STUDY OF PHILIPPIANS An Epistle of Joy in

STUDY OF PHILIPPIANS An Epistle of Joy in Christ September – November 2015

Confidence in and peace resulting from our true, permanent, and eternal relationship with Christ our Lord Doesn’t consist of up’s and down’s due to circumstance Deprived of fullness of joy through our sin and lack of communion with God “WHAT IS JOY? ”

Focus and dependence on Christ, in serving Him and living for Him alone, being singleminded Sought fervently for his fellow partakers to live likewise “HOW DID PAUL CONTINUE IN JOY IN THE MIDST OF SUCH HARDSHIP? ”

Molding us in Christlikeness through His grace Results in spiritual fruit for His glory and brought about by His strength Our involvement – obedience and conforming to His will “WHAT IS THE GOOD WORK THAT GOD IS DOING IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS? ”

Themes of Philippians: Joy in Christ for believers Thanksgiving for their gift and for their partaking in the Gospel Exhortation for unity in the fellowship Warning against false teachers WHY WAS PHILIPPIANS WRITTEN?

2 GREAT EVANGELISTS FOR CHRIST WARREN WIERSBE It is a matter of historical record that the two great evangelists, John Wesley and George Whitefield, disagreed on doctrinal matters. Both of them were very successful, preaching to thousands of people and seeing multitudes come to Christ. It is reported that somebody asked Wesley if he expected to see Whitefield in Heaven, and the evangelist replied, “No, I do not. ”

2 GREAT EVANGELISTS FOR CHRIST WARREN WIERSBE “Then you do not think Whitefield is a converted man? ” “Of course he is a converted man!” Wesley said. “But I do not expect to see him in Heaven because he will be so close to the throne of God and I so far away that I will not be able to see him!” Though he differed with his brother in some matters, Wesley did not have envy in his heart, nor did he seek to oppose Whitefield’s ministry.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT WEEK Read and study Philippians 2: 1 -11