Philippi: Passion for Christ (discussion questions)

Here are discussion questions that accompany my message “Passion for Christ” from our series “Light for the City” at Eastbrook this past weekend on Philippians 3:1-14.

Discussion Questions:

1. Put in simple terms, Christianity is not about religion but about relationship with the living God. How does Paul describe his former way of seeing things – a ‘religious’ perspective – in the first six verses of Philippians 3?

2. What would you say is the fundamental difference between Paul’s former way of seeing life with God and his Christ-centered view of life with God? Compare 3:1-6 with 3:7-11.

3. Paul writes this: “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ” (3:7). In your own life, what things have you counted a ‘loss for the sake of Christ’?

4. In 3:8-9, Paul explains that knowing Christ is the most important thing in all of life. This is because of what Christ has done for us (our position before God) and because of living life with Christ (our experience of God). How would you describe what Christ has done for you? How would you describe your experience of life with Christ; ‘knowing Christ’ as Paul talks about it?

5. Paul uses the phrase ‘I press on’ twice in 3:12-15. He uses the metaphor of an athlete to further describe the strenuous pursuit of God in our daily lives. How are you straining and pressing on to know God day by day? What spiritual practices do you engage in to know God more?

6. Take some time at the end of your study to consider at least one thing you have learned that will change how you live practically. If you are in a group, share this with one another. If you are on your own, write it out somewhere you will see it and come back to it each day this week.