Home Group Study Questions //November 2nd

Planted Session 9: The Difference Jesus Makes

 

  1. What difference does Jesus make in your life? Discuss this beyond the surface answers. How does He affect you when things are difficult? How would you describe that difference to someone? Do people see that difference in our lives? 
  2. Acts 16:11-40 describes Paul’s first stop in Philippi. What stands out to you from that first church planted in Greece?  

 [Read Philippians 2:1-5]  

  1. The word if in Philippians 2:1 means Christ has made a difference, but can you see it? Paul mentions the encouragement, the comfort from Jesus’ love, the participation in the Spirit, as well as the affection and sympathy. Answer each of those 
    1. What type of encouragement have you found?
    2. What type of love have you found?  
    3. What type of work have you seen from the Holy Spirit? 
    4. What type of affection and sympathy? 
  2. What does it mean to “be of the same mind”, Philippians 2:2? Ephesians 4:15-16 addresses this same topic with a different way of stating it. How can we, coming from many different backgrounds, have the same mind?  
  3. Beyond the common mission that Paul challenged the Philippians with, he also states that we are to have “the same love”. What does that mean? The gospel of John describes one side of this in John 13:34-35. 1 John 4:7-12 describes where that love comes from and how or why we are to have the same love.   
  4. Philippians 2:2 continues by stating the goal of “being in full accord”. You could use the word united instead. When does the body of Christ display unity and when do we fail at “being in full accord”? 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 describes being unique and yet united.  
  5. The summary of these verses can be found in Philippians 2:3-4. How and when are we selfless versus selfish? How can we as individuals look out for the interests of others? How can we as home groups care about those within our sphere of contacts? How can we as a church look out for one another?     
  6. Philippians 2:5-11 describes how Jesus did all of what Paul is describing. How do these actions affect you personally?