The Ministry of Hospitality

Day FIVE

BEGIN

Pray to experience joy in Christ through our theme verse:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Review the memory verse for the week:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

READ

Read and meditate on this passage today: Philippians 2:19-30

Look for what you learn about God and listen for what the Spirit is saying to you through the Word of God. Pay attention to the people Paul mentions in this section of the letter.

Philippians 2:19–30

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

How would you describe Timothy? Epaphroditus? How are the Philippians to welcome them? How do you envision that Timothy and Epaphroditus brought Paul joy?

PRAY

As the Spirit leads, let these themes guide you in your prayer today:

  • Thank God for people like Timothy and Epaphroditus.
  • Pray that you can imitate their unselfish service to God.
  • Pray you will have the courage to take risks for God.
  • Ask God who you could honor with great joy.

JOURNAL

What are you learning about God as you seek to experience joy in Christ?

What do you sense God is saying to you through this passage?

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SHARE

Talk with your prayer partner about what you are learning, how you are growing to experience more joy in Christ. Pray together.

About the Engage God DailY

Jesus invites us to know him personally and engage with him daily. Through daily Bible reading and prayer, we can grow in our relationship with him. The Engage God Daily is a daily resource designed to help you better understand the Bible and take you deeper into the concepts taught on Sunday mornings.

Use this guide to prepare for next Sunday’s teaching. Each day presents a reading, Scripture, and a prayer to help grow in your walk with Christ this week. 

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