Philippians 4:4-7

July 18, 2021

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘rejoice?’ How often do you feel like rejoicing? How can we be always rejoicing as Paul instructs?

2. In verses 4-6 Paul gives a list of instructions. But right in the middle of it, He drops the simple statement: ‘The Lord is near.’ Why do you think he includes that statement? Do you tend to see that statement attached to the instruction that precedes it? Or do you tend to see it as attached to the instruction that follows it?

3. Not being anxious about anything sounds wonderful, but most of us struggle with anxiety at some level or another. What creates anxiety for you? What gets you through moments (or sometimes seasons) of deep anxiety?

4. How do Paul’s instructions in verse 6 lead to the state of mind he describes in verse 7?

5. As a practical matter, how does the peace of God ‘guard our hearts and minds’?