Leaders Guide Week of February 7, 2016

Attitude Determines Direction: Philippians 2:1-11

I have attached a copy of the Looking Back Bible Study Guide for your convenience.
Consider incorporating those questions and quotations into your group discussion.
You could begin by asking group members to share more of their story by talking about a
time period when they faced challenges or coped with change that was disorienting. You
could even start that off by telling part of your own story. Consider asking questions like

Would you share with us about a time period when you were struggling to get your
feet underneath you and move forward?
What was that like? Did that become a time for growth?
Were there any actions you took that helped you remain centered?

As you begin to dig deeper, you could ask other questions like

Jesus calls us to be different because of our love. When is that message of love
clearly expressed and when is that love obscured?
In our culture on macro and personal levels, do we value and celebrate those driven
by selfish ambition and vanity or those motivated by humility and service or both?
What has been your experience with humble leadership and ego-driven leadership?
How would you describe the relationship between humility and courage? Why does
living or leading with humility involve risk?
Recall a recent conflict in an important relationship in your marriage or family, at
work, or at church.
o Can you identify some of the competing interests at work?
o How could a spirit of humility, love, or motivation for unity disrupt the
dynamics that lead to conflict?
o How do our conflicts reveal areas in life where we can grow?
What are we holding onto that prevents us from reflecting the attitude of Christ?
The Roman world that included the Philippian church was openly hostile to
Christianity. What are some creative ways that we might demonstrate the attitude of
Christ to those who feel threatened by or antagonistic to the claims of the gospel?
How does the gospel of Christ change our outlook on life or center our attitude on
Christs example?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit
be with you, guide you, and comfort you. Thank you for leading your group. Im privileged
to serve alongside of you.
Titus

February 7-13, 2016

LOOKING BACK
Attitude Determines Direction: Philippians 2:1-11
Have you ever felt as if you were tumbling through life trying to remember which way is up?
Experiencing change or challenge can encourage growth but it can also be disorienting. In
those upside-down seasons of life, paying careful attention to our attitude can help us remain
right-side-up. As followers of Christ, what hallmarks of our attitude set us apart, keep us
centered, and pointed in the right direction?
Thinking It Through (agree/disagree/consider/contemplate)
Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live
the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond
to it. ~ Chuck Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip
Humility is precisely not feigned or groveling, nor a sanctimonious or pathetic lack of self-esteem. It involves
an unadorned acknowledgement of ones own creaturely inadequacies, and entrusting ones fortunes to God
rather than to ones own abilities or resources. ~Markus Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians
To be gospel oriented is to be others oriented. ~R. Kent Hughes, The Fellowship of the Gospel and
the Supremacy of Christ
Working It Out
1. How have you experienced the benefits of Gods grace (as reflected in Philippians
2:1) and how does that experience change your relationships with and outlook
toward others?
2. How can unity in attitude and purpose be realized in our church or your family?
What are some large stumbling blocks on the way to unity?
3. What are some ways that your life (relationships, priorities, ambitions) might look
different if it were tuned to match up with the gospel?