This summer we are working cover-to-cover, verse-by-verse through the book of Philippians. One of Paul’s central exhortations to the Christians living in Philippi is “to live lives worthy of the Gospel” or, in the NIV, “to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel”. For Paul, the Gospel is the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. A life worthy of the Gospel, then, is a life that emulates, embodies, and lives in line with the standard set by Jesus even amid the challenges, difficulties, and hurdles the world, the flesh, and the devil throw at us.

Throughout the summer, we will dive into the book of Philippians to examine what kind of a life Jesus lived, imagine together how the humble, selfless, joyous life of Jesus can become enfleshed in the mundane particulars of our life, and commit to seeking God for strength, guidance, wisdom, and power to see our ordinary lives transformed into gospel worthy lives.

Scripture Memorization Challenge

Philippians 2:5-11, also known as “The Christ Hymn”, is the center of gravity for the entire book and is one of the most notable passages in the entire New Testament. If you know Philippians 2:5-11, you know the book of Philippians. Throughout the course of the summer, we challenge you to commit this beloved passage to memory.

Weekly Readings

For this summer’s devotional, we are not going to have daily readings, but rather weekly readings from Philippians. You will be invited to prayerfully read the same Scripture four times every day for the entire week. Why are we prescribing this deliberately slow, methodical, and prayerful reading of the book of Philippians? Eugene Peterson writes, “Scripture [was designed to] enter the soul as food, be digested by the stomach, and then spread throughout the bloodstream as holiness, love, and wisdom.” This summer, slow down and savor the banquet feast that is the book of Philippians, so that its contents might enter your bloodstream and be manifested through your heart, hands, and feet.

You can find a hard copy of summer devotional at the Welcome Center!