Youth Discussion: A Heavenly Perspective (Philippians 3:10-4:1)

Bible Verse 1: Philippians 3:10-4:1

         

Video:  “Evermore” Dan Stevers 

Bible Verse 2:                                   

Five Questions:

1.     Are you ever afraid of death?  Why?

2.     What does Paul say happens when people don’t follow Christ? (Philippians 3: 18-19)

3.     What happens to people who follow Christ as his Disciples?  (Philippians 3: 20-21)

4.     In the video those who go to heaven are themselves only better.  How does this make you feel?

5.     Does the video answer some questions you might have about death and heaven?  Do you have others?

6.     How does knowing that God had a plan from the very beginning help you to be less afraid?  How does it help you to trust God?

Wrap Up:

Verses 18 and 19 describe those who live as “enemies of the cross of Christ”. “Their mind is on earthly things”; in other words, they can’t see beyond the here and now (i.e., “whose god is their belly”), and they only live for the present moment. But, says Paul, “our citizenship is in heaven” (v 20). To know Christ, we must understand that heaven is our home. We are called “heavenwards” (v 14), we belong there (v 20), our Saviour will return from there (v 20), and he will transform “our lowly bodies” (v 21) into glorious bodies that will spend eternity there. Keeping that heavenly perspective, says Paul, is “how you should stand firm in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1).

Supposing we decide that our country is no longer worth living in, and we become convinced that Peru is the place to be. We receive our Peruvian citizenship, but must wait six months before we move there. What will we do in the meantime? We will not spend our time building up our attachment to our old country – extending our home, buying things that we will have to leave behind when we move, forming relationships that have no future. We will spend time getting ready to live in our new country – learning the language, the customs, the national anthem, the history. And we will think about and talk to each other about how marvellous it will be when we move there. Knowing Christ should change the way we look at everything – our homes, our work, our relationships, what we spend our money on, what we give our time to. Knowing Christ is not just the aim of life; it is life.

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests.