Study Guide Week 1
JOY IN CHRIST — Philippians 1:12–26 & Luke 9:22–26
⏱️ 0–5 minutes — Welcome & Icebreaker
Choose one:
Describe a small thing that unexpectedly brought you joy this week.
What food or drink brings you the most comfort on a tough day?
If joy were a colour, what colour would it be for you today?
These questions gently open up conversation and lead into the theme of joy.
⏱️ 5–10 minutes — Read Scripture Together
Read aloud:
Philippians 1:12–26
Luke 9:22–26
Invite the group:
“As we read, notice anything that stands out, surprises you, or feels challenging.”
⏱️ 10–18 minutes — Observations (Group Discussion)
Let the group name initial reactions. Use prompts like:
1. What words or phrases grabbed your attention?
Joy? Suffering? Desire? Christ? Loss? Gain?
2. What do you notice about Paul’s attitude in prison?
His honesty, his contentment, his longing to be with Jesus.
3. How does Jesus’ teaching in Luke shape Paul’s attitude?
Self-denial, carrying the cross, gaining life by giving it away.
Encourage people to share freely — this is a safe, no-pressure space.
⏱️ 18–28 minutes — Leader’s Summary / Teaching Thought
Use this friendly, conversational summary to anchor the discussion:
🌟 Joy Isn’t the Same as Happiness
Happiness changes when circumstances change.
Joy is something deeper — rooted in a relationship with Jesus, not in how easy or hard life is.
🌟 Paul’s Past Shows Joy in Action
In Philippi, Paul had:
met Lydia by a river
delivered a slave girl
been beaten and thrown into prison
yet sang worship songs in the night
Why? Because his joy came from Jesus, not from his surroundings.
🌟 Paul’s Present Situation (Writing from Prison)
Again, Paul is locked up. He could be executed.
Yet he writes with confidence, saying that whether he lives or dies, he’s with Jesus either way.
His purpose is clear:
To live is Christ.
To die is gain.
It’s not that Paul didn’t feel pain, stress, fear — he just knew that Jesus was bigger than all of it.
🌟 Paul’s Future Hope
Paul longed to be with Jesus — not as an escape, but because he genuinely loved him.
And because he knew Jesus loved him personally.
That love gave him:
courage
strength
perspective
joy
purpose
It liberated him from fear.
🌟 Joy Comes From Knowing Jesus Is With Us
Circumstances may bring sadness, confusion, or frustration — but they can’t steal the joy Christ gives.
Joy lives deeper than circumstances.
Joy flows from relationship.
Joy is the fruit of trust.
And joy grows when we focus not on “What’s happening to me?”
but on “Who is with me?”
⏱️ 28–36 minutes — Deep Discussion Questions
Choose 2–4 depending on time:
💬 1. Paul had joy in prison. Where have you experienced joy in difficult circumstances?
💬 2. What helps you keep your eyes on Jesus when life feels overwhelming?
💬 3. In Luke 9, Jesus talks about denying ourselves and following him. What does that look like in real life for you?
💬 4. Paul says “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” How do you honestly feel about that statement?
💬 5. Is there an area of life right now where you need Christ’s joy to break in? What might it look like to welcome him into that?
Allow space for honesty — not every answer needs to be neat or tidy.
⏱️ 36–40 minutes — Response & Prayer
Invite the group to take a moment of quiet, reflecting on one area where they need Christ’s joy.
Then pray together using these points:
🙏 Prayer Points
“Jesus, fill me with your joy that isn’t shaken by circumstances.”
“Holy Spirit, strengthen me where I feel weak, tired, or worn down.”
“Father, help me trust your love more deeply and walk each day with confidence in you.”
If appropriate, offer personal prayer for anyone who wants it.
Week 2
Theme: Losing Yourself to Find Life (Philippians 2:1–11
Aim: To explore how Jesus’ way of humility, love, and self‑giving leads to true freedom, rest, and joy — and what that looks like in everyday life.
1. Welcome & Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Leader notes:
Keep this relaxed and informal.
If people don’t know each other well, allow quick introductions.
Opening prayer (or similar):
“Lord Jesus, thank you that you meet us exactly where we are. As we spend time together, help us to hear your voice, soften our hearts, and show us what it looks like to follow you more closely. Amen.”
2. Scene‑Setter: A Different Way to Do Life (5 minutes)
Starter question (choose one):
Where does our culture tell us happiness and fulfilment come from?
When have you realised — even briefly — that chasing the ‘right things’ didn’t bring the peace you expected?
Leader notes:
This is not a confessional moment — keep it light.
The goal is to surface how normal self‑centred living feels.
3. Read the Bible Together (5 minutes)
Read aloud: Philippians 2:3–8 (you may want different voices).
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others…”
Short pause:
Invite the group to sit quietly for 30 seconds and notice which word or phrase stands out.
4. Exploring the Text (10 minutes)
Discussion questions:
Which part of this passage feels most challenging or uncomfortable? Why?
How does Jesus redefine power, success, and greatness here?
What do you think Paul means by saying Jesus “made himself nothing”?
Leader notes:
Avoid rushing to neat answers.
Let people wrestle honestly — tension is healthy.
5. Bringing It Home: Faith in Real Life (10 minutes)
Read aloud (optional):
“Love one another… Love your neighbour… Love your enemy.”
Discussion questions:
Where do you most feel pressure to compare yourself with others?
What does choosing love (not just feeling love) look like in your current season of life?
Can you think of a small, unseen act of service God might be nudging you towards?
Optional activity (if helpful):
Invite everyone to quietly name one relationship, habit, or attitude they sense God highlighting.
6. Rest, Identity & God’s Love (5 minutes)
Reflect together:
Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him.
God’s love is not earned, negotiated, or withdrawn.
Question:
What difference would it make this week to live as someone who is deeply loved by God rather than trying to prove your worth?
7. Prayer Together (5 minutes)
Prayer prompts:
Pray for freedom from self‑centred ambition and comparison.
Ask for courage to choose love, humility, and service.
Thank God for his unconditional, welcoming love.
Leader options
Open prayer around the circle.
Praying in pairs.
One person closes in prayer.
Optional Take‑Away for the Week
Simple practice:
Each day, ask: “Who can I quietly serve or encourage today?”
Short prayer:
“Jesus, help me to lose myself in your love and find true life in you.”
Leader reminder: You don’t need to fix people or land every point. Faith grows best in honesty, grace, and shared listening.
Week 3 Freedom from Performance
Theme: Letting go of achievement, status, and performance to gain true freedom in Christ.
Aim: To explore how faith can quietly drift into effort and achievement — and how Jesus invites us into freedom, rest, and relationship instead.
1. Welcome & Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Leader note: Keep this gentle. Many people carry hidden pressure around faith and success.
Opening prayer (or similar):
“Jesus, thank you that you don’t ask us to prove ourselves to you. As we meet, help us to let go of pressure and receive your grace afresh. Amen.”
2. Icebreaker: Measuring Our Worth (5 minutes)
Choose one:
When people ask ‘How are you?’, what do you instinctively talk about first?
What does success usually look like in our culture?
Leader note: Keep this light — no deep disclosures yet.
3. Read the Bible Together (5 minutes)
Read aloud: Philippians 3:7–9 (one or two voices).
“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ…”
Quiet pause:
Invite the group to notice a word or phrase that stands out.
4. Exploring the Passage (10 minutes)
Discussion questions:
Why do you think performance‑based faith is so appealing?
What kinds of ‘religious CVs’ do people still build today?
What does it mean to be known by Christ rather than to impress God?
Leader note: If conversation stalls, gently ask: “What makes this hard?”
5. Bringing It Home (10 minutes)
Reflect together:
Achievement and status can quietly replace trust.
Letting go creates space for God to work.
Questions:
Where do you feel pressure to be ‘good enough’ — in faith or in life?
Is there something God may be inviting you to loosen your grip on?
What might freedom look like if approval wasn’t something to earn?
Optional quiet moment:
Invite people to silently name one thing they’re holding tightly.
6. Prayer Together (5 minutes)
Prayer prompts:
Release pressure, comparison, and performance.
Receive God’s grace and welcome.
Ask for freedom to live from love, not for approval.
Take‑Away for the Week
Practice: Each day, pray: “Jesus, I receive your love — not because of what I’ve done, but because of who you are.”
Week 4
The Peace of All Peace
Theme: Finding contentment and peace in the middle of uncertainty, suffering, and change.
Aim: To explore how Christian contentment grows through trust, worship, gratitude, and shared life — even when circumstances remain hard.
1. Welcome & Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Leader note: This study may touch pain, loss, or anxiety. Set a tone of kindness and safety.
Opening prayer:
“God of peace, thank you that you meet us in the middle of real life. Help us to discover your peace that holds us when things feel heavy. Amen.”
2. Opening Conversation: Contentment Myths (5 minutes)
Choose one:
What do people usually mean when they say ‘just be content’?
What is the difference between contentment and giving up?
3. Read the Bible Together (5 minutes)
Read aloud: Philippians 4:6–7, 11–13.
“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts…”
Pause:
Invite the group to sit quietly for 30 seconds.
4. Exploring the Passage (10 minutes)
Discussion questions:
Why is Paul’s sense of peace surprising given his situation?
What does it mean to bring everything to God rather than carry it alone?
How is God’s peace different from everything being ‘sorted’?
Leader note: Normalise struggle — peace and grief can exist together.
5. Practising Contentment (10 minutes)
Reflect together:
Contentment grows through perspective, not control.
God gives grace for today — not always for tomorrow.
Questions:
What does ‘looking up’ (worship) look like for you in hard seasons?
How does noticing others — or allowing others to help — change things?
Where might gratitude gently reshape your outlook this week?
6. Prayer Together (5 minutes)
Prayer prompts:
Pray for God’s peace in current worries or griefs.
Ask for trust to live one day at a time.
Thank God for his steady presence and daily grace.
Take‑Away for the Week
Practice:
Each evening, name one thing you’re grateful for and one thing you’re placing back in God’s hands.
Short prayer:
“Lord, give me today’s grace — and help me trust you with the rest.”
Leader reminder: Silence, honesty, and shared listening are often where God does the deepest work.