Eight-Star Review

A review of the last eight discussions in summary form, with games & activities

Philippians: Shine Like Stars – DAY 19
Family Discussions for a New School Year

^{*This is DAY 19. Click here for 1-18.}

DAY 19/FRI.-SAT.
Philippians 1:1-11
Eight-Star Review

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

²Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

⁷It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:1-11 (NIV)

^{*Click here to read this in the ESV, NLT, & NIrV.}

Let’s review the past eight discussions!

DAY 11: I Have You in My Heart

The apostle Paul wrote that he had the Philippian believers in his heart. He longed for them with the affection of Jesus: a deep, self-sacrificial love.

^{*To revisit DAY 11, click here.}

Skit time!

Have family members act out parts of the Acts 16 passage.

Preschool Version:

Act out part of the Paul & Silas prison scene with your littles. Let a grown up or big kid play the part of the jailer. Sing a hymn or praise chorus (“Jesus Loves Me” will work!) while you pretend to be locked up & chained together by the jailer. Then shake like there’s an earthquake! Tell the jailer, “Jesus loves you!” Have everyone give the jailer a hug in the end.

DAY 12: And This Is My Prayer

Paul shares what he prays, with joy, for the Philippian Christians, starting with their love abounding more & more in knowledge.

^{*To revisit DAY 12, click here.}

“Ways to Know Jesus Better” Mobile

You’ll need: yarn; a clothes hanger; a hole puncher; markers; and 7 notecards or paper shapes. Use the markers to write one each of the following on the notecards/cut-outs:

1. Reading the Bible
2. Praying
3. Obeying Jesus
4. Serving others
5. Praise & Worship
6. Discussing God’s Word
7. Asking Questions

Punch a hole in each card/cut-out. Thread yarn through the hole and tie the card to bottom bar of the hanger (x 7). Affix a sign that says “Ways to Know Jesus” to the upper portion of the hanger.

Preschool Activity:

Use hand motions to review some ways to know Jesus.

1. Reading the Bible	Put your palms together, then open them like you’re opening a book.
2. Praying	Bow your head and fold your hands.
3. Obeying Jesus	Keep your head bowed, but open your hands with palms facing up.
4. Serving others	Lift up your head and stretch out your arms in front of you as if you’re giving something to someone.
5. Praise & Worship	Lift your arms straight up with your hands over your head and look up.
6. Asking Questions	Put both arms down then raise only one hand in the air.
7. Talk about Jesus	Cup your mouth with your hands and say loudly, “Talk about Jesus!”

DAY 13: In Depth of Insight

Paul's prayers differ from the average. He prays for the Philippian believers to gain depth of insight.

^{*To revisit DAY 13, click here.}

Bible Verse Meditation

Pick a Bible verse or short Bible passage for family meditation. Have kids write the verse(s) down and put in a prominent place (bathroom mirror, bedside, the back of the car driver’s seat or passenger seat, etc.). [My kids & I used to keep verses on index cards above the sun visor in the car so we could read them out loud while we waited on the bus. 🙂 ]

You could use our Philippians verses for meditation:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

^{**Click here for ESV, NLT, & NIrV.}

Preschool Version:

Pick a Bible truth to repeat every day this week with your preschooler(s). Consider making it your phone wallpaper/lock screen/home screen as a reminder!

You might use:

• “Jesus told us to love each other.”
• “Pray with joy for others!”
• “Thank God for your family & friends.”
• a truth they are learning about in Sunday school this month

DAY 14: Able to Discern

Paul does not pray average prayers for the Philippian Christians. In addition to praying for knowledge & depth of insight, he prays for the result of these to be discernment.

^{*To revisit DAY 14, click here.}

Choose Wisely

Give your kids a few choices to make. Talk about how discerning is being able to tell a difference, and discerning what is best is being able to make the best/better choice.

DAY 15: Pure & Blameless for Christ

Paul wants the Philippians to be pure & blameless for Christ when He returns.

^{*To revisit DAY 15, click here.}

Scavenger/Treasure Hunt

Set up a simple scavenger hunt/treasure hunt for your kids to illustrate seeking first the kingdom of God & His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). At the end, you might say something like: “Just as you were excited to look for clues until you found the prize, Jesus tells us to look for God first every day. We can do this through saying prayers & reading the Bible & helping others.”

Here’s a sample scavenger hunt clue set:

^{**Click here to print this page from wondermomwannabe.com.}

DAY 16: The Day of Christ

Paul prays the Philippians will be pure & blameless for the Day of Christ, which is the Second Coming, the Day of His return.

^{*To revisit DAY 16, click here.}

Caught Up in the Clouds

Compare the details of Christ’s ascension into heaven with the description of His future return with your kids. Cut a cloud shape out of thick paper or poster board. Write the 3 details from Christ’s Ascension in Acts 1 on the front side; write the 3 details from Christ’s Return in I Thessalonians on the back.

Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1:6-11)

• He was taken up.
• A cloud hid Him.
• The disciples looked into the sky as He was going.

Christ’s Return (I Thess. 4:16-18)

• He will come down from heaven.
• We will be caught up together in the clouds.
• We will meet the Lord in the air.

Preschool Version:

Make a “cloud” with poster board & cotton balls. Tell your preschooler(s) what happened when Jesus went into heaven (Acts 1:6-11), then tell them what will happen when He comes back (I Thess. 4:16-18). Make a popsicle stick “Jesus” to go along with the cloud for an additional visual aid.

DAY 17: The Fruit of Righteousness

Paul prays the Philippian believers will be filled with the fruit of righteousness -- righteous living & eternal life -- that comes through Jesus Christ.

^{*To revisit DAY 17, click here.}

Two-tti Frui-tti

Draw & cut out two fruit shapes. Write “righteous living” on one fruit & “eternal life” on the other. Explain to your kiddos that both are “fruits of righteousness.” For additional clarity, you could make a sign (or a tree branch, if you’re so inclined!) with the words “Fruits of Righteousness” on it, then hang the “fruits” from it.

Preschool Version:

Take two pieces of fruit you have at home. Stick a label on one that says “doing good,” and on the other, a label with “living forever” written on it. Tell your preschooler(s) that “doing good” and “living forever” are fruits of righteousness. Discuss examples of “doing good” (sharing toys, taking turns, helping pick up, etc.). Talk about what “living forever” with Jesus will be like (no more tears, no more pain, nothing scary ever again; lots of joy, feeling good, nothing to fear).

DAY 18: To the Glory & Praise of God

Paul prayed a lot of things for the Philippian Christians, but he wanted God to get all the glory & praise.

^{*To revisit DAY 18, click here.}

Praise Songs

Sing “King of Kings” together!

Preschool Song:

Sing “Praise Ye the Lord Hallelujah” together!

Praise Ye the Lord!

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_{*For the full Philippians prayer, click here.}