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Kevin Finkenbinder
Philippians 3:1-14 – Self Confidence vs. God Confident
Philippians 3:1a
After saying to receive faithful workers with Joy, Paul then wraps up his admonitions by telling us to rejoice in the Lord.
- Why would Paul connect rejoicing in God with receiving faithful workers?
Philippians 3:1b-6
Paul writes “the same things again” as He has written to other groups and perhaps previously to the Philippians because they are a safeguard to them.
- Dogs – Those who wander in packs and attack those they see as weak. Generally, refers to gentiles.
- Evil Workers – Those who seek to harm in the name of doing good.
- False Circumcision – Those who hold to the laws of Moses as an excuse to do whatever they want.
- Why is being aware of dogs, evil workers, and false circumcision a safeguard?
- According to verse 3, what is true circumcision? (see also Romans 2:28-29)
- In verse 4, Paul claims he could have false confidence in the flesh. What areas of your life could lead to false confidence?
Philippians 3:7-11
- In verses 7-11 Why does Paul reject false confidence?
- Why would the things that the world has confidence in (education, religious adherence, family heritage, popular actions) be a loss to Paul?
- What do verses 8b-11 are some of the advantages of having confidence in Christ?
Philippians 3:12-14
- Why does Paul press on?
- What attitudes that Paul demonstrates should we imitate?
- Paul describes living for Christ as reaching forward and pressing on, what do these descriptions indicate about how you should live?
- How does Paul’s attitude of pressing on and reaching forward apply to our current situation with COVID-19?