Grow Group Questions • Philippians 3:1-7 • JoyFull

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Read Philippians 3:1-7. Did anything in these passages capture your attention?

How could rejoicing in the Lord be a safeguard for believers? 
How are joy and what we put our confidence in connected to each other?

In the first verse, Paul calls us to “rejoice in the Lord”. His very next thought is to “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.” How might the influence of these people keep the Philippians from rejoicing in the Lord?

What things do you think tend to keep you from rejoicing in the Lord? 
Why do these things have so much power over our ability to rejoice?

Pastor David shared on Sunday that anything that we rejoice more than rejoicing in God is an idol and robs us of fully worshiping God. Do you believe that is true? Why or why not?

Personally, what do you think might be things in your own life that you might rejoice in more than directly rejoicing in God?
Why do you think we all find ourselves battling with things that we cling to more than God? How can we truly combat that?
We live in a time of constant change and uncertainty in our world right now. Have you struggled with the changing of certain “Church rituals” or even the “American Dream” expectation that have changed in the midst of COVID? Why do you think that is? 
Are you able to show the world right now that you can rejoice in the Lord in the middle of these very hard times? What stops you? How can you fight against that?
 What are things we can and should cling to as a Church during this time?

What does it mean to “put no confidence in the flesh”? Why do you think Paul gave himself as an example of this? 

Do you see things that the Church has elevated or added as a requirement of salvation? What is actually required of us for salvation? Read Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 10:9, John 14:9.
Look over Paul’s credentials in verses 5-6. What “gain” was he previously deriving from them? Why does he now see them as a loss?
How do you think that we as Christians sometimes elevate the methods we use to grow closer to God above God himself? How do we then practically help each other counter that?
The things Paul refers to in verses 4-6 are ethnic, religious, and theological marks, memberships, and behaviors. Can we think of any things in our own ethnic, religious, or theological world or community that we ourselves might be tempted to regard as “gains”? What would those be? How do you feel about that? Why?

Do you feel like your full confidence and hope is in Christ, or are you struggling with having hope and confidence in other things? How can we as a group support and hold each other accountable in this?

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