1. The “therefore” draws back to what Paul has built on in Philippians 1:27-30, telling the Philippians how to stand strong for the Lord against external conflicts. Now he tells them how to act against internal conflicts in the body of Christ.” (Guzik) The seemingly conditional phrases of these verses actually indicate certainties, not maybes, because “if” expresses the idea of “since.” Thus, the phrases in verse 1 are true statements.
a. “since there is consolation in Christ”
– define consolation
– What insights do the following verses give us? Luke 2:25, 2 Cor. 1:5, 2 Thess. 2:16
b. “comfort of love”
– How is God described in 2 Cor. 1:3?
– How is God described in 1 John 4:8?
– What might these verses tell us about the “comfort of love” spoken of in Phil. 2:1?
c. “fellowship of the Spirit”
– Paul used the word “fellowship” in Chapter one also. But here he speaks of fellowship with the Holy Spirit of God. What does this mean and how should it affect our lives?
d. “affection and mercy”
– What do these two things look like in the life of the church?
2. (vs 2) Paul says that since all these things in verse 1 are true for them, “fulfill my joy.” What does Paul say would fulfill his joy? Why would these things be so important to Paul?
3. (vs 3-4) Paul could be speaking to one of the main problems in our culture today!
a. How would following this instruction result in peace and fruitfulness in the body of Christ?
b. How would a lack of these things cause strife and a lack of fruit?
c. “Lowliness of mind” doesn’t sound like the popular thought of today. What does it actually mean for the Christian?
Read Philippians 2:5-11 – Our Greatest Example
1. In this section Paul is going to describe, to the best of his ability, the mind of Jesus. But before he begins, he tells us what we should do with the information that he will share. What should we do?
a. What does 1 Cor. 2:16 tell us.
b. What does “Let” in 1 Pet. 2:5 indicate? How do you reconcile 1 Cor. 2:16 and 1 Pet. 2:5?
2. (vs 6a) Read this quote from the NKJV Study Bible regarding the meaning of “being in the form of God”: The Greek word for form was generally used to express the way in which a thing exists and appears according to what it is in itself. Thus the expression form of God may be correctly understood as the essential nature and character of God. To say, therefore, that Christ existed in the form of God is to say that apart from His human nature Christ possesses all the characteristics and qualities belonging to God because He is, in fact, God. Consider Matthew 1:23.
How does Malachi 3:6a deepen our understanding?
3. (vs 6b) The word robbery has the idea of grasped or clung to. Guzik explains it this way: Jesus did not cling to the prerogatives or privileges of deity. Jesus didn’t try to achieve equality with God because He already had it, but He chose not to cling to it. In what ways do we see this?
4. (vs 7) Even though Jesus is God, what does verse 7 tell us about the sacrifice He made on our behalf? And how does verse 8 further explain this sacrifice?
5. (vs 9) We read in verses 7 and 8 how Jesus humbled Himself, and then in verse 9 how God exalted Him. What a contrast! What did God do?
6. (vs 10-11) In Isaiah 45:23 Yahweh says through the prophet Isaiah, “I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. In Isaiah, it is to Yahweh that every knee shall bow and tongue confess. In Philippians, it is to Jesus. What does this further prove?
7. The word “confess” in verse 11 is a strong verb that means “agree with” or “say the same thing.” One day all people will agree with what God has already said, that Jesus Christ is Lord. As Christians, we have the privilege of confessing this everyday. May our lives, our actions, our words, and our priorities all reflect what we confess to be true, that Jesus is Lord. “Lord” (kyrios in Greek) means “Master” or “Supreme in Authority.” When we confess Jesus as Lord, what are we saying?
8. Who will receive the glory for this? (vs 11)
9. Do you need to make a fresh commitment to confess Jesus as Lord in all areas of life?