All Things New: A New Strength // Dr. Elijah Brown

Oct 24, 2021 | Dr. Elijah Brown

Sermon Response Guide

Guia del Sermon en Espanol


PRIMARY SCRIPTURE: 
Philippians 4:10-13

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.


Key Points

  • Jesus gives us a new strength: joy in the Lord.
  • We cannot measure our strength in Christ by our ever-changing circumstances.
  • When we draw strength from our circumstances, they become idols.
  • Joy in the Lord gives us strength regardless of our circumstances.
  • God created us to be in community, and we are stronger when we come together.
  • Together, we can flourish in trials and good times through Christ who gives us strength.

Memory Verse

Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:

“and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:11 ESV*
 
*Note: Through the rest of this sermon series, “All Things New,” we will be working together as a faith family to memorize Philippians 2:3-11. Each week, we will introduce a new verse to memorize while encouraging one another to remember the preceding verse(s) from the previous week(s).
 
This week, try to recite Philippians 2:3-11 together:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Questions for Reflection

Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
 
1: Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. In view of today’s message about our new strength in Christ, what do you think Paul means when he writes, “For when I am weak, then I am strong?”
 
2: At what point in your life were you most desperate for the strength of the Lord? How did God come through for you? And how did that experience change you?
 
3: Where are you now? Are you feeling more independent or dependent on God these days? Why do you think that is?
 
4: Review Philippians 4:13. How have you misunderstood this verse in the past? How is God increasing your understanding of this verse today?
 
5: What does it mean to you to say, “the joy of the Lord is my strength?”
 
6: Why do you think God wants us to depend on him?
 
7: How is God inviting you to respond to what you have learned today?

Pray

Lord, thank you for the power and the presence of your Holy Spirit in us. We truly can do all things through you. You are our strength. Teach us to run to you for strength in our weakness. Help us to rejoice in you in good times and bad. You are our joy.

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