Study Guide: "Rediscovering Church"

Philippians 4:10-13

Open:

One of the things that happens with the way many of us approach the New Testament, and Paul's letters in particular, is the proverbial loss of the forest for the trees.  At times we miss the sweeping and obvious lessons we should be learning about the local church because of an inordinate focus on the individual believer.  That explains my insistence on interpreting Paul's letters as primarily relating to the local church, and only secondarily to the individual.

The church is intended to be an organism rather than an organization.  In keeping with that reality, I want to offer an overview of a church as a living organism.

I. A Balanced Ecosystem.

  1. Everything God creates is connected.

  2. The church only thrives in the context of healthy relationships.

II. Environmental Adaptation.

  1. Every living system that is fruitful and multiplies is required to adapt to the environment in which it has been placed.

  2. The gospel must always be incarnational.  A part of the design of the church is to be able to make positive changes while beeping her essence at her core.

III. Spontaneous Reproduction.

  1. Living creatures are created with the capacity to create life.

  2. When the church is a vibrant organism, life is reproduced over and over again.

IV. The Nurturing Instinct.

  1. Just as the instinct to nurture is characteristic of all creatures, so it is in the thriving church.

  2. Discipleship must move from the periphery as a nice "extra" to the very core of a church's reason for being.

V. Life-Cycle Harmony.

  1. This is simply the realization and embracing of one's own life cycle.

  2. Churches should be aware of their own life cycle and be prepared to dream again.

Close:

For the the church to escape the paralysis of institutionalism, she must find again her identity in her essence as a spiritual organism.

(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)

  

Study Guide: "Rejoice Together"

Text: Philippians 4:1-7

OPEN:

It is especially important as we approach chapter four of Philippians that we remember Paul is primarily addressing a local fellowship of believers—a local church.  The letters of the New Testament were written primarily to churches and only secondarily to individual disciples, with only a few exceptions.

·        The Western church has lost this with its individualistic lens on reality.

·        We have, therefore, lost an understanding of the nature of the church because we have made the church incidental to the individual believer.

In this passage, Paul will show us that the general strength of the fellowship becomes the strength of the individual.  The corollary is true—the more isolated a believer is from other believers, the more spiritually unstable she/he is likely to be.  Loving unity in the fellowship creates an environment for individual stability that gives rise to genuine joy.

 
I.  Understanding the Command to Rejoice (v.4).

v. 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!”

·        This verse expresses the theme of this letter from the apostle Paul to the Philippian church.  Joy is such a vitally important factor in spiritual stability that Paul repeats his command for emphasis.  The repetition presupposes that it was not easy to be joyful.  The Philippians needed to arise above the dissension in their midst in order to regain joy in their fellowship.

1.    Joy is Confidence, Not Emotional Response.

·        Some, wrongly identifying joy as a purely human emotion, find Paul’s twice-repeated command to rejoice puzzling.  How can people be commanded to produce an emotion?  But joy is not a feeling; it is a deep down confidence (hope) that God is in control of everything for the believer’s good and his own glory and therefore, everything is well regardless of the circumstances.  Neither Paul’s imprisonment nor the Philippians trials should eclipse their joy.

·        Emotions are fickle—always changing, rarely dependable.  I certainly hope Paul has something more in mind than human emotion when he tells us to “Rejoice.”  Because, quite honestly, I don’t think I have the energy to keep the plates spinning if it’s up to me to ‘keep the joy flowing.’

·        It is true that believers often cannot find reason to rejoice over their specific circumstances.  Nor are people a reliable source of joy since they can change, hurt, judge, and disappoint.  The only sure, reliable, unchanging source of joy is God.  That is the reason Paul qualifies the imperative/command to rejoice with “in the Lord.”  Spiritual stability is directly linked to with how a person thinks about God.

1)   Knowing God is the key to rejoicing (Phil 3:8)—intimate knowledge.

2)   Joy, hope, faith are interchangeable biblical terms since they all have to do with knowing God intimately and the resultant confidence in Him.  Read anywhere in the Bible and use any of these terms in place of the others and you retain the same meaning, perhaps even enhancing your understanding of it.

·        Faith=knowing the character of God; believing the promises from God.  Hope=confidence in God born of intimacy with Him that never ends.

Romans 12:12, “be joyful in hope”

·        How is joy related to confidence in God?  The Greek is charete.  The root of the word is charis=grace.  The idea is that if God has saved us by His grace, will He not take care of everything else on the same basis? READ Romans 8:28-32.

God’s grace is what enables us to rejoice.

II.  Understanding Joy’s Connection to the Community (v.7).

“And the peace of God, which transcends all human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

·        Remember that this is a message to the church primarily, and to the individual only in a secondary sense.  This can be seen in 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  It is not coincidental that Paul’s command to rejoice is placed in the same context of dealing with church unity.

1.    True joy is known only in community with other believers.

·        Other Christians with whom we are in relation are a source of incomparable strength and encouragement to the believer.

·        The believer should feel no shame when he/she yearns for the physical presence of other believers.

     ·        Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ.  No Christian community is more or less than this.

1)   This means, first, that a Christian needs others because of Jesus Christ.

·        This clarifies the goal of all Christian community—exalt Christ in the lives of one another.  Fellowship is founded solely upon Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:14, “brothers in the Lord”).  I am a brother to another person through what Jesus Christ did for me and to me; the other person has become a brother to me through what Jesus Christ did for him.

2)   This means, second, that a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ.

·        We who have received grace freely extend grace to one another.

READ Romans 13:9-12—It would be unthinkable of me to condemn someone else when I, myself, am clinging desperately to God’s grace.

·        This establishes a foundation of trust where individuals can freely share their hurt and failure without fear of reprisal or repercussion.

·        This is not true merely at the beginning, as though in the course of time something else were to be added to the community; it remains so for all the future and to all eternity.  The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us receded, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us.  “We have one another only through Jesus Christ, but through Jesus Christ we do have one another, wholly, for all eternity.”

·        Because God has laid the only foundation of our fellowship we enter into common life not as demanders but as thankful recipients.

Phil 4:6 “…with thanksgiving”

               3)   This means, third, that in Jesus Christ we need open worship, open sharing, and open ministry to maintain our common life in Christ.

·        If you’ve ever felt lonely and unimportant in church, there’s a good reason: In most churches you are alone and unimportant.  From 11 to 12 Sunday morning, you’re just another pretty face in the crowd.  Though surrounded by others, you’re cut off. 

CLOSE: Loving unity in the fellowship creates an environment of individual stability that gives rise to genuine joy. 

·        Joy comes from knowing God and having confidence that by his grace he will take care of us.

·        God’s grace is what enables us to rejoice.

·        And this joy is known most clearly in the context of a community of grace sharing and receiving with other believers.

Study Guide: "Moving On"

Philippians 3:12-21

Open:

Judging from his frequent use of athletic metaphors in his writings, St. Paul must have been a sports fan.

Speaking of his desire to be effective in his Christian life, Paul wrote, "I box in such a way, as not beating the air" (1 Co 9:26).

He described the Christian life to the Ephesians as a "struggle (wrestling match) not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness" (Ephesians 6:12).

In what might be considered his epitaph, he declared triumphantly, "I have fought the good fight" (2 Tim 4:7).

In an allusion to the Isthmian Games (held in Corinth and second in importance only to the Olympic Games), he reminded the Corinthians, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Co 9:25).

But Paul's favorite athletic metaphor is that of a footrace:

To the Ephesians elders: "So that I may finish my course and ministry" (Acts 20:24).

To the Corinthians: "Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim" (1 Co 9:24).

To the Galatians: "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?"

To Timothy: "I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7).

Here in Philippians 3, Paul uses the metaphor of the Christian life as a race: "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:12-21).

The Apostle Paul tells us in this passage exactly what's important in life, and gives specific instructions on how to pursue it.

I. Moving On Requires an Honest Self-Assesment (3:12).

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect....."

illus: I tweeted yesterday: "Perhaps I'm only as good as my next honest question and as real as my next sincere confession."

The awareness of the need to improve one's spiritual condition is a necessary prerequisite to pursuing the prize of Christlikeness.

  1. Paul expressed his awareness in the two words that begin verse 12, "not that."

He had not yet obtained the prize he pursued.

  2. Paul's confession is made against the backdrop of his earlier stated pedigree in 3:4-7 and clearly articulated purpose in verses 7-10.

  3. Paul recognizes that everything in his life was the result of God's grace.

Even this goal was made possible because Christ pursued him.

"but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." (3:12)

II. Moving On Requires Focused Determination (vv. 13-14).

"Every athlete knows that a runner in a race must fix their eyes ahead of them; those who watch the crowd or their own feet are likely to trip and fall.  To make a maximum effort in any athletic endeavor requires the participants to concentrate on a point straight ahead." __John MacArthur

  1. Paul makes a confidant declaration: "but this one thing I do."

This speaks of singular focus.

"I do" is not in the Greek text, but was added by the translators because it was implied.  In the Greek text Paul communicates his singular focus in a staccato, brief, impassioned, almost abrupt manner: "This one thing."

It is such singularly focused people who succeed in athletics and other pursuits of life. Many people dabble in much, but succeed at very little if anything at all.

Paul was pleasantly obsessed with one thing--knowing Christ intimately, profoundly, passionately, to the point of absolute identification:

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death."

  2. Paul adds a curious description: "forgetting what lies behind" and "straining forward."

So, is it one thing or two things? Actually, it's both.  Let me explain....

Singular focus requires both a negative and positive aspect:

1) Negative aspect -- "forgetting what lies behind."

A runner who keeps looking back runs the risk of being passed and losing the race, regardless of their ability and potential.

A runner's past performance neither disqualifies a runner nor guarantees her/him victory in the current race.  The past is not relevant; what matters is making maximum effort right now.

Paul made a break with everything in his past, both good and bad.

*Frequently, our greatest challenge is not looking to the future, but coping with our past.

Let me ask a critical question: What do you need to let go?

Who has injured you that you need to forgive?

Who has failed you that you need to get over?

What mistake did you make that you need to move beyond?

illus:

Regret--How many times will I descend to this--reaching below the bottom?  I know it's not politically correct, but I can't forgive you and I won't forgive me.  Regret pulls like a gravitational force, tugged down toward a bottomless journey of tragedy. Regret is an irrepressible weight obliterating every element of optimism and joy in its wake. (Posted by Dane Fowlkes, Ph.D at Saturday, January 25, 2014)

What success in the past do you need to move beyond?

"No one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

  2) Positive aspect: "straining forward to what lies ahead."

This is straining the muscles to their limit, and pictures a runner straining every muscle to cross the finish line.

The ability of the muscles to perform on demand and under duress is based on their previous conditioning.  You cannot decide today that you will compete in a marathon tomorrow.  Requires conditioning over time. "Muscle memory."

What are you doing today that will condition spiritual muscle memory tomorrow?

I am not encouraging a rigid, legalistic approach to Christianity & spirituality.  I am stressing that only one thing really matters--how we finish the race.  What matters is that you finish well.

Close:

The Apostle Paul tells us in this passage exactly what's important in life, and gives specific instructions on how to pursue it.  Let me be very personal with you right now:

(1) Have you started your race?  I mean, have you given your life to Jesus Christ?

(2) How are you doing in your race?

Listen....

You may have gotten off to a bad start, don't stop.

You may have stumbled or even fallen down, get back up.

You may have been tripped and hurt by someone else, maybe even someone you loved, refuse to stop and sulk and nurse the pain.  Get back on the course (My phone GPS: "Proceed to the course").

You may be exhausted and ready to fall out, don't quit. You're almost there. You're almost home! Can you see the finish line?  Do you see the Father's arms outstretched to catch you as you collapse across the line? Do you see the winner's circle with your name on it? Do you see your loved ones jumping and shouting--"You can do it! Just a little farther! You can make it... Don't give up!"

(Dr. Dane Fowlkes, pastor)

Study Guide: "Giving Up Everything to Gain Even More"

Philippians 3:1-11

Open:

On Wednesday we will observe Ash Wednesday with the imposition of ashes.  It marks the beginning of the Lenten season, a period of fasting, repentance, and spiritual discipline.  During Lent, many believers commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence.

In Philippians 3:1-11, the apostle Paul describes what he gave up to gain even more.  Paul gives an autobiographical account that leads to a remarkable declaration.  He describes an impeccable religious pedigree, then marks it all null and void in light of the greater value of knowing Christ.  By examining Paul's declaration, we learn better the value of and path to intimacy with Jesus Christ.  Essentially, religion is revealed to be inferior to relationship.

I. Paul's Impeccable Religious Pedigree Described (verses 1-6).

  1. The background of Paul's declaration is the prevalence of a certain heresy in the church (vv. 1-2).

     - The early church dealt with many external pressures.

     - The church also struggled with certain heresies that developed within the church.

  2. Paul describes his impressive religious credentials (verses 3-6).

     - Tribe of Benjamin

     - Taught by Rabbi Gamaliel

     - Pharisee (member of the Sanhedrin)

     - Persecutor of the church

Key transitional statement in verses 7-8:

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish (dung), that I may gain Christ."

  3. Brokenness is the prerequisite to spiritual awakening.

     - This has been true of every recorded spiritual awakening -- personal & corporate/national.

     - Two kinds of brokenness:

     1) Involuntary

     2) Voluntary

II. The Greater Value of Relationship (verses 7-11).

  1. The value of relationship begins by sacrificing self-sufficiency (vv. 9-10).

  2. Relationship truly is everything (vv. 10-11).

"I want to know Christ...."

Why is relationship so important?

     1) God is a relational Being.

     2) We are created in the Image of God.

Implications?

     1) Discipleship is relational.

     2) Intimacy between Persons of the Godhead is offered to us (John 15:4-8).

     3)Knowing Christ intimately is the summit of the Christian experience.

Close:

Religion truly is inferior to relationship.

(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)