Philippians 1:1-11 Study Guide: Abounding in love

Community Group Study Guide —Abounding in Love 

Philippians 1:1-11

Study Information:

Paul’s relationship with the Philippian church was special. It appears that it was a deeply rooted, sacrificial and joy filled relationship. Throughout the letter of Philippians there are references to their sacrificial giving to care for Paul, their commitment to the gospel and Paul’s own love for them. Think of people around you who are life giving? Hopefully the Lord has blessed you with those kinds of people who love God and love you and hopefully the Lord has used you similarly in the life of someone else. Indeed Paul wrote that he held the Philippians in his heart and that he yearend for them with the affection of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:7-8). It is likely that Paul had visited this church three times during his missionary journeys and we know he was there the day one when the Lord saved people and the church was born (Acts 16). 

As you study Philippians you will learn that joy, gospel fellowship and Christian unity are at the center of the Christian life. Paul used the words joy and rejoice 16 times in this short letter and often calls back their partnership in the gospel in both word and example. But, perhaps the most shocking thing is that this letter about joy and gospel fellowship was written from prison and Paul was uncertain how his imprisonment would turn out. Likewise there were those who were preaching Christ from envy and rivalry (Phil 1:12-14). Moreover, the person who delivered a financial gift to Paul from Philippi almost died in the process (Phil 2:19-30). Everything about Paul’s circumstances would discourage us, but here we have one of the most upbeat and joy filled letters in the New Testament. 

What is the source of Christian joy and how can we walk in gospel fellowship and unity? Well, that is what we will be studying in this series!! 

Gratitude, Gospel Partnership and Paul’s Affection 

Philippians 1:1-8

Paul expressed his thankfulness and joy for the Philippians! What about this church brought him such a deep sense of gratitude and joy?

This letter was co-written with Timothy and Paul and Timothy called themselves “servants of Christ Jesus,” a term that will become important when we get to how Paul described Jesus in chapter 2. Likewise, the letter was directed to “the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi.” Do you feel like a saint? Culturally we view saints as the extra holy and good people who’ve lived. Yet Paul used the word to describe every follower of Jesus because we’ve been set apart and made holy by Jesus Christ.

Paul was thankful for the Philippians because of their partnership in the gospel “from the first day until now (Philippians 1:5).” The Philippians were sacrificial and servant oriented. You can read the origin story of the Philippian church in Acts 16 which began with the conversion of a rich single women named Lydia, followed by Paul and Silas being imprisoned for a night and the jailer and his family coming to Christ and ending with an oppressed demon possessed woman being delivered from that slavery. Could you imagine gathering for a Bible study with that diverse of a group? The main thing that brought all of them together was the gospel! This gospel partnership meant that they shared in the same mission of encouraging, teaching, praying, giving and suffering together for Christ. The word “partnership” in Philippians 1:5 is the same word for “fellowship” and we can see early on here that real fellowship is not based on stage of life or similar interests or something manmade; this kind of fellowship comes from Jesus. 

We also get a sense that they had suffered together and that they were all in on what God was doing in the ministry of Paul (Phil 1:7). This will be explored later on when we look at Epaphroditus, who almost lost his life bringing a financial gift to Paul. Paul deeply treasured them and called out how he held them in his heart and yearned for them with the affection of Christ Jesus. This greek word for affection is the same word for intestines or kidneys, which sounds strange but the culture used it as an idea of expressing the deepest place of you. Paul basically said that he loved them with his whole self with a love that could only come from Christ Jesus. 

Prayer for the Spiritual Life

Philippians 1:9-11

This theme of Paul’s joy and gratitude spilled over into the specific prayer he had for the Philippians. Paul prayed that they’d have an abounding love that led to righteous living. The prayers of Paul throughout the New Testament give us such a great window into the very things we should pray for ourselves. Paul had earlier expressed his certainty that God would complete the salvation he had begun, which was Paul’s was of saying that he was confident they would grow in Christ and be filled with the righteousness that comes from Jesus (Phil 1:6, 11). What does this kind of righteousness look like in the life of a Christian? 

First, it is an abounding love. Paul prayed that their love would abound more and more, meaning they were already a loving congregation and that he desired earnestly to see that love magnified even more as it was expressed in sacrificial giving, service and unity. 

Second, this love would be filled with knowledge and discernment so that they would approve of what was excellent. Paul prayed for their love to have wisdom. This wisdom was both in a deeper knowledge of God and God’s will. It is similar to what Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9 when he prayed for them to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. God desires for our love to abound and to be focused on what he has commanded. 

Finally, this love would lead to righteous living. Paul’s prayer was also focused on fruitfulness. He desired for the Philippines to be pure and blameless on the day of Christ Jesus and that how they lived would testify to the character and glory of God. 

Do you pray for yourself and the church similarly? Do you pray for our love to grow, to be in line with God’s will and for that to be seen in fruitful Christian living? Can you join us in praying for these things for one another and for the gospel partnership we have with one another to increase?

At your community group:

Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:

Read Philippians 1:1-11

How does Paul refer to himself and Timothy? What does he call the Philippian church? What do you think we can learn from these titles?

What filled Paul with a sense of joy and gratitude for the Philippians?

Paul thanked them for their partnership in the gospel. The word partnership is the same word for “fellowship” in other places in the New Testament. What brought this church together and what do you think their partnership in the gospel looked like?

What are some reasons it is important that love abounds with knowledge and discernment and that it leads to Christlike lives?