Lesson Notes:  Philippians 3:15-17 (NIV based)

READ:  Philippians 3:15-17, with vv.10-14 for context

v.15
Are you "mature" in the faith?  If so, how do we measure this?

What "view" is that?

What "view" have you been taking?  Describe the characteristics of the "view" you have been taking.

What will "God make clear to you"?

Why would anyone "think differently"?  How does that happen?

Has God ever made anything clear to you, in this regard?  If so, describe what He made clear to you.

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v.16
What are we suppose to live up to, to "what we have already attained"?
- - In progressive sanctification, we are suppose to grow in our knowledge of the faith and its doctrines, apply it to our life, and then make this an ongoing consistent part of our living - not fizzling-out or fading away from these acquired ways of right-living before God.
- - In our ongoing struggles and efforts to becoming increasingly more mature spiritually, we certainly do not want to have lapses in which we digress, but instead we should at least successfully maintain the level we have already attained.

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v.17
How is it advantageous for believers to "join with other" believers in following examples such as Paul's that are recorded in Scriptures?

Are there other patterns given by other people that we should follow and live by?
- - No, not really.  Our supreme example is Christ - which the New Testament and the Apostles therein give guidance from.  Anything that wanders or deviates from Christ and the Scriptures comes from someone other than God, and thereby should be highly suspect as being humanistically tainted or even corrupted.  (Colossians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:19-20)

How is it advantageous for believers to "take note of those who live according to the pattern" we have been given in Scriptures?

Do you have anyone you are taking note of, someone who is exemplifying and living a spiritually mature life, worthy to be imitated?  If so, what are you seeing about this person that warrants your high regard?

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MAIN POINT:  What would you say is the main point in these verses?

IMPORTANT SUB-POINTS:  What are some other important points God is making here in these verses?

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APPLICATIONS:  What applications can you think of for how we should respond to the concepts in these verses? 

PERSONALIZED APPLICATIONS:  From these verses, what do you think God wants you to learn, or know, or remember, or put into effect in your life?  How are you going to do that?

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Works Cited:
Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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Copyrights:
Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Copyright © 2014 Mel W. Coddington, and permission is hereby granted that this document may be used, copied, and distributed non-commercially to non-profit organizations, individuals, churches, ministries, and schools worldwide, provided the copies are distributed at no charge and retain this sources documentation as supplied herein. This document is not for sale, resale, or for use as a gift or premium to be offered in connection with solicitations or contributions.
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File name: Philippians3_15-17-LessonNotes.___ (.htm, .doc, .pdf)
Translation used: NIV, quoted or referred to in various places within this document
Source: www.BelieverAssist.com
Updated: December 13, 2016