Message Title: Healthy Churches Find Contentment in Jesus

Series: Philippians – A Letter to a Healthy Church

Key verses:

Philippians 4:10-20

Sermon Notes:

1. Healthy churches/people seek the mystery of contentment in Jesus. (Philippians 4:12)

What is Paul teaching to Philippi about Giving?

2. When we give, we give to God.
3. God sees when we give to Him in His name.
4. Paul says that when we trust God and give, we are fragrant to God.
5. He blesses us for giving.
6. It is credited to our account in heaven.
7. Healthy churches/people give to Jesus’ work.

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

Getting to Know You:

What was your favorite childhood toy and for how long did it make you 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 John 4:13-19. Apparently the “woman at the well” kept drinking from one failed relationship to another. What “wells” have you observed that the world drinks from that they think will bring satisfaction, but doesn’t?  What wells have you drank from that left you discontented and unfulfilled?  What do you think Jesus is trying to teach her and us in John 4?
2. Read Philippians 4:10-13. Paul says the he has learned the “secret” to finding contentment in any circumstance. What do you think that secret is and how important is verses 13 to Paul’s inner peace?
3. Where are you on the journey of learning this “secret” of contentment with Jesus in your life?
4. When would you say you were the most content in life? How do you think we can grow in this “secret of contentment” that Paul is talking about?
5. Read Psalm 50:10-12, Philippians 4:14-19. If God owns the world and doesn’t need our money, then why do you think it is important to Him that we learn to give to His work?  What do you think He is after in our hearts?
6. What do you think verse 17 is teaching? What account do you think Paul is talking about?
7. In verses 18 and 19, Paul says that giving to God smells good to God, pleases Him, and that He responds to this giving and will meet the giver’s needs.  Do you think that these rewards (Matthew 6) are in this life, the next, or both?

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?