Philippians, Letter of Joy \u2014 1:12\u201330 \u2014 Joy in Suffering \u00ab Leader information \u00bb<\/p>\n
A. Prison as a Plus Philippians 1:12\u201314 (NAS)
\n 12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
\n 1. What cause for Joy does Paul find in his suffering?
\n a. \u00ab his imprisonment resulted in the gospel being made known \u00bb<\/p>\n
2. In what two ways did this take place?
\n a. \u00ab Paul was able to witness to his guards and those around them \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab Paul\u2019s example emboldened others to witness also \u00bb<\/p>\n
3. What scriptural promises did this prove?
\n a. \u00ab Romans 8:28 \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab Matthew 10:19, Mark 13:11, Luke 12:11 \u00bb<\/p>\n
B. Purposes for Preaching Philippians 1:15\u201317
\n 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defence of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
\n 1. What are wrong reasons for proclaiming Christ; for \u201cfull-time service\u201d?
\n a. \u00ab for money; 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 5:2 \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab for an easy life; Romans 12:8, 2 Corinthians 8:7 \u00bb<\/p>\n
c. \u00ab for show, fame, mastery; 3 John 1:9, 1 Peter 5:3 \u00bb<\/p>\n
2. What are right reasons for proclaiming Christ; for \u201cfull-time service\u201d?
\n a. \u00ab the love of Christ constraining us; 2 Corinthians 5:14 \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab in obedience to God; Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8 \u00bb<\/p>\n
c. \u00ab God\u2019s appointment, Christ\u2019s sending, the Spirit\u2019s gifting; John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 12:27-30, Ephesians 4:11-16 \u00bb<\/p>\n
C. Rejoicing Response Philippians 1:18\u201320
\n 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
\n 1. what kind of deliverance or salvation (verse 19) did Paul expect? \u00ab See 2 Corinthians 1:10-11, 4:14-15, Romans 8:28 \u2014 in him Christ and His Gospel will be advanced. \u2013 \u201cRelease from imprisonment\u201d (Chrysostom). \u201cPreservation of his life\u201d (Oecumenius). \u201cVictory over his enemies\u201d (Michaelis). \u201cHis own salvation in a spiritual sense\u201d (Reinwaldt, Lightfoot) \u00bb
\n a. \u00ab from shame: \u2014 for example, from failing in his ministry \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab that Christ be exalted, God glorified \u00bb<\/p>\n
2. by what agency does he expect this to come about
\n a. \u00ab their prayers \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab the working of the Spirit of Christ \u00bb<\/p>\n
D. Living to Labour Philippians 1:21\u201326
\n 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 And convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
\n 1. How do the following verses illuminate verse 21?
\n a. Galatians 2:20<\/p>\n
b. Col 3:3\u20134<\/p>\n
2. Death would be a gain for it would take him from suffering; but what is listed as advantages for his remaining alive:
\n a. \u00ab the opportunity for fruitful service \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab for the sake of his spiritual children \u00bb<\/p>\n
c. \u00ab for their growth and progress \u00bb<\/p>\n
d. \u00ab for enjoying their faith \u00bb<\/p>\n
e. \u00ab that he may possibly come again \u00bb<\/p>\n
E. Support in Suffering Philippians 1:27\u201330
\n 27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents \u2014 which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ\u2019s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
\n 1. What will give Paul joy in hearing of it in his spiritual children?
\n a. \u00ab worthy conduct \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab steadfast \u00bb<\/p>\n
c. \u00ab united in spirit and labours for the gospel \u00bb<\/p>\n
d. \u00ab unfazed by opposition \u00bb<\/p>\n
2. how can the same thing be both destruction and salvation
\n a. \u00ab see 2 Corinthians 2:14\u201316 for another instance \u00bb<\/p>\n
3. what are the favours that God gives to His children
\n a. \u00ab to believe \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. \u00ab to suffer \u2026 why \u2026 see Acts 5:41 \u00bb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Philippians, Letter of Joy \u2014 1:12\u201330 \u2014 Joy in Suffering \u00ab Leader information \u00bb A. Prison as a Plus Philippians 1:12\u201314 (NAS) 12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[184,106],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7428"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7428\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}