Part of the reason Paul wrote Philippians was to thank the Christians for their generous financial and spiritual gifts to Paul. What effect do your words of thanks have to others? List three benefits of thankfulness.
What can you learn from Paul’s attitude of joy and thankfulness in light of the fact that he is writing this letter from prison?]
Philippi was home to many pagan religious influences. What are some of the pagan religious influences in your city? What impact—if any—do these have on you and your church?
A predominant theme in Philippians is to have joy in the midst of difficult circumstances (and Paul must have known what he was talking about since he was writing from jail). How is it possible to be joyful in the middle of hardship? Have you ever been able to achieve that situation in your life?
The generosity of Lydia and the compassion of the jailer might have been strong influences that shaped the character of the church in Philippi. Does you church have a personality that is positively influenced be certain individuals? What characteristics in your life could positively impact your church?
Suppose God called you to be a missionary to a place that had no Christians or anyone that you knew. How would you begin to get things started?
What aspect of your spiritual life could use a little boost? Are you more in need of encouragement or reprimand? Do you have a “Paul” in your life who could be a spiritual advisor to you?
Chapter 2
What was the key to Paul’s joy in hardship as expressed in Philippians?
In 1:10 Paul writes, “For I want you to understand what really matters.” In effect, he’s praying that the Philippians will have discernment for what is best. Define discernment. How do you get spiritual discernment?
What are the “fruits of your salvation” (1:11)? Compare this verse with Galatians 5:22-23.
Paul prayed from his Christian “partners” in Philippi. Who have you been praying for? How have you been praying for their spiritual growth?
Read John 15:9-17. Describe the love that Christians are supposed to have for each other? Is this any different that the love that Christians are supposed to have for all people (such as when Jesus said to “love your enemies” in Matthew 5:44)?
What do you think Paul had in mind when he prayed the Philippians would grow in their knowledge and understanding of God? List some practical ways in which you can experience such spiritual growth.
Is there a difference for you between simply knowing someone or having something in common with someone? Do you sense a special connection with other Christians because of your shared loved of Christ?
Chapter 3
Read 1:20. How does being bold for Christ honor Him?
How is it a privilege to trust in Christ? How is it a privilege to suffer for Christ?
Have you ever prayed in the midst of adversity? What happened?
The Philippians were an encouragement to Paul during his imprisonment. He was always an encouragement to them. In Philippians 1:27-30, Paul emphasizes the importance of Christians supporting each other. Can you think of a Christian who could use your support and encouragement? What are some practical things that you can do?
Pretend you are Paul. Articulate his quandary between live and death. Give some arguments for why dying would be a good thing. Next, give reasons why it might be better for you to live.
Read Philippians 1:14-18. Paul is gracious about those who are preaching with the wrong motives . . . those who are trying to hog the spotlight while he is in prison. Do you care about who gets the credit in ministry activities? Do you ever try to hog some of the glory? Are you gracious with those might be trying to take too much credit? How should you respond in these types of situations?
Chapter 4
What does it mean to be united with Christ? What difference does this make in your life?
Describe the attitude of Jesus as described in 2:5-8. In what way is your similar to His? How is it different?
What does it mean to “put into action God’s saving work in your lives” (2:12)?
How does God give you the desire to obey Him” (2:13)?
Why do you think that people have such a difficult time being humble and placing the interests of others before their own? Should humility come any easier for a Christian?
Which comes more naturally for you: complimenting someone or complaining about something? How can people (maybe you) change their complaining mentality?
Read Philippians 2:14-15. In light of those verses, how can you be a witness for Christ by the way that you live?
Do you worry about making a good impression on others? Is that often your primary motivation for doing things? How would those feelings change if you understood what Paul is getting at with his discussion of Christian unity through humility?
Chapter 5
In what practical ways can you rejoice in the Lord?
Do you think Paul was overstating things in 3:8? What does he mean when he says, “I have discarded everything else, counting it as garbage, so that I may have Christ”?
What does it mean to “really know Christ” (3:10)? What are you doing to know Christ better?
In Philippians 3:9, Paul says that he has no righteousness on his own; all of his righteousness comes from Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. What does this verse explain about Christ’s gift of righteousness?
Read 2 Corinthians 11 and Galatians 1:13-24 for more information about Paul’s credentials as a Jew. Next read Acts 9 for the story of Paul’s conversion. Describe the paradigm shift that had to take place in Paul’s mind for him to reject the notion that his accomplishments counted for anything.
Paul said that he had to consider his accomplishments to be worthless in order to know Christ. How can pride in our accomplishments interfere with our relationship with God?
Do you think Paul is basically a humble person or an egotist? What evidence do you have to support your answer?
Chapter 6
Do you have any goals in life that you are determined to accomplish? How does this goal compare to Paul’s goal (3:13-14)?
Who is following your spiritual example? Are you living a life others should follow? Is this important to you?
How do you define the “prize” that Paul refers to in 3:14?
How is it that our natural instincts (the “appetites” that Paul refers to in 3:19) move us away from God?
Paul says to forget what is past (3:13). What are the dangers of focusing on your past victories? What are the dangers of focusing on your past failures?
Paul says that he is focusing all his energies on his spiritual life (Philippians 3:13-14). What are your energies focused on? What consumes your thoughts and desires?
Chapter 7
Read 4:6. How practical is this advice? Is it possible to worry about nothing and pray about everything? How?
How can you keep your thoughts fixed on true, honorable, and right things?
Summarize Paul’s attitude toward finances.
What does Paul mean when he says that he “can do everything with the help of Christ”? Does he really mean everything? What is the point he is trying to make?
After reading Philippians, you should be somewhat of an expert on the subject of Christian joy. Are you experiencing any of it in your own life? What are some of the obstacles that prevent you from experiencing more of it?
Who has been helpful in your spiritual growth? Who has given you instruction and encouragement along the way? What do you appreciate about this person? Would it be appropriate to write this person a letter expressing your gratitude?
What are some difficult circumstances in which you could maintain your joy? Are there any circumstances that might cause you to lose your sense of joy? What do you need to yet understand so those circumstances won’t interfere with your spiritual joy?
QUESTIONS FOR COLOSSIANS
Chapter 8
Why did Paul write his letter to the Colossian church?
Compare today’s New Age religions with the Colossian Gnostic heresy.
Respond to this statement by William Barclay: “It is not until a man finds his faith opposed and attacked that he really begins to think out the implications of that faith.”
Does it matter to you whether or not Jesus Christ was God? How does your answer impact the significance of Christ’s death on the cross?
Why do you suppose the Epaphras sought Paul’s help in rebutting the views and opinions of the Gnostics? Although they may not have known him personally, what did the Colossian Christians think of Paul? Why do you suppose that Epaphras didn’t handle the responsibility for refuting the Gnostics?
Describe a time when you were telling someone about Christ but then you were asked a question that you couldn’t answer. How did you feel? Why is it important to know enough about what you believe to be able to explain it? (Use 1 Peter 3:15 in your answer.)
How does the knowledge of what you believe protect you from false teaching?
Chapter 9
The word Gospel means “Good News.” List three “Good News” qualities of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Read 1:9-10. What is the connection between understanding what God wants you to do and pleasing the Lord?
How does knowing God “better and better” (1:10) protect you from false ideas?
Based on the passage of Colossians 1:1-14, identify and explain the benefits of growing in your knowledge of God.
What are some practical ways in which you can get to know God better?
How can we live in a way that honors God without reducing our lifestyle to a checklist of “do’s” and “don’ts”?
Paul was an effective ambassador of the Good News. What about you? Is the Good News reaching other people through you?
Chapter 10
The false teachers didn’t want to do away with Christ altogether. They wanted Jesus to share the “billing” with other spirits. How does Paul counter this idea?
How was Christ involved with Creation? How is He still involved? Could the universe function without Christ?
Why do people “drift away” from the truth?
Are you assured of your salvation? How do you know?
Read the following verses and explain what they add to what Paul said about the deity of Christ in Colossians 1:15?
John 10:30, 38;
John 12:45;
John 14:1-11;
Romans 9:5;
Romans 10:11-13;
Romans 2:16;
2 Corinthians 5:10
Philippians 2:6;
2 Timothy 4:1
Describe the implications that arise from the fact that Christ is the “sustainer” of all of creation as stated in Colossians 1:17?
Pretend that you have a friend who is a Gnostic. (We know it’s a stretch, but go with it.) What would you say to this friend in defense of the Gospel?
Describe in your own words what it means to be free from sin and how that can be accomplished. Next, compare what you said with Colossians 1:22-23.
Chapter 11
What do you think Paul means when he says he is “completing what remains of Christ’s suffering for his body, the church” (1:24)?
Is the Christian bound to observe strict diets and days of worship? Why or why not?
According to Paul, what is true circumcision?
Read the following verses and explain what they add to what Paul said about the deity of Christ in Colossians 1:15?
John 10:30, 38;
John 12:45;
John 14:1-11;
Romans 9:5;
Romans 10:11-13;
Romans 2:16;
2 Corinthians 5:10
Philippians 2:6;
2 Timothy 4:1
Describe the implications that arise from the fact that Christ is the “sustainer” of all of creation as stated in Colossians 1:17?
Pretend that you have a friend who is a Gnostic. (We know it’s a stretch, but go with it.) What would you say to this friend in defense of the Gospel?
Describe in your own words what it means to be free from sin and how that can be accomplished. Next, compare what you said with Colossians 1:22-23.
Rewrite Colossians 1:28 in your own words. How did you describe the goal of the mature relationship with Christ to which Paul refers? Is your life on that track?
How can you have “freedom” in Christ if you are living in obedience to His principles? Isn’t that a contradiction?
Read Colossians 2:8. What are some of the popular “philosophies” of our present culture about spiritual matters that lead people astray in their thinking?
What does it mean for a Christian to have “died with Christ” in the context that Paul uses in Colossians 2:20?
Chapter 12
In what practical ways can you “put to death” the practices of the past (3:5)?
Read 3:12-13. What must you put on? How are you to treat others?
How can you best let the words of Christ live in your heart and make you wise (3:16)? Does this involve reading the red words in your New Testament, or is there more to it than that? Explain.
What are some of the things that you need to “put to death” (Colossians 3:5) in your life?
Contrast the list of sins in Colossians 3:5 with the list of sins in 3:8-9. Can you make distinctions between the two groups?
Look at the character qualities of Colossians 3:12-13. Which ones could use improvement in your life? Are there reasons that some are more difficult for you than others?
Review again that list of character qualities in 3:12-13. Explain how each one is able to contribute to the building of relationships between Christians.
Chapter 13
Describe the relationships within a Christian family.
Who are you praying for right now? What do you expect to happen as a result of your prayers?
Are you making the most of every opportunity as you live among non-Christians? What could you be doing to encourage conversations about spiritual things?
Paul is often mistaken accused of being anti-women. Use the passage of Colossians 3:18-19 to disprove this criticism.
What is Paul talking about in Colossians 4:5 when he instructs us to “make the most of every opportunity”? Is this something you’ve been doing in your life?
Can you find some common principles in Paul’s description of the relationships be husbands & wives, parents & children, and slaves & owners?