by Bethan Perry
Paul is in prison, probably in Rome in 60AD and he’s writing a letter to the church in Philippi. Acts 16 tells us of Paul’s first journey to Philippi where Lydia became a Christian, a demon-possessed girl was freed, and the town jailer famously asked, “What must I do to be saved?” He and his family trusted in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Go read Acts 16 and imagine some of those people now in the church in Philippi, listening to Paul’s letter being read out.
Starter question: What is your best achievement to date? What or who gives you confidence, or makes you feel good about yourself?
Where does our confidence come from? Paul says it can either come from ourselves, our own achievements, who we are, and what we do, OR it can come from Jesus and His achievements, who He is and what He has done for us.
Q1. Paul was warning the Philippians about people who were teaching that you needed more than faith in Jesus to be a Christian (in this case, circumcision, a Jewish practise). How does Paul describe a Christian in v3 and v8-9?
Q2. Before becoming a Christian Paul was trying to make himself righteous (acceptable to God) with his own achievements. What kind of things was Paul wrongly proud of in v4-6?
Q3. Paul saw that he couldn’t conjure up his own ‘righteousness’ that would make him acceptable to God, he had to receive the righteousness that God gives as a gift. How do we receive that gift? Look again at v9.
Q4. Paul had faith in Jesus and was convinced that knowing Jesus far outweighs anything he had to give up (v8). What does is mean to ‘know Christ’? Look at v11 to help you out.
Personal reflection: