What is true worship?
True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people.
This means we worship from the heart and the way God has designed. Worship can include praying, reading God’s Word with an open heart, singing, participating in communion, and serving others. It is not limited to one act, but is done properly when the heart and attitude of the person are in the right place.
Who are "we" in Philippians 3:3?
Believers in the body of Christ.
What is walking by the spirit?
Living a life in the Spirit. Continual presence in the Spirit of God.
What are distractions?
to draw around, draw away, distract
Who wrote Philippians?
Paul
"Renew your mind": what does this mean?
Cleansing ourselves daily with the word of God, praying, fasting, feasting on things that are pleasing to God and His will for our lives.
Who needs circumcision of the heart?
we all do!
What is walking in the flesh?
doing what we want to do, and not God's will for our lives.
what happens when we are distracted?
we grow spiritually weak
Where was Philippians written?
Philippi
Recite Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Old Testament circumcision
Old testament circumcision- the original significance of this practice is uncertain. Various possibilities include hygiene in preventing infection; facilitating intercourse; initiation into manhood; sacrifice similar to that for the firstborn; or as a protective measure against demons. All of these may have had significance somewhere, and all are in some sense reflected in the OT.
What can taint the heart of the believer?
walking in the flesh
What the enemy cannot ___, he will ____
destroy; distract
Year written?
A.D 62
What does believers often lead their worship with, that they shouldn't?
emotions
Who are the "dogs"?
First, the Philippian Christians were warned about those Paul labels as "dogs." Unlike today's domesticated pets, dogs in first century Philippi were generally wild pack animals. They were aggressive scavengers and thieves, devouring whatever food they could find (Matthew 7:6; 15:26, 27; Mark 7:27, 28; Luke 16:21; 2 Peter 2:22; Revelation 22:15). False teachers, like those Paul will describe, are looking for their own interests. They are not truly part of the family of faith, but are seeking to take whatever they can get from others.
How do we produce Godly fruit?
pursuing God with all of our hearts.
Name 3 ways satan can distract us, that we discussed
music, debt/money, social media, self, relationships, religion, holidays/hosting, work, material things
Theme of Philippians?
To encourage the Philippians to live as citizens in a heavenly city, growing in their commitment to serving God and one another.
How should we worship God? John 4:24
In Spirit and in truth.
Worshipping from the heart
Describe circumcision of the heart
•According to Wycliffe, it was a fitting sign for the chosen people of God because spiritual purity and holiness were to characterize their walk. Since the corruption of sin often manifests itself with peculiar force in the sexual life, God required His people to symbolize the sanctifying of their lives by the purifying of the organ by which life is produced.
Name the 3 images discussed of the flesh and why it's not walking in the Spirit.
Social media, smoking, drinking
1 Peter 5:8 tells us “Be ____, be ___; because your adversary the ____, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may ____:”
sober; vigilant; devour
•: To encourage Christians in their faith.
•Paul wanted the body of Christ to know
that divided we cannot do God’s will, but
together in unity we can.