Philippians #13 – Rich beyond measure - Impact Groups

Philippians 4:10-23

Ready for Impact (10 minutes)

Catch up on how things have been over the past week. Then ask group members to: Describe a time someone did something very generous for you.

Ask for a volunteer to read Philippians 4:10-23 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 optimised 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 4:10-23? What strikes you?
How would you explain to a friend who’s not a Christian how God is glorified when his people are generous?
If you really recognised God’s provision in your life, how might it change the way you think about yourself or your circumstances?
What keeps us from feeling the contentment that Paul said he feels in all circumstances? When you are discontent, what have you forgotten?
Who has God put in your life that is in need? What might it look like for you to share what you have with them?

Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)

When the gospel permeates and transforms our hearts, our idols are replaced by love and a conviction that Jesus is enough for us. Ask Impact Group members which of these statements they most resonate with:

I want to be more content in what I have, and to be more generous
I want to explore how I can use my wealth and possessions for the good of Jesus’ kingdom
I want to know a greater sense of joy as I give
I want to know increased freedom from the pressures of materialism and greed

Pray that you’d all be distinctive in the way you use your money and possessions.

Impacting the University (15 minutes)

Christian generosity means sharing what we have – including our relationship with Jesus. One way we can do this is through introducing our friends to Jesus in the Scriptures.

God has generously given us everything we need for this task:

His power, through the Holy Spirit
His truth, through his Word
His love and the gospel, through the person of Jesus
His promise, that we are never alone (see Matthew 28:20)

Discuss how you might feel about reading a Gospel with a friend who doesn’t know Jesus. What are your hesitations? How can the list of things God has given us make us more confident in this task?

Taking It Further

Uncover is a set of seeker studies in the Gospels, designed for Christian students to read with their friends. There are specially-designed Gospels with integrated studies, and they are also available online.

If there are returning students in your Impact Group who’ve led Uncover studies, you might ask them to share their stories. You could also show this video, where students tell stories of how they ‘popped the question’ and asked friends to read the Bible with them.

You might also share that, next term, CU Impact Groups will be looking at Jesus’ parables. Each week’s session will stand alone and will be ideal for you to invite friends to. You might like to think now whether there are friends who’d appreciated being invited to join these Impact Group sessions.

If you’ve reached the end of Philippians and there are still weeks of term left, don’t worry! There are two special sessions dedicated to Christmas, which will allow you to rejoice again in the hope of the incarnation.

Confirm the time you’ll next meet, and close your time together in prayer.