Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
I read somewhere that Philippians was Paul most personal letter but I think I disagree this whole chapter seems to be of a personal nature and yet as I said before Paul was only there three weeks. It is interesting God allowed all this personal stuff to be included which I think demonstrates that God thinks fellowship is important.
It is important we share our lives deeply with other believers. Since we can’t do that with everyone we need to have a few believers in our lives who are also dear friends and Paul sets the example in this chapter.
I read somewhere that Philippians was Paul most personal letter but I think I disagree this whole chapter seems to be of a personal nature and yet as I said before Paul was only there three weeks. It is interesting God allowed all this personal stuff to be included which I think demonstrates that God thinks fellowship is important.
It is important we share our lives deeply with other believers. Since we can’t do that with everyone we need to have a few believers in our lives who are also dear friends and Paul sets the example in this chapter.
v.3-4 In The Message:
Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You’ve always known that we’re in for this kind of thing. It’s part of our calling. When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead.
Interesting Paul taught new believers to expect trouble – “it’s part of our calling”. We don’t tend to share this with young believers today so when troubles come it can destroy their faith.
v.3-4 In The Message:
Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You’ve always known that we’re in for this kind of thing. It’s part of our calling. When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead.
Interesting Paul taught new believers to expect trouble – “it’s part of our calling”. We don’t tend to share this with young believers today so when troubles come it can destroy their faith.
v.12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
Today also, we need so much for the Lord to increase our love.
v.12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
Today also, we need so much for the Lord to increase our love.
That’s for sure Susan … love is really lacking and the enemy is closing in for the kill … we need to make a more united stand but who do we stand with? There doesn’t seem to be enough of us anymore representing the truth of the gospel.
Jesus words … the love of many will wax cold and there will be betrayal among us when trouble comes our way.
Matthew 24
“in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”
Pure joy that their work had not been in vain 🙂
That’s for sure Susan … love is really lacking and the enemy is closing in for the kill … we need to make a more united stand but who do we stand with? There doesn’t seem to be enough of us anymore representing the truth of the gospel.
Jesus words … the love of many will wax cold and there will be betrayal among us when trouble comes our way.
Matthew 24
“in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”
Pure joy that their work had not been in vain 🙂
I suspect the reason “love is really lacking” is because most Christians don’t understand how much they are loved.
We cannot love others until we contemplate and really take on board how much God loves us.
1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”
I suspect the reason “love is really lacking” is because most Christians don’t understand how much they are loved.
We cannot love others until we contemplate and really take on board how much God loves us.
1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”
And why don’t people know how muuch they are loved?
I guess personal experience has the most to do with it but I think there is a lot of peripheral info that the need to conform is most important in many of our churches today. And that is not often a conforming to the truth.
As if we can live this life without messing up.
There is an unwritten sinsiter code in churches today even though the pastor is “saying” God loves you as you are it is not really focused on … the behaviour of the congregation is what controls a church body.
Hide your dirty laundry we don’t really want to know.
Look good and we will allow you to share among us and be our friends … if your life is at all messy in any way, then we would rather you didn’t hang around and make a bad impression.
I might add here, though, that deep inner city churches don’t operate this way. But their pastor has to or “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!”
And why don’t people know how muuch they are loved?
I guess personal experience has the most to do with it but I think there is a lot of peripheral info that the need to conform is most important in many of our churches today. And that is not often a conforming to the truth.
As if we can live this life without messing up.
There is an unwritten sinsiter code in churches today even though the pastor is “saying” God loves you as you are it is not really focused on … the behaviour of the congregation is what controls a church body.
Hide your dirty laundry we don’t really want to know.
Look good and we will allow you to share among us and be our friends … if your life is at all messy in any way, then we would rather you didn’t hang around and make a bad impression.
I might add here, though, that deep inner city churches don’t operate this way. But their pastor has to or “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!”
Matthew 5 opened my eyes to how to walk in THE WAY. Retaliation is the way of the world – we do it all the time (Driving, queuing,) if someone does something to us maybe we dont return a call, avoid eye contact, wait a bit and dont do something for them. God challenged me about this- His way is LOVE. Its not to retaliate. I’ve started having less rows at home (by not retaliating to stuff) and been able to reach out. I’m really aware now of retaliation – its a form of PRIDE (you did this to me so I wont talk to you etc. GOD will deal with the people who hurt us – we have to love them. Trying to walk in the WAY isnot easy. Right now I have been a CHristian for 20 years and I feel I just got what it means to really love someone, warts and all.
Don’t retaliate, Pray, Give it to God. I know I have more love now for others – it also hurts.
I am moved to pray for people I have never met when I hear their stories. Jesus knew he was going to raise the son of the Widow but he still shared her grief. Because he loved her he experienced her pain.
I need to rest in Gods love (Jude?). You really need to curl up in it sometimes – go to bed and lie there and just ask him to hug you like a blanket. You need to stay in his love and stay in tne vine.
I really got to understand all this when my grandmother died at age 94.
She knew and loved God.
He really impressed upon me that nothing, not even death, separates us from Gods love. So amazingly all those who die in Christ die into his love – they are never separated from it.
And we can walk in life in that love – but we are too busy and when we retaliate in any small way we make it harder to feel love.
Its good to see other discussing this kind of love.
Yes we need to find others to open up with and too. He gives the gifts of his Holy Spirit for the common good.
Matthew 5 opened my eyes to how to walk in THE WAY. Retaliation is the way of the world – we do it all the time (Driving, queuing,) if someone does something to us maybe we dont return a call, avoid eye contact, wait a bit and dont do something for them. God challenged me about this- His way is LOVE. Its not to retaliate. I’ve started having less rows at home (by not retaliating to stuff) and been able to reach out. I’m really aware now of retaliation – its a form of PRIDE (you did this to me so I wont talk to you etc. GOD will deal with the people who hurt us – we have to love them. Trying to walk in the WAY isnot easy. Right now I have been a CHristian for 20 years and I feel I just got what it means to really love someone, warts and all.
Don’t retaliate, Pray, Give it to God. I know I have more love now for others – it also hurts.
I am moved to pray for people I have never met when I hear their stories. Jesus knew he was going to raise the son of the Widow but he still shared her grief. Because he loved her he experienced her pain.
I need to rest in Gods love (Jude?). You really need to curl up in it sometimes – go to bed and lie there and just ask him to hug you like a blanket. You need to stay in his love and stay in tne vine.
I really got to understand all this when my grandmother died at age 94.
She knew and loved God.
He really impressed upon me that nothing, not even death, separates us from Gods love. So amazingly all those who die in Christ die into his love – they are never separated from it.
And we can walk in life in that love – but we are too busy and when we retaliate in any small way we make it harder to feel love.
Its good to see other discussing this kind of love.
Yes we need to find others to open up with and too. He gives the gifts of his Holy Spirit for the common good.
Thanks Susanna for your comments
Thanks Susanna for your comments
v.7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
When we read how encouraged Paul was by hearing about the love and faith of the Thessalonians it makes me think we should make more effort to tell each other what God is doing in our lives, what we are learning, how we are growing.
v.7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
When we read how encouraged Paul was by hearing about the love and faith of the Thessalonians it makes me think we should make more effort to tell each other what God is doing in our lives, what we are learning, how we are growing.
v.13 May he strengthen your hearts
Paul prays two things here. Firstly that their love increases then that God may strengthen their hearts.
Two things we all need love and strength.
v.13 May he strengthen your hearts
Paul prays two things here. Firstly that their love increases then that God may strengthen their hearts.
Two things we all need love and strength.