September 5th-11th

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-8
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in the spirit and of one mind.  3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset at Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!

Thursday, September 5
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read verses 1 and 2.  God calls us to be united with Christ and with one another.  In your Bible, underline all of the words that show like-mindedness in this passage.
Think-
Why does God want us to be like-minded?  What will we, as a group, accomplish from having the same mindset?
What things are getting in the way of us being like-minded?  What is Christ calling us to do about it?
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Ask him to bless all of your relationships (with each other, with your family, with other friends, etc.) with a spirit united in Christ.


Friday, September 6
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read verse 3.  God calls us to look at our motivation for everything that we do.  In a journal, or just the notepad on your phone :), write the name of someone you seem to be having struggles with (i.e. parent, friend, boyfriend, etc.)  Take a look at your motivation in the way that you act toward that person.
Think-
Do you value that person above yourself?
When dealing with that person, are you acting out of "selfish ambition" (getting your own way) or "vain conceit" (not wanting to look bad by being the one who gives in)?
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Pray for your interaction with that person.  Ask God to help you consider that person above yourself.


Saturday, September 7
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read verse 4.  This takes a lot of trust, doesn't it?  It's very scary to trust that your friend is going to take care of your interests while you are selflessly taking care of theirs, especially because we've been let down by other people before.
Think-
Does God believe that only those who give compassion deserve your compassion?  How do you know?
Does God know how hard it is for us to trust people to take care of us?  How does He know?
What would it look like for you to look after the best interest of that person whose name you wrote down yesterday?
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Ask God to give you the courage to look after the interest of others, even when they aren't looking after yours.


Sunday, September 8
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read verses 5 and 6.  Before, we were told to have the same mindset as one another, but here, it defines what that mindset should be... the mindset of Jesus!  Even though Jesus was God with skin on, he didn't come down to earth and demand his own way.
Think-
Do you ever get upset because someone treats you in a way you don't deserve?
What do we deserve?  (Romans 6:23)
What did we get instead? (Romans 5:8)
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Ask God to help you have the mindset of Jesus.


Monday, September 9
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read verse 7.  Although Christ was God, he became a servant to us!  US!!!  That's CRAZY!  This is the mindset that we are called to have... serving others... deserved or not!
Think-
What could God accomplish through us if we were to have this mindset?
What can you to today to serve other's in humility?  What can you do to serve that person?
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Pray that God gives you eyes to see the needs of the people around you.  Pray that he gives you humility to serve them selflessly.


Tuesday, September 10
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read verse 8.  This is where it gets tough.  We're not talking about Christ just serving us by feeding people or healing people.  We're talking a sacrifice of death!  He gave his life... literally!  You're most likely not being called to do that, but we are called to give our lives over to him for him to use us.
Think-
Are you letting God work in your life?  What's holding you back?
Is that (whatever it is) worth holding onto knowing what Christ sacrificed?
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Turn whatever is holding you back over to God today.  Ask him to use you in a way that he never has before.


Wednesday, September 11
Worship-
Click here to listen to today's worship song.
Study-
Read the whole passage again.  God asks us to be united as Christians and then he tells us to do it by following Christ's example of serving.  Write down one thing that has changed for you this week as a result of studying this passage.  (Maybe even comment it, I dare you!)
Think-
Are we as the 10th grade girls groups at FpStudents Blount united in a common goal to show Christ to others?
Do we trust each other to "carry each other's mats?" (Luke 5:18)
If you have an issue with someone, especially in our group, take care of it immediately!  We can't do the work of Christ if we are divided within!
Pray-
Praise God for who he is.  Thank him for your blessings.  Pray for our group!  Pray that we are united! Pray that we see the needs of others and take care of those needs.  Pray that we RISE UP!