Week of December 31, 2023
Peace invites you to do regular Bible reading as an essential practice in feeding your faith. In the first six weeks of 2024, we are going to read Paul’s letter to the Philippians thematically through the lens of discipleship. Just as we often use “journey” language to describe our “travel” through life, so also does God’s Word describe the life of following Jesus as a great adventure. It has a beginning of new birth by the Holy Spirit, it travels a path of walking in God’s ways, it is going somewhere as we become more like Jesus with a final destination of eternal life with God, we have travel companions to help and encourage us, and there is much joy and beauty along the way. As we take this excursion through Philippians, Pastor Mark will include his reflections as well as those from Bible scholars like Lynn Cohick and NT Wright. Don’t miss the trip!
Week 1 Journey of Transformation
Week 2 Journey of Grace
Week 3 Journey in Community
Week 4 Journey of Imitation
Week 5 Journey of Missional Partnership
Week 6 Journey of Joy
Journey of Transformation
Monday | Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11
Paul speaks of his assurance that God will complete the work that he started in the lives of the Philippian believers. What was the ultimate basis for such assurance (see 2:6-11)? What was the evidence that God was at work in their lives (1:5)? What can sometimes discourage you in your journey of faith? Where do you find encouragement? In verses 9-11, what does Paul see as being one of the goals of the journey? Dr. Cohick writes, “He wants their love to grow to overflowing. In so doing, the Philippians will gain a more godly view of the world and a better discernment of how to live in a way that honors God. Paul connects love and intellect, a combination that is worth exploring a bit since we tend not to make such connections today … Paul believes that as the Philippians’ love grows more and more, they will think differently about God and the world.” (Lynn H. Cohick, Philippians, 36–37). How does God’s love change the way we see ourselves and the world?
Tuesday | Philippians 1:19-26
Paul’s faith journey has led him to be imprisoned (most likely in Rome, see 4:22). He is uncertain as to the outcome, although he thinks that most likely he’ll be released. In whatever turns his journey takes, what does he fervently desire (v.20)? How has faith in Christ helped you deal with negative, even painful experiences in your journey? What opportunities did you have in those tough times to “exalt” or “honor” Christ (v.20)? How do you understand the phrase “for me to live is Christ” for your own journey (v.21)? What does progress in the Christian life look like to you (v.25)?
Wednesday | Philippians 2:12-13, 16
This passage can at first glance seem a bit troublesome to Lutheran Christians because it speaks of our effort in living out our salvation. Be sure, we don’t earn a relationship with God by our good works (see Ephesians 2:8-9). But we can live out our faith with commitment and fruitfulness. One writer comments, “Paul has in mind a ‘continuous, sustained, strenuous effort’, which is elsewhere described under the imagery of a pursuit, a following after, a pressing on, a contest, a fight, or a race (Phil. 3:12; cf. Rom. 14:19; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; 1 Tim. 6:12).” (Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Epistle to the Philippians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, 279.) React to author Dallas Willard’s statement “Grace is opposed to earning, it is not opposed to effort.” Agree or disagree? What for you has been the hardest part of “working out” your salvation? How have you seen God at work in you “to will and to work for his good pleasure”?
Thursday | Philippians 3:12-14
Paul picks up again this theme of running the race for Jesus. Mark Keown comments, “… Paul is picturing himself as an athlete, obeying the call of his “owner, manager, coach, and mentor” Jesus, full of his energizing Spirit, still racing toward the finish line (death or the return of Christ). It is at this point of gaining the prize that he will be raised from the dead (3:10–11), experience the fullness of bodily transformation (3:20–21), and enter the complete experience of eternal life. He will also enter into the totality of personal and real relationship with the incarnate Christ, be found in him, and know him completely (3:8–9)—he will, in fact, be with Christ (1:23).” (Mark J. Keown, Philippians, 194.) In this life, we are always a work in progress. How do you want to “press on” in your life of faith in 2024? What do you hope and pray that God will do in your life this year?
Friday | Philippians 3:20-21
The idea of kingdom “citizenship” is central to Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The people of Philippi were very proud of their Roman citizenship after having been established as a Roman colony in 42 BC, a bit of official Italian soil in northern Greece. But Paul states that far more important is their heavenly citizenship. They carry a Jesus passport on their journey. What perks and protection come with that passport? What calling and expectations? What is the final transformation that we can expect on our journey?
