Philippians 11: Disagreeing and agreeing

Philippians 4:2-3

Ready for Impact (10 minutes)

Catch up on how things have been over the past week. Then ask group members these questions: How do you typically handle conflict? Do you tend to avoid or embrace it? Why?

Ask for a volunteer to read Philippians 4:2-3 to the group, praying that you’d be deeply impacted by God’s word and then impact others in Jesus’ name.

Watch

If you’re not gathered in person, the leader should project the video for the group through sharing their screen. If you’re using Zoom, make sure you have optimized your screen share for video.

Impacted by the Word (15 minutes)

Here are some suggested questions to help your discussion:

• What are your initial responses to Philippians 4:2-3? What strikes you?
• Paul probably composed these sentences very carefully. Which details make his appeal for unity all the more powerful?
• CU Impact Groups are made up of students from a range of backgrounds, nationalities and churches. To what extent should we expect ‘agreeing in the Lord’ to feel like hard work? What can motivate us to stick at it?
• Are you aware of broken relationships or unresolved issues with other Christians that you have been ignoring? What might God be telling you to do as a next step?

Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)

The diversity in perspectives, experience and backgrounds amongst Jesus’ people makes us distinct – but also makes us vulnerable. This diversity contributes to the richness of local churches and CU life, but also makes us susceptible to letting small things become ultimate things. We must consciously remember who God has made us all in Christ.

Take time praying for the churches you attend in your city, as well as the CU and your own Impact Group, asking God to protect the unity and love amongst his people.

Impacting the University (15 minutes)

The love Christians have for one another should also spill out into our love for our non-believing friends.

Becky Pippert writes:

Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus [had] a purpose, and he went to the cross to sacrificially achieve it. It was not an “ulterior motive,” because he never hid it. Jesus’ purpose was his longing to see people be reconciled to God. Having a purpose did not mean that Jesus violated a person’s integrity, nor does it for us. Living our lives with godly purpose, which is accompanied by love, is very different from manipulating a person or seeing people merely as evangelistic projects…. It is because of God’s love that we treat people with integrity and dignity, and it’s why we share the gospel message with them.

• Discuss the extent to which you genuinely care for those God has placed each of you amongst. Have you taken the time to get behind their masks and discover who they really are by listening to their stories? Do they know that you love them?
• Share the names of a couple of course-mates or flat-mates. In the week ahead, what concrete steps could you take to build your friendship with them or get to know their stories better?

You might like to pray for renewed love for friends in the week ahead, and for natural opportunities to share the love of Jesus. You could share how these prayers are answered in an Impact Group WhatsApp group, if you have one.

For more, see Chapter 12 of Becky Pippert’s Stay Salt.

Then confirm the time you’ll meet together next week, and close your time together.