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THINK, ACT,

BE

BelieveEpilogue & Summary

Key Verse:Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:12-13

With another complex sentence Paul comes back to the concern of Philippians 1:27—2:4. The complexity is created by his trying to cover a great deal of ground in a single sentence. His concern is that they "obey" now (v. 8), just as they have always done. But before giving definition to obedience, he interrupts himself by placing the appeal within the "presence/absence" friendship motif (Philippians 1:27). The content of the appeal is then expressed with a deliberate echo of "your salvation which is from God" (Philippians 1:28). These echoes not only make the sentence complex, they also create some difficulty for English readers. The verb Paul uses means "to accomplish" or "to carry out," which is not easy to translate here without creating the impression that salvation is of our own doing. And to top it off, it is easy for us to read the imperative individualistically, rather than, as with verse 4, as a call to individually work out our common salvation in our life together.The momentary "presence/absence" digression deliberately reminds them of the earlier appeal in Philippians 1:27. Along with the affectionate vocative (literally, "my beloved ones") and the reminder of their excellent history in this regard (as . . . always), this motif places the appeal to obedience within the context of their long-term friendship and common affection. But obedience to whom, Paul or God, since elsewhere Paul goes either way? In context it most likely means obedience to his earlier appeal in Philippians 1:27—2:4. But that automatically means obedience to Christ, the only kind of obedience to his own words that Paul

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could care anything about. In his view faith in Christ is ultimately expressed as obedience to Christ, not in the sense of following the rules but of being devoted completely to him. This appeal, after all, closely follows the twofold reminder of Christ's own obedience that led to the cross and of his present status as Lord of all.Obedience in this case takes the form of work out your own salvation, meaning "in your relationships with one another live out the salvation Christ has brought you." This is therefore not a text dealing with individual salvation but an ethical text dealing with the outworking of salvation in the believing community for the sake of the world. That they must comply with this injunction at the individual level is assumed, and that their final salvation will be realized personally and individually is a truth that does not need stating, because that is not at issue here. The present concern is with their being God's people in Philippi, as Philippians 2:15 makes certain.The phrase with fear and trembling indicates how important this matter is for Paul. One does not live out the gospel casually or lightly, especially in light of verses 6-11, but as those who know what it means to stand in awe of the living God. Nothing of cringing or lack of confidence is implied. Rather, the gospel is God's thing, and the God who has saved his people is an awesome God. Thus working out the salvation that God has given them should be done with a sense of "holy awe and wonder" before the God with whom they—and we—have to do.By putting his appeal this way—urging the Philippians to work out your salvation with fear and trembling—Paul recognizes that he may have painted himself into something of a corner regarding his essential theology. So he immediately puts it in the context of God's action. For, he explains, God is the one who empowers you in this regard. They are indeed to "work at" it (katergazesthe); they are able to do so because God himself is "at work" (energon)

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in and among them. This does not mean that God is "doing it for them," but that God supplies the working power. Happily for us, God is on the side of his people. Not only does he have our concern at heart, but he actively works in our behalf for the sake of his own good pleasure. The rest of the sentence gives us the "where, what and why" of that empowering.The "where" is in/among you. As in Philippians 1:6 and Philippians 2:5, when using this phrase in a corporate context Paul primarily means "among you." For that to happen it must begin in you, that is, in the resolve of each of them to see to it that God's purposes are accomplished in their community.The "what" is loaded with theology. God empowers both our "doing" (energeo, the verb just used to describe God's "working") and the "willing" that lies behind the doing. Christian ethics has nothing to do with rules that regulate conduct. Rather, it begins with a mind that is transformed by the Spirit, so as not to be conformed to this age but to the character of God, knowing God's will, what is good and pleasing and perfect to him (Rom 12:1-2). We are not those who have been begrudgingly caught by God, so that we obey basically out of fear and trembling over what might happen if we were to do otherwise. Rather, being Christ's means to be converted in the true sense of that word, to have our lives invaded by God's Holy Spirit, who creates in us a new desire toward God that prompts godly behavior in the first place.But Christian ethics lies not just in the "willing." In Romans 7:18, in his description of life before and outside of Christ looked at from the perspective of life in the Spirit, Paul described pre-Christian life with these same verbs. "To will," he said, was present with him; but without the Spirit, "carrying out [katergazesthai] the good" does not happen. As a believer, however, Paul will have none of that (i.e., of our not being able to carry out the good that we will). Hence he urges the Philippians to

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"work it out" precisely because God (by his Spirit) is present with us both to will and to act on the good God has prompted us to will.The "why" (according to his good purpose, NIV) is ambiguous. The word eudokia (good purpose) occurred in Philippians 1:15 as the motivation for those who preach Christ out of love and "goodwill" toward Paul. In light of what is about to be urged (verse 14), that meaning could prevail here as well; that is, God is at work in them both to will and to do what promotes goodwill in the community. More likely, however, given the emphasis of the present sentence, Paul intends God's own eudokia—in which case this word probably leans toward "good pleasure," in the sense that God does this for his people because it pleases him so to do. In any case, the preposition hyper should bear its regular sense, "for the sake of." This does not mean that God, despite verse 6, is a self-gratifying being after all. Rather, all that God does he does for his pleasure; but since God is wholly good, what pleases him is not capricious but what is wholly good for those he loves. God's pleasure is pure love; it delights God to delight his people.Thus with verse 13 Paul puts the imperative into theological perspective. What follows is to be understood as flowing directly out of this word; what pleases God in this instance, of course, is that the Philippians cease the in-fighting that is currently going on among some of them. 1

Questions: What does the phrase “work out your salvation” mean to you

before reading this article?

1 https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/General-Application-Obedience-Gods-Sake

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https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/General-Application-Obedience-Gods-Sake

https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/General-Application-Obedience-Gods-Sake

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How does doing life together as a community help us to “work out your salvation”?

What are some practical ways that you can “be conformed to the character of God”?

Did this study on Believe help you to “work out your salvation”?

Putting it All TogetherWe have been on a spiritual journey these past few months. As we have studied Believe, we have learned to

Think – this section described the key beliefs of the Christian life which Jesus not only taught but modeled as well;

Act – this section described the key spiritual practices of the Christian life. There were attributes that Jesus modeled for us;

Be – this section described the fruit that should exist in our lives if we Think and Act like Jesus. The fruit that our lives in Christ product should be ripe and delicious. The more we Be like Jesus, the better it gets.

There is not really a key idea but if I had to make one up it would be “I choose to become more like Christ.” When we think and act like Jesus, empowered by his presence within us, little by little, we become like Jesus. Over the past few weeks as we’ve discussed the key beliefs and we described the key spiritual practices, we ultimately become like Jesus.

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From a Wesleyan perspective this implies Christian perfection or becoming more Christ-like. Christian perfection2 is defined in The Wesley Study Bible as:

Entire sanctification, or Christian perfection, can be described both negatively and positively. Negatively speaking, it entails freedom from evil thoughts and dispositions of the heart such as ill will, lust, envy, and pride. The believer now “feels” no inward impurity; the heart has been cleansed or circumcised of the carnal nature by the entirely sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit. Positively speaking, it includes the freedom to obey the two great commandments of Jesus: to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 22:37-39). As such, Christian perfection marks a genuine healing of the soul, and it is the most beautiful expression of holy love. Simply put, it is holy, such that believers are free from the impurities and the drag of sin. It is loving, such that believers now love God as the goal and completion of their being and love their neighbor as they should.

But how can we do this. It’s a journey, it takes practice, and it takes time! For most, if not all of us, we need to make a daily decision to become more Christ-like. Ultimately, it will become ingrained, but for those of us for have been at this a few years; keep the faith.

Questions: Is it harder to Think, Act, or Be? Why?

2 The Wesley Study Bible (NRSV), Abingdon Press, Nashville (page 479). Wesleyan Core Term: Christian Perfection

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What are some practical ways that you can move on towards Christian perfection?

Yes, there are some things you can do on an individual basis, but there is so much more that you can do as part of the greater community of the church. Wesley coined the term “Means of Grace” as those practices that the Holy Spirit uses to either draw us to God (prevenient grace) or enable us to know our sins are forgiven (justification) and grow in love for God and our neighbor (sanctification). Let’s take a look at an article from the United Methodist website that talks about Means of Grace.

The Wesleyan Means of Grace3

Courageous and forward-leaning mission congregations practice spiritual disciplines. Our vital work is a spiritual adventure based in John Wesley’s means of grace. John Wesley taught that God’s grace is unearned and that we were not to be idle waiting to experience grace but we are to engage in the means of grace. The means of grace are ways God works invisibly in disciples, hastening, strengthening and confirming faith so that God's grace pervades in and through disciples. As we look at the means of grace today, they can be divided into works of piety and the works of mercy.

Works of Piety Individual Practices – reading, meditating and studying the scriptures, prayer, fasting, regularly attending worship, healthy living, and sharing our faith with others

3 http://www.umc.org/how-we-serve/the-wesleyan-means-of-grace 7 | P a g e

http://www.umc.org/how-we-serve/the-wesleyan-means-of-grace

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Communal Practices – regularly share in the sacraments, Christian conferencing (accountability to one another), and Bible study

Works of Mercy Individual Practices - doing good works, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, feeding the hungry, and giving generously to the needs of others Communal Practices – seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination (for instance Wesley challenged Methodists to end slavery), and addressing the needs of the poor Making disciples, growing vital congregations and transforming the world is part of a spiritual adventure that is empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit as churches engage in the means of grace. Spiritual goals are accomplished by connecting the means of grace with proven vital church practices such as planning, strategic direction, prioritization, clear focus and alignment.

Questions: Have you focused more on the individual practices or the

communal practices? o Why? Do you need to focus more on the other?

Which are easier for you? Works of piety or works of mercy? Why?

St. Stephen’s recently developed “A Plan for Action” which includes our vision statement (where we are going / who we want

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to be). Our Vision states:St. Stephen’s is a growing, serving, vital church that is known for Developing Disciples through its intentional process of

Loving God Loving Others Serving Others

Questions: How well does our vision statement fit in with Wesley’s

means of grace?

Which focus area (Loving God, Loving Others, Serving Others) best describes our church community?

o Which focus area best describes you as an individual?

Let’s take a look at the three focus areas and see what each will entail from the St. Stephen’s community perspective.

Goal for Love God – We will create worship experiences and opportunities that encourage all participants to focus on God, which will contribute to excitement and deepening personal faith, resulting in a culture of invitation and increasing participation.

Questions: How can we best achieve this goal as a community?

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What can you do on an individual basis to increase your love for God?

Goal for Love Others – We will create and sustain faith building groups of varying types and sizes as well as Discipleship-building opportunities that lead to intentional faith development, growing participants in their understanding of the Bible and what it means to be a valued and loved part of God’s family at St. Stephen’s


What can you do on an individual basis to increase your love for others?

Goal for Serve Others – We will create focused Mission and Outreach opportunities for disciples of all stages that challenge and grow participants in their faith as they serve their church home, their community, and their world.


What can you do on an individual basis to Serve Others?

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As we move forward, as individuals and as a congregation, towards our vision statement (where we are going / who we want to be), think about how you can help the church community reach that vision.

NOTE: Task groups are being formed to develop specific plans for carrying out the Action Steps to accomplish the goals for the future. If you are interested in serving in one or more of the task groups, contact Shelly Boeglin at [email protected] or by calling her at (505) 293-9673, extension 106.

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mailto:[email protected]

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Attachment A is a summary of the 30 chapters in Believe along with the Key Idea and Key Verse. As a group or as an individual, review these chapters, key ideas, and key verses.

Questions: We have been on a spiritual pilgrimage while reading

Believe. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 didn’t understand to 10 totally understand) what you believed before starting Believe?

Have you seen growth? Rate yourself after finishing this study on Believe. Did you move up the scale? Why or why not?

Which chapter was the hardest for you to grasp the concept? Why?

Which chapter spoke the most to you? Why?

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Attachment ASummary of Believe

Chapter

Title Key Idea Key Verse

Think –What Do I Believe?

1 God I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:142 Personal God I believe God is

involved in and cares about my daily life.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains –Where does my help come from?My help comes from the Lord,The Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-23 Salvation I believe that a person

comes into a right relationship with God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

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Chapter


4 The Bible I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that guides my beliefs and actions.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17Think –What Do I Believe? (continued)

5 Identity in Christ

I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:126 Church I believe the church is

God’s primary way to accomplish his purposes on earth.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Ephesians 4:157 Humanity I believe all people are

loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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Chapter


8 Compassion I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to people in need.

Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.Rescue the weak and the needy;deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-49 Stewardship I believe everything I

am and everything I own belong to God.

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

Psalm 24:1-2Think –What Do I Believe? (concluded)

10 Eternity I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus will return to judge all people and to establish his eternal kingdom.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

John 14:1-2

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Chapter


Act –What Should I Do?

11 Worship I worship God for who he is and what he has done for me.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.2Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Psalm 95:1-212 Prayer I pray to God to know

him, to find direction for my life and to lay my requests before him.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 66:18-20Act –What Should I Do?(continued)

13 Bible Study I study the Bible to know God and his truth and to find direction for my daily life.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

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Chapter


14 Single-Mindedness

I focus on God and his priorities for my life.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:3315 Total

SurrenderI dedicate my life to God’s purposes.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

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Chapter


Act –What Should I Do?(continued)

16 Biblical Community

I fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, in the lives of others and in the world.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:44-47

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Chapter


17 Spiritual Gifts I know my spiritual gifts and use them to fulfill God’s purposes.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

Romans 12:4-618 Offering My

TimeI offer my time to fulfill God’s purposes.

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17Act –What Should I Do?(concluded)

19 Giving My Resources

I give my resources to fulfill God’s purposes.

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

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Chapter


20 Sharing My Faith

I share my faith with others to fulfill God’s purposes.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Ephesians 6:19-20Be –Who Am I Becoming?

21 Love I am committed to loving God and loving others.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:10-12

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Chapter


22 Joy Despite my circumstances, I fell inner contentment and understand my purpose in life.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:11

Be –Who Am I Becoming?(continued)

23 Peace I am free from anxiety because I have found peace with God, peace with others, and peace with myself.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

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Chapter


24 Self-Control I have the power through Christ to control myself.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-1325 Hope I can cope with the

hardships of life because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrews 6:19-20Be –Who Am I Becoming?

26 Patience I am slow to anger and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

Proverbs 14:29

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Chapter


(continued) 27 Kindness / Goodness

I choose to be kind and good in my relationships with others.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:1528 Faithfulness I have established a

good name with God and others based on my loyalty to those relationships.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3-429 Gentleness I am thoughtful,

considerate, and calm in my dealings with others.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Philippians 4:5

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Chapter


30 Humility I choose to esteem others above myself.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 3:3-4

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