Lessons From the Epistles to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians
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Sabbath, October 10, 2026Lesson 2
Christlike In All Circumstances MEMORY VERSE: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:3, 4).
Suggested Reading:
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 167–177, 477–490.
“The cultivation of a uniform courtesy, a willingness to do to others as we would wish them to do to us, would annihilate half the ills of life. The spirit of self-aggrandizement is the spirit of Satan; but the heart in which the love of Christ is cherished, will possess that charity which seeketh not her own.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 133.
1. A NECESSARY QUALITY Sun, Oct 4
a. Why should we appreciate Paul’s expression of the value of true Christian harmony? Philippians 2:1, 2; Romans 15:5, 6.“Christ is leading out a people, and bringing them into the unity of the faith, that they may be one, as He is one with the Father. Differences of opinion must be yielded, that all may come into union with the body, that they may have one mind and one judgment.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 324.b. Describe the joy to be reaped by such unity and how only it can be achieved. 1 Corinthians 1:10; Psalm 133:1–3.“The cause of division and discord in families and in the church is separation from Christ. To come near to Christ is to come near to one another. The secret of true unity in the church and in the family is not diplomacy, not management, not a superhuman effort to overcome difficulties—though there will be much of this to do—but union with Christ.”—The Adventist Home, p. 179.
2. A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE Mon, Oct 5
a. What appeal comes to all Christian believers—and why? Philippians 2:3.“Vainglory, selfish ambition, is the rock upon which many souls have been wrecked and many churches rendered powerless. Those who know least of devotion, who are least connected with God, are the ones who will most eagerly seek the highest place. They have no sense of their weakness and their deficiencies of character.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 174.“Men of various temperaments and defective characters can see the faults of others, but do not seem to have a knowledge of their own errors. . . . With ordinary humanity there is a selfishness, an ambition, that mars the work of God. Self-interest must be lost sight of.”—Ibid., p. 419.“A heart where the peace of Christ is not, is unhappy, full of discontent; the person sees defects in everything, and he would bring discord into the most heavenly music. A life of selfishness is a life of evil. Those whose hearts are filled with love of self will store away evil thoughts of their brethren and will talk against God’s instrumentalities. Passions kept warm and fierce by Satan’s promptings are a bitter fountain, ever sending forth bitter streams to poison the life of others. . . .“Let each one who claims to follow Christ esteem himself less and others more. Press together, press together! In union there is strength and victory; in discord and division there is weakness and defeat.”—Ibid., p. 488.b. Explain the secret of genuine prosperity. Philippians 2:4.“If our lives are filled with holy fragrance, if we honor God by having good thoughts toward others, and doing good deeds to bless others, it matters not whether we live in a cottage or a palace. Circumstances have but little to do with the experiences of the soul. It is the spirit cherished which gives coloring to all our actions. A man at peace with God and his fellow men cannot be made miserable. Envy will not be in his heart; evil surmising will find no room there; hatred cannot exist. The heart in harmony with God is lifted above the annoyances and trials of this life.”—Ibid., vol. 5, p. 488.“Success will increase in proportion as [our institutions] exercise disinterested liberality, sharing their abundance with institutions that are struggling for a foothold. Our prosperous institutions should help those institutions that God has said should live and prosper, but which are still struggling for an existence. There is among us a very limited amount of real, unselfish love.”—Ibid., vol. 8, p. 137.
3. IN HIS FOOTSTEPS Tue, Oct 6
a. At this stage in history, what should characterize our thinking and actions? 2 Corinthians 10:3–5; Philippians 2:5.“To adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour, we must have the same mind which was in Christ. Our likes and dislikes, our desire to favor self to the disadvantage of others must be overcome. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Christ must be in us a living, working power.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 921.“We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 330.b. How and why are we to reflect the attitude of Christ? Philippians 2:6–8.“Jesus took upon Himself our nature, laid aside His glory, majesty, and riches to perform his mission, to save that which was lost. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister unto others. Jesus, when reviled, abused, and insulted, did not retaliate. ‘Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again.’ When the cruelty of man caused Him to suffer painful stripes and wounds, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judgeth righteously. The apostle Paul exhorted his Philippian brethren: ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.’ Is the servant greater than his master? Christ has given us His life as a pattern, and we dishonor Him when we become jealous of every slight, and are ready to resent every injury, supposed or real. It is not an evidence of a noble mind to be prepared to defend self, to preserve our own dignity. We would better suffer wrongfully a hundred times than wound the soul by a spirit of retaliation, or by giving vent to wrath. There is strength to be obtained of God. He can help. He can give grace and heavenly wisdom. If you ask in faith, you will receive; but you must watch unto prayer. Watch, pray, work, should be your watchword.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 426, 427.
4. PROACTIVE APPRECIATION Wed, Oct 7
a. How does God the Father view the infinite sacrifice made by Christ—and how should we? Philippians 2:9–11.“On whose side are we? The world cast Christ out, the heavens received Him. Man, finite man, rejected the Prince of life; God, our sovereign Ruler, received Him into the heavens. God has exalted Him. Man crowned Him with a crown of thorns, God has crowned Him with a crown of royal majesty. We must all think candidly. Will you have this man Christ Jesus to rule over you, or will you have Barabbas? . . . The death of Christ is hope and eternal life to all who receive Him and believe in Him.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1107.b. Weak as we are in moral strength and willpower, why must we proactively surrender to the Saviour? Philippians 2:12, 13.“If you have truly begun the life of faith you have given yourself to the Lord to be wholly His, and He has taken you to mold and fashion according to His purpose, that you may be a vessel unto honor. You should have an earnest desire to be pliable in His hands and to follow whithersoever He may lead you. You are then trusting Him to work out His designs, while at the same time you are cooperating with Him by working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. . . .“Pure religion has to do with the will. The will is the governing power in the nature of man, bringing all the other faculties under its sway. The will is not the taste or the inclination, but it is the deciding power which works in the children of men unto obedience to God or unto disobedience.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 512, 513.“You will be in constant peril until you understand the true force of the will. You may believe and promise all things, but your promises or your faith are of no value until you put your will on the side of faith and action. If you fight the fight of faith with all your will power, you will conquer. Your feelings, your impressions, your emotions, are not to be trusted, for they are not reliable. . . . .“But you need not despair. . . . It is for you to yield up your will to the will of Jesus Christ; and as you do this, God will immediately take possession and work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Your whole nature will then be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ, and even your thoughts will be subject to Him.”—Ibid., pp. 513, 514.
5. DAILY CHRISTIANITY Thu, Oct 8
a. Name some common problems we must overcome. Philippians 2:14, 15.“The love of God must pervade the soul, or the fruits of righteousness will not appear. It is not safe to indulge in vanity and pride, or love of power or gain. It is the worst phase of selfishness to fret and censure and complain because you have the power to do this and those whom you abuse in this way cannot prevent you. It is selfishness that causes variance in the family circle and in the church. Unchristian hearts will think they can discern great wrongs in others where none exist and will dwell upon little matters until they appear greatly magnified. The work of adjusting these little matters, which seem so large to some, God has left for His followers themselves to do. Let not those unhappy differences remain till they become a root of bitterness in the church, whereby many will be defiled. When Christ is in the heart it will be so softened and subdued by love for God and man that fretting, faultfinding, and contention will not exist there. The religion of Christ in the heart will gain for its possessor a complete victory over those passions that are seeking for the mastery.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 610.b. Of what vital reality should Paul’s commendation of Epaphroditus remind us? Philippians 2:21, 25–27, 30.“Christ did not send His angels to this fallen world, while He remained in heaven; but He Himself went without the camp, bearing the reproach. He became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; Himself took our infirmities, and bore our weaknesses. And the absence of self-denial in His professed followers, God regards as a denial of the Christian name. Those who profess to be one with Christ, and indulge their selfish desires for rich and expensive clothing, furniture, and food, are Christians only in name. To be a Christian is to be Christlike.”—Counsels on Stewardship, p. 54.
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Oct 9
1. Why is Christian unity important, and how only is it achieved?2. What is the secret of success, both for individuals and for institutions?3. How might we summarize what Christ has done in behalf of humanity?4. Despite our blemished record, what is Jesus willing to do for us—and how?5. Why do I tend to complain—and what can help me overcome this vice?