BULLETIN OUTLINE Chain Reaction: An Introduction Philippians 11.10.

13 Tom Oyler, Lead Pastor passionate conviction prevailing confidence personal commitment purposeful community

LOOKING BACK Chain Reaction: An Introduction

Philippians
A successful businesswoman, a young female victim of human trafficking, and an awe struck Roman guard. Quite a unique core for a church that became so dear to the apostle over the most difficult 10 years of his life! The church at Philippi. As we introduce ourselves to the thank you letter written to them by Paul, lets keep our eyes and hearts open-like theirs were. Thinking It Through

Five years from now you will pretty much be the same as you are today except for two things; the books you read and the people you get close to.
~Charles Jones

Theology sometimes makes us sick but the Gospel always makes us whole.
~Helmut Thielicke

It is by those who have suffered that the world has been advanced. ~Leo Tolstoy No one could have crossed the ocean if he could have gotten off the ship in the storm. ~C.F. Kettering
Living It Out 1. Who is someone who has had a significant spiritual influence on your life-perhaps shared the gospel with you or helped you grow in your journey? Describe your thoughts and feelings about them. Do you know anything about who might have influenced them? 2. Read through Philippians in one sitting. What connections can you make between it and our series The Ultimate Journey? 3. Based upon your introduction to Philippians, what is your specific motivation for investing yourself in the content and application of the letter?

LOOKING AHEAD Chain Reaction: It Doesnt Get Any Better Than This

Philippians 1:3-8

Warm, personal, affectionate, positive, optimistic, lasting. Just some of the words that anyone would like use a relationship with another human being. But it is rare. In this greeting Paul reveals what it was about the Philippians that made him so tight with them. It doesnt get any better than this! Looking It Up 1. Read carefully and slowly over Philippians 1:3-8 several times aloud. What is your sense of the theme and tone? How would you describe Pauls relationship with the Philippians? How about theirs with him? 2. According to 4:15ff, what endeared Paul to the Philippian church and what did that tell Paul about them? (Reference back to 1: 5) 3. What good work is Paul most likely referring to in 1:6? 4. How does Paul refer to his focus at this point in his ministry according to v. 7? 5. On what basis does Paul affirm, you all are partakers of grace with me in v. 7? 6. What does v. 8 reveal about Paul and the Philippians and the ingredients of such a positive relationship?