1. Christ Baptist Church Summer 2015 Lesson 1

2. Philippians 1:1-11 – How to Increase Your Joy Two Themes Fellowship with believers Single-mindedness in Christ Dr. Wierebe Breaks down this section into three categories: Mind - 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, Heart - 7 I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace Prayer - 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound … with knowledge and all discernment, Challenge: Do we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ as Paul does?

3. Philippians 1:1-11 – How to Increase Your Joy Philippians 1:3-6 - In My Mind 1.What is redemption and why is it essential to the Christian life? 1 Peter 2:24, Matt 20:28 2.What is Sanctification and why is it essential to the Christian life? Luke 10:20 3.What is service and why is it essential to the Christian life? James 2:14-20; Acts 20:24 How does this affect your everyday life?

4. Philippians 1:1-11 – How to Increase Your Joy Philippians 1:7-8 - In My Heart 4.What is the spiritual lubrication that keeps the machinery of life running smoothly? Explain. 5.A popular song says “all you need is love.” Is that true? 6.How can we tell when we are truly “bound in love” to other Christians? 7.Why is forgiveness one of the most difficult but significant evidences of genuine love? We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. …let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth Love covers a multitude of sins Keep no record of wrongs 1 Peter 4:8 1 John 3:18 1 Cor 13:5 1 John 3:14

5. Philippians 1:1-11 – How to Increase Your Joy Philippians 1:9-11 - In My Prayer 8.How can praying for other Christians (especially those with whom we have some friction) improve our fellowship with them? 9.What is the difference between spiritual fruit and religious activity? 10.What is true Christian fellowship? But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Rom 6:22 Col 1:10

6. Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word For whom in the church do you give thanks to God, "constantly mentioning" them in your prayers? How might you be more consistent in praying for others with thanksgiving? (Dr Hogg Question) How is the “Fruit of Righteousness” exemplified in your life? How do we show true Christian Fellowship?

7. Challenge: read through 1 Thessalonians at least once each week. 1. For whom in the church do you give thanks to God, "constantly mentioning" (1:2) them in your prayers? Are you organized in how you pray? How might you be more consistent in praying for others with thanksgiving? 2. What, specifically, do you think Paul has in mind when he speaks about the Thessalonians' "work of faith", "labor of love" and "steadfastness of hope"? Are there any clues in the rest of the chapter /book? 3. What do works of faith, labors of love and steadfast hope look like in your life? 4. What does Paul say about election? Why does he mention it? How does it fit into these opening verses? 5. Reflecting on the last part of 1:5 ("You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." - ESV), what kind of person are you proving to be for the sake of others?