I Have Learned to Be Content

In one paragraph

Pastor Ray preached through Philippians 4:10-20, picking up where he had left off the previous week. The passage is Paul's personal note of thanks to the church at Philippi for the support they sent him through Epaphroditus, and it carries his well-known statement about contentment and strength in Christ. Pastor Ray opened by revisiting the end of last week's text, where Paul lists whatever things...

Read together

1. Philippians 4:8 Paul's list of whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy, meditate on these things
2. Philippians 4:9 the things learned, received, heard and seen in Paul, do them, and the God of peace will be with you
3. Philippians 4:10 Paul rejoices that the Philippians' care for him has flourished again
4. Philippians 4:11 Paul has learned in whatever state he is to be content
5. Philippians 4:12 Paul knows how to be abased and how to abound, to be full and to be hungry
6. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
7. Philippians 4:14 the Philippians have done well that they shared in Paul's distress
8. Philippians 4:15 no church shared with Paul concerning giving and receiving when he departed from Macedonia, but the Philippians only
9. Philippians 4:16 even in Thessalonica they sent aid once and again for Paul's necessities
10. Philippians 4:17 Paul seeks not the gift but the fruit that abounds to their account
11. Philippians 4:18 Paul has all and abounds, having received from Epaphroditus a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God
12. Philippians 4:19 my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus
13. Philippians 4:20 to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever
14. John 13:35 your love for one another will prove to the world that you were my disciples, quoted during the membership covenant ceremony

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray described Paul's list of 'whatever things' as being different for each person, things like music, fishing, or backcountry skiing, not just Bible study. What are the 'whatever things' in your own life that you find yourself dwelling on, and how do those shape your sense of peace?
2. Paul says in verse 11 that he 'learned' to be content in every state. Pastor Ray emphasized the word 'learned,' suggesting contentment is not automatic even for a mature believer. What has taught you the most about contentment, and what is still hard to be content in?
3. Pastor Ray talked about the discomfort of moving from earning your own income to relying on support from others, describing his own experience in Mexico as 'the hardest two weeks of my life.' Have you ever had to receive from others in a way that was hard for you? What did that experience show you?
4. Paul says he seeks 'the fruit that abounds to your account' rather than the gift itself. Pastor Ray argued there is real fruit when money goes out with a pure heart toward a goal God has raised up. How do you personally think about giving as participation in what God is doing, rather than just meeting a need?
5. Pastor Ray closed by talking about unity of purpose in spreading the gospel, not just unity of avoiding conflict with each other. What does it look like practically for this congregation to be united around that purpose, and where do you see yourself fitting into it?