Don't be discouraged by what you are not, be encouraged that you are not who you once were and keep taking steps to move to where God wants you to be.

1. Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In
all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with
joy because of your partnership in the gospel
from the first day until now, 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.
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2. Philippians 1:7-8
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you,
since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in
chains or defending and confirming the gospel,
all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can
testify how I long for all of you with the affection
of Christ Jesus.
www.networkbible.org

3. 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 until the
day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—
to the glory and praise of God.
www.networkbible.org

4. The purpose of praying for them is…a DECLARATION that
God isn’t done yet.
Paul’s prayer is inspired by their PARTNERSHIP in the
gospel.
You are sharers of God’s grace WITH ME, you have
partnered in my calling.
Paul prayed that we might understand
what we have, live in light of what we
have, and here that our LOVE may
abound more and more…

5. The most popular view is that God began the work of
SALVATION in you.
God began the good work of this PARTNERSHIP in
ministry.
God wants to develop the ability to VIEW others through
His eyes and to LOVE them with His heart.
Their partnership in the gospel
inspired Paul’s prayer as well as
his CONFIDENCE in God.

6. Present perfection is not the expectation; continual
DEVELOPMENT is.
Filled with the FRUIT of righteousness.
Don’t be DISCOURAGED by what you are not, but be
ENCOURAGED to take the next step forward with God.
He prays that their love may abound
more and more in KNOWLEDGE
…that their love more accurately
REFLECTS the love of Christ

7. Please take a moment to fill out your
Communication Card
My Next Step Today is to:
( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)
( ) Ask God to help me see others through His eyes and
heart
( ) Extend grace to others and myself knowing that God
isn’t finished yet
( ) Not become discouraged by what I am not, but
encouraged to take the next step
( ) Commit to praying this prayer from Philippians for
Network/myself.
( ) Other________________________