Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
Brighter and Brighter
Scripture
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday
Main Idea
It is completely natural to pray and ask God for more. It is important we seek more of the God kind of things. Material things are good but we must grow first in love for Good or those blessings may become a hindrance. More growth can mean more problems but when we grow in Christ while experiencing the “more” then it can be profitable for the God's kingdom. Begin asking God for more but be sure to ask for more of His love, more of His wisdom and understanding, more clarity on the decisions you need to make so you can fully live the life Christ has for you.
A brighter future doesn't start with more in your hands, it starts with more in your hear.
Discussion Questions
- What are the things you have asked God for "more" of just to find out it comes with more problems and issues to deal with? Share with your group what that was and what did you do with you confronted those new problems.
- How often have you prayed for more "things" vs praying for more of God? What part of "more" in Pastor Justin's sermon do you think you should be praying for this week? More of God's love, more understanding, more knowledge of good/evil? Why would that be helpful?
- Who in your life do you think you need to pray this same prayer Paul was praying for the Phillippians?
Summary
The Apostle Paul was praying for those in Phillipi every day. He wanted them to be encouraged to regularly ask God for more. When you experience a good thing, it is completely natural to want more of it. This is not an endorsement for gluttony or materialism but a desire for more can be a good thing when grounded in God. His prayer for the Phillipian church can be broken down into four components as they build on each other to help you have fulfillment and all you need in God.
The breakdown of Phillipians 1:9-11 can be seen by four main asks of God.
9 This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; 10 that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good; that you will be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ; 11 that you will be filled with the good things produced in your life by Christ to bring glory and praise to God.
- Let My Love Grow Greater
- Phil 1:9 NLV - This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more;
- God's kind of love is endless and bigger than any mistake we can make, but His love growing in us does not mean we accept all behaviors people have. Love is not an open endorsement of everything a person does or believe!
- You're love will grow when you realize how much Jesus loves you. We don't need God to merely grow our "emotional" feelings but rather help us understand more of God's love toward us so we can then give that same love to others.
- Help Me to Know You More
- Phil 1:9 NLV - 9 This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love;
- Growing in Love without wisdom and knowledge of God will create a love that resembles the world's mind of love rather than grace filled love of God.
- When you know God more you will see life and people differently such as knowing the difference between good and bad, or that failure is not the end!
- Lead Me to Understand the Truth
- Phil 1:10 NLV - 10 that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good; that you will be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ;
- Knowing God deeply helps eliminate confusion. If we over index to love without any truth of who God is, you will misinterpret love to mean blind acceptabnce of everything. God helps us to know what is right and wrong.
- When we use God's wisdom, we can have clarity on the opportunities presented to us. If we don't have clarity but have opportunity, it can sometimes stress us out.
- We can beging by starting to ask questions to God and then listen for His perspective
- Guide Me to Choose What’s Best
- Phil 1:10 NLV - 10 that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good; that you will be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ;
- Truth will always bring you to a choice. If you know how much God loves you and are using His perspective to know the truth, then you can choose correctly.
- A brighter future requires better choices - sometimes the enemy distracts you with something slightly "less” than God's best to frustrate you and make you pull away.
- Fill My Life with Everything Good That Comes From You
- Phil 1:11 NLV - 11 that you will be filled with the good things produced in your life by Christ to bring glory and praise to God.
- Make room for more because God will over flow your cup
When we start preparing our lives to know and receive from God, He can begin to fill our cups to the brim plus some. He wants the best for you and the easiest way for you to receive from Him is to pray daily to know His love and experience Him daily to learn how to decipher right and wrong when confronted with situations.
Take Action
- Begin by praying Phillipians 1:9-11 over yourself this week.
- Ask God to reveal His love more fully to you so you can understand the kind of love we are meant to share with others.
- Join a team! It's hard to know God without serving as part of His body!
Announcements
- First Wednesday Service - 7pm on 5/6/2026
- Mother's Day Service - 8:30am, 10:00am, and 11:30am on 5/10/2026
- Hope Pantry - 10am-12pm on 5/9/2026
