Text: Philippians 2:1-18

The Plain Truth:

Sacrifice and ____________ is the way to Christ-like _______________.

Things to Practice

1. Don’t be ____________ become _____________.

2. Don’t try to ______________, seek to _________.

3. Embrace __________ instead of a false __________.

October 1, 2017

One Year Bible Reading October 2: Isaiah 66:1-24, Philippians 3:4-21, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 24:15-16 October 3: Jeremiah 1:1-2:30, Philippians 4:1-23, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 24:17-20 October 4: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 24:21-22 October 5: Jeremiah 4:19-6:15, Colossians 1:18-2:7, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 24:23-25 October 6: Jeremiah 6:16-8:7, Colossians 2:8-23, Psalm 78:1-31, Proverbs 24:26 October 7: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 24:27 October 8: Jeremiah 10:1-11:23, Colossians 3:18-4:18, Psalm 78:56-72, Proverbs 24:28-29

3. Just as it was not popular to be a believer in the city of Philippi, there are many places in our country and our world today where it is becoming increasingly unpop-ular, even dangerous, to be identified as a follower of Jesus Christ. Yet, giving up or giving in, could lead to an entire generation that doesn’t know the Lord or the mighty things He has done. Below, name areas (and reasons why) you are some-times tempted to give up or give in. Beside it, examine the reality of the situation, then ways you can rethink it.

UNHELPFUL THOUGHTS REALITY CHECK RETHINK IT (example:) “I don’t have time “God has put me beside “I will simply to walk next door and meet my neighbor for a reason. pray for them my neighbor. Maybe somebody I am literally about 25 steps then wait for else will invite them away from them.” God to open to church.” the door for me to first be a friend.” God is in the restoration business. In the days of Jeremiah the LORD promised that not only would He bring His people home again, but Jerusalem would be rebuilt on its ruins. Thanks to my brother-in-law, Jimmy, and my sister, Robin – and after about nine months of labor-intensive cleanup, rebuilding, remodeling – my parents now have a beautifully renovated home in Ocoee, Tennessee. On Labor Day we went to visit and when my little six-year-old Joanna saw it, she said: “It looks like a magazine!” God is so merciful. Just like He promised His children returning from captivity long ago, the Lord made sure my parents’ home would be “rebuilt on the ruins” with updates and features that better suit them in their senior years. 4. How is the Lord beginning to stir your heart through LEGACY 2:10* – what are you

willing to give up so the next generation can grow up knowing God? Think about it. Talk with your Life Group about it. Pray. Ask the Lord to bring re-vival and “send more workers into His fields” (Matthew 9:39).

*LEGACY 2:10 “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the

LORD or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

NOT ON MY WATCH!

RESTORATION AFTER DEVASTATION by Julie Kyker

Last fall my parents’ home in Tennessee was destroyed by a tornado. Thankfully, the old oak tree that smashed into the kitchen, entryway, and both living areas, missed the bedrooms where mom and dad were asleep. They knew undeniably the Lord was watching over them and were grateful to be alive! But in the morning as they began to assess the damage in down-pouring rain, the idea of restoration was nearly unfathomable. Would they ever be able to live at the place they had called home for 44-years? Could anything of beauty ever come of such destruction? In many ways their world was torn apart. Yet, in the coming days, weeks, and months the attitude of my parents was remarkable. And God graciously positioned my sister and her husband (who are excellent builders) to tackle the job. Followers of Christ are not exempt from hard times. In fact, the more focused we are to live and sacrifice for Christ, often the more difficulties we face. The apostle Paul certainly knew about sacrificial living, opposition, and difficulties. Yet, he con-tinued to be bold for Christ and seize every opportunity to share Jesus’ love. Impris-oned for preaching the Gospel, he writes to believers in Philippi: “And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ” (Philippians 1:12-13). Read Philippians 2:1-18

Just as restoring a home after a tornado requires sacrifice and hard work, restoring broken lives and bringing people to Christ requires sacrificial living. Paul writes this letter to the church in Philippi primarily to encourage them. Just as he is suffering for his faith, they are also suffering persecution. Not only are they discouraged by the opposition they face, they learn that their beloved Paul is in chains. But Paul says, “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies… For you have been given the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him. We are in this struggle together” (see Philippians 1:28-30). How often do we count suffering as a privilege? 1. Think about restoring a home after a natural disaster—the amount and expense

of cleanup, the patience required in speaking with insurance adjusters, working with architects and builders. Now think about all that is required in eternal life-restoration efforts (which is what followers of Christ should be about). When it comes to helping put lives back together, why is it important to maintain an attitude of endurance?

Life Group Lesson Week of October 1

Name some practical ways we can encourage one another to stay focused on the mis-sion and keep an attitude of endurance as we work to rebuild broken lives. Keeping the end in mind can help motivate us to press on. Like the hope of moving into a beautifully refurbished home after devastation, we press on so that others will have a home in heaven. When you think about life-transformation for the people in your sphere of influence—people you know coming to Christ, their broken lives healed, shattered marriages restored, their children coming to know the Lord—the rewards far outweigh any time, labor, or sacrifice on our part. The Lord Jesus main-tained an attitude of endurance as He faced the cross. He looked forward to the re-ward of having all of us in heaven! (see Isaiah 53:10) The writer of Hebrews says: “Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2b). 2. According to Paul’s words in Philippians 2:5, we are to have the same attitude

Christ Jesus had. Re-read Philippians 2:6-8. Outline what stands out to you in each of these three verses. Read the following excerpt regarding Roman crucifixion. Take a few moments and reflect upon the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. Then, write a simple prayer of thanksgiving (just 1 or 2 sentences from you to the Lord).

The execution of Jesus by crucifixion has forever focused the attention of the world on this cruel mode of capital punishment. In 1968 in Jerusalem, the first-ever dis-covery was made of the bones of a crucified man, shedding new light on the man-ner of the death of Jesus. Among the skeletal remains was the right heel bone of a crucified man. Embedded within was an 11.5 cm long iron nail, with wood frag-ments beneath the nail head which have been identified as olive wood. The posi-tion of the nail within the bone indicates that the man was crucified with his feet on either side of the upright of the cross… As the hours progressed, and the cruci-fied person became weaker, the body would collapse against the cross, the feet coming into contact with a protrusion of wood placed beneath them. The cause of death was often asphyxiation, as the weight of the body hanging in such a manner prevented the muscles that controlled breathing from proper functioning. (from Daily Life at the Time of Jesus by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh, p.35.)

Jesus died a ‘criminal’s death’ as foretold by the prophet Isaiah: “He was counted among the rebels” (see Isaiah 53:12). The church in Philippi was learning that faithful-ness and sacrifice go hand-in-hand. Following in the steps of Christ went against the grain of their polytheistic culture. Philippi was a Roman colony in northeastern Greece, about 10 miles inland from the Aegean Sea, and it sat on the Via Egnatia—the main east-west route through the province of Macedonia. Paul said the way of Christ would not be easy. And because Jesus gave up everything, they too would have to sacrifice. But because Jesus endured to the end, they too would be supplied with a desire and power to please God and persevere. Paul says so don’t give up, but “work hard to show the results of your salvation” (see vv 9-13).