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Suggestions for leading a study:

Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself. Who wrote it to whom, and why?
Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study. One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
Be prayed up
Have fun!

Gripe-Fest

Text: Phillipians 2:5-16 (NIV)

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Stars

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Discussion Questions

Verses 5-11 are probably an old song, or hymn. Read through them and discuss what kind of picture this song paints of Jesus.

Verse 12 starts with “therefore”, always an indication that you’re about to get to the point of the previous argument. According to Paul, what is the “point” that the previous hymn to Jesus directs us to?

Given what we have discussed, what do you think the second half of verse 12 means, when it tells us to “work out our salvation” (NIV)?

The phrase “fear and trembling” means something like reverence and awe. Why would following Christ’s example lead to those kinds of feelings?

That word “for” shows up again in verse 13, indicating that this verse is meant to clarify why we might have fear and trembling, or reverence and awe in working out our salvation.

Verse 14 contrasts our reverence and awe with two other things. What are they?

How is an attitude of complaining and arguing in the church different from the attitude we have discussed?

Verses 15 and 16 indicate the result of having the right kind of attitude in regards to our obediently following Christ’s example. Why is it important for us individually, and for the work of the church?

Leaders' Guide

This study is meant to underscore the destructive nature of complaining and arguing in the church and how it compromises our ability to follow Christ’s example and accomplish our mission.

Verses 5-11 are probably an old song, or hymn. Read through them and discuss what kind of picture this song paints of Jesus.

This is a discussion starter and could go a number of different directions. There are two primary views of Christ juxtaposed against each other: the suffering servant, and the glorified exalted Lord. It is one of the most powerful pieces of Christological poetry in existence. If your group is not familiar with it, encourage them to meditate on it during the week.

Paul says that we should “therefore” obey, and “work out” our salvation, something which will be discussed more at length with the next question.

Given what we have discussed, what do you think the second half of verse 12 means, when it tells us to “work out our salvation” (NIV)?

Some people assume that this means we can somehow add something to our salvation, or “complete” it somehow by our works. The context makes it clear, however, that this is more about displaying that salvation—“showing it off” might be one way to put it. It is about behaving like Jesus behaved, willing to sacrifice and give up everything, selflessly letting go of all perks and privileges that would naturally be ours for the sake of saving others.

The phrase “fear and trembling” means something like reverence and awe. Why would following Christ’s example lead to those kinds of feelings?

The next question clears this up, so let the group chew on it a little and move on.

That word “for” shows up again in verse 13, indicating that this verse is meant to clarify why we might have fear and trembling, or reverence and awe in working out our salvation.

The living God himself is the one working through us to “work out”, or display our salvation. We should have an appropriately humble and reverent attitude that he would be willing to use flawed and broken vessels such as us to display his work in this world.

Verse 14 contrasts our reverence and awe with two other things. What are they?

The NIV says “complaining or arguing”. Other translations might be something like “grumbling and disputing.”

How is an attitude of complaining and arguing in the church different from the attitude we have discussed?

Obviously, complaining and arguing are self-centered and arrogant attitudes verses the humble and selfless attitude Christ had and we should have, knowing that God is at work within us.

According to this passage, our inner attitude is what makes us “blameless and pure, children of God” (NIV), something we should all be concerned about being. It also helps us “shine like stars” as we “hold out the word of life.” In other words, it undergirds our mission and message in the world. If you have time, you can discuss specific ways that being “whiners” compromises our effectiveness, and how we in the church can make sure that we have selfless, giving attitudes rather than selfish, complaining ones as we accomplish our work together.