I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:10-13
Week 1: We are better
“Community is the most ‘overpromised and underdelivered’ aspect of the church today.” —Ruth Haley Barton
When we say the word “fellowship” in Acts 2:42, what we mean is
Five to ten years after starting the Philippian church, Paul writes from
Week 2: The Christian life is a public act of living as a
Kingdom citizenship requires sacrifice, and Holy Spirit power to achieve a
Christ-like sacrificial service is how the Philippians are to live a common life of humility and
Week 3: Despite his pedigree, Paul considered it all
It doesn’t matter how successful we are if we’re seeking the wrong
Pursuing the way of Jesus
What We Seek
Much of our behavior flows from our
Our deepest desires come from
These good soul-desires are easily influenced by the
“Every artist has experienced it. They may have had a lifelong desire to tell the truth, to make art that expresses something important. Yet they have a competing desire to sell their work in the marketplace, to be accepted, to be praised, to get reviews, to stay on top of trends that can change from year to year, month to month, day to day.” —Luke Burgis
Our unhealthy attempts to chase status, wealth, attention, and power come from desire that has been
“Thin” desires drive us
We have to
A Life Worth Wanting
At the end of his letter, Paul gives a series of instructions for “standing firm” and living
Despite being in prison, Paul models
Joy does not depend on external circumstances, but on God’s
When faced with worries, we offer our requests to God with
Our
As we give thanks and trust God with our needs, our desires are transformed, and we have
By focusing on what is true and
“We have to give up—day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment—our little fiefdoms, our petty preferences, our exaggerations, our bigotry, our resistance to mercy, our vindictiveness, our craving for attention, our hiding from our own gifts and call…” —Elaine A. Heath
The Secret to Contentedness
Paul gives thanks for the Philippians’ gift, but also demonstrates the power of being
We can learn to be content whether we have much or little because
“I can get irritated when my computer responds slower than I think it ought where Paul was learning to live without food and shelter and safety.” —Scott McKnight
Philippians 4:13 is not about self-actualization or achievement; it’s about enduring
With Christ’s power and
A transforming community helps us
“Ask me not where I live or what I like to eat…ask me what I think I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.” —Thomas Merton
At the core of life together is God’s
To have a deep life together, we have to be willing to give
Action Steps
Train your
Identify one situation you need to
Ask a trusted person to help you