• Paul’s letter to the Philippians over flows with joy, love, and peace.

• We gather from 2 Corinthians 8:2 that by the time Paul would have written this letter, the churches in the region of Philippi would have been suffering from poverty and persecution. Unlike other early churches, this church wasn’t overcome by serious problems of doctrine, heresy, or sin.

• Paul most likely wrote the letter to
the Philippians from Rome, during his imprisonment detailed in Acts 28.
From prison Paul instructed the Philippians on how to have peace
through trials. While chained to two guards, Paul told his readers how to do all things without grumbling and to rejoice in the Lord always.

 

GOD IS CONTENTMENT
Letter to the Philippians
Philippians 3—4

Before you read this week’s passage, ask your children what makes them feel content. Do they think having more things would make them content? What are those things? Would they feel more content if certain situations in their lives were different? If so, what are those situations? Then read Philippians 4:4–9. Explain to your children that true contentment doesn’t depend on what we possess or our circumstances. Instead, contentment comes from God.

After reading the Scripture passage, discuss these questions together:

 

What does it mean to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable?

•What are some examples of these things? • What should we do when we’re anxious?

Where in your life do you need God to help you be more content?

 

These questions can easily extend into the rest of the week. Look for opportunities to bring conversations about how God gives us contentment into your everyday life as a family.