DBLK

Unfortunately, we Christians can be guilty of legalistically setting "Christian laws" and then judging others by how they measure up to them .. . do they go to the movies .... do they wear suits to church ... do they attend all the services ... do they send their kids to Christian schools ... do they do this ... do they do that. If they meet these standards we consider them righteousness, if they don't, then they fall short. But fortunately, God's righteousness is not by our works but by grace through faith. Otherwise we'd al fall short. We will probably be surprised who we will see in heaven.

Confidence in the flesh can generally be identified only by the Lord. It is usually hard for others to judge and be correct concerning somebody else's motives. However, since we are human it can be a problem for all of us, especially if we are talented ... a musician, a leader, a teacher ... a pastor ... we can easily lean on our own skills and "successes" and not depend upon the Lord. Have I been guilty of this? Yes, many times unfortunately. Sometimes a good dose of failure brings us back to dependence upon the Lord.

Q1. (2:19-21) Why was Timothy's selfless concern so rare among church leaders? Rather than pointing the finger at others in your church, consider yourself. What things has Jesus had to deal with in your life that has helped you to become genuinely selfless and focused on the concerns of others? How has he refined you? (Of course, he is still at work in us!) This is a challenging question. Selfless concern among church leaders is rare because we are all human with personal desires, ambitions, and expectations. It is easy to point a finger at other church leaders, but remember, when we do point a finger at others, there are three fingers pointing back at us. Even though I know better, I find that I still wrestle with this problem. It is really hard at times to die to our own concerns, needs and expectations to concentrate solely on the concerns of others. We should serve solely to do the Lord's Will. But, it is often hard to get this head knowledge down to our heart. Lord, help me to be a leader who is willing to serve both you and others selfishly.

Q2. (2:22) Who has come alongside you to teach you? What potential leader in your church needs someone to come alongside them? Do you have a person or two that you are mentoring "as a son with a father" or "a daughter with a mother"? Those of you who have had or have a mentor or an accountability partner are so fortunate. I have served in many leadership roles in our church and in Christian organizations for many years and have often wished for somebody to come aside of me. Leadership can be a very lonely position. I thank God for a Godly father and grandfather who have helped me, trained me and set examples for me. I thank God for Godly men who came into my life while I was in high school. But, through the years help, support, and encouragement have often been nonexistent - especially from pastoral staff and other church leaders, much to my regret. All leaders - as well as potential leaders - in your church need someone to come alongside of them. If you can't be that one for them, then pray that they might be fortunate to find that special someone or group. If not, they could end up frustrated, lonely, discouraged and maybe even defeated. I am trying to mentor my sons and grandchildren - as did my father and grandfather for me. But I pray that they will find other Godly men to come alongside them and mentor and support them.

Q1. (2:1-4). To achieve unity in your congregation, why is humility necessary? Can you give an example of how lack of humility caused a division in your church? What are you doing to bring unity in your church? In any church there will be many personal viewpoints, individual preferences, personalities, and styles of operation. This can lead to differences of opinions. We need discretion to know which of these differences are really important to take a stand on and which of these we need to humbly defer on. There are times, when in humility, we must not push for our preference to maintain unity. This is not always easy - remember Paul's prayer for discretion between what is good and what is best. Often we have tunnel vision about the wrong things. Praise the Lord, we have not really had major divisions in our church. But, we did have a few families leave a few years ago because of a difference in opinion with the pastor at that time. Both sides were not willing to back down on a situation which amounted to personal preferences, not violation of scriptural truths. As a result, a disagreement escalated and these families left. What can we do to promote unity? Pray, pray, pray. Ask for discretion to know what is worth standing for and what is really just a matter of personal preference. The holy wars of church music have caused many divisions in churches today. For the sake of unity, I've come to accept other styles of music and have learned to use them to worship the Lord, even though these styles aren't my personal preferences. Our battles need to be against Satan, not against our Christian brothers and sisters.

Q4. (1:23) What do Philippians 1:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 teach about the state of Christians immediately after death? How does this comfort you? How does this energize you? These verses are so comforting because I know that I will be immediately in the presence of the Lord when I leave this earth. Nobody needs to pray for my soul, light candles for me, do good deeds or give money in hopes that my soul will eventually make it out of a holding area. It is so sad that many religious leaders whose followers believe are so close to God don't have the assurance of these verses. Praise God for these truths which all of God's children can claim. How does this comfort and energize me? It gives me joy to know that when it is time for me to leave this life, I will immediately be with the Lord. It comforts me to know that many of my loved ones - my mother, my grandparents, close friends - are already in His presence. Praise the Lord for His Word, His promises, and His faithfulness. Absent from the body, present with the Lord!

Q3. (1:20-21) How can fear keep us from being a bold witness? Why does fear of people bind our tongues? How does "losing our life" for Christ's sake actually give us an abundant life? What fear is keeping your from clear witness? I find that I am often afraid that I won't have all the right answers, even though I know the Holy Spirit will guide me. I am also often afraid to appear that I am judging, even though I know that their eternal destiny is involved. I am also often afraid of losing a friendship, even though I know that their salvation would create an eternal friendship. Often I find it hard to put into practice what I know in my heart is right. Does fear bind my tongue? I am afraid that often it does, even though I know better. Lord may your Spirit help me to be a bold witness today and experience the abundant life which you have for me. Bring someone into my life today with whom I can share the Gospel and your love for them.

Q2. (1:18b-19) Why is our ability to rejoice so dependent upon our faith that God is in control, working even in the midst of difficulty? What must you believe in order to be able to rejoice in the midst of problems? What is your basis for believing that? Without our faith that God is in control, we would have no hope. Our lives would be dependent upon fate - life would be like a lottery. But, if we know that all things work together for good in the lives of believers, we can face problems knowing that God has a plan for our life and He will work it out for His glory. What is our basis for believing that? The inspired Word of God tells us so and our experiences back it up. God said it and I believe it - that settles it all for me.

Q1. (1:12-14) From the standpoint of witness to others, you are much more credible when you are undergoing personal struggles, stress, and problems. Why is this so? Why was Paul's witness so powerful? What personal struggle are you going through that could enhance your testimony if you handled it right? I would rather take advice from someone who has faced a struggle in the Lord's strength and has experienced the joy which only God can give in this difficult or impossible situation. I am usually "turned off" by those who say "I know how you feel" and give you advice when they have never really faced a similar struggle. A Godly example is powerful! As I read through the problems faced by many of our "online classmates", my emotions were touched. Many of you are going through very difficult times and I pray that the Lord will be your strength and your joy in these hard times. I, too, have faced a multitude of undiagnosed physical problems during the three years since I've retired. I need examples like Paul to keep me going some days. But, I am also learning that not only are many people watching my response to these struggles, but I have had opportunities to share and pray with others in similar sitiations. Sometimes the experiences of these struggles can, like Paul's, provide us with real opportunities to share Christ and His comfort with others. I admit that sometimes I have a difficult time saying truthfully "Praise the Lord for my problems". But, PRAISE THE LORD FOR MY PROBLEMS! May Jesus Christ be praised!

Do we need discernment? I know that I do. Continually we must make choices. Every day a multitude of "opportunities" - many very good ones - cross my path competing for my mind and my time. We all make choices and determine how we will spend our 24 hours. We can easily miss "the best" by settling for "the good". Personally, I have had a very difficult time learning to say "no" - especially to "good" things. But I have also learned that often I must say "no" and concentrate on other things - and that decision making process often takes real discernment. Paul's prayer is a very practical one which I pray every morning. And, if you are a parent, I think you need an extra measure of discernment in today's world. What will you allow your kids to do?, where can they go?, who can they associate with?, what can they listen to?, how can they dress?, when can they make their own decisions? - and on and on it goes! Parents need to pray daily for discernment! (We also need to pray that our children - especially our teens - will learn and develop Godly discernment.) Fathers and mothers also must have discernment in how they spend their time - work competes for much of our time and energy! Let's pray that we all may be able to discern what is best and that we may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. God has promised us the wisdom and the strength to do that! We just need to claim His promises and then be obedient. Have a great and "discerning" day!

Paul knows that God will keep the Phillipians (and all of us believers) from the time of their salvation, by grace, through eternity. He will work in us to mature us and conform us to His likeness. Nothing will steal us from His plan and His safekeeping. He will work out His plan for us throughout our lives. Paul knows this because He knows the One who has called him. He knows this because He has seen and experienced God's faithfulness. He knows this because He has heard from others the teachings and promises of Jesus, God's Son. He knows this because he has been inspired by God to write and share this message. And, his confidence is in God alone. We can expect God to do this for us because the inspired Word of God tells us so.

Right on! I agree with most of the responses and have enjoyed reading them. I've just finished memorizing a passsage from Proverbs 3 and right in the middle is the admonition "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine". Now I don't believe that this means we will become wealthy in the material sense (I don't have any barns or winepresses), but when we give what we have to His service, He provides all that we really need, in abundance, both materially and spiritually. All that we have - money, time and possessions - should be consecrated to Him. I believe many believers miss the full blessing of God because they don't make Him Lord of their pocketbooks and possessions. Sharing through our prayer life is also so very important. It is often so easy to say "I'll pray for you" and then forget to do it. It takes discipline to be faithful in prayer. My wife and I used to sing a song "In the Secret Service of Prayer" - what a joy to uplift the Lord's servants and share in their ministry through prayer! Another - often overlooked - way to share in ministry is through encouragement. Servants of the Lord are often lonely, especially when they are in leadership roles. Sometimes they feel like Elijah who felt he was all alone. We can uplift them and share by encouraging them - the telephone, the mail service, and now e-mail make it so easy to do this. What do we get out of this? The joy of sharing in the spread of the Gospel.

Your replies have been interesting and helpful. In summary, the Greek term translated servant means many things ... one bound to another ... by the bands of constraining love ... one in such a close relationship with another that only death could break the bond ... one who seves another with reckless abandon, not regarding his or her own interests. That is how we should serve and live for the Lord. And as saints, we are set apart and consecrated for the purpose of God's service. When we were born into God's family by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we received that title. We have been set apart for God's special purpose. What a marvelous standing, by God's grace. It doesn't mean we are perfect, just set apart and consecrated. So, fellow saints, it is great to meet you online and may the Lord bless all of us as we study together.

Hello everybody. I am a retired mathematics teacher/administrator from Pennsylvania. I am looking forward to this study and the opportunity to meet and communicate with new friends around the world. I asked the Lord into my heart as a child and as a result I feel very strongly about ministries for children such as CEF and Awana. I've served in Awana now for 23 years. But, I am very much aware of our need to continue to grow in the Lord and that is why I am hoping that this study will help me grow closer to Him daily. May the Holy Spirit challenge each of us as we study together.