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Philippians 2:2-18

November 8, 2020

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.” 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.

Read Philippians 2:12-13

  1. How is obedience “in my presence” different from obedience “in my absence?” If you have kids, which would you prefer to see in them? Why?

  2. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. How does that passage relate to Paul’s direction here to ‘work out your salvation?” How do these passages work together to give us a clear perspective on our salvation?

  3. Focusing on verse 13, why does Paul suggest that fear and trembling should accompany our efforts to work out our salvation? What does verse 13 imply we may end up fearing and trembling about?

Read Philippians 2:14-16

  1. What things do you tend to grumble about the most? What is it about those things that give them the power to upset you? What would have to happen on the inside for you to be able to stop grumbling on the outside? What positive character trait is the antidote to a grumbling spirit? (Colossians 2:6-7)

  2. If you were giving advice to a young Christian, how would you finish this sentence: “Make sure that you never

    Reveal Answer
    ”. Of all the things he could have identified, Paul identifies arguing as something he wants the Philippians to avoid completely. What is it about arguing that puts it so high up on Paul’s list of dangers?

  3. What kinds of things do you tend to be most argumentative about? What would need to change on the inside for you to become less argumentative on the outside?

Read Philippians 2:17-18

  1. In the Old Testament, a drink offering accompanied almost every sacrifice that was burnt on the altar. Approximately a gallon of wine was poured out as the sacrifice was consumed in the fire. Paul likens the faith and service of the Philippians to an Old Testament sacrifice, and he suggests that his own ministry is like a drink offering that accompanies their sacrifice. Paul is being poured out, and the Philippians are being consumed, but Paul says they can ‘be glad and rejoice’ together.

  2. What is going on in your life right now that makes you feel like you are being poured out or being consumed?

  3. It is incredibly difficult to choose to be glad and to choose to rejoice when you are experiencing hardship, anxiety and pain. How does 2 Cor. 4:16-18 help us. With that?

  4. BONUS ITEM

Whether you personally are celebrating or mourning the results of this week’s election, or even if we aren’t yet sure of the results of this week’s election, this is a time to thank God for the freedoms we enjoy in our country, to cry out to God on behalf of our country, and to pray that God anoints our country’s leaders with wisdom from on high.