Before We Gather
Read Philippians 1:1–11 slowly, perhaps more than once. Consider the questions below. You don’t need to prepare answers to every question. Come ready to share what you notice, what puzzles you, and what speaks to you.
These questions are invitations, not assignments. They help us begin exploring Scripture together. We may discover other questions worth pursuing as we listen to God’s Word and to one another.
Read the passage ↗A Starting Point for Discovery
Our Group Practice: Be Curious About One Another.
Listen for the person behind the answer. Ask a follow-up question. Give one another time to speak, reflect, and be heard.
Their comment is not necessarily a springboard for your insight. It may be a doorway into their life.
Leader’s Helps — Helping the Conversation Go Deeper
Choose the questions that serve your group. Allow time for discoveries, personal stories, and prayer. You do not need to finish every question.
Follow the discovery
“What in the passage leads you to that conclusion?”
“Can you tell us a little more about
that?”
“Does anyone see something different?”
“What makes that important to you?”
Make room for each person
Offer a quiet moment before inviting responses. Invite someone to contribute without putting them on the spot: “Would you like to share anything you noticed?” Allow people to pass. When someone shares a struggle, listen before offering advice.
Let listening shape prayer
Return to what people have actually shared. Ask what they would like prayer for; let the passage give language and direction to your prayers.