Video session
#6 https://www.rightnowmedia.org/content/series/368582?episode=6
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SESSION GOALS
Main Idea: We can be encouraged
to persevere in following Jesus's example of joyful sacrifice by
looking to other Christians' examples and by focusing on the future
hope we have in eternity.
Head Change: To know where to
look to help us persevere in a life surrendered to Jesus.
Heart Change: To feel
encouragement by the way other Christians preserve in following
Jesus.
Life Change: To endure present
circumstances by looking beyond ourselves to eternity and to those
who have gone before us.
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In this session, we'll talk about what
it looks like to persevere in following Jesus, knowing that people
have gone before us and that our citizenship is in heaven. In the
video, Jo Saxton begins by sharing three Greek words for life
found in scripture.
Bios is everyday life of the
physical body. It is where we get the word biology.
Psuche is interior life, the
psychological, human soul, emotion and will. It is where we get the
word psychology.
Zoe refers to the uncreated, eternal
life of God, the divine life uniquely possessed by God. A richer quality
of life, a transformed life that begins now and continues into
eternity.
One of the key features of the early
church was that they generally saw their earthly life through the
lens of eternity. This life on earth was only the start. To Paul,
this future hope was fuel for his earthly life. He persists through the
suffering by forgetting the past and focusing on the future we have
because of Jesus. This path starts now and leads to eternity. Paul
refers again to the concept of 'a living example' as he tells us to
imitate him as he imitates Christ.
He then tells of those who live at odds
with the gospel message. They have the potential to derail the entire
community. Instead of embracing a life defined by the cross, Paul
describes them as enemies of the cross. Instead of living in the
light of eternity, their commitment is for the here and now, for
earthly things. Instead of getting rid of everything that stands in
their way, they've indulged in it. Their appetites are ruling and
defining their minds, values and their lives. He reminds the church
at Philipi and those throughout the ages, that they have a different
allegiance now – heaven, and that a Christian has citizenship far
more significant and powerful than any earthly culture or power. They
have a Lord and savior who is greater than the greatest emperor, one
that would transform them.
We can learn from this to look to
mature Christians in our lives when we are discouraged in our faith or
enduring suffering. We can refocus our minds back towards God and the
promise of eternity. We can also be the ones to encourage less mature
Christians than us, to focus on God and eternity. We can invite them
to investigate us more closely. Our primary citizenship is in heaven.
Do people see Jesus not just in our beliefs, but in our actions? May
our words and actions be an encouragement to others.
- What's the significance of Paul saying the Philippians' citizenship was in heaven?
- Jo opened by reminding us how the early church saw their lives – through the lens of eternity. In what ways have we seen that to be true of the Philippians and of Paul through studying this letter? What does it mean to see your life with an eternal perspective?
- Jo pointed out the intensity of Paul's argument in verse 20 – for the Christian inhabitants of a Roman colony to hear their citizenship was in heaven would have been a perspective shift. What does it mean to you that your citizenship is in heaven?
- In verse 15, Paul encourages all those who are mature to “take such a view of things.” The Greek word translated “view” phroneo, pops up ten times in Philippians. It refers to your attitude – the way you think, your motivations, mindset. Paul sets up a contrast in the verses following 3:15 between those who have a mature view of their lives and those who set their minds on earthly things. We can look at how Paul uses phroneo earlier in Philippians to better understand this contrast. What do you think it means to have the mind of Jesus?
- As followers of Jesus, we imitate him in all areas of our lives, including our attitude. That means the way we think about our friends, family, finances, career, and resources should be the same as how Jesus thought about those things. It means selflessness, sacrifice, and humility. What could it look like to have the attitude of Jesus as you walk through this week?
- Paul compares his life as a follower of Jesus to a race. He says he will endure the run, keeping his eyes on his goal: Christ and the resurrection. Paul uses this image several times in his various letters. Looking at instances where he talks about running the race we can see what else we can learn from his perspective. What, in your experience, helps you persevere in following Jesus?
- Because of the fall, we get sick, experience trauma, and lose control of our emotions. But we have hope beyond the pain we experience in our bodies in this life. What encourages about the hope of the resurrection, specifically resurrection bodies?
- What does it look like to tell others about Jesus your context?
