LifeGroup Notes

BIG IDEA
We live in a world that is very self-centered and “me focused”. Our society often has the mindset of “I am number one.” In the workplace, the focus tends to be on moving up the ladder, increasing power or popularity, and doing “whatever it takes.” People often value things and use people instead of valuing people and using things. All war, conflict, hate, and dissension in the world is a result of selfishness. It inflicts pain, destroys relationships, and hardens hearts. But this is not just found in our society today. It was also prevalent during Paul’s time, even within the church!

The division in the church was a result of selfishness and pride. Paul knew that adding more rules and regulations wouldn’t fix the problem; it was only possible by a change of heart. Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Philippian church to rise above the issues they would encounter and to pursue unity among themselves as they contended for the sake of the gospel. He sought to encourage the believers in Philippi not to lose sight of how they should live differently as followers of Christ. In this week’s study we will look at how we, too, can come together as a body of believers to pursue unity in order to draw others to Christ.

Passages we’ll review:
Philippians 2:2-4; Deuteronomy 6:4-9

OPENING
If you could change one personality trait in yourself, what would it be and why?

Have you ever had to accomplish a really difficult task? How did you see community playing a role in your ability to follow through? Or how did lack of community affect you?

READ

Read Philippians 2:2-4

How do divisions and disagreements affect the church (its effectiveness, its testimony, its growth)?

Are unity and uniformity the same thing? Unity can be displayed for the world to see when we have fellowship with other believers despite our differences. Do you have trouble separating unity from uniformity? How can you pursue unity with those who are different from you within the church body?

How would you define selfishness? When does Paul say selfishness is acceptable? What is an area where you find yourself tempted to be selfish?

What characteristics does Paul use to describe followers of Christ? Why is it so important that your life gives evidence of these character traits?

Why is it so important that unity be rooted in Christ and His teachings rather than any other common cause?

Much like the early church, we live in a world with very differing views and values. How does this passage challenge society’s views of success, pride, and individualism? How can we maintain unity and humility in a world that seems to value division and self-promotion? How can our decision to live this way positively influence our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers?

DIGGING DEEPER

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The phrase, “The Lord our God, the Lord is One,” can also be translated as “The Lord our God, the Lord alone.” How does this put God in an exclusive place in your life? What does it look like to give our full allegiance to God in work, relationships, finances, activities, etc?

Why do you think Moses stressed the importance of loving God with all of our heart, soul, and might (strength)? Why these 3 specifically?

Jesus refers to this passage when He teaches about the “Greatest Commandment” in Matthew 22:34-30. Why do you think this is?

What does Moses instruct them to do as a result of their love for God? Is this limited to our households only? Who else can it apply to?

How is loving God related to loving people? How do you demonstrate your love for God to those around you?

LET’S PRAY

Consider the following as you pray together:

1. What is one area in your life where you tend to struggle with selfishness? Are you consistently seeking ways to meet the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ? What can you do this week to put others first?
   

2. Do you engage in discussions that foster unity, or do you participate in conversations that breed disunity and discord?
   

3. How do you react when someone in the church has a different opinion or perspective? Do you seek to understand and reconcile differences? How can you express Christ-like love, especially in situations where there are disagreements or conflicts with fellow believers?