Recently Pastor A has been highlighting Philippians 2:15, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” He’s driving home the point that Christian growth is necessary and expected. What he’s been talking about is sanctification, “a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives.” Philippians 2:15 falls within the context of 2:12–18. It will be helpful for us to explore how this passage relates to the immediate context. We’ll take a look at the second part of this passage this week. We’ll quickly review and pick up where we left off with verse 15.
1. Do All Things… (Philippians 2:14–15) “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
1. What does it mean to “Do all things without grumbling or questioning”? Keep the context in mind. How does doing “all things without grumbling of questioning” relate to working out your salvation? Does this limit “all things”? Now how would you answer the first part of this question?
2. For what reason or purpose are we to “Do all things without grumbling or questioning” with regard to our sanctification? According to this passage who benefits from your sanctification?
3. How does your sanctification relate to your Christian witness?
2. Hold fast… (Philippians 2:16) “… holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
1. Paul exhorts the Philippians to “hold fast to the word of life.” For what reason or purpose should they do this? Who benefits from their obedience to God’s word? Does this seem odd to you?
3. Poured out… (Philippians 2:17–18) “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”
1. How does Paul’s life given wholly in service to God (“poured out as a drink offering…) relate to the Philippians? Who benefits from his obedience to God?
2. Go back and look over Philippians 2:12–18. Who benefits in each of these verses? What theme stands out from these verses? Sacrificial living for the benefit of others.
3. Does this mean that the one who grows in Christ or is obedient to his word does not receive some personal benefit? Explain? Is it wrong to receive benefit from doing good deeds? (See Psalm 37:4 and Hebrews 12:1–2) When would it be sinful?
Application
1. Take time as a group to discuss what motivates you to love God. Are your motives selfish? Is what you may perceive as selfishness only delighting and finding your joy in the Lord?
2. As a group come up with a person or group you may be able to serve sacrificially this week/month. It may be your spouse or a family in need.
3. Read through the “passion narratives” this week to remind yourself of the great sacrificial love God’s one and only Son had for sinful humanity. Let his goodness, grace, and mercy not only be an example, but fill your heart with joy and delight in him, that will lead to serve others like our Savior. The passion narratives are: Matthew 26:36–27:61; Mark 14:32–15:47; Luke 22:39–23:56; John 17:1–19:42.
