Lesson sequence
Philippians 2: One in Christ
Philippians 2:1–4; Philippians 2:5–11; Philippians 2:12–18; Philippians 2:19–30
Philippians 2 teaches children to notice four linked ideas: unity, Jesus’ humility, obedient living without complaining, and the care shown by Timothy and Epaphroditus. This lesson sequence helps them follow how those ideas build across the passage.
Before you teach
In these verses, the writer addresses ‘my beloved’ and urges like-minded love, humility, and attention to others. The passage then points to Christ Jesus, speaks about obeying and being seen as ‘lights in the world’, and finishes with Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of genuine care and service.
Students will identify one main teaching from each part of Philippians 2 and explain one practical way they could apply it this week.
Your lesson sequence
Use the teaching outline below for each session, with these reading and activity choices.
One in Christ
Philippians 2:1–4
The passage calls for like-minded love, humility, and attention to others.
Try together: Children identify the commands in the passage and, as an application activity based on Philippians 2:3-4, act out simple everyday examples of putting others first.
The Mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5–11
The passage points to Christ Jesus as the pattern of humility and obedience, and shows God exalting him.
Try together: Children trace the movement from Jesus’ humility to God’s exaltation and explain why verse 5 connects this example to them.
Lights in the World
Philippians 2:12–18
The passage tells ‘my beloved’ to obey, avoid complaining and arguing, and be seen as lights in the world.
Try together: Children list actions from the passage and make a class chart showing, as an application, what living as ‘lights in the world’ could look like this week.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
Philippians 2:19–30
Timothy and Epaphroditus are presented as caring, proven, and honourable workers in the work of Christ.
Try together: Children compare these two men and find the phrases that show genuine care, faithful service, and reasons for joy and honour.
Welcome: Spot the chapter’s big ideas
4 minBriefly introduce Philippians 2 as a passage about being like-minded, caring for others, learning from Jesus, and noticing faithful helpers. Write four headings on paper: unity, Jesus’ example, lights, faithful helpers. Tell the group they will hear how each part connects. Invite children to listen for repeated ideas such as humility, obedience, joy, and care.
Philippians 2:2, Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:15, Philippians 2:20, Philippians 2:29
Read and explain: From humble thinking to Jesus’ example
8 minRead Philippians 2 aloud in short parts. Explain that being like-minded includes the same love and one mind. Show that humility means counting others better than yourself and looking to their interests. Then connect this to Jesus, because the passage says to have his mind and shows his humility and obedience before God highly exalted him.
Philippians 2:2, Philippians 2:3, Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:8, Philippians 2:9
Discuss: How do these parts fit together?
6 minAsk children to compare the first and second parts. Help them notice that the call to care for others is followed by Jesus’ example. Then discuss how doing things without complaining and arguing is connected with being seen as lights in the world. Finish by noticing how Timothy and Epaphroditus show caring service in the chapter.
Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:14, Philippians 2:15, Philippians 2:20, Philippians 2:30
Make and respond: Key verse reminder card
7 minLet each child choose one verse idea from the chapter and make a small reminder card. They can write a short phrase such as ‘same love’, ‘others’, ‘have this in your mind’, or ‘lights in the world’, then add a simple drawing. Invite each child to explain one realistic situation where this verse could guide their actions as an application.
Philippians 2:2, Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:15, Philippians 2:20
Closing: Honour Christlike service
5 minReview the four headings and ask children to match one name or action to each. Emphasise that this passage gives commands and also shows Jesus, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as examples connected to those commands. End by naming one class action for the week, such as helping gladly or honouring someone who serves others, as a response to the passage.
Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:11, Philippians 2:17, Philippians 2:20, Philippians 2:25, Philippians 2:29
Questions to explore
In Philippians 2:3-4, what are the children told to do with the needs and interests of other people?
Look for the phrases about humility, counting others better than yourself, and looking to the things of others.
Philippians 2:3, Philippians 2:4
How does Philippians 2:5-8 connect Jesus to the commands in Philippians 2:2-4?
Notice that the passage says to have the same mind as Christ Jesus, then shows his humility and obedience.
Philippians 2:2, Philippians 2:3, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:8
What do Timothy and Epaphroditus show about serving others in Philippians 2:20-22 and 2:25-30?
Find the words that describe true care, proven service, longing for others, and being honoured for the work of Christ.
Philippians 2:20, Philippians 2:22, Philippians 2:26, Philippians 2:29, Philippians 2:30
Make, think or respond
Philippians 2 Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read several short verse options from Philippians 2 and let each child choose one.
- Ask them to copy a key phrase from the verse and draw a simple picture to match it.
- Have each child tell one realistic situation where this verse could guide their actions.
- Place the cards where children can take them home as a reminder for the week.
This activity helps children remember that Philippians 2 joins teaching, Jesus’ example, and responses such as caring for others, obeying without complaining, and honouring faithful service.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three short phrase choices to copy, such as ‘same love’, ‘others’, or ‘lights in the world’.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain how one later example, such as Timothy or Epaphroditus, matches an earlier command in the chapter.
An optional closing prayer
‘Lord Jesus, please help us care for others, obey with glad hearts, and live in ways that point to you. Thank you for the examples in this passage. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Philippians 2
1 If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and arguing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
16 holding up the word of life, that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 In the same way, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.
20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.
21 For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.
25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,
26 since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.
28 I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,
30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.