Philippians.

May 24, 2009 Intro
Background

• To Philippi on Paul's 2nd missionary journey
  -Philippi a prominent city; Roman colony
  -beginning of Philippian church: Lydia and prison guard
• Wrote Philippians in 2nd Roman imprisonment

Author: Paul
Audience: Christians in Philippi
Date: AD60
Theme: "joyfully suffering" Joy occurs 16 times.

5 purposes

1. Paul wanted the church to know how things were going for him and his plans. (1:12-26, 2:23-24)
2. Paul encouraged humility with a view of unity. (2:1-18, 4:2-3)
3. Paul wanted to caution the church about negative teaching and consequences of false teachers. (3:2-3ff)
4. Paul wanted to commend Timothy to the church and give reports of Epaphroditus. (2:19-30)
5. Paul wanted to thank the church for their concern and their gifts. (4:10-20)

Ok, I think that's all pretty self-explanatory. I found it very helpful to read Philippians a chapter at a time, and then two chapters at a time. I read 1 and 2 together, 2 and 3 together, and then finally 3 and 4 together. Then I read all 4 together. Now, I'm reading the chapters in sections along with my MacArthur study Bible. It helps see the bigger picture and see Paul's intentions in the letter.

May 31, 2009 Choose JOY
Philippians 1:1-11
What do I put my joy in?
-Temporal circumstances or eternal truth?
5 things to put my joy in

1. The Joy of Recollection v. 3
   -Remember what God has done
   -God saved Lydia, the prison guard and his family (Acts 16)
   -Phil 4:15-16
2. The Joy of Intercession v. 4, 9-11
   -Even in painful circumstances: rejoice
   
   • False teachers were spreading contentions about Paul because he was in jail, but he praised God because the Gospel was being spread through his imprisonment.
   • Euodia and Syntyche (4:2)
     -How should I pray for people? (Phil 1:9-11) Grow in:
     
     • Love
     • Excellence
     • Integrity
     • Good Works
     • Glorifying God
3. The Joy of Participation (fellowship) v. 5
   -2 Cor. 13:14
   
   • "communion of the Holy Ghost"
   • It is the because of the Holy Ghost that we are bonded together with people we don't even know! That's the bond with believers! :)
   -God made us to fellowship with each other
4. The Joy of Anticipation v. 6
5. The Joy of Affection v. 7
   Focused on eternal TRUTH, not temporal circumstances
   
   

Any questions? Please ask! :)