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WEEK 1 (O) Observation: Figure out what the text is saying. Get the answer from the

BIBLE TRAINING words of Scripture. A Study in the Book of Philippians (I) Interpretation: Figure out the meaning of the text. What did the writer intend to convey?

(A) Application: Prayerfully apply the Reads Philippians 1:1-12. Pray that opens your passage to your own life. The eyes to the truth of His word as you begin your study. application should flow from the main point of the text.

1. (O) Who wrote this letter? What do Paul and Timothy call themselves?

(A) What does it meant to be “servants of Christ Jesus?

2. Read Acts 9:15 (I) Why would these church leaders call themselves servants instead of asserting their impressive credentials?

(A) What would be different in your interactions with others in your church if you truly thought of yourself primarily as a servant of Christ?

3. (O) To whom is this letter written?

(O) Read Romans 1:7, Col 1:26, and Jude 3. Describe the term “saint”.

(I) Read :20-26 and Gal 2:20. What does the term “in Christ Jesus” mean?

1 Philippians, Week 1 (continued)

4. (I) Read 1 Timothy 3: 1-13 and Acts 6:1-7. Who are overseers?

Who are deacons?

Why do you think this letter is written to the saints (the church body) in as well as to the overseers and deacons (the leaders of the church)?

5. (O) How does Paul Greet the church in Philippi?

(I) Where does grace and peace come from? Read Romans 11:5-6.

(I) What do you think it means for grace and peace to come from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.

(I) Why do you think Paul opens His letter with this greeting?

(A) Have you received this grace and peace and if so, what difference has it made in your life ? If not, what difference would it make?

6. (O) In verse 6, what is Paul thanking God for?

(O) How does praying for the Philippian church make him feel?

(O) Why is he thankful for them?

2 Philippians, Week 1 (continued)

(O) How is the Philippian church in partnership with him?

(A) Read Romans 10:12-15 and 1 Peter 2:9. What does it mean to be in “partnership in the Gospel”.

(A) How has this partnership manifested itself in your life?

(A) How might the Spirit be leading you to “partner with the saints “ in the future?

7. (O) In verse 6, of what is Paul sure?

(O) To whom does the word ”he” refer to?

(O) What did God begin?

(O) What will God do?

(O) When will God bring his work to completion?

(O) Read :4-6. What is the “good work” that God began?

3 Philippians, Week 1 (continued)

(O) Read 1 John 3:2-3. What does it mean for the “good work to be completed”?

(I) Read 2 Thessalonians. Who is beginning, bringing along, and completing the good work?

8. (A) Do you ever despair over your own sin? Do you ever feel far from God?

(A) If you are a saint in Christ Jesus considering verse 6, how should you handle these times and emotions?

9. (O) Read vs 7-8. How does Paul describe his feelings for the Philippians?

(O) Why does Paul care so much for these people?

(A) Paul carries so much affection for the saints at Philippi. What can you do to have more relationships like this in you church?

4 Philippians, Week 1 (continued)

10. Read vs 9-11. What is Paul’s prayer for the Philippians? What is his reason for this prayer?

Read Jeremiah 9:23-24, John 17:3, Galatians 4:8-9, :9-10, and :12. What do these verses tell you about the knowledge about which Paul is writing?

Read Romans 12:2 and Hebrews 4:12-13. (I) What is discernment?

(A) How can you fuel your love to abound more and more in knowledge and discernment?

11. What does it mean to “approve what is excellent”?

(I) How would knowledge and discernment affect ones ability to approve what is excellent?

(A) What would change in your life if you only approved what is excellent?

5 Philippians, Week 1 (continued)

12. (O) What is the point of bering pure, blameless, and filled with the fruit of righteousness?

(I) Read Rev 19:6-9. What is the “day of Christ”?

(I) Read :22-24. What is the “fruit of righteousness”?

13. (A) After studying Paul’s prayer for the saints at Philippi, consider how you tend to pray for yourself and others. Spend a few minutes writing out a prayer for the saints in your church to have love that abounds more and more in knowledge and discernment.

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