Joyful Living - Week 3: Joy in Humility
Small Group Discussion Guide
For the week of Feb. 17th
Connecting (Aim for 15 minutes)
• Breaking the Ice/Think Time
• Think of and describe a time when someone served you in a self-less way? How did it make you feel?
• Quick Review… Looking back at your notes from this Sunday’s sermon, what caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Understanding the Truth (Aim for 30-40 minutes)
Read Philippians 2:1-11
What four things does Paul point out are true in verse 1?
How have you experienced what Paul is talking about in verse 1?
What four ways does Paul ask the church in Philippi to complete his joy in verse 2?
What connections do you see between what Paul points out is true in verse 1 and what he asks of believers in verse 2?
What does it look like to live out verse 2 today?
According to verses 3 and 4, who should our focus be on?
How would you describe the difference between doing things from selfish ambition and conceit, and doing things out of humility and a genuine interest in others?
Read Philippians 2:5-11 again. What stands out to you?
Who does Paul tell us we can have the mindset of humility (vs. 3-4) through? (see verse 5)
How did Jesus relate to His Father according to verse 6?
To what extent did Jesus’s humility go? Where did his life as a servant ultimltely lead Him to? (verse 6-7)
According to verses 9-11, what is end result of Jesus’s serving and humility?
Summarize Philippians 2:1-11 as a group.
Seeing Our Savior
Read Mark 10:45, 2 Corinthians 2:8-9, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 25:9, Matthew 23:12 and Luke 9:23-24.
The path that Jesus leads his followers on is one of downward mobility. Our focus is usually onward and upward. But Christ says the way up is down. Jesus calls us as His followers to be humble. C.S. Lewis said, humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Jesus taught and modeled that we should lay down our lives for the Father with a genuine love for others. What an example we will be to a hurting and lost world if we walk closely with Christ and embrace His downward call.
Living the Truth (Aim for 20 minutes)
1. How can you live in unity with other believers? What steps can you take to become more united with Christ and His Church?
How does your ambition or conceit meter read lately? Have your goals and desires revolved around you or around Christ and others? How can you take steps toward focusing more on others?
This Sunday, Pastor Eddie challenged us to name someone we will humbly regard as more important than ourself. Someone we can serve and look out for their interests. Take some time as a group to talk about this and pray for one another.
God not only hears, but loves to answer prayers that are “according to His will.” (1 John 5:14-15). We can pray confidently when we pray obediently to this truth. You have just spent time discovering God’s will for you. Now, ask God for what you need to fulfill His will in your life, your friends & family, neighbors, church & community. Don’t be afraid to ask forgiveness where you have blown it, strength where you are weak, courage where you are afraid.
Prayer Requests (Aim for minimum of 10 minutes)
Pray that God reveals to you who He truly is