Philippians 2:1-13 Tom Schinkel

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.Home Group Questions:God is in Control:  God’s plan has not changed and neither should our response Philippians 2:1-16a  Small Groups Discussion Questions: What does it mean to be made in the image of God: For the believer? Related to the dignity of all humans? Related to how we as Christians should interact with both Christians and Non-Christians? How do we know that, even after the fall, that we are still in the likeness of God (though marred)? How does Christ help to restore the image of God in a human? How should we as God’s people react when the media and those in politics slander us as unloving? How weird would it be for the Roman ears to hear the teaching of the equality of humans? How much weirder would it be to the Roman ears to hear of a God that would allow himself to be sacrificed for His people? Tom shared two stories (1) the man who gave him a Bible tract and (2) the friend he invited to church.  Are there stories you can share where you have done well, or not so well, have not loved as you should have or wished that you would have said something differently. It is often said that the Bible states in 1 Cor 5 that we should not associate with the sexually immoral but the Bible also speaks of a prostitute coming to Christ as well as many others in sexual sin.  Read 1 Cor 5:9&13. How does this bring clarity on how Christians ought to deal with people involved in sexual sins as well as other serious sins? Why do you think Paul instructs the Corinthians to judge those inside the church but not those outside the church? Read Romans 8:26 and share how that makes you feel in a time of distress. Send us Fan Mail