As we enter the second half of this study, you’ll want to encourage your group to persevere. Ensure they understand that there is no such thing as “behind” in their study. They can and should pick up right where you are without worrying about catching up. Remind them to keep coming to the discussion even if they are not completing all of the pages in their study guide.
As a leader, gauge how much your group has completed and adjust your discussion accordingly. You may need to walk through some parts of the lesson to help the group answer questions. Do not prevent anyone from sharing, but if any group member strays, gently bring the conversation back to the text.
Discussion Focus: Obedience
This week’s goal is to connect a humble heart with an obedient one. They will understand the connection between loving God and others and a heart that is humbly willing to obey.
Always remember to open in prayer.
Open by asking your group what they remember from the week before. You might want to ask them about Jesus’s example of humility and why humility is important as we seek unity in the church.
Read through Philippians 2:12-30
Open with an open-ended question such as, “What did you read in these verses that you have a question about, or that encouraged you, or challenged you?“
The purpose of this is to ensure that the group understands the text and to allow them to have some observation/ interpretation questions answered before we move into application. For example, one of the ladies in my group had a question about Philippians 2:12. This gave us a chance to work through the references in pages 79-81 of the study to make sure the group fully understood what Paul was communicating in these verses. Be careful not to allow the discussion about instructions to become a platform for working FOR salvation.
Obedience is the fruit of salvation, growing from the root of faith.
Others may have a question about Epaphroditus’ illness. We don’t know the nature of his illness, other than the fact that it was severe and his life was in danger due to the disease. Allow the silence of scripture to sit – there is no need for speculation. Remember the important fact that whatever the nature of the illness, Epahroditus was willing to be a messenger back and forth between Paul and the Philippians. He was willing to die if necessary for the furtherance of their faith. His heart was focused on the Lord and the benefit of the church more than his well-being.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
Most of your questions will come from the Wrapping it Up section of the study. Remember that these are just suggestions. Walking through the Wrapping It Up questions gives the group a chance to share what they have already studied and gives you as a leader a place to go when the conversation grows quiet. Don’t feel you need to ask all of these questions in your discussion – the goal is to help your group apply the text to their lives.
Did anything else stand out as you read this chapter? How would you explain the main ideas of this chapter to a friend?
They should come up with things such as humility, obedience, selflessness, and following the example of Christ. You do not need to pull all this out – just allow them to share what they see. As the Spirit leads, encourage them to share how they came up with that theme – where they are getting it from, particularly if they come up with something you do not immediately recognize. The second part of the question is designed to help them unify the chapter in their mind and give them practice coming up with a chapter theme.
How are humility and obedience connected?
This is a critical-thinking question, not directly coming from any particular page in the study, but rather allowing them to think through this connection. If they need help as they consider this, ask how Jesus’ humility led to his obedience. How did Paul follow that example of humble obedience? Timothy? Epaphroditus?
Then, bring it home to the individuals in your group. Having seen these examples, how does an obedient heart reflect a humble heart—and the opposite—a heart that is self-seeking, leading to grumbling and disputing? If the group is willing to share, give one or two group members a chance to share a time when their own grumbling heart reflected a disobedient heart—and the outcome of that disobedience.
How does our attitude reflect our priorities?
This question is a great follow-up when the group moves from talking about a humble heart to talking about grumbling and disputing. You can refer them to pages 79-81 in their lesson. Ask them what they learned from the story in Exodus 16 about how the Lord views grumbling. You might also ask what it does to our witness when non-believers see us grumbling and complaining – and on the flip side, what it does to our witness when non-believers see us walking in humility.
What is the hardest thing the Lord has ever asked you to do? How did you respond? What was the result? How did you see the Lord at work in you during that time?
Don’t “firehose” these questions—rather, ask them one by one, allowing each one to help your group dig a little deeper into its own story.
Remember that sometimes the hardest thing the Lord asks us to do is wait—to do nothing and trust His timing. Waiting is an immense test of trust and humility.
How did Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus model what Jesus meant by “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another?”
Depending on how your discussion goes, you may have answered this already – if so skip this question. Make sure your group understands the difference between “loving others as you love yourself” (having self-love be our standard for love) and “Loving as Jesus loved” (having sacrificial love be the standard for love). If there are any in your group who did the For Further Study section of this lesson, you may want to ask them what they learned about this on page 91.
How do the instructions in the first two chapters of Philippians teach us to love God and to love others?
Have your group refer to their chart on pages 161-164. If you have time, walk your group through reasoning through a few of these instructions. Gauge your time carefully as you work through this. You may ask if there were any instructions that they struggled to understand the connection. Remember that you do not have to provide the answer yourself, rather allow the group to discuss the answer together.
How can we encourage each other to grow in our willingness to be used sacrificially by the Lord? What might be holding you back?
Groups that know each other well and are well-connected may be more willing to answer this than groups that are still relatively strangers. Gauge how intimate your group is willing to be with each other as you determine how to ask this.
What has been your one takeaway from Chapter 2 of Philippians that will make a difference in your life?
This is just a question to “seal the deal” and make sure each person leaves remembering that application is vital to Bible Study. Their takeaway can be something they learned about the Lord, something they realized they need to work on, or something the Lord is encouraging them in. It could be something that spoke to a specific situation going on in their life.
Closing the discussion
Take prayer requests, but keep them brief. Have them share their requests in one or two sentences.
Close in prayer, either yourself or see if a group member would be willing to close. Do not call on anyone to close in prayer unless you are confident they would be willing to do so.
How did it go?
Let me know how it went! Did the Lord prompt you to ask any additional questions that spurred a great conversation? Do you have any questions about anything in the study? Share your thoughts in the comments to strengthen and encourage one another!
I’m praying for you and rejoicing with you as you shepherd your flock!
Found this post and wondering what study it goes with? Find Again I Say Rejoice: An Inductive Study of Philippians here or on Amazon.com.
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