Sermon-Based Small Group Lessons
Frazzled: Be Content
Les
Hughes
January
4, 2009
Coming soon… “Make it Personal” Emphasis
and building plans revealed in 2009.
Focus
Passage: Philippians 3:1-16;
4:10-19 (New International Version)
Philippians 4:10-19
10I
rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need,
for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
12Not that I have already obtained all this,
or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for
which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to
have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, 14I press
on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the
early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,
not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you
only; 16for
even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in
need. 17Not
that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your
account. 18I have
received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have
received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They
are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.Ask one of these opening questions.
1. Tell of a time when you were discontent
on Christmas morning.
2. Did you have any discontentment during
this holiday season?
Memory Verse
But
godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Tim. 6:6
1. Some
of the things that cause discontentment are the following. Listen to these and share which causes
you the most discontentment:
a. Possessions, like Ahab,
king of Israel
b. Relationships,
like King David, who took Bathsheba outside of marriage
c. Experiences, like
Solomon, who wanted to experience more.
2. What are the negative implications of
being discontent?
3. Read the passage and ask group members to
jot down some thoughts that they need to learn. Take time to share those. Ask for background information where
appropriate in each person’s comments.
4. Discuss this true/false statement: God wants us
to be content with what He provides for us.
5. Paul shared that he had “learned
the secret of being content.”
Have you learned any secrets of contentment in your life?
6. Les shared that there is an apparent
dichotomy in Paul’s life and writings. On one hand he had learned to be content
with God’s provision, yet other verses indicate some level of
discontentment. (Paul’s
thoughts: “I may not leave jail, but I hope I do….” and ““I press on so
that I may lay hold of that….”)
In
what ways is discontentment good?
7. Discuss this question, “How do we
find a balance of contentment and discontentment?”
Here
are some answers Les proposed:
a. I am to be
content if the contentment keeps me from pursuing worldly things for
satisfaction.
b. I am to be
discontent if the discontentment leads me to pursue godliness.
8. There are three things we can ask
God. Listen to these and share
which one you most need to pray:
a. Stretch me.
b. Break me.
c. Heal me.
We can
trust God’s plan for our lives.
For I know the
plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11