Philippians A Self-guided Study for Individuals or Groups

Foreword

Over 30 years ago, I got to be part of a team that started a church to reach people who were either far from God, or felt far from God. We found great favor with God and people, and people came from all over to meet the Jesus who loves them and gave Himself for them!!!
Not long after, we realized that thousands were coming who had really received the grace and forgiveness offered by Jesus! But at the same time, we realized that they didn’t know the Bible, didn’t know where to begin, or how to study for themselves. Most of them had rarely, if ever, opened the Bible to experience the truth of God’s Word.
As is common, the women of our church were being more proactive, looking for opportunities to grow and deepen in their faith. Lynn Block, our children and family director in the early days, started creating seminars and events for women but what was needed was a place where women could study the Bible weekly together.
At this point, Diane entered the picture, creating original Bible studies that allowed women to really know the Bible. From the beginning she has had a remarkable way of writing inductive Bible Studies of books of the Bible that women at all stages of their spiritual journey could participate fully. One of DD’s hallmarks was “never assume that people have previous knowledge of the Bible”. Because of this, her studies took women (and later men as well) on a journey they could all navigate together. She has been, and is, skilled at writing thought provoking questions that get people interested in discovering the truths of God’s Word.
For 30 years, DD has led a ministry where hundreds and hundreds of women have become true students of the Bible and deeply committed disciples of Jesus. I have personally seen life after life transformed from the Insights Ministry, and a marvelous number of those women are serving Jesus in a thousand different arenas!!
Three things I am most deeply grateful for as Diane’s pastor (and brother in law):
1 - For all the years I’ve known her, she has been steadfastly growing in her walk with Jesus. There were years where Paula, her sister, and I benefited from DD’s advice, and her care for us was critical for getting us through some very difficult early years of marriage.
2- She has modeled openhandedness with her life. She has trained dozens of women to be powerful Bible teachers. People in our community love her and are so grateful for her life, but she remains a normal human like the rest of us, seeking to walk with Jesus on the same ground where we walk. She models for people that you can walk with Jesus for a lifetime.
3- She has truly “done the work”. Her diligence and study and effort has moved countless people towards discipleship and growing in their understanding of God’s truth. She is all for the Glory of Jesus Christ. In all these years, she led and created as a lay person, never a paid staff person, but a volunteer leader who has been worth millions to us!
I have wanted her to publish materials for many years. What joy for me that this is finally happening!!! May these studies awaken people’s hearts to Jesus. Only in Heaven will we know how wonderful this impact will be.

Steve Andrews
Co-founding Pastor Kensington Church

Introduction

There are times in our lives when God unexpectedly grabs our attention and speaks into our hearts and minds with new and surprising understandings of His truth and love. During my early teenage years I experienced one of those times.

Whenever my three sisters or I struggled with homework, we would usually seek my father’s help - especially with math and science! The door to his office was always open and even if he was busy at work and deep in thought, we were free to interrupt. I can still picture his desk with all the papers piled on top and the shelves above it lined with Bibles and other reference books. He loved the Bible and studied it diligently with the precision of an engineer and the heart of a Christ-follower. Through the years, God’s word had become more and more a part of his life and he was always eager to share something he had learned.

Often when I was asking for help with homework, I would also seek advice about other issues. More often than not, during those discussions my Dad’s hand would reach up to take a Bible down, and somehow he would find just the right verse to address the problem I was struggling with. I remember being amazed at how he could do that!

But as I grew older, I began to question and challenge the idea that finding answers in God’s word was the best way. I imagined that my opinion was as good as anybody else’s opinion, and probably as good as what God had to say.

On one occasion, when wanting to talk to Dad about something “important,” I was determined to discuss it without him showing me a Bible verse! During the conversation, I tried to keep him occupied and distracted by asking one question after another as quickly as I could, but even that didn’t stop him from eventually reaching up to the shelf above lined with Bibles. As I saw his hand bringing one down, I blurted out impatiently, “Dad, I just want to know what you think.”

He stopped suddenly, paused, and with a confused look on his face said gently and quietly, “But this is the only answer I have.”

Today I no longer remember what the issue was that I thought was so important, nor do I remember the answer my Dad gave me, but I will always remember walking out of that room thinking, “This is real to Him. He actually believes that the Bible, God’s word, is the truth and the best answer for life.”

That encounter, at a tender age, dramatically changed my perspective and put me on a path that led to my treasuring the words of Scripture as life giving and true. It has been a process of growing and stumbling, often failing to go to the Bible first or follow it faithfully; but whenever I have earnestly sought and heeded God’s word, it has never failed to yield the guidance, comfort, and answers I needed. Best of all, those words of truth led me to know Jesus Christ, the living Word, and to understand His heart of mercy and love. (John 5:39,46)