Weekly Guide：Week 43
November 18, 2018
Forward
This week, we’ll go through the book of Philippians, Corinthians, and the First Thessalonians.
The Philippians emphasizes on the humility. The kingdom of Christ is opposite from human’s rule where Jesus does not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Although He has the power of God, He rather made it as opportunity to serve and obey. He gave rather than took, served rather than being served, obeyed rather than defied, lowered himself rather than elevated his position. This is the realization of the word becomes flesh and the way to salvation by the gospel of the cross. The believers shall follow the example set by Christ and give with humility like Him, do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above ourselves. Believers are not perfect. This an often-overlooked fact. Church is formed by sinners and encompasses the differences that test our patience. We shall keep faith in God’s work, to let God lead and direct. The path to sanctification has its ups and downs and differences shall not undermine the unity of the church. We shall act in accordance to where we are, forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
May God’s word renew you all each day!
Question
How are we to rejoice always?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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We shall rejoice in the Lord always.
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.
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Paul was content in any and every situation for he leaned on the Lord for strength.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - Paul rejoiced not because of the situations, rather it was his leaning on the Lord for strength. Am I rejoicing? Am I presenting my requests to God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving instead of relying on my own strength?
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Fidelity - Paul was content in any and every situation. Am I content when facing difficulties in my service? Why am I content or not content?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What is God’s mystery?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Knowing God and His will is an important part of all Christians’ life. It is not something that can be obtained by an intense training or bootcamp, but a lifelong endeavor of following God’s will.
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Jesus Christ is the realization God’s mystery, His abundance, His knowledge and wisdom which are all within Christ Jesus.
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Preaching the mystery of God is a task God gave to Paul. He preached with all kinds of wisdoms to present everyone fully mature in Christ.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - To become a person of God’s liking, of His characters, is build upon knowledge of God and knowing His wills. All of these are through a process of gradual transformation which requires time. Do not despair for temporary setbacks nor arrogant for small gains. To build God’s characters, we must retain His word in our heart and produce a crop by perseverance. How shall I persevere with patience and not be frustrated and give up?
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Fidelity - To preach gospel requires all kinds of wisdom. It is a task that involves innovations where we need to build up relationships, to understand the society and culture, to explore the use of technology, to build up our own knowledge, and through all means to present everyone fully mature in Christ. How does this inspire me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Life is elemental spiritual force of the world?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Moses’ law is a shadow of things to come, the foretelling of Jesus, an incomplete revelation of God’s wisdom, the elemental spiritual force. Jesus is the reality of God’s true image in this world where God’s abundance is realized in Jesus.
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The Jews’ way to righteousness through the works of the law can easily fall into traps of hypocrisy in that arrogance is brought out of self-imposed worship where false humility and harsh treatment of the body lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
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The reborn Christians are not bound by the law because Jesus has already redeemed us from the law. The new life puts to death the evil that come out of the flesh.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Humans have always tried to obtain righteousness through works of their own. Confucius claimed that he could follow his own heart without offending the law when he was seventy. Today’s society tries to solve the problem of crime through politics, laws, culture, and education. However, the Bible tells us that it is impossible and even harmful if we try to achieve righteousness through our own works because to proclaim being self-righteous does not build relationship with God, it puts us farther away from the truth. The real righteousness is given by God through His redemption for our sins so that we may be saved by faith in Christ. What faith do I have in Christ so that I may be called righteous?
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Integrity -The sanctification of the believers and building up of our characters are based on our relationships with God through the bread of life so that fleshly desires may be restrained. Dependence on methodology without God is self-reliance that causes self-righteousness. What self-righteousness do I need to throw away and turn myself over to God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How do Christians bear with each other with love?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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God’s chosen people are redeemed through God’s love. Likewise, being the church, the body of Christ, all parts of the body must connect with love, bear with each other and forgive one another, and bind together in perfect unity.
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Paul had great relationship and co-worked with many Christians of the time included the once opinionated Mark.
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The disciples of the early churches stay connected and co-operated with each other across churches. The elders and all believers also had great bonds as they carried out the great commission from Jesus. They united throughout the cities around the Mediterranean together and influenced the society of the time much more than possible by efforts of individuals.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - There are two aspects of love between believers: 1 forbearance and forgiveness; 2. Teach and admonish. How am I loving others with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in my heart?
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Fidelity - We are ambassadors of Jesus’ great commission in the world today. How am I setting aside of differences in race, heritage, region, societal status, and culture to seek unity in truth and by God given gifts and place to preach His gospel to make disciples all nations and baptize them in Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How does a spiritual life with faith, hope, and love becomes witness of gospel?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The gospel of Jesus Christ is not limited to teaching by words but also encompasses the faith given by God through His great power.
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A beautiful spiritual life allows others to see the work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope.
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A life imitating the Lord’s is the best and the most beautiful witness for Christ’s gospel.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - We are taught through words the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, we are given the life of Christ for which we may grow into on our way to sanctification through the great transformation power of God and continuous works of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is not enough to only learn the spiritual knowledge, but also with humility, lay up our lives to let God destroy the old and build the new. Pray to God to help me commit my life to Him.
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Integrity - What faith, what love, and what hope does a mature life have? What is work produced by faith? What is labor produced by love? What is endurance inspired by hope? How should I live a life of faith, love, and hope facing the daily challenges and works?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What can be seen from Paul’s life of faith, love, and hope?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Paul’s faith helped him to strive to please God and rely on God to preach His gospel.
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Paul’s hope helped him to endure severe suffering in facing strong opposition and rely on God to work courageously.
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Paul’s love helped him to care and comfort for the believers as mother nurses for her child and father encourages his own children.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - God is a witness of Paul’s faithful, loving, and hopeful life which was a result of his reliance on God. The opposition Paul faced was not unique to him as the same opposition was faced by the Thessalonian church as well as today’s believers. Likewise, the close relationship Paul had with God can be ours, too. What opposition do I face now? How shall I rely on God for my faith, love, and hope?
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Community - Paul’s love to the Thessalonian church was like a caring mother nurses her children and a comforting father encourages and urges his children. The aim is to help the believers to live lives worthy of God. How does this remind me to respond to fellow Christians’ criticism? What is my motivation and aim when urging them? What deeper understanding do I have about loving each other which God had commanded me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the life of an ambassador of Christ like?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Ambassadors of Christ appeal for God to others to reconcile with God.
+ Ambassadors of Christ commend themselves as servants of God in every way.
+ Ambassadors of Christ speak freely and open widely their hearts to others.
+ Be ambassadors of Christ, be sanctified, to purified, be fearing God, be reconciling with God, and be Holy.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Ambassadors of Christ commend themselves as servants of God in every way. Think about verses 6:3-10. How did Paul reveal himself as servant of God? How should I live out my life as God's servant?
+ **Fidelity** - Ambassadors of Christ appeal to others to reconcile with God. What does it mean to appeal to others to reconcile with God? What does it remind me of those unbelievers whom I preach to and of those distressed fellow Christians whom I serve?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What does it mean to become sorrowful as God intended?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Become sorrowful as God intended is not harmed in anyway.
+ Become sorrowful as God intended brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.
+ Become sorrowful as God intended produces marvelous characters.
+ Become sorrowful as God intended reveals a purified life.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The life of a Christian is a life of repentance. We are renewed in the Lord so that we may become sorrowful as God intended to produce a repenting heart instead of being sorrowful as the world for bearing the fruits of sin. What is it like being sorrowful as the world? What is it like being sorrowful as God intended? What is causing me to be sorrowful as the world? How should I turn that to being sorrowful as God intended?
+ **Fidelity** - The God who comforts the downcast. Paul got comfort because some members of the Corinthian church repented because they were sorrowful as God intended. It was God's transforming power brought joy and comfort to Paul. Is there anything in my daily life, be it work, family, marriage, or children, causing me to become sorrowful? How does Paul's testimony help me turn to God for hope of joy and comfort?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What attitude shall we hold when giving in the name of the Lord?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ We shall give willingly according to our God given ability.
+ We shall give like Jesus for He was rich but became poor so that we may become rich through His poverty.
+ We shall give as to sow seed to bear the fruit of righteousness.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - To help and give willingly to brothers and sisters in Christ when they are in need is pleasing to God. Through giving willingly, we practice being like Jesus who gave graciously. Let me pray for willing hearts in giving for myself and my family. Let me teach my children the meaning of "Freely you have received; freely give" and share our blessings with others.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What example of the apostle did Paul give us?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Apostles do not wage war as the world does but by the power of God.
+ Apostles build up others rather than tear them down.
+ Apostles do not boast of work done by others but boast in the Lord in the sphere of service God has assigned.
+ Apostles worry about the purity and faithfulness of the believers' belief.
+ Apostles lower themselves to elevate others and never become burdens.
+ False apostles' end will be what their actions deserve.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - What is the relationship between God and the true apostles as described by Paul? By what do they wage war? How do they follow God's lead? What does it mean by boasting in God? Am I a true apostle?
+ **Community** - How do true apostles treat limbs of the Christ's body? What shall I do to build others up rather than tearing them down when there are conflicts between myself and others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What are the marks of Paul's claim as an apostle?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Boasting on one's own is foolish. Paul did not want to boast, but he boasted to demonstrate the marks of apostle. Paul suffered (11:23-33); Paul was given visions and revelations from the Lord (12:1-10); Paul persevered to demonstrate through signs, wonders, and miracles, the marks of apostle (12:12); Paul loved the church of Corinth as his own child (11:7-11, 12:14-18); He gave his all to build up others (12:19-21).
+ Paul reminded all that by God given authority, apostles do not tolerate sins.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Paul's self-depiction presented the life of a faithful servant of the Lord. He boasted in order for others to see clearly the marks of a true apostle. How do I distinguish between a true and a false apostle? What aspects of my life do I boast as being spiritual? What are superficial? Ask God to remove the foolish part of me so that I may boast in Him.
+ **Community** - Paul's harsh words came out of his love and his will to build others up. When a limb of Christ has sinned, we should point it out for love and to build up. Have I backed off for the fear of confrontation when someone has sinned? Do I point finger at others for being different or do I point out the truth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the real gospel?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Paul's status and authority as an apostle came from God through Jesus Christ.
+ False gospel from human is different from the true gospel which is from God. Preaching false gospel shall fall under God's curse.
+ True gospel comes from God's revelation. True gospel is of righteousness through faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Preaching gospel and the truth is to win approval of human beings or God? Paul's dedication to gospel did not aim to please the other apostles. He went to Jerusalem to prove the gospel he preached was the true gospel. Have I withheld the truth when I preach because I was afraid to offend or I wanted to please the others?
+ **Community** - Paul was accepted by all apostles not for his ability but for he preached the true gospel. Paul did not hold back to rebuke Peter because Peter had become an apostle before him. Both are examples of standing firm on the foundation of faith without taking something or someone by their face value. A relationship like this is one based on true faith and transparency. What does the apostles' testimony remind me? Have I taken anything or treated anyone by their face value?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the life of an ambassador of Christ like?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Ambassadors of Christ appeal for God to others to reconcile with God.
+ Ambassadors of Christ commend themselves as servants of God in every way.
+ Ambassadors of Christ speak freely and open widely their hearts to others.
+ Be ambassadors of Christ, be sanctified, to purified, be fearing God, be reconciling with God, and be Holy.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Ambassadors of Christ commend themselves as servants of God in every way. Think about verses 6:3-10. How did Paul reveal himself as servant of God? How should I live out my life as God's servant?
+ **Fidelity** - Ambassadors of Christ appeal to others to reconcile with God. What does it mean to appeal to others to reconcile with God? What does it remind me of those unbelievers whom I preach to and of those distressed fellow Christians whom I serve?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What does it mean to become sorrowful as God intended?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Become sorrowful as God intended is not harmed in anyway.
+ Become sorrowful as God intended brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.
+ Become sorrowful as God intended produces marvelous characters.
+ Become sorrowful as God intended reveals a purified life.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The life of a Christian is a life of repentance. We are renewed in the Lord so that we may become sorrowful as God intended to produce a repenting heart instead of being sorrowful as the world for bearing the fruits of sin. What is it like being sorrowful as the world? What is it like being sorrowful as God intended? What is causing me to be sorrowful as the world? How should I turn that to being sorrowful as God intended?
+ **Fidelity** - The God who comforts the downcast. Paul got comfort because some members of the Corinthian church repented because they were sorrowful as God intended. It was God's transforming power brought joy and comfort to Paul. Is there anything in my daily life, be it work, family, marriage, or children, causing me to become sorrowful? How does Paul's testimony help me turn to God for hope of joy and comfort?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What attitude shall we hold when giving in the name of the Lord?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ We shall give willingly according to our God given ability.
+ We shall give like Jesus for He was rich but became poor so that we may become rich through His poverty.
+ We shall give as to sow seed to bear the fruit of righteousness.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - To help and give willingly to brothers and sisters in Christ when they are in need is pleasing to God. Through giving willingly, we practice being like Jesus who gave graciously. Let me pray for willing hearts in giving for myself and my family. Let me teach my children the meaning of "Freely you have received; freely give" and share our blessings with others.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What example of the apostle did Paul give us?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Apostles do not wage war as the world does but by the power of God.
+ Apostles build up others rather than tear them down.
+ Apostles do not boast of work done by others but boast in the Lord in the sphere of service God has assigned.
+ Apostles worry about the purity and faithfulness of the believers' belief.
+ Apostles lower themselves to elevate others and never become burdens.
+ False apostles' end will be what their actions deserve.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - What is the relationship between God and the true apostles as described by Paul? By what do they wage war? How do they follow God's lead? What does it mean by boasting in God? Am I a true apostle?
+ **Community** - How do true apostles treat limbs of the Christ's body? What shall I do to build others up rather than tearing them down when there are conflicts between myself and others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What are the marks of Paul's claim as an apostle?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Boasting on one's own is foolish. Paul did not want to boast, but he boasted to demonstrate the marks of apostle. Paul suffered (11:23-33); Paul was given visions and revelations from the Lord (12:1-10); Paul persevered to demonstrate through signs, wonders, and miracles, the marks of apostle (12:12); Paul loved the church of Corinth as his own child (11:7-11, 12:14-18); He gave his all to build up others (12:19-21).
+ Paul reminded all that by God given authority, apostles do not tolerate sins.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Paul's self-depiction presented the life of a faithful servant of the Lord. He boasted in order for others to see clearly the marks of a true apostle. How do I distinguish between a true and a false apostle? What aspects of my life do I boast as being spiritual? What are superficial? Ask God to remove the foolish part of me so that I may boast in Him.
+ **Community** - Paul's harsh words came out of his love and his will to build others up. When a limb of Christ has sinned, we should point it out for love and to build up. Have I backed off for the fear of confrontation when someone has sinned? Do I point finger at others for being different or do I point out the truth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is the real gospel?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Paul's status and authority as an apostle came from God through Jesus Christ.
+ False gospel from human is different from the true gospel which is from God. Preaching false gospel shall fall under God's curse.
+ True gospel comes from God's revelation. True gospel is of righteousness through faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Preaching gospel and the truth is to win approval of human beings or God? Paul's dedication to gospel did not aim to please the other apostles. He went to Jerusalem to prove the gospel he preached was the true gospel. Have I withheld the truth when I preach because I was afraid to offend or I wanted to please the others?
+ **Community** - Paul was accepted by all apostles not for his ability but for he preached the true gospel. Paul did not hold back to rebuke Peter because Peter had become an apostle before him. Both are examples of standing firm on the foundation of faith without taking something or someone by their face value. A relationship like this is one based on true faith and transparency. What does the apostles' testimony remind me? Have I taken anything or treated anyone by their face value?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
Prayer
Notes and Responses