The Study 2026: Philippians

Philippians 1

Welcome to THE STUDY…. the goal is that we crack open THE BIBLE and we study it TOGETHER. through this series I hope to inspire you to be a student of the SCRIPTURE.

John 8:32

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

we have a responsibility to study and know the TRUTH, so we can both live in freedom and share that freedom!

The freedom you experience is directly related to the TRUTH you accept

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

the reality is, we crave truth and settle for lies and feelings…. we crave an authority to tell us we are right, to validate our feelings, but we need a JUDGE for a feelings.

In reality… THE STUDY is..

**As we STUDY the Bible, the BIBLE reveals and refines us**

Psalm 119:16

“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

this word neglect….

shakach (shaw-kakh'); to lay aside, to forget, to take for granted or neglect. 

I hope that each of us, move to a place in our faith that we do not NEGLECT the word of God… that we don’t take it for granted that we realize how special it is, that we honor it and give it space in our life. that we allow it to discern our attitudes and thoughts.

So for the next few weeks we are going to study the scriptures together… we are going to dive in allow the truth to set us free from bad thoughts, attitudes and behaviors…

we are going to GROW forward so we can GO forward as individuals and as a church…. we are going to be disciples so we can make disciples…

The purpose of this series is to STUDY the scriptures…. We are using Philippians as the book to illustrate how we study the scriptures:

Philippians is Pauls JOY letter, written while he is in prison. After starting the church at Philippi on his second missionary tour… which also landed him in prison

The context of this letter should be remember throughout our studies… Paul isn’t on a beach, he isn’t in a comfortable office…. HE IS IN PRISON… writing about JOY

**JOY IN SUFFERING**

1.) JOY changes how I see suffering

Paul describes his situation all throughout the book of Philippians but it is never with complaining or grumbling

Philippians 1:12

“12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”

He doesn’t deny his situation…. He declares purpose over it

JOY doesn’t come from IGNORING our PAIN

Joy comes from seeing God’s purpose in our pain

Romans 8:28

“28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God is working FOR GOOD… .

Agathos- useful, or productive…

Your pain is PRODUCING… this for the “good” doesn’t mean making you feel good

I’m reminded of Joseph… after years of hurt, being sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongly accused by Potiphers wife, forgotten i the prison…

Genesis 50:20

“20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

The enemy has an INTENTION to harm you… GOD has intention to USE YOU

2.) Joy Grows when I realize God is still working

Philippians 1:13

“13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”

Paul says…. Listen they can chain me up, but GOD IS STILL WORKING

My JOY is not found in my circumstances… MY JOY is found completely and totally in CHRIST

Joy is evidence that our confidence is somewhere greater than our circumstances!

2 Timothy 2:9

“9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.”

Suffering cannot become your perspective….. scripture has to be.

Suffering can make you FEEL like God is absent

Scripture tells us HE IS CLOSE

Psalm 34:17–18

“17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

This is that TRUTH moment… your feelings aren’t the truth… HIS WORD IS

3.) Joy turns PAIN into a PLATFORM

Philippians 1:14

“14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”

Your testing… maybe the testimony some needs to see

Your chains maybe the fuel to their courage

Your bad season may stir boldness in their next season.

The problem is this…. We long for happiness and happiness is ALWAYS about us and MAKES EVERYTHING ABOUT US….

JOY…JOY is rooted in the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT is about HIS KINGDOM…. So I can take JOY even in struggle…

Go back to the season that the church in Philippi was formed….

Acts 16:22–25

“22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

The world is listening…. They are listening to what we say when things don’t’ go our way

-they are listening when we don’t get the promotion

-they are listening when life isn’t fair

-they are listening when the day is long..

A spirit filled person…. Responds with JOY, even when life is hard.

4.) Joy is a decision about what matters most

Philippians 1:15–18

“15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,”

Paul doesn’t deny the bad… he makes a decision of what matters

JOY requires a decision to be made….

Philippians 1:20–21

“20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

ITS JESUS…

Thats the decision… the world can throw all it wants at me, but can’t take my JOY because it can’t overcome JESUS

SALVATION:

CHARGE:

JOY in suffering…. ALTAR