AS A CHURCH FAMILY GOD CALLS US TO LOVE EACH OTHER. (Philippians 1:7-11)
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SERMON NOTES:
Love Each Other
Philippians 1:7-11
As a church family God calls us to love each other.
Our love is emotional. (7-8)
Our love is loyal. (7)
Our love is sacrificial. (8)
Our love is wise. (9-10a)
Our love is from God. (10b-11)
study questions:
For the Next Lesson – Philippians 1:7-11
1.Warm-up. Beyond your immediate family, who are the people and relationships that are most dear to you? Why are these people so important to you, how did you get so close to them? How do you continue to cultivate those relationships?
2.Read verses 7-8. In verse 7 Paul talks about how it is right for him to “feel this way” about the Christians in Philippi. Read through verses 3-8 and ask yourself, how does Paul feel about the Philippians? Why do you think Paul is even talking about his feelings in this letter? Now read through verses 3-8 again asking yourself, why does Paul feel this way? What has led to Paul and the Philippians having such a close relationship?
Look again at verse 8. How does Paul describe his feelings for the Philippians in this verse, and with whom does he compare his “affection”? Do you truly believe that Jesus Christ has affection for you? Do you really believe that God loves you? Do you believe God unconditionally, affectionally loves you specifically as an individual person? Do you believe God loves you?!?
3.Read verses 9-11. Paul’s love for the Philippians prompts him to pray for them. Does your love for others prompt you to pray for them? How can your personal prayer life for others grow?
Look specifically at verses 9-10a ending at “excellent” in the ESV. Paul’s first point in his prayer is that the Philippians may grow in love. What are the different words that describe how Paul is praying for their love to grow? What does “more and more” mean? What does it mean to love with “knowledge”? What does it mean to love with “discernment” (lit. insight)? What does it mean to love in a way that you can “approve” (lit. distinguish) what is excellent? Think about your life; how does this prayer reflect what it looks like to love people in real life? Do you need to pray this same prayer for yourself and others? How so?
Now, look specifically at verses 10b-11 starting at “so be pure and blameless”. This is the second topic of Paul’s prayer. As you consider these verses, what is Paul’s prayer for Philippians? Who is the source of their fruitful life in Paul’s mind? What is the response we should have when we produce.