The Good Life: Kingdom Focused Living
May 8, 2022
We hope this guide will help you take the good news you hear today into your daily lives.
In this series, we will explore Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written with inexpressible joy, even from prison. Let’s learn to follow Paul’s example by placing our hope in heaven and build our lives upon a foundation that cannot be shaken by the ever-changing circumstances of this world.
Key Scripture and Notes
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1: 1-11 (NIV)
Gospel Foundation
When you surrender your life and receive Jesus Christ, you place your hope in the joy which is found in His Grace and is bound by eternity
Enduring Faith
The Gospel cannot be shaken by the powers of this world:
Physical
Spiritual
Kingdom Focus
Heart: Surrender to the never-changing love of Christ
Mind: Apply never-changing love to ever-changing circumstances (discernment)
Strength: Act upon discernment (fruit of righteousness)
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:1-2; 13-14 (NIV)
Spiritual Formation: God’s ongoing “good work” in us
In prayer this week, we invite you to reflect on the following from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. What words or phrases stand out to you? What is God communicating to you through Paul’s words?
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Philippians 1: 6; 9-11 (NLT)
The Life with God Bible points out that in these verses, we see Paul’s understanding of spiritual formation:
· First, God begins a good work. (v.6)
· Next, there is progress, measured by overflowing love. (v.9)
· Finally, God’s work is brought to completion.
God’s work in us—as individuals and as communities of believers—is a cumulative process. This week, reflect on this process of God’s work in your life, in your time alone with God and with others, if possible.
