SWAT Bible Study

This week, as we finish chapter four, we see Paul thanking and encouraging the Philippians again for their gift and sacrificial giving. But, he also gives some insight into learning the secret to contentment/peace. Do we really believe God is all powerful and His plan is the best plan? God’s providence means He doesn’t just know what’s coming—He goes before us and sovereignly works circumstances t...

This week, God instructs the Philippians (and us) to FOCUS on Christ-like virtues and allow that focus to become such a discipline in our lives, that it is a daily habit/mindset. We are a product of our thinking. God says in Proverbs 23:7 as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.” The ESV says, he is like one who is inwardly calculating. What that means is that a person's true nature is defined by...

This week, we press into chapter 4 and the path to the peace and contentment that comes from Jesus. Where do most people look for peace and contentment? Especially when my wife has a chronic or terminal illness, bills aren’t getting paid, friends betray me or let me down, children disown me, grandkids are struggling with life, but you aren’t allowed to speak to it. Our world is filled with anxiety...

This week, Paul drives down deeper into what it means to pursue the one thing, encouraging the Philippians to do that, while revealing some pitfalls to watch out for. The key idea is that we continue to “PRESS ON” toward the goal of being like Christ until we reach full maturity, which doesn’t happen until we are with Him in glory! He also warns us that not everyone who says they are pursuing the...

This week, Paul gives us insight to a Christian’s Secret to Life, the ONE THING! Many people try to figure out what the one thing is and live out this philosophy. They make their spouse, their kids, or their family their “one thing.” They spend most of their time, energy, and resources focusing on providing, supporting, encouraging those people. Other make their one thing their job, their company,...

This week, Paul gives us two great models of what we’ve been studying over the past few weeks - Timothy and Epaphroditus. They lived lives worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27); they lived in unity with Paul and the church (Phil 2:1-2); they humbly considered others more highly than themselves (Phil. 2:3-4); they had the mindset of Christ, being willing to suffer in order to bring life to oth...

This week, we dive into chapter 2, verses 12-18 and learn what it means to reflect Christ light in a dark world. After reminding the Philippians of Jesus example, Paul instructs them that they are not just to try and imitate Jesus, but incarnate Jesus into their world. He reminds them that grumbling and fighting hinders their witness and they need to “hold fast” to the Gospel to be the lights they...

This week, in verses 5-11, Paul reminds the Philippians of the ultimate and only perfect example of humility, loving others, and someone who counts others “more significant” by pointing them to JESUS! If Jesus, the King of the universe, can willingly lay aside his rights, privileges, and freedom for us, who are we to make selfish demands on others! Remember, Biblical unity is not externally driven...

This week, we continue looking at this section that really runs from Ch. 1:27- Ch. 2:11 and deals with unity, harmony, and living out a life that reflects Christ’s values. Specifically, we see the “why” of living out a life worthy of our calling and “marks” of a life worthy of our calling. Paul is really driving down deep with the Philippians into the idea of unity within the church. There have al...

This week, we finish up chapter one with another challenging teaching on our stewardship of the Gospel. Paul reminds the Philippians to “live a life worthy of their calling.” This phrase or a variation of this phrase is found in Col. 1:10, Eph. 4:1, 1 Thess 2:12, and 2 Thess. 1:11. It conveys the idea that you were redeemed and your life should correspond to your Heavenly Citizenship. We now have...

In 2002, Pat Tillman, safety for the Arizona Cardinals, left the NFL in 2002 (and almost 4 million dollars) to enlist in the army after 9/11 and ultimately gave his life for freedom. Many people followed Tillman’s example and signed up to be military warriors, law enforcement, firefighters, and other dangerous career fields because their life was not as important as their cause. The cause was grea...

This week, we move into a new section and will be looking at part 1 of Serving with Joy. Our Spiritual maturity can often be measured in how easily we lose our joy in Christ. The joy that is produced by the Holy Spirit. I’m not sure another human has suffered for the cause of Christ like Paul, except Jesus and the whole purpose of this letter is to remind the Philippians to not let Satan steal the...

Last episode, we looked at verse 1 and 2 and the theme of unity and God calling us to unity in our view of ourselves, our view of the church and our view of God and Jesus. The foundation for all of these is humility. Paul records Jesus’ model of humility in chapter 2 for us to take note of. In this episode, we see Paul affirm the Philippians for their partnership with Him in spreading the Gospel....

Philippians is a letter written to thank the church at Philippi for sending financial aid to help Paul during his 1st imprisonment in Rome. It’s theme is often referred to as Joy, but it is a specific joy related to Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus is mentioned over 50 times in this “joy” letter and joy is mention 16 times in this 4 chapter book. Paul also addressed the sufficiency of Jesus because Gn...

SWAT Bible Study 12/3/25 Mark 16:1-8 guest David Gray, He's Not Here by Doug McCary

This week, we see the burial of the Son of God and two unlikely disciples, boldly step out to be part of Jesus’ burial. Why do all four Gospel writers write about His burial They all write about it because His burial, according to Paul in 1 Cor. is of 1st importance. God ordained and orchestrated every detail. God orchestrates events in our life either supernaturally or providentially. The superna...

This week, we see the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Golgotha, the “Place of the Skull.” Mark doesn’t focus on the physical pain or even the physicality of the crucifixion. Instead, he gives more detail about the mockery, scorn, and rejection by the religious leaders. After being mocked and offered a sedative to keep him calm, Jesus was nailed to the cross between two criminals under the charge...

This week, we see the Gentile (Roman) trial which also has three phases. Jesus will go before Pilate, Herod, and then Pilate again. Pilate over and over again says that Jesus is an innocent man, a man not guilty of anything deserving death. Herod even proclaims Jesus’ innocence. In spite of their witness that Jesus is innocent, Pilate chooses to please the crowd and religious leaders over ruling o...

This week, we see darkness at every turn. We see the betrayal by Judas. Jesus is then arrested and tried by the people responsible for instructing and leading God’s people. We see the “Shepherds of Israel,” the Sanhedrin and High Priest hold an illegal trial and commit many illegal acts as they carry out their plan to have Jesus killed. They hated His message of grace and they were extremely jealo...

This week, we see a final attempt by Satan to try and keep Jesus from going to the cross by tempting Him to not take up the cup of God’s wrath. We see the weight of the world’s sin and the wrath of God start to weigh heavy on Jesus. How does He respond? He goes to His Father for comfort and strength. When we are hurting because God has called us to a path that is painful and costly, how do we resp...

Last session, we saw a contrast in a devoted follower who was a true worshipper of Jesus and a “wolf” in sheep’s clothing. We saw the passion of Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, for Jesus demonstrated in her actions and also saw the selfish and idolatrous deception of Judas, who followed Jesus geographically, but not spiritually. He saw all of Jesus’ miracles, heard all His teachings, and e...

This week, we see a contrast in a follower who is a true worshipper of Jesus and a “wolf” in sheep’s clothing. We see the passion of this follower for Jesus demonstrated in her actions and also see the traitorous deception of a fraudulent follower of Jesus in his actions. Our actions ultimately reveal our hearts and our true loyalties. In less than 24 hours, Jesus will be beaten and crucified, but...

Last session, we looked at chapter 13:1-27 and the beginning of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ final prophecy before the cross. It was late on Wednesday of Passion Week and Jesus left the Temple for the last time. When the disciples marveled at how awesome the temple was, Jesus stunned them: “Not one stone here will be left on another” (Mark 13:2). This prophecy came true in A.D. 70 when the Romans...

Today, we dive into chapter 13 and the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ final prophecy before the cross. It is one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament, filled with Old Testament allusions, imagery, and layers of fulfillment pointing to the end of the age. After entering Jerusalem, cleansing the Temple, and confronting the religious leaders, Jesus left the Temple for the last time. When the...

This week, we continue to look at Jesus’ warning to the crowd and His disciples about the religious “Posers.” Jesus warns us against them, their pride, their pretense, and their perversion of the faith. He points out a lonely widow who had been abused by the system as an example of how bad things had become. She gave her last little bit of money to secure her blessings and salvation from God. Soun...