September 13, 2026
Paul Gotthardt
(#15 in series)
Philippians 2:14-16
Grumbling is a negative response to something__, inconvenient or disappointing. It is a __ dissatisfaction that often remains under the breath in the form of murmuring.
Disputing is a __ form of questioning. It’s the act of being argumentative or __.
Key Truth: Our speech reveals __ to God or __ to culture.
Grumbling and disputing…
• Does not __ with the character of a child of God.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach… (2:14-15a)
• Does not __ our light to shine brightly in a dark world.
…in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, (2:15b–16a)
• Does not __ those who labored on our behalf.
so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain (2:16b)
Response/Reflection:
• Where am I grumbling and disputing?
• Am I living as a blameless and innocent child of God?
• How am I appearing as a gospel light in the world around me? Who am I sharing with? Where am I going? How am I living on mission?
• Am I in the Word and is the Word in me? The only way to hold forth the Word of life is to know the Word of life. When I’m challenged or confused about life, culture, circumstances or by people—do I share the Word?
• Would those who have labored for me be able to rejoice in my current walk with the Lord?
August 30, 2026
Paul Gotthardt
2 Timothy 2:15
What is a simple __ for studying the Bible?
1. __: How should I pray? Pray that God would lead you into truth and give you the grace to apply His Word.
2. __: What does it say? What are your first reactions? What details, repeated words, prominent ideas, contrasts commands, or questions stand out?
3. __: What does it mean? How does this passage fit into the flow of Scripture? Why was it written?
4. __: What do I do? How can I apply these truths and faithfully, practically live out what Scripture declares?
5. __: Who is God? What is God revealing about Himself—His character, purposes or ways?
How can I __ the Bible correctly?
Use these simple principles for faithful Bible interpretation:
• __ is key. Read a verse in light of the surrounding passage, chapter book, and the whole Bible.
• Let Scripture explain Scripture. Use clear passages to help interpret difficult ones, since God’s Word does not contradict itself.
• Seek the __ intended meaning. Ask who wrote it, to whom, why and in what setting before asking what it means for you.
• Read normally unless the genre signals otherwise. Take the text in its ordinary grammatical and historical sense, while recognizing figures of speech, poetry, parables, prophecy and apocalyptic imagery.
• Respect the __. Narrative, law, wisdom, poetry, prophecy, Gospels and letters communicate truth in different ways.
• Build doctrine on clear teaching. Do not base major beliefs or practices on one difficult, debated or isolated verse.
• Follow the unfolding story of __. Later Scripture—especially the New Testament—clarifies and fulfills earlier revelation.
• Pray for illumination. Study carefully but depend on the Holy Spirit to help you understand and receive God’s Word.
• Separate __ from application. A passage has one intended meaning, but it may have several faithful applications.
How can __ lead to a deeper study of the Bible?
*See chart in note sheet PDF*
__ do I start in reading the Bible?
For a brand-new believer or someone who is just trying to develop the habit of Bible study, start with one of the gospels (maybe John) and read the book with two questions in mind:
1. Who is __?
2. What does it mean to be a __ of Jesus?
How can I __ my time when reading the Bible?
Here are suggestions for multiple time frames.
5 minutes:
• Pray (1 minute)
• Read Scripture (4 minutes)
10 minutes:
• Pray (1 minute)
• Read a Devotional (3 minutes)
• Read Scripture (5 minutes)
• Pray (1 minute)
15 minutes:
• Pray (1 minute)
• Read a Devotional (3 minutes)
• Read Scripture (5 minutes)
• Journal Thoughts (5 minutes)
• Pray (1 minute)
30 minutes:
• Pray (1 minute)
• Read a Devotional (3 minutes)
• Read a chapter from Proverbs (4 minutes)
• Read Scripture (10 minutes)
• Journal Thoughts (5 minutes)
• Pray Specifically (7 minutes)
August 16, 2026
Paul Gotthardt
(#13 in series)
Philippians 2:9-11
“The deepest passion of the heart of Jesus was not the saving of men, but the glory of God; and then the saving of men, because that is for the glory of God.”
– G. Campbell Morgan
“We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life ‘hidden with Christ in God’ in our everyday human conditions.”
– Oswald Chambers
“You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.”
– Charles Spurgeon
“I wish I could say that everything I do is for God’s glory but I can’t. And neither can you. What I can say is Jesus’ blood covers all my efforts to glorify myself.”
– Tullian Tchividjian
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
– John Piper
Christians struggle with the glory of God for a number of reasons.
• God’s glory seems too big or __ for many of us.
• God’s glory is overlooked when we pursue lesser __.
• God’s glory incorporates attributes we __ and dread.
• God’s glory has been __ from Jesus and the cross.
• God’s glory is better understood when we prayerfully __ in Scripture.
Definition 1: God’s glory is the __ display of who God is (His holy character, His infinite worth, His beauty, power and perfection) supremely __ in Jesus Christ.
Definition 2: God’s glory is the display of His __ character, showing that He alone is worthy of all __.
What does the text teach about becoming Christlike?
Big Truth: Christlike character __ proper perspective FROM and __ devoted TO the glory of God (v.9-11).
There are at least four ways that the Father lifted Jesus up:
1. The Father lifted Jesus in His __.
2. The Father lifted Jesus in His ascension.
3. The Father lifted Jesus in His __.
4. The Father lifted Jesus in His intercession.
Whether by choice or by force, everyone will submit to Jesus as the exalted Lord. Three groups will confess Jesus Christ is Lord.
1. The first group is comprised of the __ and saints in heaven (Hebrews 1:6; 12:23; Revelation 4:8–11; 5:8–14).
2. The second group is comprised of the __ and unredeemed on earth (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
3. The third group is comprised of the fallen angels and unredeemed dead who are awaiting final __ and eternal punishment under the earth (Revelation 20:11–13).
Response/Reflection: Take some time to prayerfully work through each point.
• How can you apply 1 Corinthians 10:31?
• How should this passage stimulate “adoration and emulation”?
• Why is the exaltation of Christ important for you today?
• The passage ends by saying that Christ’s work was done “to the glory of God the Father.” How does this move you? Is your great aim to live a humble, others-oriented life for the glory of the Father, through Jesus?
• Whose approval most controls my decisions?
• What do I most want people to notice about me? It’s possible that your answer has revealed where the glory of man is competing with the glory of God (John 5:44).
August 9, 2026
Paul Gotthardt
(#12 in series)
Philippians 2:5-8
Three moments that changed the course of history.
Moment 1: The Fall of __ or the Fall from __(Isaiah 14:13-14)
Moment 2: The Fall of __ or the Fall on __ (Genesis 2-3)
Moment 3: The __ of Christ (Matthew 1:23; Luke 2:1-20; Philippians 2:5-8)
Through the incarnation, Jesus __ like us so that we might __ like Him.
Becoming Christlike is the process of being shaped by God so that our character and our choices reflect Jesus.
Question 1: Has there ever been a time in my life when Jesus lived more fully through me?
Question 2: What’s standing in the way of Jesus doing that again?
This text continues to stress the importance of unity among believers.
• Verse 1 provides the basis for unity.
• Verse 2 teaches the command for unity.
• Verses 3-4 show the steps for unity.
• Verses 5-8 give the __ for unity.
What does the text teach about becoming Christlike?
• Christlike character forms in biblical community through shared realities and deep unity (v.1-2).
• Christlike character is selfless, humble, and acts with regard to the needs of others (v.3-4).
• Christlike character __ self, gives sacrificially, and humbly __ to the will of the Father (v.5-8).
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Response/Reflection: Prayerfully consider your response to the following questions.
• How does Jesus’ incarnation challenge you to live humbly?
• Where has pride, selfishness, or holding onto rights gotten in the way of Jesus living fully through you?
• Where is God calling you to sacrificial giving?
• How is God calling you to step forward in humble obedience?
• Based on what you’ve heard, what changes does God want to make in you?