Introduction: This week I read an astonishing statistic. Over 50% of a certain population in the United States admits to having a mental illness. When compared to earlier reports, this seems to be part of the same population that is the least religious. I regularly read that anxiety levels are high among those living in the United States. As a historical matter, this makes no sense. 
The generations preceding me fought in two world wars. However, the United States has never been invaded. How could a generation that has faced no invaders and has fought no wars be anxious or suffer from mental illness? I think the key is not what is going on around a person, but rather what is going on inside. In our last lesson on the book of Philippians Paul invites us into a life of joy, a life free from anxiety. Let’s plunge into the Bible and learn more about that kind of life!
I. Keep Your Eyes on Joe
A. Read Philippians 3:17. Whenever I hear a person complain about the attitude of another church member, others advise, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, and ignore other church members.” Is that what Paul advises? (Paul writes that we should imitate him and those who are following his advice.)
- How do you explain this? Is the advice to keep our eyes on Jesus wrong? Should we say instead, “Keep your eyes on Paul?”
- If we have an especially good church member, let’s call him “Joe,” should we say “Keep your eyes on Joe?”
B. Read Philippians 3:18. What is the danger of keeping our eyes on fellow church members? (Paul tells us that “many” walk as “enemies of the cross of Christ.”)
- How many times have you seen a church leader walking as a follower of Jesus, but who then falls to temptation? How does Paul’s advice to keep our eyes on good examples apply here? When did that leader go from good to bad?
One solution is to avoid holding up as an example any current church member. What is wrong with that advice?
C. Read 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Ephesians 5:1. Is Paul contradicting himself? Or, did we just fail to look deeply enough into Paul’s advice?
D. Think about this: In several ways Jesus is a difficult role model. He was never married. He never had children. As an adult He was never employed by someone else. He was both fully God and fully human. He died young. He was the constant target of Satan, yet He was sinless. How is Jesus the best example to follow?
E. On the other hand, read Hebrews 4:15. This tells us that Jesus was “in every respect … tempted as we are.” What do you think this means? (While it is self-evident Jesus was not tempted with marital or child-raising problems, most temptations fall into large classifications. This must mean that Jesus faced the underlying nature of all temptations. Because of this we emulate Jesus’ attitude. We follow His teachings. I think Paul is telling us that we should find a contemporary role model because that person likely faces the exact same set of problems as we do.)
- When I suggest that most temptations fall into large classifications, do you agree? Can you suggest a common underlying temptation? (Consider pride and selfishness as the main foundation for most temptations.)
F. Read Philippians 3:19. Paul further describes those we should not follow. He says “their god is their belly.” Should we ignore the examples of fat people or those who post pictures of their food on Facebook? (What Paul means here is widely debated. Read Matthew 15:10-11. Jesus points to a group of people who are focused on the religious rules for eating. He says the real focus should be on what we say.)
- “They glory in their shame.” What does this mean? (Think back to our discussion of Philippians 3:8-9. Paul calls his efforts to save himself “rubbish.” That would fit nicely with the idea that religious rules for eating do not save us.)
- Their “minds are set on earthly things.” What do you think this means? (If we stay on this line of thought, it would mean those whose attention is focused on physical observances. But we should not ignore the problem of those who love worldly things.)
G. Read Philippians 3:20-21. If we view Paul’s statements in verses 19-21 as making the same general point, does that change your prior answers as to what was meant in Philippians 3:19? (It would not change my suggested answers. The distinction being made is between those who look to Jesus for their eternal life, and those who look to themselves.)
II. Joy
A. Read Philippians 4:1-3. What is the problem addressed by Paul? (Two women in the church who are both working to advance the gospel are arguing.)
B. Read Philippians 4:4. What is the context for Paul telling us to “rejoice?” To have joy? (It is the disagreement mentioned in verses 1-3. It is hard to rejoice when we are in an active disagreement.)
C. Read Philippians 4:5. How do we fix debates in the church? (Paul is asking us to be reasonable.)
- Is that a call to compromise? (It is a call to determine what is important and what is not. Like the realization that what you say is much more important than how or what you eat. I can say this without bias because I’ve been a vegetarian for 62 years! I seem like a guy who is focused on his belly – which by the way is rather large for a vegetarian.)
D. Read Philippians 4:6-7. What is the key to leaving anxiety behind and entering into peace and joy? (Turning to God for help with everything. Be grateful to God. He will “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” He will give you peace.)
- There is a segment of American society which appears to be insanely angry. Part of that group broke into a Southern Baptist Church during a church service to protest a political issue. Why would they target a church? (They have no regard for God. The anger reflects a growing number of people who do not believe in God.)
- Contemplate this for a moment. If you felt that society was turning against you, that the government was doing the wrong thing, how would you react? (If you believed Philippians 4:6 you would turn to God. If you don’t believe in God you would likely become more and more angry and irrational.)
E. Read Revelation 21:8. How do you explain that the first listed characteristic of the lost is being “cowardly?” (This perfectly fits Paul’s statements. If we have God to turn to, we can have peace and joy in trusting in Him. If we do not have God, then we are on our own, increasingly frustrated, angry, and unbalanced.)
III. Mindset
A. Read Philippians 4:8-9. Do you think the Internet has helped to create cowardly and unbalanced minds? (The good news about the Internet is that it makes knowledge easily available and provides a way around major publishers who wish to push a certain point of view. The bad thing about the Internet is essentially the same. You can learn of bad things happening in the world that you would not know about if you had limited sources of information. If you have a mindset that seeks out conflict, you can easily find it.)
- What is Paul’s advice about what we should take into our minds? (Praiseworthy things. Commendable things. Excellent things. Pure and lovely things.)
- a. Can this be done in the age of the Internet? (Yes. You are the filter.)
- b. What is the result of focusing on putting the right things in your mind? (“The God of peace will be with you.”)
B. Read Philippians 4:10-13. Historically, financial issues are high on the list of things that create anxiety. What is Paul’s answer to worries about money? (God can give us contentment.)
- There are studies that indicate that it is harder to be poor after being rich, than just continuing to be poor. Has Paul been rich? (Yes, he says that he has experienced “plenty” and “abundance.”)
C. Read Philippians 4:19. What if you feel a need? What if you are lacking? (We receive it through Jesus. I think the attitude of trust and peace is wrapped up in the promise of eternal life.)
D. Read Philippians 4:14-18. Let’s look behind what Paul is saying to the Philippians and ask “How would you feel if you were Paul?” How would you feel if only one church helped you? (This is one of the challenges that Paul faced. He understood what it means to depend on God.)
E. Friend, would you like more joy and peace in your life? Joy and peace are more difficult in a world that is becoming increasingly angry. Why not turn to God for the answer to every problem?
IV. Next week: The Preeminence of Christ.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
