Bible Study - Sabbath School Podcast

Rejoice in the Lord--AlwaysRead Philippians 4:4-7. How are we to experience "the peace of God"?After touching on, again, the need for unity (Phil. 4:1-3), Paul moves on to another theme: rejoicing in the Lord (Phil. 4:4-7).How many times have you been stressed over things that ultimately melted effortlessly away as quickly as they appeared? For good reason, Jesus repeatedly emphasized that we should not worry (see Matt. 6:25-34, Matt. 10:19), and Peter reminds us that we can cast all our worries or anxieties (ESV) on the Lord, "because He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7, ESV). In fact, the increasing problems worldwide should inspire us with hope that the coming of the Lord is near (compare Matt. 24:33, Luke 21:28, James 5:8).The antidote to anxiety in everything, including every situation, is sending up a prayer of faith (Phil. 4:6-7). Clearly, we are to believe and act on our prayer as having been answered even before we see its realization, because we are to pray "with thanksgiving." Also added is the word "supplication" (Greek: deēsis), signaling times of extremity and urgency (see, for example, Luke 1:13, Phil. 1:19, 1 Tim. 5:5, James 5:16). Our prayers are still "requests," but we can know our petitions have been received as long as we ask "according to His will" (1 John 5:14, NKJV). Then we can rest and have peace, knowing that all our requests are in God's hands.How do the following passages enlarge our understanding of God's peace? Ps. 29:11, Isa. 9:6, Luke 2:14, John 14:27, 1 Cor. 14:33.God's peace is something the world can never give, because God's peace comes from the assurance that we have the gift of eternal life through Jesus our Savior (Rom. 5:1, Rom. 6:23). This peace impacts every aspect of life and "surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7, NKJV). It cannot be grasped by the mind alone, as the Greek word nous (minds) used here indicates.How would you describe to someone what it means to experience "the peace of God"?

Think on These Things ...The peace that surpasses understanding will also "guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7, NKJV). Our inner life needs protection. Interestingly, Philippians 4:7 uses a military metaphor in connection with God's peace. The Greek verb (phroureō) is used to describe a garrison of soldiers guarding a city against invasion (2 Cor. 11:32; compare Acts 9:24).Another very important aspect of inner peace involves living in harmony with God's will. "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Ps. 119:165).Read Philippians 4:8-9. What specific actions are urged?Paul introduces Philippians 4:8-9 with "furthermore" (GNV) and a list of six virtues, followed by a succinct summary of them and encouragement to imitate Paul's example. This closing cross-cultural exhortation fits well within the Greco-Roman setting of Philippi, with its dual emphasis on virtue and example. Interestingly, though, the focus is on biblical virtues, which is quite obvious from Paul's omission of the four cardinal Greek virtues (prudence, justice, temperance, and courage).True--not accidentally, the list begins with the cardinal biblical virtue of truth, which Jesus ("Truly, I say ...") and the whole New Testament frequently emphasize (see, for example, Acts 26:25, Rom. 1:18, 1 Cor. 13:6, 2 Cor. 4:2, Eph. 4:15, 1 Tim. 3:15, James 1:18, 1 Pet. 1:22, 1 John 2:21).Noble--the Greek word refers to a personal virtue (compare its other uses in 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2, where it is translated as "reverent" in the NKJV).Right--this virtue is defined by God's righteous character (compare its use in Phil. 1:7).Pure--thought and action flowing from God's justifying righteousness received by faith (see 1 John 3:3).Lovely--aesthetic beauty, seen widely in God's creation.Admirable--"kind and winsome and and gracious" (AMPC).Paul gives two further qualifications, lest a pagan meaning be imputed to any of these virtues: "if anything is excellent or praiseworthy" (Phil. 4:8, NIV), we are to think on these heavenly virtues. Then, to remove all doubt and potential misunderstanding, Paul calls us to practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen from his own example (Phil. 4:9).

"Stand Fast in the Lord"Read Philippians 3:20-21. How does Paul vividly describe what Christian "citizenship" looks like?Unlike the enemies of the cross, who "set their mind on earthly things" and have no greater god than their bellies (Phil. 3:19), Christian citizenship is in heaven, and our ruler is Jesus Christ Himself. To underscore the point, Paul highlights the need for "these humble bodies of ours" (Phil. 3:21, NET), subject to disease, deterioration, and death, to be transformed to be like Christ's glorious resurrection body.How do the following passages describe the glorified state?Job 19:25-27Luke 24:391 Cor. 15:42-441 Cor. 15:50-54Col. 3:4In the end, through Jesus, death, "the last enemy," will be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26). And that is our greatest hope, the ultimate promise that we have been given in Jesus--not only the end of death but a whole new body, even a "glorious body" (Phil. 3:21, ESV).In a book about how to find "salvation" without God, which argued, rather foolishly, that overcoming the fear of death is "salvation," author Luc Ferry does admit that Christianity "enables us not only to transcend the fear of death, but also to beat death itself. And by doing so in terms of individual identity, rather than anonymity or abstraction, it seems to be the only version that offers a truly definitive victory of personal immortality over our condition as mortals."--Ferry, A Brief History of Thought (New York: HarperCollins, 2011, Kindle edition), p. 90. Quite an admission, coming from an atheist.Thus, for Paul, our heavenly citizenship includes the promise of the resurrection and eternal life in a whole new existence that we can barely imagine now.Why is the promise of eternal life so crucial to all that we believe? What could this world possibly offer that's worth forfeiting what Christ offers us?

Role ModelsAll of us have, at one time or another, found people we admire and want to emulate. For children, it's especially important that they have good role models. Ideally, this would be their father and mother. As they grow, they will find other role models, perhaps connected with their chosen career or even in biographies they have read. They can also learn how various Bible characters dealt with challenges and compare them to their own life experiences.Unfortunately, in today's media, bad role models abound. We are bombarded with clickbait--stories detailing the salacious problems and messed-up lives of celebrities. Paul's readers in Philippi, though of course not dealing with the internet, nevertheless faced similar challenges.The fact is, the world Paul lived in was very corrupt, immoral, and evil, as is ours today. There has always been--and always will be, at least until the end--more than enough evil to go around. The question for us is: How do we respond to it?Read Philippians 3:17-19. How are good and bad role models described in this passage? What keys are given to distinguish between them?We must not miss Paul's love toward those with whom he disagrees--he weeps over them! Notice also that he doesn't call them his enemies but "enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil. 3:18). Paul recognized that much larger issues were at stake, namely, how the cross breaks down barriers and places us all on the same level, as sinners in need of a Savior (see Eph. 2:11-14).Also, not to be overlooked is how Paul urges the Philippians to focus on the good examples, not the bad; to observe carefully those whose manner of life is much like his own. Interestingly, Paul uses similar language in warning the Romans to "note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17, NKJV). The deceivers in Rome are described as those who "do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly" (Rom. 16:18, NKJV).Though, of course, Jesus is the only perfect pattern, there are others who, at least in certain areas, could be good role models. At the same time, what kind of role model do you present to others?

Sabbath AfternoonRead for This Week's Study: Phil. 3:17-4:23, 1 Cor. 15:42-44, John 14:27, Ps. 119:165, Job 1:21, 1 Tim. 6:7Memory Text: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6, NKJV).This week's lesson concludes our study of Philippians, and it is packed with valuable lessons and maxims for daily living. It seems that many of the high moral values that guided the apostle Paul's life are found in the closing verses of the epistle. Similar to the teachings of Jesus, which focus on the inner person, what Paul shares with us are secrets to living a joyful Christian life.Even when things don't go the way we would like, which happens more often than we would like, we don't need to be worried or anxious or discouraged. Instead, there are principles that will help us find inner strength to face the challenges that life brings, and thus we can experience a settled and lasting peace that only God can give. The present and the future are in His hands, and He will supply everything we need.Most important, we need not place our hopes in earthly systems of government, which regularly disappoint us. As Christians, we are citizens of God's heavenly kingdom. And with that citizenship comes privileges, wonderful privileges. And responsibilities, too.* Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 14.