To Encourage the Philippians  To Maintain Joy (16 times) (1:4; 2:2; 3:1; 4:1)  To Maintain a Joyful Mind (8 times) (1:27; 2:5; 4:7-8)

Reasons  To Appeal to the Philippians  To Maintain Fellowship, (1:5; 2:1; 3;10; 4:1)  To Maintain Fellowship “in Christ,” (7 times)

Theme Fellowservice in Christ Enables You to InJoy the Journey.

InJoying the Journey 1 Christ Our Purpose 2 Christ Our Pattern 3 Christ Our Prize 4 Christ Our Peace Committed Mind Conquered Mind Confident Mind Confident Mind InJoying through Suffering InJoying by Submission InJoying all of Salvation InJoying in Sufficiency

Service Lets You InJoy  Participate Joyfully in Suffering for Christ’s Sake, (1:1-11)  Participate Joyfully in Suffering for the Gospel’s Sake, (1:12-21)  Participate Joyfully in Suffering for Other’s Sake, (1:21-30)

Service Lets You InJoy  Practice the Pattern of Mutual Submission, (2:1-11)  Practice the Pattern of Sacrificial Service, (2:12-18)  Practice the Pattern of Submissive Servant-Leaders, (2:19-30)

Service Lets You InJoy  Praise Jesus Christ for Past Forgiveness, (3:1-14)  Praise Jesus Christ for Present Maturity, (3:15-21)

Service Lets You InJoy  Preserve Peace in Your Heart, (4:1-7)  Preserve Peace in Your Mind, (4:8-9)  Preserve Peace in Every Circumstance of Life, (4:10-23)

I’m InJoying my journey. Are you?

1 st Doll/Action Hero You Received

B. Optional Method McDonald’s Happy Meal

“Antz”

Optional Method “Life is a Journey, Enjoy the Ride”

Optional Method “Life is a Journey, Travel Light”

The Blind Man

DISCUSSION GUIDE 1. Where and when did Paul write the book of Philippians?

DISCUSSION GUIDE (cont.) 2.What were Paul’s first experiences in Philippi? a.(Acts 16:11-15) Lydia was converted and her household. She is the first recorded European convert. b. (Acts 16:16-21) Paul casts out a demon from a slave girl and is thrown in prison. c. (Acts 16:23-26) Paul and Silas display joy despite being beaten in jail. d. (Acts 16:27-31) Jailor and his household saved. e. (Acts 16:40) Paul encouraged the new converts before departing.

DISCUSSION GUIDE (cont.) 3.What was the purpose of Philippians? a. (Philippians 1:3)To offer support and encouragement with joy for the Christians. b. (Philippians 1:12)To give the people an update on his imprisonment c. (Philippians 2:1-2)To encourage the church to be unified d. (Philippians 2:19-20) To recommend Timothy to the people e. (Philippians 3:2-3)To head off false doctrine f. (Philippians 4:10)To thank the people for their concern

DISCUSSION GUIDE (cont.) 4.How does Paul refer to Timothy and himself in (verse 1)? As servants of the Lord. This term was used to describe a person in Paul’s day who had not rights, privileges or freedoms in any sphere of society outside the family to which they belonged. 5. What is the significance of this term as it relates to the Christian family? A Christian should be so committed to Christ that he/she has no rights outside of doing the Lord’s will and work. It also speaks to the unity in the family of God.

DISCUSSION GUIDE (cont.) 6. Who is Paul writing to? (verse1) All of the Christians in Philippi and the leaders of the church. 7. Describe the thankfulness of Paul for the Philippians. (verses 3-8) a. What was he thankful for?For his memories of them b. Attitude behind thankfulness Joy c. What was he confident of? They are staying true to Christ d. Why was he confident? They have stuck by him e. How much did he miss them? He longed to be with them

DISCUSSION GUIDE (cont.) 8.Why should these characteristics be lived out in the context of an ABF? 9. Describe the prayer of Paul for the Philippians (verses 9-11). a.About their loveThat it would grow as they grew in the knowledge b. About their discernmentTo do the right things c. About their relationships That they would be sincere and blameless d. About their characterThat they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness

DISCUSSION GUIDE (cont.) 10.How could this be a model prayer for your ABF? 11.Complete the following chart to overview (verses 1-11): Reasons Paul should not Reasons Paul had to be have been joyful joyful verse 7: he was in prison verse 3: sweet memories verse 8: he longed for them verse 4-5: their partnership with him verse 6: his confidence in Christ for them verse 7: they shared with him in God ’ s grace 12. How can you find JOY in the journey together?

Top 10 Rules for Joyful Living 1.Give something away (no strings attached) 2.Do a kind deed (and forget it) 3. Pray for others (more than yourself) 4. Give thanks (a thousand a day is not enough) 5. Spend time with an older person (their wisdom is priceless) 6. Look intently at new creations (babies, puppies, kittens, flowers, etc.) 7. Work with (vim and vigor) 8. Laugh often (it is life’s lubricant) 9. Plan as though you’ll live forever (because you will) 10. Live as though you’ll die tomorrow (because you will on some tomorrow)

Music: U2 The heart is a bloom, shoots up through the stony ground But there’s no room, no space to rent in this town You’re out of luck and reason that you had to care, The traffic is stuck and you’re not moving anywhere. You thought you’d found a friend to take you out of this place Someone you could lend a hand in return for grace It’s a beautiful day, the sky falls And you feel like it’s a beautiful day It’s a beautiful day Don’t let it get away Beautiful Day

You’re on the road but you’ve got no destination You’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination You love this town even if it doesn’t ring true You’ve been all over and it’s been all over you It’s a beautiful day Don’t let it get away It’s a beautiful day Don’t let it get away Touch me, take me to that other place Teach me, I know; I’m not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue See China right in front of you See the canyons broken by cloud See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out See the Bedouin fires at night See the oil fields at first light See the bird with a leaf in her mouth After the flood all the colours came out It was a beautiful day Beautiful day Don’t let it get away

Touch me, take me to that other place Reach me, I know; I’m not a hopeless case What you don’t have you don’t need it now What you don’t know you can feel it somehow What you don’t have you don’t need it now You don’t need it now, you don’t need it now.