Beyond Suffering Bible Sampler - Flipbook - Page 12
PhiliPPians 2
Live as Citizens of Heaven
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Above all, you must live as citizens of
heaven, conducting yourselves in a man
ner worthy of the Good News about Christ.
Then, whether I come and see you again or
only hear about you, I will know that you
are standing together with one spirit and
CONNECTION POIN TS
1:29 Christian Life Following Christ inevitably
involves suffering. It is one of the means of
grace by which we are molded into the perfect
likeness of him who suffered in our place.
2:12 Fellowship Koinonia is a New Testament
Greek word that means “communion” or
“fellowship” among Christian believers. Paul’s
letters to the churches admonished them to
build one another up and commune with one
another and with God. Church was never meant
to be merely a building where people visit for
worship but rather a community of friends who
share in one another’s joys and burdens.
2:34 Focus on Others The problem with disabling conditions is that they naturally force
people to think of their own needs first. Some
people need help to get up in the morning and
into bed at night. Others may need transportation and assistance with shopping or even toileting routines. But self-centeredness is a huge
barrier to developing healthy relationships. It
takes an exceptionally mature person to look
beyond his or her own needs and willingly
focus on the needs of others.
2:511 Brokenness Brokenness is a prerequisite for a follower of Christ. Jesus is the
ultimate example of brokenness because he
denied himself and submitted to suffering and
death on a cruel cross. In Luke 9:23 Jesus says,
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you
must turn from your selfish ways, take up your
cross daily, and follow me.” Notice that our
surrender is a “daily” rather than a one-time
experience.
2:68 Living with Suffering When people with
disabilities trust God, he is revealed as a God
of supreme worth who is deserving of our love
and obedience despite the pain we face. As
suffering bonds Christians to the “man of sorrows,” they have something eternally precious
in common with Christ—their affliction. Our
scars, anguish, rejection, and pain give us a
small taste of what our Savior endured to purchase our redemption.
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one purpose, fighting together for the faith,
which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimi
dated in any way by your enemies. This will
be a sign to them that they are going to be
destroyed, but that you are going to be saved,
even by God himself. 29 For you have been
given not only the privilege of trusting in
Christ but also the privilege of suffering for
him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You
have seen my struggle in the past, and you
know that I am still in the midst of it.
Have the Attitude of Christ
Is there any encouragement from be
longing to Christ? Any comfort from his
love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
Are your hearts tender and compassion
ate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agree
ing wholeheartedly with each other, loving
one another, and working together with one
mind and purpose.
3
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress
others. Be humble, thinking of others as
better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only
for your own interests, but take an interest
in others, too.
5
You must have the same attitude that
Christ Jesus had.
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7
8
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10
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Though he was God,*
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*;
he took the humble position of a slave*
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,*
he humbled himself in obedience to
God
and died a criminal’s death on
a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place
of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other
names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the
earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ
is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Shine Brightly for Christ
12
Dear friends, you always followed my in
structions when I was with you. And now
2:6 Or Being in the form of God. 2:7a Greek he emptied
himself. 2:7b Or the form of a slave. 2:7c Some English
translations put this phrase in verse 8.
