Sunday, June 26th – Confidence in What Matters

As we get older, many of us look at our goals that have gone unaccomplished and careers that might have gotten off track and wonder if we’ve truly lived a meaningful life. Should we measure success in terms of accomplishment or something else? These questions and regrets can rob us of joy. But in Philippians 3, Paul describes where real meaning comes from.

Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, Life Group or friends and family around the dinner table to talk through what you’re learning!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Can you think of any memorable questions or experiences you have had when interviewing for a job? What is something on your résumé that you’re most proud of?
2. Describe someone you have used as a reference in the past. What would they describe as your greatest strengths and accomplishments?
3. Consider the first question posed to inspire confidence in what matters: Who did I love and who loved me? Are there individuals or groups of people whose opinions you are prone to give too much value? Who are the people whose opinions matter most to you?
4. Read Philippians 3:7. The second question explores if you accomplished something of meaning in the world? What are ways God has gifted you to spiritually impact the people in your everyday life? Is there an adventure God is calling you to pursue (maybe a Go! Team trip or involvement in a cause)?
5. Read Philippians 3:10-11. The next question asks, “Was I a good person?” What do you do that communicates your desire to know God? Identify how you want to know him more. How are you willing to commit through study, experience and exploration to know him better?
6. Read Philippians 3:14. The final question causes us to consider if Jesus is our priority? What do you center you life around? What brings you safety? Happiness? Is it Christ or something else?
7. With these questions in mind, evaluate what you’ve built your life around. Do an audit this week of your social media, your checking account, and your calendar. What conclusions can you draw about your priorities? What are you striving for?

KEY SCRIPTURES

Philippians 3:7 — But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 3:10-11 — I want to know Christ – yes, the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:14 — I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

BIBLE APP by YOU VERSION

If you’ve yet to do so, we encourage you to download the Bible App by YouVersion on your smart phone. Create a free YouVersion account. Tap Plans > Discover > Search: Outreach New Testament > Start Plan. Then you can read along each day with us!

DIGGING DEEPER – PHILIPPIANS
Read, Study & Meditate This Week on Chapter 3

SPIRITUAL GROWTH PATH

Did you know you can now track your progress working through the outcomes we include in Next Steps right on Gateway’s website?! Go to Spiritual Growth Path and create an account. You’ll get access to Spiritual Fitness Checks and training with the spiritual outcomes.

Spiritual Outcomes – Trust God 

There are many things we can trust with the kind of ultimate trust that should only be put in God: social status, vocational advancement, beauty, marriage, family, politics, and more. These, and others, are often both good and necessary aspects of life, but we make a critical distinction when we internalize the truth that they make lousy gods of ultimate trust. David, a warrior and king, knew this distinction well when he wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Learn more about experiencing joy in all circumstances by working through the Trust God outcome.