12, 2016 Philippians

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Life at its Best Week 1 – June 11/12, 2016 Philippians 1:3-11 If you haven’t heard Pastor Matthew Hartsfield’s weekend message or if you need a refresher, watch the video here: www.vandyke.org, click on the Life At Its Best banner. Then use the following material for your own personal Bible study, in discussion with your friends and family or in a small group setting. We are on a journey to determine our L.I.F.E. status: Love Influence Freedom Enjoyment

Determine whether you are a both a receiver and a giver of love. Determine what influence you have on the people around you. Determine whether you are experiencing true freedom. Determine whether you are a joy-bringer.

Think through these 7 life-shaping questions to help diagnose your L.I.F.E. status. 1. Do you allow external circumstances to dictate your joy and thankfulness? (Philippians 1:3-4) a. How can you be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18)? b. How can you create a proactive attitude of gratitude? 2. Are you developing relational health that sustains you in the face of hardship? (Philippians 1:5) a. How are you cultivating your vertical relationship with Jesus? b. Who are your teammates in life? c. How are you nurturing those horizontal relationships? d. How can healthy horizontal relationships affect your success? How can the lack of them lead to burnout? 3. Do you see difficulties as dead ends or merely as detours on your journey with Jesus? (Philippians 1:7-8) a. Explain Pastor Matthew’s statement: “Where we see a period, God sees a comma.” b. Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. How can you, like Paul, consider your present circumstances as a way to deepen your relationship with Jesus?

 

 

 

2   4. Is your love overflowing or are you running on empty? (Philippians 1:9) a. When have you felt like you were running on empty? b. Pastor Matthew presented an analogy of running on empty because we run on own fuel as opposed to working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit’s power. How can this analogy help you shift your power source? c. Pastor Matthew also suggested that our mindsets should focus on how much God loves us. Review these passages: • John 15:16-17 • 1 John 4:19 • Romans 8:37-39 d. How can focusing on how much you are loved help you show love to others? 5. Are you majoring on the minors or are you dwelling on what really matters? (Philippians 1:10) a. When have you caught yourself dwelling on minor things? b. Read Philippians 3:5-9. How does focusing on knowing Jesus affect your outlook differently than focusing on minor matters? c. How can you spend more time learning about Jesus and less time learning about minor matters? 6. Would you describe your life as frustrating or fruitful? (Philippians 1:10-11) a. When have you allowed specific frustrations to grow to encompass other areas of your life? b. When have you consciously focused on building up the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? c. How would focusing on the fruit of the Spirit vitalize your life? 7. What is your goal: personal gain or God’s glory? (Philippians 1:11) a. How can your time, talent, treasure and relationships be maximized for the glory of God so others can come to know Jesus? b. How can bringing glory to God also bring personal gain to your life?