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Message Notes

Joy in Chains: Joy in Relationships

Pastor Bill West
October 3, 2021

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” 
(Philippians 1:1–11)

Keys to Finding Joy with People

Thankfulness
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now... 
Philippians 1:3–5

1. Grateful for the people in our lives.
2. Partnership in the gospel.

Confidence
...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  
Philippians 1:6

Love
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 1:7-8

Prayer
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” 
Philippians 1:9–11

Four things to pray for:
1.
2.
3.
4.

We Find Joy in Others When We Are Committed to Them

Previous Messages Can Be Found Here

Small Groups Talk About It

Watch the Message Summary:

  1. Are you a people person or more of a loner? How is it that we can be around lots of people and still be lonely? What keeps some people from reaching out to others?  How can we help to change that?
  2. Read Acts 16:11-29:  Discuss how the church was started in Philippi and what happened to Paul and Silas.  
  3. Read and discuss Philippians 1:1-5: How did Paul describe his relationship to Christ?  What was Paul’s attitude toward the Philippian church? How did this bring him joy?
  4. Is there anyone that you have taken for granted?  For whom are you thankful that needs to know?
  5. Read Philippians 1:6: What does this verse tell you that you can count on? How would you rate your patience with others? Pastor Bill said we tend to judge people by how far they need to go, not how far they have come.  How will we experience more joy if we change this?
  6. Read and discuss Philippians 1:7-8:  Paul loved these people dearly.  How can we grow in our love for each other?
  7. Read and discuss Philippians 1:9-11: How does prayer change our attitude towards others? What kind of things do we usually pray about? What did Paul pray for the Philippians?  What can we learn from this?
  8. How well are you doing life with others? Whom would you call in a time of real need in your life? Who would call you?
  9. Pray for each other: Pray the things that Paul prayed for your group.