Joyful Gain

Joyful Gain-Study Questions

Philippians 3:1-16

• Can you share a time when you thought something had more value than it actually did? What was your experience like?

• What are some things that people seem to value in our culture that you don’t quite understand?

• Look at the following passages: Philippians 1:4, 1:18, 1:25, 2:2, 2:17-18, and 2:28-29. What have we learned about joy and rejoicing from Paul so far in this study?

• Based on what you have seen from reviewing those passages, why do you think Paul might have waited so long to tell the Philippians to “rejoice, in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1)?

• What is at risk for the Philippians if they put their “confidence in the flesh” rather than “rejoicing in the Lord”? Why is it impossible to do both?

• In the sermon, the claim was made that the harsh language Paul used had a purpose, it shows that empty religion causes the religious to devour people and, in the end, they are left to feast on the rubbish of their empty religion. How do you see this manifest itself today?

• Read Philippians 3:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:21. What do you learn in these two passages about righteousness for the Christian and why is it important?

• In the sermon, it was said that the resurrection is everything to the Christian. Do you find that to be true in your own life? If not, what is distracting you from seeing the resurrection as everything?

• In the sermon, it was said that rejoicing in the Lord is seeing Jesus as our all-satisfying treasure which is summarized in Philippians 3:8 by Paul. What religious things have been a part of your life that might be distracting you from a “Christ-alone” pursuit of joy?

• Spend some time in prayer asking God to fill you with His Spirit, reveal anything that may be hindering your joy in the Lord, and praise Jesus as your all-satisfying treasure.