Sunday 27 February
That Which Should Be Obvious
Dave Bosma
We can often benefit from being reminded of the obvious. This year our theme for the year is Standing Firm and we will benefit from the reminder that, yes, standing firm in our faith in Jesus is important. Dave walks us through the text Philippians 3:1-11 and highlights the emotions of joy, confidence, and anger that Paul expresses in this passage. Dave encourages us with a reminder of that which should be obvious: that Jesus Christ is the centre of Christian faith.
Life Group questions
That Which Should Be Obvious
Standing Firm Together
ReadPhilippians 3:1-11
As a group, slowly work your way through Philippians 1 and 2, and stop every time you find a reference to joy.
What are the various ways, leading up to today’s reading, that Paul develops his theology of joy in Christ in this letter?
How do you think it was possible for Paul to feel this way?
What do you think joy in Christ means?
How do you think someone can find joy in Christ?
How would you counsel someone who feels that their faith is missing this sense of joy?
Now take a closer look at verses 4-6 in today’s reading.
What do group members know about each of these things? Why might they have given Paul a reason to feel confident?
What are some of the things that modern people might list here, as reasons for their own confidence?
Yet Paul states that he now considers the things listed in v.4-6 as “garbage” (or, dog poo). His desire now is “that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.”
How do you think having a righteousness that comes from Christ might have had this effect on Paul?
How can being declared righteous in Christ give us a sense of confidence?
Finally, look again at 3:2. This is a verse where Paul warns the Philippian Christians to be wary of preachers who argue that salvation requires them to be circumcised, and obey some of the other Jewish purity laws.
Why is Paul prepared to use such aggressive language here?
What are some of the ways that modern preachers can distort the gospel?
Does this make you angry?
Given that Christian believers are not required to adopt Jewish purity laws such as circumcision, there is less of a clear visual distinction between Christians and secular people in our society.
What are some of the ways that Christians might stand out in New Zealand society?