“THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS”
Conversation Starters
Sunday November 22, 2015
NOTE: If you missed this message, click here to listen or to watch. (The audio/Mp3 is usually uploaded immediately on Sunday afternoons, while the video is usually uploaded on Mondays).
Talk about your experience on Sunday morning.
- How did God speak to you this week?
- Did you meet anyone new
Read Philippians 4:4-9 together.
- What words, phrases or verses spoke to you as you read this passage? Why?
In Verse 4, the Apostle Paul said to “Rejoice in the Lord always”
- What do you think it means to “rejoice in the Lord”? How is joy often different from happiness?
- What makes it so difficult to “rejoice in the Lord always?”
- Can you think of a time in your life where it was extra difficult for you to be joyful and to “rejoice in the Lord”? Explain.
In Verse 5, Paul explained why we can be joyful saying that “The Lord is at hand.”
- What does “The Lord is at hand” mean to you?
- How can knowing that “The Lord is at hand” bring you joy and make you ‘reasonable’ (v5) even in the most difficult circumstances?
- Have you ever experienced this kind of joy before? Explain.
In Verse 6, Paul said “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
- What do you think causes us to worry so much? How does worry impact our relationship with Christ?
- Martin Luther said, “Pray, and let God worry.” How does turning our worries into prayer teach us to trust Jesus more fully?
- How does “worry” show how we are distrusting Jesus?
- How does “thankfulness” combat worry and anxiety in our lives?
- What do you think it means to have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” (v7) How can you attain it?
In Verse 8, Paul talked about how we should turn our attention towards whatever is true, lovely, commendable, etc… (as opposed to worry & anxiety).
- How can we train our minds to think about these things?
- Look at 2 Corinthians 5:10. What does it mean to take each thought captive? How can you do this?
- What practical thing can you do this week thoughts of worry and anxiety creep in to instead “think about these things”?
