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    The Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians
    The Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians
    The Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians
    Ebook228 pages2 hours

    The Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians

    By David Olshine

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    About this ebook

    Even though nearly 2,000 years have passed since Paul wrote his letters, students today are facing many of the same issues as the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. They may be experiencing angst or hurt, or they may be hearing messages that are contrary to what they know to be true about the Gospel. They’re probably even dealing with questions about sexuality and morality. By studying these practical letters of Paul, students will learn ways to faithfully cope with the trials of the their day-to-day lives. Through engaging activities and thought-provoking questions that get right to the heart of Philippians, Colossians, and First and Second Thessalonians, students will learn how to find joy in their journey, discover practical instructions of faith, and get encouragement for times of trial.

    • In Philippians students will learn how to tell the difference between joy and happiness, and they will learn that true joy comes from serving Christ.

    • In the letter of Paul to the Colossians, students will be encouraged in their faith, and they will learn how to make a difference in the lives of believers and non-believers alike—whether they can see the impact they make or not. They will also discover how to avoid false teachings.

    • In the two letters to the Thessalonians, students will learn that as believers they should be living in ways that make others excited to get to know God. They will also learn how to reach out for a Christian community for support when they encounter trials.

    Written with the busy youth worker in mind, Studies on the Go: Philippians, Colossians, and First and Second Thessalonians provides Scriptural depth and substance to be tackled in a manageable time frame. The questions are real, down-to-earth, and straight to the point to get students quickly into the text so they can hear God’s word on a practical level. Designed for classes, youth groups, and small groups, this curriculum is guaranteed to get students engaged in the Bible.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9780310867432
    The Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians
    Author

    David Olshine

    Dr. David Olshine is professor and director of the Youth Ministry, Family and Culture Department at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina. David was raised in a Jewish family and came to know Jesus as his Messiah in high school. He speaks across the United States annually to thousands of youth, youth workers and parents. Dr. Olshine has authored and co-authored twenty books, including Studies on the Go: Proverbs and Studies on the Go: Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. David is the co-founder of Youth Ministry Coaches, an organization that coaches and consults churches for effective youth ministry strategies. David is married to Rhonda and they have two great kids, Rachel and Andrew.

    Read more from David Olshine

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      Book preview

      The Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians - David Olshine

      SECTION 1

      THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

      HANDY TIPS AND INSIGHTS FOR PHILIPPIANS

      WHO? This letter to the Philippians was written by Paul, a zealous Jewish leader, who had an encounter with Jesus that radically altered his life (Acts 7:51-60 and 9:1-31). His name was originally Saul and later became Paul (Acts 13:9). Besides Jesus Christ, few have shaped the course of history as the apostle Paul did. Paul was deeply rooted in the Jewish community when he encountered Jesus. One would think Paul’s main calling after his conversion (or completion) to Jesus would be directed primarily to the audience he knew and loved the most, the Jewish people. And yet Jesus’ call was for Paul to immerse himself primarily in the Gentile, non-Jewish community. He won many Jewish people to Jesus, but the focus of his ministry was primarily with non-Jewish people.

      WHERE? Philippi was the first church Paul planted in Europe around AD 50-52. He planted the church on his second missionary journey (see Acts 16:12-15). Philippi was located 10 miles from Neapolis on the Aegean Sea. The main highway to the west, the Via Egnatia, passed through Philippi and made this Roman colony a strategic place to share about Jesus. The city was founded and named after Phillip, the father of Alexander the Great.

      WHEN? Paul authored this letter around AD 61-64, about 10 years after he founded this congregation and about four years after his last visit from his missionary journeys.

      WHAT? Luke, the physician and author of the gospel of Luke, was pastor of this church the first six years. Paul dictated this letter to Timothy, a native of Lystra (Acts 16:1) whose mother was Jewish and father Greek. The apostle Paul led Timothy to Jesus (1 Timothy 1:2), and Timothy joined Paul on journeys to Troas, Philippi, Berea, and Thessalonica.

      Paul starts his letters with a greeting—Grace and peace to you— and usually a prayer of thanks and mentioning some people he cares about deeply. Philippians is a letter of appreciation to this group of Christians. Paul mentions the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5), which refers to their financial gift sent to Paul to help spread the good news.

      Paul had a deep commitment and affection for the Philippian church. He referred to them as brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown (Philippians 4:1).

      Written from prison, Paul’s letter can be broken down into these chapter themes.

      Chapter 1—joy in suffering

      Chapter 2—joy in serving

      Chapter 3—joy in knowing Jesus

      Chapter 4—joy in contentment

      SESSION 1

      Joy in the Journey: Philippians 1:1-6

      2

      LEADER’S INSIGHT

      Paul writes with Timothy as a servant and apostle (one who was sent forth) by God. We use the word missionary often in place of the word apostle. The apostle Paul went from being a persecutor of Christians to a preacher for Jesus, which landed him in the final years of his life as a prisoner for his newfound faith. Around AD 61-64 Paul wrote a letter from prison to encourage the Christians in a Roman colony called Philippi located in northern Greece (called Macedonia in Paul’s day).

      Paul took many journeys to spread the message of the Messiah Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew). One of the churches he founded was in Philippi. Years later, as Paul faced death, he wrote these Christians to encourage them. His central point: We find joy in walking with God, joy in being a follower of Jesus, joy in talking and listening to God, and joy in working together to reach people for Jesus.

      What’s a Christian? Someone who invites Jesus into her life, then partners with God, resulting in good works in and through her. And the result is joy. More than 16 times Paul penned the words joy and rejoice. That was Paul’s message in his time—and is still the message today. We find joy in the journey.

      SHARE (WARM-UP QUESTIONS)

      •If you could travel anywhere with all expenses paid, where would you go and why?

      •What activity, hobby, or event gives you happiness or joy? Why?

      •What’s the difference between joy and happiness? Explain.

      OBSERVE (OBSERVATION QUESTIONS)

      •Read Philippians 1:1. How does Paul refer to himself and Timothy? Who was he writing this letter to?

      •According to verse 2, what’s Paul’s opening greeting?

      •Based on verses 3-4, with what attitude does Paul pray?

      •In verses 5-6, what’s Paul confident of for these followers of Jesus?

      THINK (INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS)

      •What’s a servant? What does a servant do? How do you think Paul was a servant to others (especially churches)?

      •Verse 2 refers to a saint. How would you define a saint?

      •Look at verses 3-6. Why does Paul pray with thanksgiving and with joy?

      •What’s the promise to Christians in verse 6?

      APPLY (APPLICATION QUESTIONS)

      •How’s your joy meter lately, based on the scale of 1 being low and 10 being high?

      •Do you think joy is an emotion or an attitude? Explain.

      •Why do you think many people have trouble being joyful?

      •Where do you see God working in your life now? What work do you hope God will carry to completion in your life?

      •What’s one step you can take this week to choose joy in the journey?

      DO (OPTIONAL ACTIVITY)

      Have everyone in your group write down two or three stop signs or road blocks that keep them from experiencing joy in the journey. Then have everyone write down two or three green lights or triggers that help pave their way to joy. Then have each person share his answers with the group. Close in prayer, asking God to help the students walk in confidence that God’s work is being completed in them.

      QUIET TIME REFLECTIONS

      Day one: Philippians 1:1

      1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?

      2. Do you view yourself as a servant? Why or why not?

      3. Think about the word saint. What does it mean for your life?

      Day two: Philippians 1:2

      1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?

      2. What does it mean to have grace and peace? What does it mean to have peace from God? What person in your life needs this grace and peace right now?

      3. Think about God as father. How does viewing God as father affect you negatively or positively?

      Day three: Philippians 1:3

      1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?

      2. What do you think about the phrase I thank my God? Is it hard for you to be thankful? Why?

      3. What are some ways to express thankfulness to God?

      Day four: Philippians 1:4

      1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?

      2. What’s your prayer life like these days?

      3. How do you handle what seem to be unanswered prayers? Why should we pray even when we don’t feel anything? Think about practical ways to develop a joyful prayer life (see Romans 1:10) and jot down a couple.

      Day five: Philippians 1:5

      1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?

      2. What does it mean to have a partnership with someone in the gospel?

      3. Think about the powerful connection we can have with friends in sharing the good news of Jesus. What’s one way you might share Jesus with someone this week?

      Day six: Philippians 1:6

      1. What word or phrase jumps out to you? Why?

      2. What does it mean that God will complete the good work until the day of Christ Jesus?

      3. In what ways does your life feel lacking? How might God intend for you to finish this journey strong even though you feel those places of weakness?

      Day seven: Philippians 1:1-6

      Read through the entire passage. Write down the one verse that impacted you the most this week. Commit the passage to memory.

      [From Studies on the Go: The Letters of Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians by Dr. David Olshine. Permission to reproduce this page granted only for use in buyer’s youth group. Copyright ©2009 by Youth Specialties.]

      SESSION 2

      Facing Suffering: Philippians 1:7-13

      2

      LEADER’S INSIGHT

      There was a banner over my gym locker room that declared, No pain, no gain. Perhaps Paul would agree. I’m not sure I liked the reality this sign reminded me of each time I entered the locker room. Few people enjoy pain. I can’t imagine someone getting out of bed, looking in the mirror, and praying, God, please let me suffer today.

      Job 1:1 says, In this land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Yet cataclysmic suffering bombarded this man. He suffered by losing his land, livestock, his home, and then all 10 of his children. Talk about unspeakable grief! But Job responds, Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10a) I love the next part of the verse: In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (2:10b).

      The apostle Paul insists walking with God isn’t easy; in fact, it can be downright hard. Paul was writing from prison and in chains (Philippians 1:7). Why was Paul in prison? He was there because of his defense of the good news of Jesus.

      What attitude did Job and Paul model

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