This Sunday we launched a new four week series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We’re using The Complete New Testament Resource, Volume 1 from Youth Specialties as a launching pad for the series; I taught the high school while Matt O taught the middle school kids.
In particular, we focused on Philippians 1:27-30, with a goal that students would understand that working together as a group and supporting one another is a dynamic response to persecution and opposition. There were four main talking points:
- Life is filled with challenges. Regardless of how you feel right now or how things are working out for you, the fact is that life is filled with challenges, conflicts, and pain.
- We need community. God created us to live in community, not isolated from others.
- The enemy is looking for an opportunity to attack. When we’re isolated, on our own, we’re much more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.
- Believers must work together. Together we can support, encourage, and affirm each other—while holding each other accountable.
A great follow up activity for home would be to reread Philippians 1:27-30 together as a family and discuss the following questions:
- How did Paul instruct people to respond to persecution and opposition?
- What message will be sent to the world when Christians stand together?
- How can being part of a group help you face problems better than you would handle them as an individual?
- How can we as a family act to show people our love is real?
Matthew McNutt 