In Philippians, Paul lays out how he wants the church in Philippi to grow. We need to grow as teachers and we're trying to grow the kids we teach too.
It might help if everyone can see the questions and disgrams for themselves, use this qr code to help others navigate to this page.
Starter
1. What is your definition of ‘learning’?
Paul is writing to a mixed bunch of believers who live in a Roman colony and where he and Silas had previously been imprisoned briefly for upsetting some of the locals’ money-making plans (see Acts 16:11-40).
Deeper
Pray before you begin and then read the passage out loud.
Philippians 1:3-11
'I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains of defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowlegde and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Chrsit, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.'
2. How would you sum up what Paul is feeling in v3-8? What makes him feel so strongly?
3. Why is love central to how Paul teaches?
Have a look at this first model together:
Teachers are in the job of children learning and growing. But it’s an inherently human thing to do, and Christians are called to learn and grow in God.
5. In what ways has God been teaching and growing you recently? Or how do you want to grow? (Share in pairs)
Next, have a look at this second model together:
6. This second model is obviously missing out on God at all stages. Why is teaching still a good thing to do?
Reflect
7. What place does love have in our teaching lives?
8. Think back through the passage and your discussion. What do you want to ask God for? Pray together.