Christ Is Worth More Than Everything

Paul thinks about what could happen to him and to the believers in Philippi

Bible reference

Philippians 1:21-30

Introduction

Paul is in a prison. He does not know what will happen to him. If he dies, he will be with Christ. And that is the best possible result.

The soldiers of the king’s house might allow Paul to be free. Or God might allow him to be free. When Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi before, God sent an earthquake. Paul would remember this. (We read about it in the second study.) It would be good to be free. Then he could tell more people about Christ.

Paul thinks of what the believers in Philippi need. They had been Christians only for a short time. And they were in danger from wrong teachers. So it would be best if he were free. Then he could encourage them. Paul wants them to believe more in Christ. And God should like what they do. They should work together as Christians and be brave.

Questions to ask

1:21 ~ For Paul, what gives his life a purpose? And what is even better than this?

1:22-23 ~ Paul is in prison and people might kill him. It might be better for him to live. But it might be better for him to die. Paul writes about this. What are his reasons?

1:24 ~ Why does Paul believe that he will not die?

1:24-25 ~ If Paul does not die, how will this help the believers in Philippi?

1:25-26 ~ What will the believers say to Christ? What will they say about him?

1:27 ~ Whatever happens, what should be the most important thing for the believers in Philippi?

1:27 ~ What does Paul say that the believers in Philippi should do in their lives? (‘You’ here is plural.)

1:28 ~ What must they think and believe about their enemies?

1:29 ~ What is the warning in these words?

1:30 ~ Paul uses an action to describe a believer’s life. What is this action?

Something to do

‘Christ is everything that I live for. And if I die, that will be even better for me.’ What does this show us about our lives?

‘You must do everything that Christ’s people should do.’ Think about this. Are there more things that you should do? Are there things that you should not do?

What are the most difficult things in your life today? How might you tell people about Christ as you live through these things?