Philippians
Lesson 1: Paul’s Relationship with the Philippians
Lesson Workbook (PDF) - Click Here for NIV Click Here for KJV
Memorable Moments in Acts (Optional Activity) - Click Here
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. To understand the deep relational connection between Paul and the Philippians and realize he wasn’t writing a book to people he barely knew.
2. To realize that relationships we form are a big part of living out our relationship with Christ.
Topics
Joy, Hardship, Community, Fellowship, Relationships
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (5 minutes)
Use the questions below to get students thinking about how the places they lived affect their lives. It is important to realize the personal attachment Paul had with the people of Philippi. If the students have only lived in one place, get them talking about what is special about that area. Discussion will most likely come around to people.
• Have you lived where you currently live your whole life?
• Where are some of the places you’ve lived?
• Where is the favorite place you’ve lived?
• What made that place so special?
• What makes where you live now so special?
GETTING STARTED (10 minutes)
Write the following words on 10 index cards:
| Who | Paul |
| What | Letter |
| Where | Jail |
| When | About 60AD |
| Why | To strengthen partnership |
Have everyone sit in a circle, and give the cards to 10 different students. Let each person look at their index card, but not to let anyone else see what it says. Then have the students fold their card in half to conceal the writing.
Pick one student to start. Have them state their name and reveal whether they have a question or an answer. Then have them select another person from the group. The selected person will also state their name, and reveal what their card says.
If the cards match (question to the correct answer) the first person takes the card from the person they chose, and then selects some other student to continue play. If it’s not a match, play continues with the person they picked. Continue this way until you have at least a few matches, but don’t spend to much time on this game.
DIGGING IN (30 minutes)
The apostle Paul spent a lot of time traveling to many places to share the gospel. After being with people all over the known world, he often wrote to those he had met, sending them greetings, sharing their burdens, and encouraging their faith.
Before we get into the book of Philippians, let’s look at who they are, how they came to know Paul, and what relationship grew between the great apostle and the people.
Read Acts 16: 6-10
Discussion Questions
1. Why would the Holy Spirit prevent Paul and Co. from preaching the gospel anywhere?
2. What happened that got Paul’s attention to go to Macedonia?
3. When did Paul and Co. decide to react upon God’s calling to go?
Read Acts 16: 11-15
Discussion Questions
1. Where did Paul and company settle while waiting for the Sabbath?
2. Why do you think they sought out those who were already gathering in prayer?
3. If Lydia was a worshipper of God, then why did she need to respond to Paul’s message?
4. What did Paul’s message encourage Lydia and her household to do? (Lydia and all her household were baptized, and then they invited Paul and the rest of his group to stay in their home.)
5. Do you ever stay at someone else’s house?
6. What type of people do you let stay at your house
7. What does this say about how Christian’s relate to each other?
Read Acts 16: 16-40
In addition to what this says to us, it shows that Paul & co. were beginning to make deep relationships with the Philippians. Lydia’s house was somewhere that remained significant throughout their stay in Philippi
Discussion Questions
1. What got Paul and Silas jailed in the first place?
2. What happened to Paul and Silas before they were thrown into the jail?
3. What happened to Paul and Silas once they were in prison? (They were put in stocks and locked into the “inner cell”.)
4. With all that they had endured, a flogging like what Jesus may had endured, a beating from the crowd, placement in stocks in a dark, damp cell; how do you think they mustered the strength to praise God?
5. How do you find strength to praise God during difficult times?
The prison at a glance:Fastened in stocks—limited or no movement, unable to walk to a toilet (if there would’ve been one) or perhaps even extend their legs. Inner cell—a roman prison, the actual cells were reserved for poor criminals and conditions were rough. The inner cell would’ve been more intense, probably with little or no lighting or ventilation. Flogging—just as Jesus was flogged, the Romans beat prisoners with whips that had sharp, jagged materials tied in. combined with a mob-style beating, Paul & Silas would’ve been very weary from their punishment. |
Optional Activity (10 minutes)
Memorable Moments in Acts (Activity) click here
Now we are going forward about 10 years in Paul’s ministry. He is again in jail, under house arrest in Rome when he writes to the Philippians.
Read Philippians 1: 1-11
Discussion Questions
1. With what emotions did Paul write his letter to the Philippians?
2. How do you think the Philippians reacted when they read it?
3. Why was Paul’s relationship with the Philippians so special, based on verse 7? (It was a relationship built on persecution and hardship)
MAKING IT REAL (10 minutes)
It’s time to make this real to us. The relationship between Paul and the Philippians is a model for us as Christians. I want you to look to the person on your right. If there is no one on your right, look at the person on your left. How much do you really know about this person?
Do you know how many brothers and sisters they have?
Do you know when they accepted Christ?
Do you know what they are struggling with now?
Ask them now!
Asking these questions are hard, and it’s uncomfortable to realize we care so little some times, but like Paul and the Philippians, we should all have a passion for one another that leads us to pray for, know about, and love actively our brothers and sisters in Christ out.
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION (5 to 10 minutes)
This Weeks Verses
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11