Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!
We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!
The Passage
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Philippians 4:4-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Questions
1) What is the reason that we are not to be anxious?
2) What are we to do instead of being anxious?
3) What is the result of bringing our requests to God?
4) What does rejoicing have to do with not being anxious?
The Findings for Intention
1) Although verse 6 begins with the words “do not be anxious,” the thought begins at the end of verse 5: “The Lord is at hand.” In other words, Jesus is near to us, so we need not be anxious about anything.
2) The linking word “but” in verse 6 indicates a contrast. Instead of being anxious, we are to bring our requests to God—with thanksgiving! Giving thanks, even in difficult circumstances, helps us to let go of our anxieties and see God’s goodness.
3) Verse 7 says that the result of letting go of anxiety and praying instead is that the peace of God will guard our hearts. This is a peace that “surpasses all understanding.” It is not the kind of peace that comes when there is an absence of trouble—it is a peace that is granted to us in the midst of trouble! This is a peace that the world cannot understand.
4) Verse 4 is part of this passage, and shouldn’t be treated as an independent thought. We are told to rejoice in the Lord in the same paragraph as we are told not to be anxious. To rejoice means to be glad, be well, or be of good cheer. Even in the midst of trouble, we can be glad in the Lord.
The Everyday Application
1) How precious it is to know that Jesus Christ is near to us! In fact, his very Spirit lives inside us to comfort and guide us. Am I remembering to seek His help when deciding whether to say “yes” or “no” to good things?
2) What is causing me anxiety right now? Have I prayed about it? And when I pray about it, have I remembered to give God thanks for who He is and what He is doing, even though the situation is difficult?
3) Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) Praise you, God, for giving us your peace!
4) Take a few minutes today to jot down a list of reasons to rejoice in the Lord. Then refer back to this list when you are tempted to be anxious!
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I Can Do That!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!
The Community!
Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Brave Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
The Tools!
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources. Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
The Why!
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Brave!