Michael Quattlebaum

Philippians 4:10-23 Study Questions

Key Verse:  Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

1. What “opportunity” was Paul talking about in verse 10?
2. Make a list of some of the circumstances that Paul had been in.  What was Paul’s attitude through all of his circumstances?
3. Explain the meaning of the “secret” that Paul has discovered.
4. Put verse 13 into your own words.  Explain what “all things” means.
5. How has the church at Philippi helped Paul?
6. Describe Paul’s attitude about the gift that the church has given him.
7. What does Paul promise about God’s reaction to their generosity?
8. How can we put into practice the same generosity, love, and caring that Paul saw in the people in the church at Philippi?

Philippians 4:1-9 Study Questions

Key Verse:  Phil. 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1. How is the church in Philippi a “crown” for Paul?
2. What does it mean to “stand firm in the Lord”?  How can we stand firm?  (Ephesians 6:11-16)
3. What is a “forbearing spirit”, or “gentleness”, or “moderation” in verse 5?  Explain what this means in terms of how we should behave.  What should our attitude be?
4. What does it mean to be anxious?  Why does Paul tell us not be anxious?  What or who should we depend upon?  (Matthew 6:19-34)
5. What is the result of trusting God to take care of us?  What can we expect as His children if we obey Him in this way?
6. How is verse 8 related to verse 5?
7. Why does Paul include advise about anxiousness within the context of how others who are outside the faith view us?

Next week:  4:10-23

Philippians 3:12-21 Study Questions

Key Verses:  Phil. 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1. What is the “it” that Paul has a desire to lay hold of?
2. In what ways was Paul “pressing on” in his faith?
3. Explain the meaning of verses 15-16.  How is it that we are perfect?  How can we be perfect?  What difference does our attitude have?
4. What “standard” is Paul talking about in verse 16?
5. What group of people is Paul talking about in verse 18-19?
6. Describe the transformation that is discussed in verse 21.  (1 Cor. 15:20; Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:4-6; Col. 2:12-13; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5)

Next week:  4:1-9

Philippians 3:1-11 Study Questions

Key Verse:  Phil. 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

1. Explain what it means to rejoice in the Lord.  How is this different from other types of joy that we think of?
2. Explain the difference between true and false circumcision in vs. 2-3.  What are we to beware of?  In what ways?  (Eph. 6:12; Rom. 2:29; Gal. 6:15)
3. Why does Paul go into his status as a Jew and as a persecutor of Christians before his conversion?  What is his point in describing what he has been through?
4. What are we willing to give up for our relationship with Christ?  (Luke 9:23-25)
5. What had Paul lost for his relationship with Christ?  What does Paul call us to give up for Christ?
6. What value did Paul have on the things of his “past life”?
7. Where is our righteousness as Christians from?  (Rom. 10; 1 Tim. 1:12-15; Eph. 2:4-9)
8. In what ways are we conformed to the likeness of Jesus’ death and His resurrection?  How do we “attain to the resurrection from the dead”?

Next week:  3:12-21

Philippians 2:19-30 Study Questions

 Key Verses:  Phil. 2:20-21 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.  21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

1. Describe Paul’s relationship with Timothy.  What do we know about Timothy?  (2 Tim. 1:3-11)
2. What was Timothy’s attitude toward service verses the others who were serving with Paul?  (Remember Phil. 2:4-5)
3. What was Paul’s relationship with Epaphroditus?
4. What was Epaphroditus’ relationship with the church at Philippi?
5. What roles did Epaphroditus and Timothy play in Paul’s ministry?  How did Paul see them?
6. How did Paul instruct the church at Philippi to receive Epaphroditus?  Why?
7. What can we learn from the service of these individuals in our service?
8. What should our roles be with regard to ministry in the church?  (1 Cor. 12-14, Romans 12, Ephesians 4)

 Next week:  3:1-9

Philippians 2:1-18 Study Questions

Key Verses:  2:10-11 …at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. What could the church at Philippi do to complete the joy that Paul has in Christ?
2. What attitudes should we have toward each other as believers?  In what ways can we show others that we care more about them than ourselves?  What needs do individuals have that often go without being addressed?  (Rom. 12:3)
3. List some ways that we can look out for the interests of others.
4. What example attitude from Christ does Paul want us to follow?
5. How should we be affected daily by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross?
6. Explain what it means to seek to make ourselves equal with God.  Do we do this?  If so, in what ways?   (Col. 2:8-12)
7. Explain the meaning of verses 10-11.  Who is it talking about?  Why?  (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11, 10:8-11).
8. What does it mean to “work out your salvation”?  In what ways do we do this?
9. How does God work through us to accomplish His will?  (Eph. 1, 2:8-10; Rom. 9)
10. How do we prove ourselves beyond reproach?
11. How does the behavior of the church at Philippi reflect on Paul?
12. How can we rejoice in bad circumstances?

Next week:  2:19-30

1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.

 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 2:10-11 …at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 2:20-21 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.  21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

 3:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Key Verse:  1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1. In what ways can Christ be exalted in us?
2. What level of commitment do we have to our relationship with Christ?  Are we willing to die for Him?
3. What is the conflict that Paul is facing in verses 22-23?  (Galatians 2:20)
4. Describe Paul’s role in the growth of Christians in Philippi.
5. List behaviors that would be worthy of the gospel of Christ.  
6. What is the one characteristic of the church that Paul hopes to find when he returns to Philippi?
7. Explain what it means in verse 28 when it says that it “is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you” (NASB)  — for all you NIV fans, “a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved”.
8. How were the people in the church suffering for Christ?
9. Do we have to suffer for our belief in Christ?  Are there ways that we are called to stand up for Christ or that we are persecuted for Christ? 

 Next week:  2:1-18

(OK, this is actually last week’s lesson, but I forgot to post it, so you get two this week!)

Key Verse:  1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.

  1.      In what ways can difficult situations be used for the good of what God has for us?  Does God have difficult times planned for us as individuals?  Why or why not?   (Romans 8:26-28; Ephesians 2:10, 6:11-20; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:6-7)

2.      What was the result of the trials that Paul was facing? 

3.      What was the reaction of the people when they discovered that the praetorian guard and others were believing?

4.      Explain how someone could preach the gospel out of envy or strife.  What were the motives of those preaching the gospel in such a way in Philippi?

5.      Were those who were presenting the gospel believers?  Did they have the right attitude?

6.      If someone who is not a believer sings or preaches in church, can God be glorified in that?  Can someone come to know Christ even though the person doing it is not a believer?

7.      What gives glory to God?  (1 Peter 4:8-14; John 15:8)

Next week:  1:19-30

Philippians 1:1-11

Key Verse:  1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

1. What was Paul’s opinion of the people and the church at Philippi?
2. In what ways did the church at Philippi participate in the gospel?
3. Read verse 6.  What does it mean to “perfect” the good work that was begun in them?  In what way is it perfected?
4. How are the people of Philippi “partakers of grace” with Paul?
5. How can love increase through greater knowledge and discernment?  (1 Cor. 8:1-3; 1 Cor. 13:2, 8; Eph. 1:15-17; 1 Tim. 2:3-4, 6:20-21; 2 Tim 3; Rom 8:6-8)
6. What keeps us sincere and blameless before Christ? (1 Thess. 3:11-13; 1 Cor. 1:4-8)
7. What is the “fruit of righteousness”?  (Gal. 5:22-23)

Next week:  1:12-18