Wow, sisters! Thanks for a great turn-out for last night's SIS. We are so thrilled to see the excitement about this Bible study!
Just to review, here are the summary statements that we are memorizing for Philippians:
Have the mind and humility of Christ.
Be anxious for nothing; have the peace of God.
Think on these things.
Next month, Jean will be leading our study of I Thessalonians. In the meantime, we have three jobs...
1. Read and study I Thessalonians
2. Quiz yourself and your sisters on the summary of Philippians
3. Blog about the pearls of wisdom you find in I Thessalonians
Now I'm off to read a little Thess!
Love you all,
Jenny
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
From Amy Quinliven
Dear Sisters,
I have loved reading through everyone's uplifting and encouraging thoughts from the book of Philippians. I can't wait to dive into our Father's word even deeper this Sunday!
I'd have to say that Philippians 1:23 is extremely powerful to me. I'm trying to meditate more on the word rather than reading it as a "study" session. I'm trying my best to put on the shoes of the particular person I'm reading about, and bring the moments and emotions to life.
Philippians 1:23 - For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, 1:24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Although I 200% X infinity believe in Christ, if I'm not reading passages like this, the thought of passing can be paralyzing because it's unfamiliar. To bring light to that, I love how Christ gives us confidence through his word. This verse has given me so much strength and fear seems to diminish the more that I meditate on this.
This makes me re-focus on my goal and purpose, not the fearful unknown that Christ has ALREADY taken care of. I can only say this because of his perfect word and love for us.
I have loved reading through everyone's uplifting and encouraging thoughts from the book of Philippians. I can't wait to dive into our Father's word even deeper this Sunday!
I'd have to say that Philippians 1:23 is extremely powerful to me. I'm trying to meditate more on the word rather than reading it as a "study" session. I'm trying my best to put on the shoes of the particular person I'm reading about, and bring the moments and emotions to life.
Philippians 1:23 - For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, 1:24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
Although I 200% X infinity believe in Christ, if I'm not reading passages like this, the thought of passing can be paralyzing because it's unfamiliar. To bring light to that, I love how Christ gives us confidence through his word. This verse has given me so much strength and fear seems to diminish the more that I meditate on this.
This makes me re-focus on my goal and purpose, not the fearful unknown that Christ has ALREADY taken care of. I can only say this because of his perfect word and love for us.
Friday, February 19, 2010
February SIS
Hello Girls!
February's Sister in Spirit is this Sunday! We will be meeting at Glenna's house for dinner (sandwich bar) at 5:00, followed by our discussion of Philippians at 6:00.
Please be sure to bring your notebooks, Bibles and something to write with.
If you missed our introduction last month, don't worry. We're just getting started with our first textual study, and we will have plenty of extra notebooks!
See you Sunday!
February's Sister in Spirit is this Sunday! We will be meeting at Glenna's house for dinner (sandwich bar) at 5:00, followed by our discussion of Philippians at 6:00.
Please be sure to bring your notebooks, Bibles and something to write with.
If you missed our introduction last month, don't worry. We're just getting started with our first textual study, and we will have plenty of extra notebooks!
See you Sunday!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
From Jenny Kreil
How I have enjoyed this month's study of Philippians!!
While studying this month, there have been so many moments that have demanded my quiet reflection. God's words (through Paul) are POWERFUL.
"...to live is Christ and to die is gain." Volumes could be filled discussing the implication of those words.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing..." Hmmm. Volumes could be filled discussing the ways I have failed in this area!
But the powerful statement that has moved me today is found in verse 12 of chapter 3. "...I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Jesus took hold of Paul for the spread of the gospel. He claimed Paul, with his talents, gifts, circumstance, as His own for the purpose of spreading the good news. And Paul, in turn, claimed that mission as his own.
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
For what purpose did Jesus take hold of ME? What are my gifts and talents that Christ claims?
Am I striving to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me?
While studying this month, there have been so many moments that have demanded my quiet reflection. God's words (through Paul) are POWERFUL.
"...to live is Christ and to die is gain." Volumes could be filled discussing the implication of those words.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing..." Hmmm. Volumes could be filled discussing the ways I have failed in this area!
But the powerful statement that has moved me today is found in verse 12 of chapter 3. "...I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Jesus took hold of Paul for the spread of the gospel. He claimed Paul, with his talents, gifts, circumstance, as His own for the purpose of spreading the good news. And Paul, in turn, claimed that mission as his own.
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
For what purpose did Jesus take hold of ME? What are my gifts and talents that Christ claims?
Am I striving to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me?
From Stephanie Slater
Hey Sisters,
I just sat and read every ones blog entries and comments and it just brought excitement to my heart.
I have felt that reading, meditating, re-reading, cross referencing, blogging, and highlighting this book has been amazingly powerful and rejuvenating for me.
It has provided what chapter 1 verse 9 says, a "love that abounds more and more in knowledge and depth of insight," then in 3:9 it says whatever we have learned to put into practice. The very next book in Col. 1:9-10 Paul prays for the brethren on Colosse to be filled with knowledge of His will that they may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of God. AND THEN to top it all off, check out Col. 3:9-10, and see what it is that renews us. Without a doubt, The Lord works in us through His word to perform! So man we need to be in His word like we are.
fyi - all these references were in either chapter 1 or 3 and in verse 9, that makes it easy to remember!
I am so sad I will be in Bullhead this SIS meeting. I know I will miss a great deal of important, encouraging moments. You all enjoy the blessings!
In His Abounding Love,
Steph
I just sat and read every ones blog entries and comments and it just brought excitement to my heart.
I have felt that reading, meditating, re-reading, cross referencing, blogging, and highlighting this book has been amazingly powerful and rejuvenating for me.
It has provided what chapter 1 verse 9 says, a "love that abounds more and more in knowledge and depth of insight," then in 3:9 it says whatever we have learned to put into practice. The very next book in Col. 1:9-10 Paul prays for the brethren on Colosse to be filled with knowledge of His will that they may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of God. AND THEN to top it all off, check out Col. 3:9-10, and see what it is that renews us. Without a doubt, The Lord works in us through His word to perform! So man we need to be in His word like we are.
fyi - all these references were in either chapter 1 or 3 and in verse 9, that makes it easy to remember!
I am so sad I will be in Bullhead this SIS meeting. I know I will miss a great deal of important, encouraging moments. You all enjoy the blessings!
In His Abounding Love,
Steph
Friday, February 12, 2010
From Nicki Rhoton
I just love this study. I am so happy that SIS this year is digging into the Epistles. I see clear threads running through this book, those of unity and humility, encouragement in the face of persecution.
1:1-11 Richness of the words used in this passage: thankfulness, joy confident, good work, completion, share, grace, long for, affection, pure, blameless.
1:12-18 Rejoice because Christ is preached, even by those preaching from selfish ambition, or to make Paul's situation worse! Through the ages there have always been people preaching Christ out of selfish ambition, even today!
1:19-26 Am I ready to suffer without fear to be a sign to those who oppose Christ? Am I ready to accept that suffering as a gift?
2:1-4 Humility, humility, humility. We should not be like the people 1:12-18. On the contrary we should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
2:5-11 Christ humbled himself while we were still sinners.
2:12-18 Humility theme continued. It is not about us, it is God who is trying to work through us! Do everything without complaining. Then you will be pure and blameless, then you will be able to hand out the word of life. Paul is hoping that his life will be poured out like the drink offering the Jews were told to make daily, morning and evening, to have fellowship with God. Our lives are to be a constant daily act of faith, humbly seeking that fellowship.
1:1-11 Richness of the words used in this passage: thankfulness, joy confident, good work, completion, share, grace, long for, affection, pure, blameless.
1:12-18 Rejoice because Christ is preached, even by those preaching from selfish ambition, or to make Paul's situation worse! Through the ages there have always been people preaching Christ out of selfish ambition, even today!
1:19-26 Am I ready to suffer without fear to be a sign to those who oppose Christ? Am I ready to accept that suffering as a gift?
2:1-4 Humility, humility, humility. We should not be like the people 1:12-18. On the contrary we should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
2:5-11 Christ humbled himself while we were still sinners.
2:12-18 Humility theme continued. It is not about us, it is God who is trying to work through us! Do everything without complaining. Then you will be pure and blameless, then you will be able to hand out the word of life. Paul is hoping that his life will be poured out like the drink offering the Jews were told to make daily, morning and evening, to have fellowship with God. Our lives are to be a constant daily act of faith, humbly seeking that fellowship.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
From Diana Young
When I was reading through the print out of Philippians that we all got in our envelopes (from the NIV), it caught my attention that Paul says, "...and I may have less anxiety." (Phil 2:28) Wait a minute! Paul is anxious? He's the one that wrote the well known verse, "BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, but in everything by prayer and supplication..." (Phil 4:6). I knew that couldn't be right, so I looked into it. The New King James uses the word "sorrowful" in 2:28 instead of "anxious". And, even better, the original Greek word used in 2:28 is literally translated "grief". That makes a lot more sense to me. Paul felt grief and sorrow, not anxious.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
From Nicky Rhoton
On going through the photocopy work sheet for the first time I look at the words Paul used to describe the people he was writing to: Saints, Partners in the Gospel, Brothers (used at least 8 times), Friends, Loyal Yoke Fellows, Workers. He feels such a close bond to those who have joined him in his love for Christ.
When you look closely at the first 11 verses of this letter, the affection Paul feels for these fellow workers, brothers, friends jumps right out at you. In his prayer for them he thanks God and prays with joy because of their partnership with him. He feels such affection for them it is like the heart ache we feel when we are parted from someone, maybe a child, husband, brother, sister, who we love.
When you look closely at the first 11 verses of this letter, the affection Paul feels for these fellow workers, brothers, friends jumps right out at you. In his prayer for them he thanks God and prays with joy because of their partnership with him. He feels such affection for them it is like the heart ache we feel when we are parted from someone, maybe a child, husband, brother, sister, who we love.
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