Lesson Notes:  Philippians 4:10-20 (NIV based)

READ:  Philippians 4:10-20

v.10
What did the Philippian saints do, in which they "have renewed [their] concern for [Paul]"?

What "opportunity" did the Philippian saints need in order to "show" their concern for Paul in his missionary endeavors?

Do we each have concern for someone in ministry to the extent that you are tangibly acting on your concern rather than just giving lip service (saying a lot of nice things but actually doing nothing tangible)?

Do you vocalize appreciation, like Paul does here (vv.10,14-16), when someone contributes any kind of support or benefit for you to do ministry?  When they donate pizzas for your youth group's fun night?  When they make donations of finances, or materials, or labor to support your ministry project?  When they provide free materials, or training, or coaching that personally enhance your own ministry abilities and skills?

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vv.11-12
What does it take to "learn to be content whatever the circumstances" (v.11) - "in need" or "in plenty" (v.12)?  Evaluate this, and then describe your determinations.  Be sure to incorporate key concepts from verses 12b,13,6-7,4.

What would the "in need" and "in plenty" (v.12) have been like for Paul, living as a missionary 2,000 years ago, with no electricity, no refrigerators, no employment, no welfare payments from the state, no savings account in a bank to draw from, no automobile to live out of, no dumpsters behind restaurants to eat out of, and etc.?

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v.13
How does verse 13 relate to the context of the passage?  Compare your answer to this question with how Christians commonly interpret this verse?

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vv.14-20
Do churches and do individual believers have a God-given responsibility to financially support legitimate missionaries?

What are the reasons given here as to why we believers should adequately support missionaries?
- - to spread the gospel;  (v.15)
- - to provide support that enables God's servants to do the work He has for them to do;  (vv.15-16)
- - to earn rewards from God;  (v.17)
- - to share the experiences they are encountering in their doing of their ministry work;  (v.14)
- - to extend blessings upon them;  (v.18)
- - to get believers involved in doing missionary ministry work in some tangible way;  (v.18)
- - to present a "fragrant offering" as "an acceptable sacrifice" that is "pleasing to God";  (v.18)
- - to give God an opportunity and reason to bless us supporting believers back;  (v.19)
- - to give us believers an opportunity to bring "glory to our God and Father".  (v.20)

How can Paul be stating in this passage that on the one hand God will meet all our needs (v.19), and on the other hand his needs were not being met adequately (v.12)?

What does verse 15 indicate about how most churches regard, prioritize, and respond to giving financial support to legitimate missionaries?  And what does this imply about how these churches manage their budgets and resources, particularly in light of what God is stating and promising in verse 19?

In verse 19, is there a difference between "all our needs" and all our 'wants'?  If so, define the differences.

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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: Philippians4_10-20-LessonNotes.___ (.htm, .doc, .pdf)
Translation used: NIV, quoted or referred to in various places within this document
Source: www.BelieverAssist.com
Updated: December 15, 2016