How is your discussion time going? Is your group getting the hang of the study yet? You’ll find that some catch on to inductive study very quickly. They are starting to make some connections independently, even outside of what is covered in the guide. Others may still struggle, particularly with questions or verses that are a little more challenging.
This lesson, in particular, covers a chapter that contains some complex concepts. The Deeper Into the Word and For Further Study sections will help your group walk through a study of these concepts. As the leader, you may find it beneficial to make some time to work through those sections if you haven’t been regularly doing so. This will help you to understand what Paul is talking about when he speaks of the flesh. It will also help you understand the concept of circumcision from Paul’s perspective, preparing you to guide your group members if they have questions.
Verse 11 of chapter 3 is also challenging: “That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection of the dead.” The study walks through this verse, but there is still potential for your group to misunderstand what Paul is speaking of. Remember that Paul will never point to an achievement-based gospel. Instead he is calling us to press onto maturity in the faith. This is a great opportunity to remind your group to allow scripture to interpret scripture and to keep everything in context as we interpret.
Remember that it is absolutely okay to feel like there is still more to understand. Even Paul says in this chapter that he continues to press on to maturity. We can follow his example, rejoicing in the work that Jesus has done on our behalf and continuing to press on to know Him more and more, remembering that this work will be finally perfected on the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6)!
Discussion Focus: Identity in Christ
This week’s goal is to identify whether we trust in our accomplishments or what Christ has already accomplished for us. We will evaluate our priorities and goals in light of what is eternally significant.
I had the opportunity to teach Galatians 2:20, “Crucified With Christ,” at a retreat. I touched on some themes from this lesson in that teaching. Feel free to listen!
Always remember to open in prayer.
Open by asking your group what they remember from the week before. You might walk them through chapters 1 and 2, helping them understand Paul’s flow of thought. You can also ask them what they learned about the gospel.
Read through Philippians 3
Open with an open-ended question such as, “What did you read in this chapter that you have a question about, or that encouraged you, or challenged you?”
The purpose of this is to make sure that the group understands the text. It allows them to have some observation/ interpretation questions answered before we move into application. As previously mentioned, this chapter has some challenging concepts. Use your discernment as you lead this discussion. You may want to work through these challenges with the group right when someone brings them up. Alternately, you might choose to encourage your group that you will work through these questions as you continue your discussion.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
Your discussion this week must be tailored to suit the level of intimacy your group has grown into. Some groups will not yet be comfortable sharing some of the more personal things that are brought up. Allow them freedom to look at application from a more “distant” perspective. As they view application in the third person, the Spirit will make a first person application to their heart.
Other groups will be ready to dive right in. For these groups, a few application questions will suffice for your group to work through the main ideas in the text and have a rich discussion.
What stands out to you as the primary theme of this chapter?
Walk them through section by section if needed. Help them to see the connection between the “dogs” that Paul speaks about in verse 2 and those who are “enemies of the cross” in verse 18. This bookends Paul’s discussion of having confidence in Christ and setting his sights on knowing Christ himself. It may be helpful to go paragraph by paragraph, helping them see the contrasts being made.
Ultimately, your group should develop a theme of having an identity in Christ, pressing on to maturity in the faith, or having confidence in Christ and not ourselves. Don’t worry about getting the “right” theme. What is important is that they can justify their ideas from the text itself. I love it when someone in my group comes up with something I hadn’t considered and can walk me through their thought process. This is inductive study at its finest.
Why did Paul bring up his list of credentials in verses 4-7?
This comes from what they studied on page 100. Help the group see the contrast between Paul and the “dogs” that he had been speaking about. These “dogs” that Paul is speaking of are a group of Judaizers who would come behind him to the Gentile churches. They would teach them that they needed to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses in order to enjoy the blessings of the Jewish Messiah. There is an extended discussion of this in the For Further Study section of the lesson.
It is enough for your group to understand that Paul himself would have been able to check off every box these false teachers would have portrayed as things that would make a person favorable in God’s eyes. He was a perfect Jew, with the perfect lineage and upbringing, the perfect lifestyle, and the perfect zealousness. If anyone could claim the right to salvation from a human (Jewish) perspective, Paul could. Yet even in his “perfection,” he knew that in light of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, all of his man-made righteousness was utterly worthless.
What are some things that you could be depending on to grant you favor in God’s eyes?
Ideally your group will open up about things that they had not realized before that they were counting on as earning favor. If your group isn’t ready to get personal about this, you could rephrase it as “What are some things people today depend on to grant them favor in God’s eyes?” They could bring up heritage, how they serve the church, or even heroic acts. You can follow this question with, “What would Paul say about these things?” In themselves, they are not bad. But in light of Jesus, they fade to nothingness.
On page 101, you were asked about your past – whether it was a source of pride or shame. How has your relationship with Jesus changed your view of your past?
Use your discernment in asking this question. Don’t force an answer or make anyone uncomfortable as you ask this. But if your group is ready, this can yield a rich application and even a healing moment for those in your group who are willing to share, or even for those who hear the testimony of others in the group. Watch your time – allow two or three responses, but make sure you don’t linger so long here that you miss the rest of the chapter.
Paul says in verse 8, “Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” How has everything we’ve studied in Philippians so far shown that this is truly Paul’s heart?
This is from the Wrapping It Up questions on page 115. If needed, walk the group through chapters 1 and 2, helping them remember how Paul prioritized Jesus in his life. Some things they may bring up are: his prioritization on the gospel, his desire for the gospel to be shared no matter what, his willingness to either live or die for the sake of Christ, or his desire for others to know Christ and to live a life that reflects His humility. Again, the “right” answer is the one that they can explain through the text.
You might also walk them through the cross-references on page 103. Simply asking what they saw that helps us understand Paul’s heart will likely suffice.
Follow this question up with the follow-up in the Wrapping It Up: “Is this your heart as well? How do you know?” Help them see how they have prioritized knowing Christ in their lives. Simply by doing this study and persevering through it to this point, they have made sacrifices to know Christ in His word. Help them think through ways they can continue to grow, just as Paul shares that he is continuing to grow.
What does this tell us about where our true identity lies?
It all goes back to Jesus. You may bring them to Ephesians 1:3-14, asking them about their blessings in Christ. Then turn those blessings into “I am” statements. In Christ, I am chosen, in Christ, I am redeemed, in Christ, I am forgiven, etc. The goal is to help your group to understand that their identity isn’t in their status, their accomplishments, or their failures, but in their position in Christ.
Paul recognized that he still had room to grow in his knowledge of Christ and in his walk with Him, and set his eyes on pursuing that knowledge of Christ. How can we imitate Paul as we seek to grow in maturity in our faith?
Your group may find some answers to this on page 111-112 of their study, even though this question is not directly asked. Some answers may include being willing to endure suffering understanding that this suffering is testing our faith and growing us in dependence on the Lord, being willing to move on from our past and press into Jesus, setting our eyes on what is to come rather than living for today (a kingdom mindset), trusting fully in the forgiveness that Jesus offers. As you lead this portion of the discussion, press into answers that are being presented – what might that look like for you? Help your group make this personal and practical rather than theoretical.
How can we distinguish between teachers, books, and other resources that will help us to keep this gospel mindset from those that will cause us to have a more worldly, self-based mindset?
This refers to the comparison Paul makes in verses 17-20. Your group may want to refer to the question at the top of page 105 as they answer this.
Those who walk as “enemies of the cross” are those who present themselves as “Christian” but rather than pointing you to Jesus will set your eyes on yourself, boosting your dependence on your own accomplishments, setting your identity in your earthly status or possessions.
Those who follow Paul’s example will encourage you to focus on Christ, depend on Him and His empowerment. They maintain an eternal, Kingdom perspective that is worthy of citizens of heaven, and remind you that the best is yet to come if you remain faithful to Him.
Was there anything else in the lesson that we haven’t talked about that made an impact on you as your studied?
I love asking questions like this to see how the Lord is working in the group’s lives. What He’s been speaking to me may be different than what He’s been speaking to you. It’s beautiful to hear the different ways that people can apply the same text. Often, I find that the Lord speaks to me through others in the group.
How has this lesson taught you to rejoice in the Lord?
This will help them pull everything together. This whole lesson has been about readjusting your vision to keep Jesus at the center of your life. He is our ultimate value, our identity, our goal, and our purpose for the future. It’s all about Jesus!
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 that they would be willing to do so.
How did your discusson go?
Let me know how it went! Did the Lord have you ask any additional questions that spurred a great conversation? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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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