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Post by Kaye on Sept 3, 2006 18:00:30 GMT -5
This one can have a few differnt things. We can read one verse from a certain book and chapter, we can read an entire chapter of a certain book, or just read the entire book, and discuss what we think about them. Choices, choices, choices, lol. t2ul!
Kaye16
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 4, 2006 15:22:12 GMT -5
Kaye, I think it might end up taking a lot of time to get a general consensus on where to begin. What do you think about just going ahead and starting in Phillippians, maybe start with the 1st five verses. You could type them in a post so we have them handy to refer to. I think a lot of people already posting here have been drawn to that book and you are right, it's about overcoming battles and claiming the victory. Why don't we just start?? I bet lots of people will jump right in!!! whatcha think?
mac
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Post by Kaye on Sept 4, 2006 16:39:47 GMT -5
Its good idea, and since it would take a while to type it all out, theres a website(www.bible.com) where I can copy and paste here. Here is the first chapter, first five verses. NIV: Philippians 1 1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
This one is also neat:
Passage Philippians 3:10-15: 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Pressing on Toward the Goal 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 4, 2006 18:58:25 GMT -5
Kaye, I don't know what you have in mind...but if we are going through a book, then it might be best to not jump ahead (tee hee...I love your enthusiasm!!)....so, let's see what we can get going on these first five verses. Does anyone have any information out there about the church at Phillippi? I just know that this was a missionary letter to a group of believers...a church that Paul probably fostered by bringing the Good News to their community. What religion were they previously before their conversion?
So, here's a start, let's see what folks come up with, then we can delve into Paul and Timothy's salutation to these believers, with whom they are greatly joyed because they are living in The Way...
mac
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Post by Kaye on Sept 4, 2006 20:43:31 GMT -5
sorry, I just saw it and thought I'd share, I wasn't meaning to jump ahead, . Right now, I'm looking up stuff about Philippi. It appears that this is where Lydia(the first Gentile woman convert) lived, and where Paul and Silas were imprisoned and were set free when a earthquake opened the doors. The jailer became a Christian. From some of what I found says that there were Jews there, but since the place was settled by the Greeks, it also has some of the same things the Greeks in Greece believed in(the multiple gods and all that. ploytheism). And since it was Philip of Macedonia that settled a dispute between Greek tribes and took over, it would have had some Mecedonian influence too.(I can't remember right at the moment what they believed.)
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 4, 2006 21:19:33 GMT -5
GREAT, Kaye!! Thanks for looking up that stuff. So, we have a basis now for beginning our study. To me, I'd observe that there is quite a foundation of faith there at Philippi. Lydia's story and also, the well known salvation of the jailer which we read about in Acts. These people were making a big decision to decide for Jesus, as it would have been something of a cult to the people of Philippi, don't you think? The Jews were probably quite protective of their religion, trying to keep it pure inspite of the worshipping of multiple gods (polytheism). So, a new Christian would readily become an outcast, and find haven only among others who also had believed. (fellowship)
Paul must have felt protective of his little flock at Philippi, wouldn't he? They were there alone, trying to grow in faith. They must have had many questions about the things they should believe, what could be continued from their Jewish faith. Paul had heard good reports about how they were doing from what he writes here in the first five verses. Verses 3 & 4...
any other thoughts or reflections about these first five verses? Anyone else care to jump in?
in Him, mac
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 5, 2006 20:45:30 GMT -5
Kaye, any time you are ready post another five or six or whatever verses and we'll play around with them!! I've already learned from what you've found out about Philippi! Great detective work!
mac
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Post by Kaye on Sept 6, 2006 8:39:55 GMT -5
Passage Philippians 1:6-12: 6And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. 7It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. 8God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. 10For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. 11May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation --those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. 12And I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
Okay, I think I found a new other favorite Bible verse: Philipppians 1:12. I like verse 6 too. Okay, anyway, here it is. t2ul!
kaye
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 6, 2006 10:07:48 GMT -5
Good morning, Kaye...I have a Bible that I have been using for 26 years. It is falling apart! It is KJV, and I have written cross references in it over the years, as it is "the word" alone with no notes or references.
For 1:6, I have a cross reference to Ps. 138:8: The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.
What a promise in these verses. It reminds me of the Tshirts that read, "Be patient! God isn't finished with me yet!" We all stumble and fall, we are never static, we grow and grow and sometimes take a step back once in awhile, but we can lay claim to verses like these which promise us that God did not make a mistake when He called us into His fold. We are a "work in progress!"
Paul and Timothy sent this letter together, and in 1 Timothy 1:12, we read where Paul is encouraging Timothy in a like manner: "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
thanks for a great start to the morning...anyone else with comments? I'll be back later. love in Him, mac
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Post by Kaye on Sept 6, 2006 11:54:31 GMT -5
I love that saying about being patient cause God isn't finished with me yet. Something about the whole thing kinda reminds me that change is a good thing. Well, I guess it depends on the type of change...but good change is really a good thing.
Anyway, I think I'm going to enjoy the rest of Philippians. It has a lot about being encouraged and encouraging us to look ahead and don't worry about the right here and now. The next section is sounding interesting. But I'm looking forward to others opinions. It seems like its just other people reading both our opinions, mac, lol. Its just been you and me talking so far, =/.
t2ul!
kaye
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 6, 2006 12:38:02 GMT -5
That's okay, Kaye!! Someone is learning besides us!! That's pretty cool and it's good to know there's a ministry going on here. I love it. I'm working now so can't talk anymore about other verses within these 6 today...but will get to it later, I hope!! What about you? Any comments or questions about the rest of the verses? I may not have the answer, but someone might, or we'll work it out together.
Here's a challenge: in what area of your life do you feel that God is "perfecting" you right now? For me, it's definitely relearning to "wait upon the Lord" and watch what He will perform in my life. How about you?
mac
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Post by Kaye on Sept 6, 2006 21:09:47 GMT -5
thats a good question...I'm learning how to lean on God instead of thinking I can make it on my own. I guess I started doing that when I was a little younger. I thought I was a friend with this one girl, and I guess she didn't think so because she told me I was just a prepatory for being friends with the pastor's daughter. I guess that I started secluding myself after that because I thought I wasn't good enough, and thought I could handle my own problems by myself. God has been working on that part of my life recently. I've been trying to pray every night to ask God to help me with the next day and to thank Him for being there when I find I'm not strong enough to handle some things. It does help, giving things over to Him. I love feeling His love surround me, and I feel like I'm talking to my dad instead of talking to a big powerful God of the universe, but I know He is. I love those times now. Well, I got to go to bed. t2ul!
Kaye
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 6, 2006 22:18:35 GMT -5
Good for you, Kaye. You have learned something at a young age that many don't encounter until strife hits them later in life. with health problems, we really do learn how out of control we are, meaning we don't have control...and this condition really brings that home to us. We learn that God is in control, His ways are not our ways, and His ways are foolishness to the world. I'm proud of you for having this wisdom in your youth, it will serve you well all of your life!! This discussion really ties into our verses today, and how Paul is praying for those he's led to the Lord: "that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. 10For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns."
What do you think the fruits of salvation are? The KJV calls them "the fruits of righteousness." Hmmm? Would they be the fruits of the Spirit or ?
Also, that last verse is a very important one. Paul is saying that all the turmoil and imprisonment and all that he has suffered is for the "furtherance of the Gospel." How do our present sufferings help to further God's Good News?
see you in the morning!
hugs, mac
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Post by Kaye on Sept 7, 2006 8:34:14 GMT -5
good morning, mac. the first thing that popped into mind when it says fruits of salvaton were the fruits of the Spirit. why I think it is is because when Jesus left the world, He sent the Spirit to be with the believers, to help us live the right way and all that. any other idea what they might be? I think that our situations can further God's kingdom because !.) God turns all things into good for those who love Him(Rms. 8:28) 2.) Our testemonies can tell more about faith than listening to someone saying what faith is. 3.) I've come across people with terminal diseases, and I could tell the ones that believed in God by just looking at them. They had a peaceful look in the eyes. It tells that God will never leave us or forsake us.(I can't remember the addy for that one, ) So do you think?
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Post by shadowrider on Sept 7, 2006 10:37:17 GMT -5
Absolutely, Kaye!! That is what I think, too!! That we stand as testimony to the power of God every breath that we take! I already mentioned this elsewhere, but in Rev. 12, we see we are saved not only by the Blood of the Lamb but by the word of our testimony! So, closet believers beware! We need to speak of the hope that is within us, as Paul told Timothy, I believe. I do agree....how we handle things, even great pain or grief, is going to speak loudly to the unbelievers around us. They will think, "Gee, she should be so mad at the world right now, but look at her! She knows it will all work out!" That must be what Paul had in mind. Remember that right in Philippi, when he was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, he was singing praises to God in the jail cell, and the jailer was so powerfully moved, that he was saved and his family! This is wonderful that you found this background to the letter to the Philippians to remind us of this fact. So, Paul has seen first hand what his sufferings could do in terms of bringing unbelievers to the Lord. what a great lesson for us!!
What are the fruits of the spirit? To remind myself and others, I'll post them here from Galatians 5:22, 23: Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Kaye, can you list those from a newer version pls?
Back to work for me!
mac
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