1) In Christ himself there
is every encouragement to Unity. Disunity is rejection of His will and purpose.
a) Share something that
has been encouraging to you that happened this week.
b) What do you think causes disunity ?
Share your thoughts.
3) This chapter teaches us
to be humble and humility. Explain the words Paul uses “Selfish ambition” “Vain
conceit” and “Humility”
4) Verse 5-11 talks about
Christ HUMILITY.
a) How has Christ shown humility?
b) Read out the poem One Solitary Life is this an accurate picture of Christ's humility?
Here was a young man
who was born in an obscure village
the child of a peasant woman.
He worked in a carpenter shop
until he was thirty, and then for three years
he was an itinerant preacher.
------------------------------------------------
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never owned a house.
He never had a family.
He never went to university.
He never set his foot inside a big city.
He never travelled two hundred miles
from the place where he was born.
He never did one of the things
that usually accompany greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.
__________________________
While he was still a young man,
the tide of public opinion turned against him.
His friends ran away.
He was turned over to his enemies.
He went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to the cross between two thieves.
--------------------------------------------
While he was dying, his executioners gambled
for the only piece of property he had on earth,
and that was his coat.
When he was dead,
he was laid in a borrowed grave
through the pity of a friend.
__________________________
Nineteen centuries have come and gone,
and he is still the central figure
of the human race
and the leader of the column of progress
I am far within the mark when I say
that all the armies that ever marched
and all the navies never sailed
and all the parliaments that ever sat,
and all the kings that ever reigned,
put together, have not affected human life
upon this earth as has that One Solitary Life.
b) Read out the poem One Solitary Life is this an accurate picture of Christ's humility?
Here was a young man
who was born in an obscure village
the child of a peasant woman.
He worked in a carpenter shop
until he was thirty, and then for three years
he was an itinerant preacher.
------------------------------------------------
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never owned a house.
He never had a family.
He never went to university.
He never set his foot inside a big city.
He never travelled two hundred miles
from the place where he was born.
He never did one of the things
that usually accompany greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.
__________________________
While he was still a young man,
the tide of public opinion turned against him.
His friends ran away.
He was turned over to his enemies.
He went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to the cross between two thieves.
--------------------------------------------
While he was dying, his executioners gambled
for the only piece of property he had on earth,
and that was his coat.
When he was dead,
he was laid in a borrowed grave
through the pity of a friend.
__________________________
Nineteen centuries have come and gone,
and he is still the central figure
of the human race
and the leader of the column of progress
I am far within the mark when I say
that all the armies that ever marched
and all the navies never sailed
and all the parliaments that ever sat,
and all the kings that ever reigned,
put together, have not affected human life
upon this earth as has that One Solitary Life.
5) In verse
12, Paul talks about working out your salvation with fear and trembling.
a) Why do you think we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?
a) Why do you think we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?
b) What does it mean ?
6) In the past, Christians
helped each other by visiting each other, writing letters and support through
any means they could. From v 19-30, how did Timothy and Epaphroditus show Unity
and support?
A Challenge
This year the memory verse for HICF is Philippians 2:1-2. Talk about how you could learn to remember this verse and apply it.
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
A Challenge
This year the memory verse for HICF is Philippians 2:1-2. Talk about how you could learn to remember this verse and apply it.
Imitating Christ’s Humility
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
Footnotes:
- Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
- Philippians 2:7 Or the form
- Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5
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