PAUL FUELED THE FIRE

October 30, 2016

Paul fueled a fire of belief and trust in God as he traveled all throughout Europe and Asia Minor, giving his whole life to spreading the gospel and teaching people to follow Jesus and become more like Him.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) Have you ever done something entrepreneurial? Have you ever started

something new?

2) Have you ever been imprisoned, whether figuratively or actually, for

your belief in Christ?

3) Have you ever sacrificed something in your life in a way that changed

you forever?

KEY POINTS

God is not finished with us yet.

Philippians 1:3-11

Generosity requires humility.

Philippians 2:1-7

Christ is before all things, and we need to

live and give in light of that truth.

Colossians 1:15-18, 22-23

Paul’s service to Christ extended beyond

his human comfort, challenging us in the way

we live and give for Christ. Ephesians 6:13-20

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GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH US YET

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 and, 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 for the day of Christ,

filled with the fruit of righteousness

that comes through Jesus Christ - to

the glory and praise of God.

-Phillippians 1:3-11

This passage from Paul is so important because he is reminding the

church at Philippi that God has not yet completed them as a people.

Sometimes we as Christ followers can “rest on our laurels” so-to-speak and

rest on our “past successes” of ministry and not continue growing in Him.

This Fuel the Fire initiative is all about radical growth for us as disciples

- and growth in an area that is difficult to grow in - the area of generosity.

How do you feel you are “not yet completed” as Paul describes here as it

relates to your generosity?

Paul talked all about generosity in his letters to the early churches, but

not always in explicit terms as you would think. He shares larger concepts

BEHIND why we do or don’t give and in what ways, and studying these

words challenges us on what our next steps are to be as we live for Him.

In what ways has your giving grown comfortable and “finished” instead

of being daily challenged to grow more and more in love, knowledge, and

insight, as Paul shares in this passage?

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Being generous in a humble way is difficult to do. It requires a

“pouring out” of ourselves that is difficult to do in a human sense. We

compare ourselves to others, we make excuses for why we cannot or

should not give at this level or that level. In what ways can you grow

further in your humility of generosity? In what ways are you holding

back because you are making it more about you than about Him?.

GENEROSITY REQUIRES HUMILITY

So if there is any encouragement

in Christ, any comfort from love,

any participation in the Spirit, any

affection and sympathy, complete my

joy by being of the same mind, having

the same love, being in full accord

and of one mind. Do nothing from

selfish ambition or conceit, but in

humility count others more significant

than yourselves. Let each of you look

not only to his own interests, but

also to the interests of others. Have

this mind among yourselves, which

is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though

He was in the form of God, did not

count equality with God a thing to

be grasped, but emptied Himself, by

taking the form of a servant, being

born in the likeness of men.

-Philippians 2:1-7

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PAUL’S SERVICE TO CHRIST EXTENDED BEYOND HIS HUMAN COMFORT, CHALLENGING US IN THE WAY WE LIVE AND GIVE FOR CHRIST

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having

done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the

breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel

of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming

darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of

God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all

perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in

opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains,

that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

-Ephesians 6:13-20

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What makes it difficult for you to be generous? What makes it difficult for you to go beyond being an obedient giver, to a

priority giver or a surrendered giver (see page 10)? What holds you back?

How can your group pray for you and encourage you as you make your Fuel the Fire commitment?

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