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 1:1-11 - Joy in Loving Others

Warming up to God: When has someone encouraged you by praying for you? Read Philippians 1:1-11.

DISCOVERING THE WORD

1. What are Paul’s feelings toward the Philippians (vv. 3-8)?
2. Why does he feel this way about them?
3. What do verses 3-8 reveal about healthy Christian relationships?
4. What’s the “one word” Paul is saying “completes his joy”?
5. What are Paul’s prayer requests for the Philippians (vv. 9-11)?
6. Why would each of these qualities be essential to spiritual maturity?

APPLYING THE WORD

1. How can your present relationships be strengthened to become more like what is de- scribed in verses 3-8?

2. What does Paul’s prayer teach about how we should pray for others?

CONCLUSION

There is nothing that convinces people that God exists or that awakens their craving for Him like the discovery of Christian brothers and sisters who love one another....The sight
of loving unity among Christians arrests the non-Christian. It crashes through his intellect, stirs up his conscience and creates a tumult of longing in his heart because he was created to enjoy the very thing that you are demonstrating. (John White , The Fight)

RESPONDING IN PRAYER

Using Paul’s prayer as a model, spend a few minutes thanking God and praying for a par- ticular Partner in Christ.