Tag: Bible lesson

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Phil 2:19-30 Friends Simplified English Discussion Prompts, by Jack Duckworth

Friends

Philippians 2:19-30 New International Version

Timothy and Epaphroditus


19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when T receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, o that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

WORD MEANINGS–Match the words with the correct definitions.
1.cheered __a person you work with 2.genuine __sick
3.welfare __nervous, worried, 4.proved __comfort & support 5.necessary __wellbeing 6.co-worker __demonstrate the truth 7.messenger __needed
8.ill __feeling deeply sad 9.sorrow __authentic and real 10.eager __one who brings news 11.anxiety __really wanting to do
CHRISTIAN IDEAS 1.Gospel __other Christians 2.brother (or sister) __what we do 3.co-worker __serving in our faith 4.fellowship __our community friends 5.in the Lord_ __The Good News 6.work of Christ_ __who we serve with
PAUL: An apostle and missionary
TIMOTHY: pastor at Ephesus trained by Paul
EPAPHRODITUS: co worker of Paul and Timothy

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Seeing Obstacles as Opportunities; Simplified English Lesson based on Philippians 1: 12-20

‘discourage’ = remove courage; ‘encourage’ = add courage

Do you know someone who was in a terrible situation (maybe sick, or in a war, or in a bad family, or with no family, or in a bad job), but instead of getting discouraged, they encouraged others?

Paul was not discouraged. Seeing obstacles as opportunities changed how he felt.

… I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…                           

                                                                                            Phil 1:12

The writer, Paul, was in prison, but he was not discouraged. He wrote a letter to the church to encourage them.

Obstacle or Opportunity?
Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

… what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…         

… so that it (the gospel)  has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.                                                 Phil 1:13-14

Paul said that his imprisonment advanced the gospel. It helped spread the good news of Jesus because he told his guards about Jesus.

His church brothers were encouraged. Paul was not discouraged, so they were not discouraged either. They were not afraid to tell people about Jesus.

Don’t be discouraged by those who oppose you.

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.                                                                                                                                                            Phil. 1:15-17

Some Christians didn’t like Paul. Some people envied Paul because people loved him. They were jealous of him. They preached about Jesus because they wanted to compete with Paul.

Other Christians spread the gospel because of love. They did it with ‘good will’.

“What then?” He writes, “Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” Paul didn’t care why people spread the gospel. He was glad because they told people about Jesus.

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.                                                                                                                 Philippians 1:19–20

Paul rejoiced. He was happy. Why? Because people prayed for him, and the Spirit of Jesus helped him. He knew he would be delivered from prison. He expected not to be ashamed. Paul had courage that Christ would be honored either by his life or by his death.

Can you start seeing obstacles as opportunities? How can you encourage people even when you have obstacles?

“Look for opportunities to share the gospel, instead of the obstacles that prevent you from sharing your faith.  Don’t become overwhelmed by the difficulties you encounter or become angry or vindictive when you experience opposition.” –quote by Pastor Wayne Snider

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People in Partnership

People:

Plural of person. One person, many people.

Partnership:

People who are together for some reason. The root word of partnership is partner. A partner is part of a group. Some types of partnership are:

  • business partners
  • families
  • marriage partners
  • work partners

What are some other partnerships?

Do you think of the church as a family? Is it a type of partnership? In what ways?

God’s Grace

God’s grace is His favor and blessing. It means God is good to us.

How is God good to His people?

When we are good to other people, we give them grace. What can you do to give grace to other people?

Christian People in Partnership

Christians are partners because we receive God’s grace together. We are in the family of God.

We also give grace to others. We do good works for other people because God wants us to love them.

English-Russian Gospels

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