H:  v5 “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;”

E:  Paul was encouraging his fellow Christians to be a good example to those around them. There were many whom they had influence on and some that were very critical of their beliefs. Paul was explaining to them the impact of simple gestures of kindness and understanding. Some may even come to Christ because of their kindness and love toward them.

A:  I believe this should be an overarching mindset of every believer. We may never know the impact of our attitude and actions toward another person. We should always treat others with kindness and respect with love as Christ has done for us. By doing this we may win others to Christ by simply being like Him.

R:  I have heard it said that waiters and waitresses dislike Sunday’s more than any other day of the week due to “church” people coming out for lunch. They are mean, demanding, and leave terrible tips. Is this true of me? Do I meet others with a sweet spirit and show them Christ’s love by simply smiling and being nice? I sure hope so. “Lord, help me love the people I come in contact with. Help me see them as one You died on the cross for, just as You did for me.” ~Amen

Highlight: 

Philippians 3:12-14 – “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Explain: 

Paul is writing and urging the Philippians to seek Christ and follow Him above everything else.  Everything else in this world that can be gained is worthless compared to knowing Christ.  He tells them that he is not perfect, but he continually presses on to make Christ his own.  He doesn’t look back; rather he focuses his eyes and life on his goal and prize, which is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.   

Apply: 

As I read through this chapter it caused me to ask myself, where is my heart?  Is my goal truly to follow Christ, and I am striving above all else for the goal of knowing Him?  It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world that just don’t matter.  Things like accumulating possessions and wealth, status in the community, popularity, recognition from others, etc., but none of these should matter.  My goal and focus should be like that of Paul as described here in Philippians 3.

Respond:

Lord, help me to not get caught up in the things that have no eternal value, and help me to seek You above all else.

Brad Perry

Highlight: 

Philippians 2:12–18 (NLT) ¹²Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. ¹³For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. ¹⁴Do everything without complaining and arguing, ¹⁵so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. ¹⁶Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. ¹⁷But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. ¹⁸Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. 

Explain: 

Paul urges the Philippians on to the behavior that reflects their belief. There is a balance here: We are to “work hard to show the results of our salvation.” This implies great effort. Yet it is not the effort of will-power, but the effort of Spirit-power. That is clear from what follows: God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Paul then mentions several things that will result from this kind of life:

• 14-15a -There will be no complaining and arguing. This will lead to a good reputation.
• 15b – There will be holiness that brings a great testimony to the world.
• 16 – There will be a deep commitment to the Word.

Apply:When I am cooperating by working out what He is working in:

• My attitude will be humble
• My life will be clean.
• My testimony will have impact. 
• I will be committed to the Word of God.

Respond:

O God, help me to live like this! Give me a desire that leads to this kind of life.

Philippians 1:27–30 (ESV) ²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 

Explain: 

Paul is writing to the Philippians to thank them for their encouragement in his ministry. He talks about the suffering he is enduring for the gospel, then turns his attention to the suffering they will undergo. He tells them that their lives should be “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” 

Living that way involves:

• An attitude of determination: Standing fast in one spirit.
• A connection with others: With one mind seems to indicate that there are many “minds” which hold the same determination and goal.
• A clarity of purpose: striving together for the faith of the gospel.
• A rejection of fear: and not in any way terrified by your adversaries

Living that way brings:

• A testimony of conviction: which is to them a proof of perdition but to you of salvation and that from God.
• An opportunity to suffer: For to you it has been granted not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake . . .

Apply:I pray for 

• An attitude of determination (that comes from the Holy Spirit)
• A genuine connection with others that produces “one mind.”
• A clarity of purpose that brings others on board with spreading the gospel.
• A rejection of fear that refuses to give in on the spread of the gospel

Respond:

I will communicate these truths.

H: vs8-10 8 For you were oncedarkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light9 (for the fruitof the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth)10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

E: Paul was writing to the church here in Ephesus. He was reminding them about how they used to be, and he was encouraging them to live a different way now. 

A: These verses are a big reminder of what God has done for us, and how we should live now that He has sacrificed His Son for us. We no longer should live as we used to. Our life should be on a different path because of His grace and mercy. 

R: Lord, help me to live as a child of light. Help me to see what pleases You, and please help me to follow what You have called me to do. 

H: vs1-3 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

E: Paul was writing to the church here in Ephesus that they were to look out for one another. He tells them, “walk humbly, be patient, bear with one another, maintain the unity of the Spirit!” He was urging them to be one in Christ.

A: Even in the best churches in the world, there can division among those who believe and serve the same Lord. We may disagree on certain matters due to our upbringing and personal preference, but that should never drive a wedge of dissension between us. Be humble, be patient, bear with, keep unity!

R: Lord help me to be all of these things out of a right heart attitude. When I fail, help me be the first to apologize and correct my actions, and love those who you have entrusted me to serve! ~ Amen

Ephesians 3
H: v6 “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

E: Paul was preaching to the believers in Ephesus about how so many had thought it a mystery about the Gospel, that it was not solely for the Jewish nation but also for the Gentiles. This had to bring great excitement to all who heard because so many thought of themselves as outcasts.

A: I must understand the nature of what Christ did for me on the cross and the depth of his love. Then when I realize that understand that it was for all people! By doing this I become very small in the scope of Gods love for the world.

R: When I look at people, I have to understand that God loves them too, even if they don’t call him Lord. Christ died for all people. That means those who have gone on before me and those yet to come. I have to do my part in sharing my faith and loving others.

Highlight: 

Ephesians 2:14-16 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

Explain: 

Paul is writing about the Jews and Gentiles, and how the Gentiles were once excluded by the Jews, but are now accepted through the work of Christ.  Jesus broke down the wall that separated the Jews and Gentiles, and now all are invited to be reconciled to God through Christ.  There is no longer a need for a distinction between Jew or Gentile because Jesus broke that hostility when he sacrificed himself on the cross.

Apply: 

These verses show me that the gospel is for everyone!  There are many people today who oppose the church and are even hostile towards Christians, but the gospel is for them too.  Jesus can change the hearts of the most hostile people.  The fact that Paul is writing this, as someone who was once hostile to Christians, is proof of that.  I must be faithful to take the gospel to all people, even if it means sharing with people who are openly hostile toward it.  

Respond:

Lord, help me to be bold for You, and to not hold back your salvation from people based on who they are, or how I feel about them.  Help me to see everyone the way that you do.

Brad Perry

Highlight:

 Ephesians 1:19–23 (NLT) ¹⁹I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²²God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. 

Explain: 

Paul is writing to Ephesus, a city which the book of Acts says was filled with witchcraft and demonic influence. (See Acts 19) In chapter 1 Paul describes the position the Ephesian believers have in Christ through the redemption that God has provided. They are a part of God’s divine plan which will sustain them in this life and which guarantees them an eternal place in heaven. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that all of these promises are a reality. Then Paul prays that they, even though they live in a city filled with demonic power, will understand the great power that Christ has given them. That power raised Jesus from the dead, signaling Satan’s final defeat, and it is that power that they now have to live their lives.

Apply:

Because we have resurrection power:

• Defeat is unnecessary. If we will appropriate Christ’s power we can defeat any weapon Satan may use against us.
• Fear is a liar. We may choose to either listen to Satan’s intimidating lies or we may choose to listen to God’s truth: We have resurrection power!
• Deception is necessary. Satan will seek to deceive us because deception is his only option. His is defeated and his fate is sealed. He wants to tell us that we are in jeopardy, but we really are not!
• Confidence is possible. We can live a confident life! Why? V18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. If we will allow the light of God’s Word and the conscious presence of His Spirit to light up our hearts, we will understand who we are in Christ and we will have confidence.

Respond

I will allow the light of God’s word and the conscious presence of the Spirit to light up my heart today

Highlight: Galatians 6:6–10 (NKJV) ⁶Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. ⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. 

Explain: 

Paul is doing several things in this short paragraph. He is

• Encouraging them to give financial support to those who teach them
• Telling them the motivation for giving: It will be rewarded with Spiritual blessing.
• Telling them the schedule for their reward: It will be in God’s timing. We have to trust Him and keep giving. 
• Telling them the plan for sharing: We area to be looking for opportunities.

Apply:

So the church must:

• Support those who teach.
• Remind it’s members of the proper motivation for giving: Spiritual blessing.
• Remind members that the reward is in God’s time, not our own.
• Remind members that we should be on the lookout for opportunities.

Respond:

Look for opportunities today.