DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Series: Unshaken
Sermon: To deal with anxiety, keep C.A.L.M.
Passage: Phillipians 4:4-9

Main Idea: Worry, anxiety and fear need an antidote. God promises an antidote:
PEACE through abiding in Jesus Christ.

Leader GuidePDF Version

GROUP DISCUSSION

Lean In

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

For this set of questions, we are encouraging groups to jump right into the passage. Skip this section.


Look Down

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

1. Read Philippians 4:4-9 as a group.

During your discussion, you’ll look at the acronym C.A.L.M. This acronym will help break down the passage. Read the acronym below out loud.

Celebrate God’s goodness (Philippians 4:4)
Ask for God’s help (Philippians 4:6)
Leave your concerns with him (Philippians 4:6)
Meditate on good things (Philippians 4:8)

2. Before diving in, start with 1 minute of quiet. Then as each person to pray this silent prayer: “Lord, I release to you my anxiety about ______.” After this minute, your facilitator will transition your group into a time to celebrate God’s goodness. Take turns praying out loud, “God I praise you because you are _____.”

3. Look again at Philippians 4:4-9. What do we learn about what to do with our anxiety? What does God promise in verse 7 as we bring our requests to Him?

4. What does it mean to present our requests to God “with thanksgiving”? How does this relate with Paul’s encouragement in verses 8-9?


Look Out

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

5. What do we see anxiety leading people to in the world right now?

6. What false securities are being stripped away from people?

7. Where have you seen people expressing a greater need for God?


Look In

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

8. Where does your mind tend to go when you get anxious?

9. What outcome or situation do I need to release to God? What is the burden I’m carrying right now?


Live It Out

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s for direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

10. What do I need to do right now to receive God’s peace? What patterns or rhythms do I need this week to stay focused on God and the peace that He promises?

11. What does it look like for us to encourage each other consistently this week? What does it look like for us to care for each other and serve each other this week? Who do we know that we could reach out to and care for in these times?

LEADER GUIDE

Lean In

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

For this set of questions, we are encouraging groups to jump right into the passage. Skip this section.


Look Down

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

1. Read Philippians 4:4-9 as a group.

During your discussion, you’ll be looking at the acronym C.A.L.M. This acronym will help break down this passage. Read the acronym below out loud.

Celebrate God’s goodness (Phil 4:4)
Ask for God’s help (Phil 4:6)
Leave your concerns with him (Phil 4:6)
Meditate on good things (Phil 4:8)

2. Before diving in, start with 1 minute of quiet. Then as each person to pray this silent prayer: “Lord, I release to you my anxiety about ______.” After this minute, your facilitator will transition your group into a time to celebrate God’s goodness. Out loud, pray “God I praise you because you are _____.”

We look for the goodness in who God is, rather than just the gifts He’s given us. As a note, this is not about ignoring the anxiety or fear about what is happening around us, it’s about reframing it in light of who God is.

3. Look again at Philippians 4:4-9. What do we learn about what to do with our anxiety? What does God promise in verse 7 as we bring our requests to Him?

Writing from prison to the Philippian church, Paul teaches by example that our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances and that, ultimately, joy comes from abiding Christ.

There is no promise of transformed circumstances. The promise is of God’s peace regardless of circumstance and outcome.

God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (see John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or simply in good feelings. Rather, it comes by knowing that God is in control and being connected to Him.

4. What does it mean to present our requests to God “with thanksgiving”? How does this relate with Paul’s encouragement in verses 8-9?

Thanksgiving is about being mindful of who God is and what He has done.

What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions. Therefore, Paul encourages us to focus our minds on thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy.


Look Out

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

5. What do we see anxiety leading people to in the world right now?

Encourage the group to give examples of what they see happening around them.
Examples could include, making bad decisions, panic buying, hoarding, etc…

6. What false securities are being stripped away from people?

False securities are ultimately anything we put hope in outside of God: money, jobs, health, material goods, etc…

7. Where have you seen people expressing a greater need for God?


Look In

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

8. Where does your mind tend to go when you get anxious?

9. What outcome or situation do I need to release to God? What is the burden I am carrying right now?

This is the time to pray for each other as people share and as the Spirit leads.


Live It Out

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

10. What do I need to do right now to receive God’s peace? What patterns or rhythms do I need this week to stay focused on God and the peace that He promises?

Meditate on the Word daily
Decide daily what to keep my mind focused on
Invite others to pray for me and lead me to God
Continually release my anxieties to God
Use Philippians 4:8 as a filter to help me test where my mind is focused

11. What does it look like for us to encourage each other consistently this week? What does it look like for us to care for each other and serve each other this week? Who do we know that we could reach out to and care for in these times?

Have a leader pray over the group to close.