christian students on campus Bible study

From the shores of the Aegean Sea to central Texas hill country, from the black and white of Scripture to the living color of college students’ lives, Paul’s short epistle to the Philippians is as relevant as ever.

Philippians was the topic of the Christian Students on Campus Bible study this past spring semester. We thoroughly enjoyed studying, memorizing, and speaking to one another this inspiring epistle for fourteen weeks.

The overarching subject of Philippians is experiencing Christ and that’s what we’re all about at Christian Students on Campus. To unveil how we experience Christ, Paul starts the book by talking about the Body of Christ and grace (Phil 1:1-2). Paul also concludes the book by talking about the Body and grace (Phil 4:21-23). Our experience of Christ takes place in the Body and through grace.

Philippians only has four chapters, but they are jam-packed with riches. Each week we were amazed at what the Holy Spirit was showing us in God’s word. Here are some of the highlights:

Chapter 1: Christ as our living

For to me, to live is Christ… -Phil. 1:21

In the first chapter of Philippians, the gospel is mentioned six times. Paul commended the Philippians for their fellowship unto the furtherance of the gospel (1:5), testified how his imprisonment turned out to the advancement of the gospel (1:12), rejoiced at the announcement of the gospel no matter the motive (1:15-18), and exhorted the Philippians to conduct themselves in a manner and oneness worthy of the gospel (1:27). However, amidst all the talk about the gospel, Paul inserts that the way to truly be a person of the gospel is to magnify Christ by living Him.

Chapter 2: Christ as our pattern

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. -Phil. 2:5

Paul begins chapter 2 with an exhortation to be “joined in soul, thinking the one thing.” However, to reach this oneness, we need to have the mind of Christ and to take Christ as our pattern. Verses 6-11 describe how Christ, the very God, humbled himself by becoming a man, even a lowly slave, and dying a painful death on the cross. This is the pattern whom we follow. By taking Christ as our pattern, we work out our own salvation (2:12) and shine as luminaries in the world (2:15).

Chapter 3: Christ as our goal

I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me upward. -Phil. 3:14

While Christ is seen as our pattern in chapter 2, Paul sets himself forth as a pattern to the Philippians in chapter 3. Despite his lofty pedigree (3:4-6), Paul counted all things to be loss so that he could gain Christ (3:8). He forgot all the things of his past so he could pursue toward the goal for the prize, which is the full enjoyment of Christ (3:13-14). Essentially, Paul took his accomplished resume, crossed everything out, and replaced it all with one word: Christ! This is what it means to take Christ as our goal.

Chapter 4: Christ as our secret

I know also how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to lack. -Phil. 4:12

In verse 4 of chapter 4, Paul revisits a prevailing theme of the book of Philippians: rejoicing. More than 10 percent of the verses in Philippians mention rejoicing. Experiencing Christ issues in joy! The key is that we rejoice in the Lord. This is the secret mentioned in verse 12. No matter what our circumstances, abased or abounding, we can rejoice if we are rejoicing in the Lord. We must also stand firm in the Lord and think the same thing in the Lord (4:1-2). And according to perhaps the most famous utterance in Philippians, we will be able to do all things in Him (4:13).

 

Kyle Barton
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