Central Illinois Pinnacle Forum Study/Spring ‘14

Next Dimension Leadership: Finding Joy
or
The Joy of Leading. How to know if you’ve lost it...And how to get it back!

Philippians 3:1-11 - Joy in Christ Alone

Warming up to God: What are some of your most important goals in life? Read Philippians 3:1-11.

DISCOVERING THE WORD

1. How does rejoicing in the Lord (v. 1) differ from other reasons for joy?
2. Why were the people Paul warns against in verses 2-3 so dangerous?
3. Contrast Paul the Pharisee (vv. 4-6) with Paul the Christian (vv. 7-11). How have his

reasons for confidence changed?

APPLYING THE WORD

1. Have you ever placed your confidence in something, thinking it would bring you closer to God, that you now consider to be rubbish? Explain.
2. In verse 6 Paul speaks of “legalistic righteousness.” What legalisms are today’s Christians pressured to keep?
3. How do these legalisms get in the way of knowing Christ and rejoicing in the Lord?

CONCLUSION

“Our greatest need is to look at Christ more than we look at ourselves, because the gospel is not our work for Jesus, but Jesus’s work for us.”
—Tullian Tchividjian

RESPONDING IN PRAYER

Reflect on Paul’s words “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.....”. Worship Christ by thanking Him for placing in you a passion to pursue and know Him, asking Him to grow this passion for Him, and Him alone.