Philippians 2:12-30 Stars, a Son and a Soldier
The gospel flips us inside out and God's work in us changes us from the inside out. In this study, consider the three pictures Paul gives us that make this point.
Last time we looked at how God’s heart for us affected his actions – to take death on the cross for us. Paul is continuing the theme of our actions speaking loudly about what is inside us in our passage today.
Read the passage out loud and pray.
1. Have you ever been in a school staffroom or with your friends when someone starts grumbling or complaining about someone else? What effect does it have on the conversation? What do you think about the person who grumbles?
Paul is pointing to a particular problem in the Philippian church, but it’s helpful for as teachers too – the staffroom is often full of grumbling!
2. Why should a Christian avoid grumbling (try to link it to what you've already seen in Philippians)?
3. V12-13 How would you explain relationship between us ‘working out’ our salvation and God ‘working in’ us?
4. Why should being a Christian make us ‘shine like stars’ (v14-18)?
Have a look over v19-24 again.
5. What is special about what Timothy does (you might be able to list a few things)?
6. How is Timothy’s faith in Jesus being ‘worked out’ in his life?
Now look at v25-30.
7. What drives Epaphras to fight and work alongside Paul self-sacrificially?
Being a Christian makes us different from the inside out, because of what God is doing in us. And it should make us look different to those around us who don’t know Jesus.
So, it might be that God is prompting you to stop grumbling about ‘that lecturer’ or ‘that child’. Or it might be that he is reminding you that you will look different as you are a star, light, in the darkness. Or it might be that the example of Timothy and Epaphroditus show what this could really look like and you’re challenged.
But all of it is because Jesus lived out his heart for us and he is calling us to do the same
8. What difference might you make this week to shine more brightly for God?
Pray about these things