Therefore, Part 5: Therefore, We Carry On

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

With God, sometimes the is the destination.

Acts 16: Paul’s detour to a new destination

⁶ Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹ During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
      ¹¹ From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

Philippians 1:3–8: Paul’s word to his spiritual family

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
      ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:9–11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Small Group Questions

1. What was the last anniversary of any kind that you celebrated? Why was it significant to you?
2. Read Philippians 1. Why so you believe Paul is able to speak about joy from a Roman prison?
3. Is there an area of your life where you believe God is “doing a good work”? What kind of progress is he helping you achieve?
4. Is there a person or a group of people that are truly your spiritual family? What makes them a part of your safest circle? What do they offer you that has changed your life?
5. Read verse 9 out loud. What is God saying to you through Paul’s prayer?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?