STUDY TWO: KEEPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

THEME: FIGHT A GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7

DATE: 14TH JANUARY, 2024

AIMS:

1. To encourage believers to keep a right/positive attitude when faced with life’s hurdles.
2. To help Christians understand the benefits that comes with keeping a positive attitude.

INTRODUCTION: Firstly, Attitude has to do with a manner of acting, feelings, mood, thinking that shows one’s disposition, opinion, standpoint, viewpoint, etc. It is a mental position from which things are viewed. Positive attitude is therefore, keeping a positive mind-set about things being hopeful, confident, optimistic, seeing the positive outlook to life.

It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But Paul’s attitude teaches us an important lesson: Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him. Several times in this letter Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this. It’s easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. If you haven’t been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective. This study will help us as Christians evaluate ways, we can maintain a positive attitude even in trying times.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

• From the context of our study, how can you explain ‘Positive Attitude’ 1 Thess 5:16, Rom 5:3-4, Phil 4:8, Proverbs 15:13, Luke 12:25, Phil 4:4-7
• Differentiate between positive mind-set and positive attitude. Rom 8:28, Colossian 3:15, Prov. 17:22, Psalm 118:24, James 1:2-3
• As Christians, state ways we can exercise and keep a positive attitude in our daily life. Proverbs 18:21, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, psalm 19:14, Colossians 4:2.
• Discuss the benefits of keeping a positive attitude to life and to the church.

CONCLUSION: Life is filled with challenges and uncertainties. Often, it can be easy to have a bad attitude or pessimistic outlook. But as Christians, we are called to share God’s light and love with the world. While maintaining a positive attitude can be difficult while traveling life’s journey, it can also be a powerful tool that helps us persevere through trials and storms.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Positive attitude can transform your life’s altitude.

MEMORY VERSE: James 1:2-4: Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.