THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. Our Ada Bible Church WEST SATELLITE is launching on September 8! The West Satellite, located off Wilson Avenue, offers a space for people who live on the west side of Grand Rapids in the Wyoming, Grandville, Jenison and Hudsonville areas to connect and grow. Please pray for our team of volunteers and all those God will bring to attend this new location. To learn more about this new satellite, visit adabible.org/locations/west-satellite/.
GROUP VALUES. This August, we’re focusing on GROUP GROWTH. Adding new people can increase a group’s capacity to serve others. Discuss how welcoming new members could expand your group’s talents and resources. How might your enlarged group reach out to the community in fresh ways? Pray for guidance about using your collective gifts to make a greater impact for God’s kingdom.
GROW AS A LEADER. Have you checked out the leader’s FACEBOOK PAGE lately? It’s a great place to stay informed about what’s happening at Ada Bible Church and in small groups. The group’s staff posts regularly. Connect with us at facebook.com/groups/adasmallgroupleaders.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the third week of our sermon series, POLITICS & UNITY. This week, our guest Pastor John Dickson discusses a prayer Paul prayed for the early church in Philippi to encourage unity.
ICEBREAKER
If you could be a citizen of any fictional kingdom or world (from books, movies, TV shows, etc.), which would you choose and why?
Start your discussion by reviewing Pastor Aaron Buer’s hopes for our church throughout this series. Pray through these as a group as you begin your time together.
- That no matter who you vote for, you’d feel welcome at Ada Bible.
- That we would see politics through the lens of Jesus and not the other way around.
- That we’d be curious about why our fellow Jesus-followers hold political views different than our own.
- That we’d invite God to challenge us through this series.
- That this series would bond us together as a church during this political season.
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Philippians 1:1-18 out loud.
What words or phrases stand out to you in this passage?
What attitudes does Paul express toward the Philippians, and how do these reflect the values of God’s kingdom?
How does Paul describe the spread of the gospel in this passage?
How does Paul’s perspective on his circumstances demonstrate prioritizing his citizenship in God’s kingdom over earthly concerns?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor John Dickson continued our Politics & Unity sermon series by discussing a prayer Paul prayed for the early church at Philippi. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
How do you see people shaped by their time and place in our culture?
How do you think future generations might view our current Christian practices or beliefs? What might they see as our “blind spots”?
Paul said his imprisonment actually advanced the gospel. Can you think of other examples from Scripture or modern times of opposition or hardship unexpectedly advancing God’s kingdom?
Pastor John emphasized the importance of being citizens of Christ’s kingdom rather than our cultural moment. What are practical ways we can prioritize our heavenly citizenship in daily life?
Paul thanks the Philippians for their partnership in the progress of the gospel. How can we, as a church community, advance the gospel today?
Pastor John stated that the progress of the gospel is more important than political outcomes. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your current views?
The Philippians struggled with disunity and grumbling. We can do the same, especially during an election season. How can we, as Christians, show love for one another across political differences?
Paul prays for the Philippians’ love to abound more and more. In which part of your life do you need to love more, and how can you practice loving more this week?
WRAP UP
This week, we discussed Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi and the call to focus on our primary citizenship in Christ’s kingdom. What is one specific way you can focus on being a citizen of Christ’s kingdom this week, either by advancing the gospel or practicing love?