Single lesson
Philippians 3: Righteousness through Faith in Christ
Philippians 3:1–11; Philippians 3:12–16; Philippians 3:17–21
Philippians 3 helps children notice what Paul counts as most important. He turns away from confidence in human effort, wants to know Christ, keeps pressing on, and reminds believers that their citizenship is in heaven.
Before you teach
Paul says repeating this teaching is safe for the believers. He warns against false confidence, names his own reasons for confidence in the flesh, then counts them as loss for Christ. He speaks about righteousness from God by faith, pressing on toward the goal, and waiting for the Lord Jesus from heaven.
Students will identify Paul’s teaching about righteousness through faith in Christ, explain how it connects with pressing on, and describe how heavenly citizenship shapes the way believers think and walk.
Welcome: What counts most?
4 minAsk children to name things people might feel proud of, such as skills, awards, or family background. Explain that Paul had many reasons he could have trusted in himself, yet he says those things became loss compared with Christ. Tell the group they will listen for what Paul now values most.
Philippians 3:4, Philippians 3:7, Philippians 3:8
Read and explain: No confidence in the flesh
8 minRead Philippians 3:1-11 aloud from the Bible. Explain that ‘confidence in the flesh’ means trusting human status or effort. Paul lists his credentials, then counts them as loss. He wants to gain Christ, be found in him, receive righteousness from God by faith, and know Christ.
Philippians 3:1, Philippians 3:3, Philippians 3:5, Philippians 3:6, Philippians 3:7, Philippians 3:8, Philippians 3:9, Philippians 3:10, Philippians 3:11
Discuss: Press on toward the goal
6 minRead Philippians 3:12-16. Point out that Paul does not say he has already obtained everything or been made perfect. Instead, he presses on, forgets what is behind, and stretches forward. Discuss how this gives believers a clear direction: keep going toward the goal and walk together in the same way.
Philippians 3:12, Philippians 3:13, Philippians 3:14, Philippians 3:15, Philippians 3:16
Make and respond: Reminder card from Paul’s own words
8 minRead Philippians 3:17-21. Help children notice the contrast between earthly things and citizenship in heaven. Children then make a reminder card using a short phrase from the passage, such as ‘press on’, ‘walk by the same rule’, ‘be imitators’, or ‘our citizenship is in heaven’.
Philippians 3:17, Philippians 3:18, Philippians 3:19, Philippians 3:20, Philippians 3:21
Closing: Say the main teaching clearly
4 minFinish by inviting children to complete four short sentences from the passage: ‘We have no confidence in the flesh’, ‘be found in him’, ‘I press on toward the goal’, and ‘our citizenship is in heaven’. Re-read these lines and summarise Paul’s connected message.
Philippians 3:3, Philippians 3:9, Philippians 3:14, Philippians 3:20
Questions to explore
What does Paul say believers should not trust, and what righteousness does he want instead?
Look at the contrast between having ‘no confidence in the flesh’ and having ‘the righteousness which is from God by faith’.
Philippians 3:3, Philippians 3:9
What does Paul say he is still doing, even though he has not already obtained everything?
Listen for Paul’s words about pressing on, forgetting what is behind, stretching forward, and moving toward the goal.
Philippians 3:12, Philippians 3:13, Philippians 3:14
What contrast does Paul make between people who think about earthly things and believers whose citizenship is in heaven?
Compare the warning about earthly things with waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven.
Philippians 3:19, Philippians 3:20, Philippians 3:21
Make, think or respond
Key Phrase Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or markers
- Bible
- scissors if desired
Try it together
- Choose one short line from Philippians 3, such as ‘rejoice in the Lord’, ‘have no confidence in the flesh’, ‘I press on toward the goal’, ‘walk by the same rule’, ‘be imitators’, or ‘our citizenship is in heaven’.
- Write the line on a small card and decorate it with simple symbols such as footsteps, a goal line, or a home symbol.
- On the back, copy one more short phrase from the passage that matches it, such as ‘be found in him’ or ‘stretching forward’.
- Invite each child to read their chosen words aloud and briefly say where Paul says them.
This activity helps children remember Paul’s teaching by putting his own words about faith in Christ, pressing on, and citizenship in heaven in front of them clearly and simply from Philippians 3:3, Philippians 3:9, Philippians 3:14, and Philippians 3:20.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three pre-selected verse choices from Philippians 3:3, Philippians 3:14, and Philippians 3:20, and let them draw a picture to match the words.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to explain in one or two sentences how Philippians 3:9 connects with Philippians 3:10 and Philippians 3:14.
An optional closing prayer
Proposed words: ‘Lord Jesus, help us have no confidence in the flesh. Help us be found in you, know you, press on toward the goal, and remember that our citizenship is in heaven. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Philippians 3
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the false circumcision.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
7 However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ.
8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith,
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death,
11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you.
16 Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind.
17 Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.
18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.