Philippians 3:15–21 (NIV)

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Filipenses 3:15-21 NVI

¹⁵ Así que, ¡escuchen los perfectos! Todos debemos tener este modo de pensar. Y si en algo piensan de forma diferente, Dios les hará ver esto también. ¹⁶ En todo caso, andemos de acuerdo con lo que ya hemos alcanzado.

¹⁷ Hermanos, sigan todos mi ejemplo y fíjense en los que se comportan conforme al modelo que hemos dado. ¹⁸ Como he dicho a menudo, y ahora lo repito hasta con lágrimas, muchos se comportan como enemigos de la cruz de Cristo. ¹⁹ Su destino es la destrucción, su dios es el estómago y se enorgullecen de lo que es su vergüenza. Solo piensan en lo terrenal. ²⁰ En cambio, nosotros somos ciudadanos del cielo, de donde anhelamos recibir al Salvador, el Señor Jesucristo. ²¹ Él transformará nuestro cuerpo miserable para que sea como su cuerpo glorioso, mediante el poder con que somete a sí mismo todas las cosas.

Who are you following? (And who is following your example?) vs. 17

• Bible compares us to sheep.
• Paul calls us to join with others in following his example.

¿A quién sigues? (¿Y quién sigue tu ejemplo?) v. 17

• La Biblia nos compara con ovejas.
• Pablo nos llama a unirnos a otros para seguir su ejemplo.

What are you focused on today? vss. 18-19

• So easy to be focused on this world, its issues and problems as well as our desires and needs. In the Message...all they can think of is their appetites.  

¿En qué te enfocas hoy? vv. 18-19

• Es muy fácil enfocarse en este mundo, en sus asuntos y problemas, así como en nuestros propios deseos y necesidades. En la versión *The Message* se dice: «...en lo único que pueden pensar es en sus apetitos».

Where is your citizenship? (Where are you from, your roots?) vss. 20-21

• What does it mean to be a citizen of heaven?
• What are you eagerly waiting for?
• What will heaven look like - people from every tribe, language and nation.
• What does the global church look like today? 

Dónde reside tu ciudadanía? (¿De dónde eres? ¿Cuáles son tus raíces?) vv. 20-21

• ¿Qué significa ser ciudadano del cielo?
• ¿Qué esperas con anhelo?
• ¿Cómo será el cielo? Estará compuesto por personas de toda tribu, lengua y nación.
• ¿Cómo es la Iglesia global hoy en día?

As needed, refer to the Order of Worship and Resources for sermon video, message notes, and small group questions print version.

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 

Enter into your small group time with an ice breaker question: Which part of Sunday’s combined worship was the most meaningful or impactful for you?

CONNECT WITH GOD

(Select one of the below practices or choose a practice from the previous week.)

• Prayer of Examen: During these next 5-10 minutes, you will practice a version of the Daily Examen of St. Ignatius, a contemplative prayer practice “led by memory.” Follow the five steps below and reflect in silent prayer or journaling.
• Thanksgiving: Recognize God’s presence right now.
• What are you especially grateful for today? 
• Petition: Ask the love of God to be with you as you review your day.  
• Review: Recognize any sources of joy, love, and hope from your day and then recognize sources of trouble, darkness, or loss in your day. 
• Have you noticed the presence of God in any of this? 
• Respond: What is my response to God as I remember and review my day? 
• Look with hope for a new tomorrow.
• How do I want to wake up tomorrow?

• Prayers of Intercession for the church universal.
• Alone: As you sit in stillness in God’s presence, be attentive to the concerns of the global church. As those come to mind, pray for them.
• Journal: If needed, journal your prayers, thoughts, or feelings as you pray for others.

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER

• Begin with prayer before reading the passage this week.

• Together: Read Philippians 3:15-21. Read three times: First, read it silently. Second, read it silently and in a different version (try the Message or the NLT). Then, after some quiet reflection, read it a third time as a group together in the NIV version once more. 

• Alone: Reflect/Journal on the prompt below:
• Considering verse 17: Who are you following? And who is following your example?
• What does citizenship mean to you? What does it mean to be a “citizen of heaven”?

• All together or in smaller pairs: Share with one another. 

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE 

If needed, read the passage again. Then select the best questions or customize the questions for your group.  

• Review the sermon notes. 
• What do you know about Pentecost in Acts 2? 
• What can Pentecost continue to teach us today?
• Who was the original audience for Paul’s letter? What challenges might they have faced that help you understand the themes of this passage?  
• What would a “mature” believer look like? 
• Considering verses 15-19, what characteristics define a person as an “enemy of the cross” in this context? How do you think about this part of the passage in our context today? 
• How has God helped you grow in maturity through difficult times? 
• From Sunday’s message: What does the global church look like today? 
• What will you continue to wrestle with or reflect on this week?

ENGAGE AND EXPLORE 

Together: explore the question below, from N.T. Wright’s Philippians for Everyone: 

“What would it mean for your church fellowship to live as a colony 

of heaven with the responsibility for bringing the life and rule 

of heaven to bear on the earth?”

PRAYER 

Pray from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A: 

Holy God,

you spoke the world into being.

Pour your Spirit to the ends of the earth,

that your children may return from exile

as citizens of your commonwealth,

and our divisions may be healed

by your word of love and righteousness. Amen.