For small groups · 10 questions
Philippians 4 Bible study questions
From prison, Paul tells the church to rejoice, not to be anxious but to pray, to think about what is good, and says he has learned to be content.
Read the chapter aloud first. Then take the questions in order: what it says, what it means, what to do. About 45 minutes. Skip any question that doesn’t fit your group.
Start here
- What is something small that always lifts your mood?
Look: what does it say?
- What does Paul ask 2 women in the church to do?Philippians 4:2-3
- What does Paul say to do instead of being anxious, and what will follow?Philippians 4:6-7
- What list of things does Paul tell us to think about?Philippians 4:8
Understand: what does it mean?
- Paul is in prison and says “rejoice” twice. How is that possible?Philippians 4:4
- What is the secret of contentment Paul has learned?Philippians 4:11-13
- Verse 13 often shows up on sports gear. What does it mean here, right after verse 12?Philippians 4:12-13
Live it: what will we do?
- What are you anxious about? Turn it into a request with thanks right now.Philippians 4:6
- What do you let your mind dwell on most? How does it compare with verse 8?Philippians 4:8
- In what situation do you most need to learn contentment?Philippians 4:11-12
Close in prayer
Pray verses 6 and 7: each person names one worry and one thanks.
Philippians 4
Lumin Translation. It prints after the questions, so the group has the words in front of them.
1 So, my dearly loved and deeply missed brothers and sisters, my joy and my crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
2 I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Syntyche to think alike in the Lord.
3 And yes, my loyal partner, I ask you as well to support these women. They struggled alongside me in the gospel, together with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Once again I say, rejoice!
5 Make your gentleness known to all people. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious about nothing. Rather, in every matter make your requests known to God by prayer and pleading, along with thanks.
7 And God’s peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is right, all that is pure, all that is lovely, all that is well spoken of—if anything is virtuous and if anything deserves praise—let these things fill your thoughts.
9 Keep doing the things you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 It gave me great joy in the Lord that at last your care for me has blossomed again. You were already thinking of me, of course, but you had no chance to show it.
11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be satisfied in whatever situation I am in.
12 I know how to live on little, and I know how to have more than enough. In each and every situation I have been let in on the secret of eating my fill and going hungry, of having abundance and doing without.
13 I have strength for everything through the one who empowers me.
14 Even so, you acted rightly in becoming partners with me in my hardship.
15 You Philippians also know that at the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone.
16 For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent something for my need once, and then a second time.
17 It is not that I am looking for a gift; what I am looking for is the fruit that keeps adding up to your account.
18 I have been paid in full and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that Epaphroditus has brought me what came from you—a sweet-smelling aroma, a sacrifice that God accepts and is pleased with.
19 And my God will fill every need you have, in keeping with his wealth in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Lumin’s own translation, drafted with AI from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, checked verse by verse against them, and approved by Lumin. Brackets mark verses not found in the earliest manuscripts.