Message Title: Healthy Churches Are Never Perfect – “The Fight to Stay Healthy”

Series: Philippians – A Letter to a Healthy Church

Key verses:

Philippians 4:1-9

Sermon Notes:

1. Healthy churches can have contentious Christians (v2-3)
   1. The Cause of Contention
   2. The Consequence of Contention
   3. The Cure for Contention (v3)
2. Healthy churches have the secret of true blessing. (v4)
   1. Why should Christians rejoice?
   2. In whom should Christians rejoice?
   3. How often should Christians rejoice?
3. Healthy churches have the antidote to anxiety (v6-7)
   1. The ailment (v6a)
   2. The antidote (v6b)
   3. The after effect (v7)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

Getting to Know You:

In general, how do you make yourself feel good or happy?

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Philippians 4:1-9. It has been said that Philippians was the healthiest church in the New Testament. If this is so, then what do these verses teach us about healthy churches?
2. Read Philippians 4:2-3. What do you learn about these two women from these Scriptures?
3. Why do you think godly people at times disagree with each other and do you think this is wrong?
4. What do you think is the worst that could happen in the church if these two sisters don’t come to unity? What is the worst disunity you have seen in a church and how did it turn out?
5. Read Philippians 4:4-5. What do you think Paul means in these verses about rejoicing in the Lord always?  How does the reality of the Lord being near help us to rejoice always?  How does it help you?
6. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Why are we not to be anxious?
7. Why do you think being thankful is a part of this formula for finding heavenly peace? How have you seen these verses play out in your life?
8. Read Philippians 4:8. Why do you think Paul is telling us to train our minds to focus on these things? What do you think the result is if we don’t?

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?