What Is the Book of Philippians? (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781971767338)

The book of Philippians is one of the New Testament's most beloved letters. But how do you teach it to your kids?

At only four chapters long, Philippians might seem too short to need a guide-and too familiar to need explaining. Most churchgoers can quote a few lines from memory. "Rejoice in the Lord always." "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." "To live is Christ and to die is gain." But when these famous verses float around as isolated quotes on coffee mugs and bumper stickers, something vital gets lost: the story behind them.

Because Philippians isn't a collection of inspirational sayings. It's a letter written from a Roman prison by a man in chains to a church under pressure-and it overflows with the kind of joy that only makes sense when you understand where it comes from. It's the letter that contains the New Testament's most stunning portrait of who Jesus is and what he gave up. It's a call to unity so urgent that Paul names two quarreling individuals by name. And it's the testimony of a man who traded the most impressive résumé in the ancient world for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

What Is the Book of Philippians? makes this deeply personal letter come alive for today's young readers. Written in a warm, conversational style that takes the theology seriously without talking down to kids, this guide walks through all four chapters of Philippians with:

• Engaging illustrations from pop culture and classic literature-from Rudy and The Mighty Ducks to Frederick Douglass and The Scarlet Pimpernel-that connect biblical themes to stories kids already know and love
• Clear explanations of key concepts-like the Christ hymn, heavenly citizenship, and the difference between earned righteousness and the righteousness that comes from God-giving young readers tools to understand Paul's deepest convictions
• Real-life application-helping kids see how Paul's letter speaks to their own struggles with anxiety, comparison, conflict with friends, and the search for an identity that doesn't depend on achievement or approval

Whether your child is learning what real joy looks like in hard times, figuring out how to put others first when it costs them something, or ready to discover why a short letter from a Roman prison has changed lives for two thousand years, What Is the Book of Philippians? will show them that the Christ who was worth everything to Paul is worth everything to them too.

Perfect for family reading, church classes, or independent study.