To know, know, know Him
Questions for Home Groups or Private Reflection
Follow up study in Phil 3:1-14
As always, CONTEXT is everything. What is Paul talking about?
Although the church in Philippi is made up mainly of non-Jewish (Gentile) people, Roman citizens for the most part probably, they are still at risk from the most dangerous subversions in the first century. There were people in almost every church it seems, or visiting churches, who tried to persuade people that you could only be accepted by God through the Jewish rituals, that following Jesus without that was not quite enough. Paul always refuted that. Here they are called 'dogs' and 'mutilators of the flesh'. So to counteract them Paul tells us his own story, and gives us his ambitions too.
- How strong a sense of duty do you have?
- What would you consider the greatest privileges in your life - especially your early life?
- Did those privileges help or hinder you in understanding the 'good news' about Jesus?
- Oh - while we are at it - how would you sum up in a sentence what the good news of Jesus is?
- Did Paul already know Jesus? Why does he seem to still aspire to know Him? - Are you really 'straining forward' in your spiritual life? How?
- What is the 'prize' Paul was looking to attain?