Real Joy: Standing Out in a Crowd Part 2

Real Joy: Standing Out in a Crowd  

Part 2 Shining Bright in a Dark World   

Philippians 2:12-18 Page # 1175 

Transformation Verse – “The Son also gives life to anyone He wants.”    John 5:21  

“Joy” is a Spirit produced rejoicing that increases with our confidence in God and His promises. 

Tim Keller - “What we rejoice in is whatever is our central sweetness and comfort in life.  To rejoice in something is to treasure it, to access its value to you, to reflect on its beauty and importance until your   

I.  Walk as children of God. 

James 5:9 - “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.”   

Genesis 3:12 - “The man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.’ ”  

Genesis 4:13-14 - “Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is too great to bear!... and whoever finds me will kill me.’ ”    

Exodus 5:22-23 - “Then Moses said, ‘O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.’ ”  
 
Exodus 16:1-8 - “…The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness…. ‘Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, …for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ ”  

Psalm 106:24-25 -
“Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe in His word, but grumbled in their tents; they did not listen to the voice of the Lord.”    

Jude 1:16 - “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts…”  

Lamentations 3:39 - “Why should any person offer complaint in view of his sins?”  

Daniel 12:3 - “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”  

     
II. Present God’s truth.  

John 6:63 - “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”     

III. We are “here” together.  

3 John 1:4 - “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”                               
 
Faith Sheet     
Transformation Verse - The Son also gives life to anyone He wants.   John 5:21  

Main Points: We are to shine clearly and brightly as followers of Christ for God’s glory, for the benefit of the unbelieving, and for those who disciple us. This is not a neutral world so we are to be wise and courageous in the way we live.   

#1- Reviewing this past Sunday    Real Joy: Standing Out in a Crowd   Part 2 Shining Bright in a Dark World Philippians 2:12-18  

1. Read Philippians 2:12-18, and discuss the message with someone. 

2. What bothers you the most when others are complaining?  

3. When are you most likely to complain or argue?

4. Paul said do not complain in order to show that we are children of God to the unbelieving world. How does this motivation impact your daily life?

5. Read 1 Peter 4:7-11, and use it as a prayer.   

# 2- Preparing for next Sunday The Joy of Standing Out in a Crowd   Part 3    Philippians 2:19-30 

1. Read Philippians 2:19-30.  What stands out to you? 

2. What reason does Paul give in sending Timothy to the Philippians? (19)

3. What type of man is Timothy? (20-22)

4. What do we know about Epaphroditus? (25-27)

5. What does Paul desire of the church? (28-30)

6. How are you known in your church? Home? Elsewhere? (ask 3 people)

7. Pray for those suffering to the “point of death” for the Gospel.