Back to back
10 minutes
Split the group into pairs and get them to sit on the floor, back to back with arms linked. Tell the group that they have to be the first pair to stand up. To start with only one of the pair is allowed to put any effort in while their partner has to just sit there. After a while get the pairs to swap over who is trying to get them to stand up. When they have all tried for long enough, tell the group to work together to stand up.
Draw out the differences between when they worked together and when they didn’t; link this with the beginning of Philippians (1:3-9) and how Paul feels about the church in Philippi because of how they have worked together.
Thankfulness
15 minutes
Paul starts his letter with thankfulness. He thanks God for the people in the church every time he remembers them. Thankfulness is important as it helps to orientate our attitudes towards God and his goodness.
Give some time for the group to think about a few things they are thankful for. These could be big things such as family, food, etc or smaller things such as a kind word or a smile from a stranger. They may need help, so be ready with your own examples. Share as a group the things you are thankful for.
Key Point 1
Thankfulness is vital to our relationships, not just with each other but also with God.
The gospel in chains
10 minutes
Paul wrote this letter while in jail, yet he uses his hardship to proclaim the good news. He writes that what has happened to him has advanced the gospel. In life it can seem as though our struggles can shape our world view in a negative way and can trick us into thinking that nothing good can come out of a particular situation. As we see from Paul’s letter, God is with us and is able to bring light in to all the dark places
Ask the group to get into pairs and share a difficult situation that they are facing. Encourage them to pray and ask God to show them how they could be good news in that place.
Key Point 2
No matter what situation we are in, God can use it. God is a God who wastes nothing.
KEEP KEEPING ON
10 minutes
Paul encourages the church in Philippi to remember that: “God who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (verse six). Share the story of athlete Derek Redmond. Here is a summary: during the 1988 Olympics, Derek had to withdraw from the opening heat of the 400m contest just before the race was about to start, due to an injury in his Achilles tendon. Four years later at the Barcelona Olympics, he had undergone five operations, the last had taken place less than four months earlier. Things seemed to be going well for Derek. He won his quarter-final heat and had recorded the fastest time in the first round heats. At the start of his semi-final, Derek got off to a very good start. Watch the race here.
Derek was well into his rhythm when, about 150m into the race, he fell to the ground, having torn his right hamstring. Years of preparation, training and operations in the pursuit of a medal were gone in an instant. But Derek didn’t give up, he got up and began to hobble to the finish line; he was determined to finish the race. As Derek made his way slowly around the track a figure jumped out of the crowd, his father Jim. He ran to his son, wrapped his arm around him, to support him and helped him to finish the race.
Read Philippians 1:6 together and say: Paul wants the Philippians to know that it was God who began the good work in them and that God will finish it. Paul wants to remind them that God is committed to it.
Use the image of Derek’s father being committed to his son, helping him to finish what he had started and draw parallels with the relationship between God and us. Remind the group that God will never give up on us, no matter how badly we think we have fallen short or failed. Read verse six again, slowly and deliberately, and allow some time for the group to reflect on it.
Key Point 3
God wants the best for us and will do everything he can to finish what he started in us.
TAKE-HOME PRAYER
15 minutes
Paul prays with joy whenever he remembers other people in the church. We are all part of a worldwide Church; use some of the Open Doors country profiles to find a selection of churches and their leaders that you can pray for.
To help the group to remember to pray throughout the week, have them make a simple prayer bracelet. Plait together three strands of wool (or similar), ideally of three different colours and tie them around their wrist. Tell the young people that each of the three strands represents a different prayer.
Firstly, a prayer of thankfulness – find something to be thankful for. Secondly, a prayer for the difficult situations that they are facing - that they may be light in dark places and good news in those places. Finally, a prayer that God would strengthen them and continue to do the good work that he started in them.
Ben Whitmarsh has just finished working as missional worship director at ChristChurch , Bayston Hill and is now a stay-at-home dad in Bristol.
