Cornerstone Community Church Incline Village

Studies in Philippians: Choosing to Move Forward to Maturity

Digging Deeper

Read Philippians 2:12-13 in a few different translations
1. Discuss what it means to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Also look up 1 Cor. 2:3 and Psalm 2:11 where this phrase occurs also. If you want to discuss more on how to approach our transcendent God, look up Isaiah 66:1-2 and Hebrews 12: 28-29.
2. Verse 13 tells us that God is also working in us to accomplish our salvation. Discuss how our efforts relate to God’s work in us.

Read Philippians 2: 14-16 in a few different translations
3. Paul immediately gives an example of working out their salvation that fits the Philippians' situation: “do all things without grumbling and disputing.” Brainstorm how grumbling and disputing retard our spiritual growth to Christlikeness.
4. Discuss what it means to be “blameless and innocent” in this life and why Paul wants us to be pursuing this?
5. In verse 16, what does it mean to “holding fast to the Word of Life,” and why is Paul worried that he might have run in vain when it comes to the Philippians' faith?

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Studies in Philippians: The Exaltation of Christ

Digging Deeper

1. Read and summarize what Jesus did Philippians 2: 5-8. Quickly talk about what Jesus accomplished on the cross. For example: He ransomed us, He redeemed us, and He reconciled us.

2. Read Philippians 2: 9-11 and discuss the following questions.
-What is this name that is above every name?
-What does it mean to bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord?
-How does Isaiah 45: 20-24 inform the above question?
-From Romans 10: 9-11, Is allegiance to Jesus required to be saved?

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Theme of Maturity

Guest speaker, John McKendricks, shares from the book of Acts where Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. While there, a great earthquake happened where all the prisoners’ shackles fell off and doors were opened – yet everyone stayed and, as a result, the jailer came to know the Lord. John states there’s a lot of earthquakes going on in today’s environment, making us a bit insecure. Shaking needs to happen so God’s treasures can come out. While our sensibilities tell us to leave, it takes great maturity to stick things out and then reap the rewards. Where in your life are things being shaken up?

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Studies in Philippians: The Humility of Christ

Digging Deeper into Philippians 2: 5-8

1. Read Philippians 2: 5-6.
The New Testament is quite clear, Jesus has existed as God from eternity. Look up Hebrews 1: 1-3 and then John 1: 1-3 and discuss what you can learn about Christ’s preexistence as God.

2. Read Philippians 2: 6-8 below and discuss the significance of the words in "quotes".

though he existed in the "form" of God,
"He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,"
but "He emptied" himself, by "taking the form of a servant", being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
"he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross."

3. In light of Jesus' humility, how should we carry out Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2: 3-4.

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Studies in Philippians: Living Worthy of the Gospel

Digging Deeper into Philippians 1:27-2:5

1. Survey through the following verses and define what it looks like to live worthy of the Gospel. How do you do this without falling into legalism or self-righteousness.

• Philippians 1: 27; Ephesians 4: 1-3; Colossians 1: 10;
1 Thessalonians 2: 12; 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-12

2. Talk through each verse in Philippians 1: 27-30 and determine what unity is and how it affects our ministry in the world. Make sure you discuss what it means for a church to have “one mind.”

3. From Philippians 2: 2-4, define what humility looks like in your day to day life. Brainstorm how we can put this into practice in our church and community.

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Studies in Philippians: To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

Digging Deeper into Philippians 1:12-26

1. Paul has been in jail for between 2-4 years. Some would say that he had blown it by appealing to Caesar; he could still be free to proclaim Christ if he hadn’t. From Philippians 1:12-18, what is Paul’s attitude about his imprisonment and the advancement of the Gospel? What does this say about God’s power to accomplish His purposes even when our plans are greatly altered?
2. Read Philippians 1:19-26
-Discuss what Paul means by “to live is Christ!”
-Again, discuss what Paul means by “to die is gain!”
3. To what degree are these two succinct sayings reflective of your walk with Christ and of our relationship with one another?

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Studies in Philippians: Philippians 1:1-11

Studies in Philippians

Digging Deeper into Philippians 1:1-11

1. Paul is a prisoner, uncertain whether he will be put to death or be released. In spite of this, he seems to live with joy and encourages the Philippians (who had trials of their own) to do the same. Survey through some of the passages and then discuss your level of joy in the midst of troubles. Philippians 1: 4, 18, 25; 2: 2, 17-18; 3: 1; 4: 1, 4, 10.

2. Tony suggested that the theme of Philippians is Pressing on to Be Mature Followers of Christ. Look up Philippians 3: 10-15 and discuss what might be included in “pressing on” towards maturity.

3. God is the one who works maturity in us be we are highly participatory in the process. Look up Philippians 1: 6-11 and 2: 12-16. Locate and discuss the verbs that describe God’s actions and then notice and discuss the verbs that describe our actions.

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Studies in the Book of Acts: The Wrap Up

Studies in the Book of Acts: The Wrap Up

Digging Deeper

Let’s talk about the Great Commission in Matthew 28.

Read Matthew 28:16-23

-This command is specifically given to the Eleven, why should we obey it today?
-Verse 17 says they all worshiped, but some doubted. What did they doubt? Is there any significance for us today in our doubts?
-What is the difference between evangelism and making disciples?
-What is the role of baptism in making disciples?
-What is the role teaching them to observe all that Christ commanded them?
-How significant is it that Jesus has promised His presence to the end of the age?

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Beach Baptism Service

Hear Pastor Tony speak about what baptism means and its importance. Join us as four wonderful members of the body of Christ make their declarations of their salvation in baptism at Burnt Cedar Beach, Incline Village, NV.

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Stop Praying Powerless Prayers

Have you ever noticed that a lot of Christians sound alike when they talk? Christian prayers also all sound alike, because we tend to mimic what we hear others say and pray. Guest speaker Eric Knopf said he had a mentor that really challenged him to memorize scripture. He learned the side effect to memorizing scripture was that he realized he had been praying prayers that weren’t true, spiritually and scripturally. Hear Eric describe how he learned to correct his own prayers and how it may apply to us.

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