Bible Study - Sabbath School Podcast

The Mind of Christ Muhammad Ali once said, "I am the greatest." In August 1963, six months before winning the world heavyweight boxing championship, he even released a record album titled "I Am the Greatest." Ali, no doubt, was a great athlete, but he was not an example to follow if one wants the mind of Christ. In contrast, Jesus was perfectly sinless. Though He was tempted &q...

Mind Implant or Mind Surgery? An increasing number of companies around the world are working on technology that combines the processing power of computers with the human brain. In other words, by hooking up minds to computers, scientists hope to impact our thoughts through the computers. Although implant use with the human brain may promise positive results, which include helping to manage epileps...

The Source of Unity Think more about Paul's emphasis on unity in  Philippians 2:2 , saying essentially the same thing in four different ways. Note also his focus on the mind, thoughts, and feelings. While the religious leaders tended to emphasize outward behavior, Jesus focused on our thoughts and feelings. For instance, the rich young ruler claimed to have always kept the law. Yet, by telling...

Disunity in Philippi Read  Philippians 2:1-3 . What factors seem to have led to disunity within the church? What does Paul suggest as a remedy? It must have been a tremendous disappointment for Paul to see the church that he established and loved so much racked with rivalry and consumed with contention. He uses very strong language to describe the problems. "Selfish ambition" translates...

Read for This Week's Study:   Philippians 2:1-11, Jer. 17:9, Phil. 4:8, 1 Cor. 8:2, Rom. 8:3, Heb. 2:14-18 Memory Text:  "Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" ( Philippians 2:2 , NKJV). Unity is strength. But knowing what is true is not the same as doing it. We all fail sometimes, despite our best efforts at unity. But that's not the same as...

Further Thought:  "From the rack, the stake, the dungeon, from dens and caves of the earth, there falls upon his ear the martyr's shout of triumph. He [the Savior] hears the witness of steadfast souls, who, though destitute, afflicted, tormented, yet bear fearless, solemn testimony for the faith, declaring, 'I know whom I have believed.' These, yielding up their lives for the fait...

United and Fearless Read  Philippians 1:27-30 . How does our unity and "striving together for the faith of the gospel" relate to fearlessness? Satan's strategy is to divide and conquer. Disunity is deadly. Jesus said, "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand" ( Mark 3:25 , NKJV). It's a simple principle that Satan is delighted for us to forget. Our...

Stand Fast in Unity Jesus' last prayer for His disciples was dominated by one key theme: unity. Jesus looked beyond the cross to reunion with His Father  and  reunion with us: "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me" ( John 17:24 , NKJV). Jesus prayed that the Father would keep His children so...

Being Confident Read  Philippians 1:23-24 . What does Paul mean when he says that "to depart, and be with Christ" is "far better"? This passage has been greatly misunderstood through the ages. In this week's passage for study, Paul dealt with the contrast between living and dying. The Christian lives for Christ and may even die for Him. In that sense it is "gain"...

To Die Is Gain In case you have not noticed, we are all, as believers especially, involved in the great controversy, which rages all around us and, indeed, in us as well. We all, in one way or another, experience the reality of this cosmic struggle, and we will until the day we die, whenever or however that happens. Read  2 Corinthians 10:3-6 . What is the basis of the spiritual war we wage, and w...

"Christ Will Be Magnified" Read  Philippians 1:19-20 . What seems to be Paul's expectation as to the outcome of his trial? What does he consider even more important than being acquitted? Although Paul was no criminal, this was not the first time that he had been imprisoned, and he was no stranger to persecution. To the Corinthians, he detailed his sufferings up to that time: "in...

Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week's Study:   Phil. 1:19-30, 1 Cor. 4:14-16, 2 Cor. 10:3-6, John 17:17-19, Micah 6:8, Acts 14:22 Memory Text:  "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" ( Philippians 1:21 , NKJV). Death, we're often told, is just part of life. That's a lie. Death is the opposite of life, the enemy of life. Death was no more built into life than wrec...

Further Thought:  "Many are unable to make definite plans for the future. Their life is unsettled. They cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often fills them with anxiety and unrest. Let us remember that the life of God's children in this world is a pilgrim life. We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. 'By faith Abraham, when he was c...

Prayer Power Read  Colossians 1:9-12 . What specific requests do you find in Paul's prayer? Paul prays "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will." Paul describes knowing God's will as "wisdom and spiritual understanding" ( Col. 1:9 , NKJV). Wisdom comes, first of all, by trusting God fully, being willing to do His will ( John 7:17 ), and not leaning on our...

Gospel Fruit Paul's relationship with the Colossians was different from those in Philippi. He included them among those who "have not seen my face in the flesh" ( Col. 2:1 ). Nevertheless, Paul assures them, as he did the Philippians, that he thanks God for them and is "always" praying for them. Read  Colossians 1:3-8 . What three things does Paul thank God for? Paul brings...

Spiritual Discernment Applied The Philippians were understandably distressed when they heard of Paul's imprisonment. Now his work was severely limited. He could not travel. He could not preach. He could not visit the synagogues and teach people about Jesus as the Messiah. He could no longer raise up churches. The Philippians sent Epaphroditus to ascertain the apostle's condition, to encour...

Paul's Prayer Requests Some years ago, there was a pastor who talked about prayers that revolve around  me, me, me,  and  my  needs or desires. He aptly characterized them as "selfish little prayers," because God has bigger things in mind. Read  Paul's prayer in  Philippians 1:9-11 . What is its focus, and what big requests does he make? What does it tell you about prayer? This p...

Fellowship in the Gospel Read  Philippians 1:3-8 . What is Paul thankful for? What reassurances does he give the Philippians, and why is that important? Paul established the church in Philippi; thus, we can see the warmth of Christian fellowship pervading his letter. Though separated by hundreds of miles, Paul, chained and imprisoned, carries the church and its members on his heart; he longs for t...

Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week's Study:   Phil. 1:1-18, 1 Cor. 13:1-8, Jer. 17:9, Col. 1:1-12, 1 Pet. 1:4, Ps. 119:105, Isa. 30:21 Memory Text:  "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" ( Philippians 1:6 , NKJV). Paul quite intentionally begins his epistles with words of greeting--and thanksgiv...

Further Thought:   “God has chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. Therefore stand fast. . . . If you serve God faithfully, you will meet with prejudice and opposition; but do not become provoked when you suffer wrongfully. Do not retaliate. Hold fast your integrity in Jesus Christ. Set your face as a flint heavenward. Let others speak their own words...

The Churches of Philippi and Colossae Read   Philippians 1:1–3  and  Colossians 1:1 ,  2 . How are the churches in Philippi and Colossae described, and what significance does the depiction have? Paul’s typical greeting in his epistles calls Christians in those places “saints”; that is, through baptism they have been set apart as God’s special people, just as the people of Israel, through the pract...

Paul and Colossae We have no record of Paul ever visiting Colossae, which again tells us something about the effectiveness of his evangelistic strategy. First, it was Epaphras, a resident of Colossae ( Col. 4:12 ), who brought the gospel to that city ( Col. 1:7 ). But how was he converted? Most likely, it was in the mid-50s, when Paul was in nearby Ephesus and “all they which dwelt in Asia heard t...

Paul in Philippi During Paul’s second missionary journey, shortly after Timothy was added to the team, they are forbidden by the Holy Spirit to continue across Asia Minor ( Acts 16:6 ). So, during a vision of the night, Paul sees a man pleading with him to “ ‘come over to Macedonia and help us’ ” ( Acts 16:9, NKJV ). So, immediately they head to the seaport nearest Macedonia and sail from Troas ac...

While in Macedonia, Paul mentions multiple imprisonments ( 2 Cor. 6:5, 2 Cor. 11:23, 2 Cor. 7:5 ). The first recorded instance was in Philippi ( Acts 16:16–24 ). Later he was imprisoned in Jerusalem briefly before being transferred to prison in Caesarea. Elsewhere, Paul mentions being “in my chains” ( Philem. 10, 13, NKJV ). Although under house arrest in Rome, he was chained to an elite Roman sol...

Philippians and Colossians are called Prison Epistles because they were written while Paul was in prison (the others are Ephesians and Philemon). Most commentators think they were written while Paul was in Rome, about a.d. 60–62 (see Acts 28:16). Read Ephesians 3:1 and Philemon 1. What is the significance of how Paul characterizes his imprisonment? Paul has given his life in service to Jesus Chris...