05/20/2026
Hey Parents + Guardians!
I hope you’re doing well! Tonight we are kicking off a new four-week series called Get Real: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, which will bring us to our last regular youth night of the year! (Year-End BBQ at Blackie Spit will be on June 17 from 6-9pm). I want to share what we’ll be covering and invite you into the conversation.
This series is built around one of the most personal letters the Apostle Paul ever wrote, and the remarkable thing about it is that he wrote it from prison. Over the next four weeks, we’ll be exploring how Paul navigated impossible circumstances with joy and purpose, and what that means for the real situations your student is living with right now. We’re talking about purpose, relationships, priorities, and focus… and we’re grounding all of it in Scripture.
Below is a brief overview that will give you an idea of what we’ll be discussing each week, along with a question you can use to keep the conversations going at home.
Series Overview
This four-week series explores Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Students will find purpose in difficult circumstances, learn to put others first, and discover what it looks like to prioritize what truly matters.
Session 1: Finding Purpose in the Mess
This week we’re talking about purpose. Paul wrote Philippians from a prison cell, and yet somehow every word of the letter is marked by joy and forward momentum. We’ll explore how Paul’s circumstances didn’t limit what God was doing through him, and challenge students to consider that God might already be at work in the middle of whatever mess they’re carrying right now.
Big Idea: God helps us find purpose in the mess.
Primary Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18
Questions for Discussion:
• Paul said that everything that had happened to him had helped spread the gospel. What’s a difficult situation in your life that turned out to lead somewhere good?
• What's one thing you're carrying right now that you haven't thought about bringing to God? What would it look like to ask Him to use it?
Session 2: Selfishness Kills Relationships
This week we’re talking about humility. Paul wrote Philippians 2 to address something that was threatening to tear apart the community he loved… selfishness. He points to Jesus as the ultimate model of humility, and challenges students to think about what it would look like to put others first in their own relationships.
Big Idea: Humility is the key to finding true community.
Primary Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11
Questions for Discussion:
• Paul says to think of others as better than yourselves. What do you think that actually looks like in a real friendship?
• Jesus had every right to demand His own way and chose to serve instead. What does that tell us about what humility really is?
Session 3: What Really Matters
This week we’re talking about priorities. Paul had every credential his culture valued and walked away from all of it. He says that knowing Jesus made everything else look worthless by comparison. We’ll challenge students to honestly examine what they’re chasing and whether it can actually deliver what they’re really looking for.
Big Idea: Nothing is more important than knowing Jesus.
Primary Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11
Questions for Discussion:
• Paul says he wants to know Jesus, not just know about Him. What do you think the difference between those two things looks like in everyday life?
• What’s something in your life right now that you might be clinging to more than you’re clinging to Jesus?
Session 4: Focus on the Goal
This week we’re talking about focus. Paul closes his letter with a direct instruction about what to do with your thought life: fix your mind on what is true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. We’ll help students understand that following Jesus isn’t just about what you’re running away from. It’s about what you’re running toward.
Big Idea: Focus on what you’re called to, not what you’re called from.
Primary Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9
Questions for Discussion:
• Paul gives a list of things worth fixing your mind on: true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, admirable. Which word stands out to you most and why?
• What’s one thing you could do this week to be more intentional about what you’re putting in front of your mind?
Our hope is that these questions spark real conversation at home about what it looks like to live with purpose, humility, and focus. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Blessings,
Levi
