This week focuses on God’s people as the community of joy under Christ, the ultimate bringer of joy as Messiah.
Key text: Philippians 1:27-2:11
Sermon Outline
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
Our New Citizenship: The Joyful City (1:27-30)
- Citizens of a new kingdom
- Living that citizenship
Our New Mindset: Joyful Service (2:1-4)
- True joy in the God who gives
- True joy in serving one another
Our New Example: Jesus the Joyful Servant (2:5-8)
- The God who gives instead of grasps
- The God who dies instead of kills
Our New King: Jesus the Joyful Lord (2:9-11)
- The Name above every name
- The Lord acknowledged by all
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you experienced or seen someone give in surprising ways? What happened?
- This weekend we continue our series, “Unshackled: Joy Beyond Circumstances,” by looking at Philippians 1:27-2:11. Ask God to speak to you through your study of the Scripture, then read that portion aloud.
- Philippians 1:27-30 relates the Philippians’ hardships to Paul’s hardships (1:19-25). How does Paul connect their experiences and what does he encourage them toward now?
- Paul continues his exhortations with 2:1-4, as he directly addresses the way that the believers relate to one another. We know there was some internal tension in the church in Philippi (4:1-3). What stands out to you most from Paul’s words here?
- What aspect of Paul’s instruction in 2:3-4 is most challenging to you personally? How might you pursue growth in that area with God’s help?
- The next section looks at the life of Jesus as a paradigm, or example, of humble service of others. There is so much here, but we will focus on how this illumines the Philippians’ relational ‘mindset’. What do verses 6-8 tell us about Jesus, His incarnation and His way of life and death?
- What do you think this explanation of Jesus means for the Philippians’ new ‘mindset’?
- Verses 9-11 turn toward the exaltation of Jesus in His resurrection and ascension. This is an intentional echo of the cultural declaration ‘Caesar is Lord’ and the exaltation of Yahweh God over all other lords in Isaiah 45:23. In light of those truths, what do we learn about Jesus from these verses?
- If Jesus’ self-giving love is our example of a new ‘mindset’, what is one thing God is speaking to you through this study? If you are on your own, write it down and pray about it. If you are in a small group, take time to discuss this with one another before praying together.
DIG DEEPER
- Take time to really reflect on Philippians 2:5-11 this week. Perhaps you could read it every day or even choose to memorize it.
- Watch the word study video from the Bible Project on joy.
- Explore resources from noted theologians on a theology of joy at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.