1. Open with prayer. (2-5 min)
2. Read Philippians 1:19-30.
3. Discuss these questions with your group. (20-45 min)
MY STORY | Vulnerability
What is a situation where you had to push through some challenges to accomplish something? How did the people around you help you meet the moment?
DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
(Philippians 1:15–18)
Paul describes people who proclaim Christ with insincere motives. How does Paul respond to those individuals?
How can Paul’s focus on the “big picture” inform the problems we handle in our lives?
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
(Philippians 1:19-20)
Paul shares that he can endure circumstances because of his community. How can we be a community that supports one another through pain in a similar way? For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
(Philippians 1:21–24)
Paul considers both life and death equally acceptable. How does his perspective about eternity and his perspective about community provide him peace, even with the possibility of his impending death?
How can a focus on community and on eternity help us handle our own struggles?
GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
(Philippians 1:27–30)
When someone allows their way of life to be “worthy of the gospel of Christ,” what struggles might they encounter?
Paul asks his congregation to stand firm, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).
What do you think that unity might look like for us today?
MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action
At the beginning of this passage, Paul says that some people preach Christ out of love (Philippians 1:16). What is one thing your group could do for other people, together, to show the love of Christ?
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