[1]NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Philippians 2:1-15
Discussion Questions:
- What food item would you rarely eat if you ate that item alone without it being paired with another item?
- What is the relationship between humility and believers living in unity with each other?
Food for thought:
Peanut butter and jelly. Hot chocolate and marshmallows. Biscuits and gravy. Some things are just better together. Graham crackers are not one of the more exciting items in the pantry. Add some marshmallows, chocolate and a campfire and those same crackers suddenly come alive as the marshmallows and chocolate fuse together between two graham crackers. They are better together!
[2]Paul explained to the Philippian church that the church would be strengthened if they stood together in unity (2:1-4). Christians are called to also look out for the needs of others. Unity doesn’t simply happen. It’s a by-product of humility. No one provided a greater example of humility than Jesus (2:5-11). God’s Son temporarily set aside the riches of heaven to become a man. While that choice eventually led to incredible glory, He had to pass through a humiliating death. Believers who choose this path of humility bless one another and honor the Savior. They also make a difference in the world (2:12-15). They shine like the stars, drawing attention to Jesus and His glory.
As believers, we are to live out our salvation in practical ways. Our works do not provide our salvation, but they prove our salvation to the world. We are called to act like we’ve been saved. We have work to do. Not only must we focus on what we do in response to our salvation, we must also evaluate how we do those things. Paul was in prison as he wrote the Philippians and called on them to live with joy in all circumstances. True joy comes as we humbly serve others in a way that draws attention to Jesus.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/ExploreTheBible [3].