Completing the Good Work – Phil. 1:6
Our salvation is guaranteed the moment we believe Jesus for it. But some also suggest that our good behavior or works are required to validate whether or not we’ve got the real thing. A popular understanding of Philippians 1:6 is that we continue to grow and improve throughout our Christian experience. Is this necessarily true? Is this verse telling us we’ll persevere in good works or is the verse talking about something completely different?
Discussion Questions
Why is it important to pay attention to the context of a verse from the Bible? How is it possible that someone could “read into” a passage what they want it to say? Can you think of an example where someone might bend the meaning of a verse to match their preferences?
Read Philippians 1:6. Why might this verse be understood to mean that progressing in your spiritual growth is a guaranteed experience? Do Christians always continue to grow and change for good until they die? (Look at 2 Tim. 2:17-18, 1 Tim. 1:19-20, 1 Cor. 11:30)
Many Bible scholars agree that Philippians is a “thank-you letter.” What was Paul thanking the Philippian believers for? Read Philippians 4:15-20.
One may be confused about Philippians 1:6 because of the word “fellowship” in 1:5. What does the word, fellowship, mean (Greek: koinonia)? The word, fellowship (koinonia) can also be translated “contribution or sharing” (Rom. 15:26, 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:13)
The most reasonable and accurate understanding of Philippians 1:6 is that it refers to the “good work” of sharing financially with Paul. Read Phil. 1:5-6 with this understanding in mind. How does partnering with others through your generous financial contributions help further the gospel?
Hot or Cold? – Revelation 3:14-22
The last book of the Bible is one of the most difficult to understand. Revelation contains imagery and symbolism that can be very confusing. One such passage in Revelation involves Jesus warning a church that he is preparing to “spit them out of his mouth” because...
Confessing Jesus – Romans 10:9-10
People often try to make salvation harder to get than it really is. Faith alone in Christ alone is the clear teaching of the Bible. But a few verses in the Book of Romans seem to suggest that you must also confess Christ openly if you really want to be saved. What...
Perfect Judgment – Matthew 7:1-12
Maybe you’ve heard that the Bible tells us not to judge others. Perhaps you’ve even used those words to defend a mistake or misstep on your part. And yes, while there is a verse in Matthew 7 that begins like that, when context is understood, we find there is much more...
Hope and Change – Exodus 32:9-14
Can we trust God? The easy answer is, of course, but this answer is sometimes easier to say than it is to believe. When things go wrong, is God still there? When we go wrong, can we still trust God? Or will He change His mind and reject us in anger? Our experiences...
Max Impact: Gifts, Roles, and Contributions – Genesis 2:15, 18
With so many people, a variety in gifts/talents, and a common desire to make positive contributions, harmony should be no problem, right? Yet it seems men and women are increasingly stumbling to figure out how to work together in harmony at home, in our world, even in...
Receiving Grace In Vain – 2 Corinthians 6:1
Quite often we find ourselves racing through life, taking advantage of every opportunity, moment, and experience that comes our way. In this fast-paced reality it is incredibly easy for us to get consumed in the rush of activity, but eventually realize our priorities...
What is Dead Faith? – James 2:17
Suggest to people that salvation is by faith alone and you’re likely to hear disagreements. Many would say, “Faith is not enough. It must be accompanied by works or it’s not real. So, the person of dead faith remains an unbeliever.” James 2 is a chapter filled with...
Called According to His Purpose – Rom. 8:28
Since before recorded history began, human beings have been telling stories as a way of structuring our reality. Even today, the individual stories we tell about ourselves often determine how we view the world and the type of people we become. In the book of Romans,...
Do You Love Me? – John 21:15-25
We have all done or said things we wish we could undo or take back. Through this, we have felt the weight of our own miscalculated action or response, and sometimes that weight can feel unbearable. For Peter, this was no exception. He denied Christ not once, or twice,...
Contentment – Phil 4:10-14
We live in a society chock full of opportunities to seek that which is supposed to satisfy us. From the seemingly meaningless to the more important in life, we have been accustomed to search out what is best for ourselves. On the surface, there is nothing inherently...
Plans, Prosperity, & Promise – Jer. 29:11
You may have heard that God has plans for His people, plans for His people to prosper and have hope. But what does that really mean? And how does that fit with the times in life when we don’t see prosperity or hope like we thought we would? As we take a look at what...
Falling From Grace – Gal. 5:4
Sometimes we might assume we understand certain passages in the Bible. Maybe it’s a famous or familiar verse. Or maybe we once heard a sermon that gives us confidence we know the meaning of a particular passage of Scripture. But when we look a little deeper, there’s a...