November 1931
520
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the believer’s strength; we can do all things— through Christ. P rep aratio n MONDAY: Work out your own outline of the con tents of this chapter, writing a short comment on each point. TUESDAY: Write a brief personal comment on verses 4 to 7. WEDNESDAY: Memorize verses 4 to 7. THURSDAY: Write 200 words on the subject, “My Responsibility for my Thoughts and my Actions,” using verses 8 and 9 as the basis for your discussion. Memorize these verses. FRIDAY: Read for today Matthew 1 :18 tp 25 and , Luke 2:1 to 20. Meditate upon these passages. SATURDAY: Memorize Philippians 4:13 to 19 and write comments upon these verses. SUNDAY: Select some passage or verse to be used as the basis for preparing an outline for a short devotional talk or personal testimony. Analysis 1. An exhortation to unity and helpful ness (vs. 1-3). 2. An exhortation to joy and modera tion (vs. 4, 5). 3. An exhortation to prayer and peace (vs. 6, 7). 4. An exhortation to right thinking and right living (vs. 8, 9). 5. The secret of a life of power (vs. 1043). 6. The secret of a life of peace (vs. 14-19). 7. Benediction and salutation (vs. 20- 23). Expression I. T he L ord is at H and “The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5). There is a twofold meaning in these words. First, we find a statement as to the continual nearness of our Lord. Closer is He than a brother, and we should ever be conscious of His touch. Second, we find here the imminence of His second coming. He who has gone into the heavens promised: “I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” “In such an hour as ye think not,” He will re turn. “Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” In view of this nearness of the Lord, Paul gives several important injunctions. 1. Since the Lord is near, we are to re joice (v. 4). 2. We are to maintain a watchful self- control ; we are to let our modera tion and forbearance be known unto all men (v. 5). 3. The Lord’s nearness should result in a glorious freedom from anxiety (v. 6). 4. It should be the motive for a life of prayer, supplication, and thanksgiv ing (v. 6). 5. The consciousness of the Lord’s be ing at hand brings a peace which keeps our hearts and minds through Christ (v. 7). 6. The one who is conscious of His
Is it the only standard? And is it the highest standard? ' 4, S. Consider the steps of Paul’s quest for the life to be found in Christ (v. 10). Note that he desires an experimental knowledge of Christ, and that he couples this knowledge with the great funda mental facts of the life of Christ^His resurrection, His sufferings, His death. What do you think the verse means when it says that we are to know the power of His resurrection ? the fellowship of His sufferings? In the light of Romans 6:11 and 13, what thought is brought to your mind by the words, “being made conform able unto his death” ? Can you suggest reasons for the change in order, placing the power of His resurrection before fel lowship with His sufferings and conform ity to His death? Would it not be rather dangerous to make the sufferings and the death of Christ our main goal and object? Is it not far better to first know the power of Christ as discovered in His res urrection, in order that the joy found in this new life may enable us to share in the trials of His suffering and death? 6. Make a list of the various forms of activity in which you engage. Classify them according to their general character istics, such as personal activities, home duties, tasks of business, social and recre ational engagements, educational pursuits, your thought life, and your Christian ser vice. Make your list as full as pos sible. Then write above the list the words of Paul, “this one thing I do,” and under line all those activities which conform to his standards. Discuss some of these things together. 7. Contrast the enemies of the cross of Christ (vs. 18-21), and the goal and con summation of the Christian life (vs. 20, 21). Note that one minds earthly things, while the other’s citizenship is in heaven ; one glories in shameful things, but the other glories in the appearing of thé Lord ; one’s God is earthly, sensual appetites, and the other’s God is the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The end of the one is de struction ; the end of the other is trans formation into the likeness of the Sub duer of all things. DECEMBER 27, 1931 Christian Joy in All Things P hilippians 4; M atthew 1:18-25 (Christmas Lesson) Key Verse: “I can do all things through Christ” (Phil. 4:13). ■ ' ore than nineteen hundred years ago, there was born in the little town of Bethlehem a babe whose name from everlasting had been “Won derful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). It is this same Jesus of whom Paul writes in the fourth chapter of Philippians: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” And this One who is our strength is the source of our joy, for again we read, “Rejoice in the Lord alway.” We have studied through four chapters of the book of Philippians. In the first chapter, the believer has life— in Christ. In chapter 2, we find the believer’s exam ple; we are to be— like Christ. In chapter 3 is set forth the believer’s object; we are to live— for Christ. In chapter 4, we find
or religiosity be substituted for Chris tianity? According to Paul, what is the one essential for the Christian life (v. 8) ? 3. In the light of verse 6, and the experience of the Apostle Paul in his zeal ous activity for Judaism before he was won to Christ, discuss the commonly ac cepted proposition that it does not make any difference what you believe, j ust so you are sincere and zealous in that belief. Is sincerity a good standard for belief?
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