“Philippians and Colossians,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
Philippians and Colossians
During his imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote letters to the Saints in Philippi and Colossae. These two letters are consistently positive and optimistic. They include some of Paul’s clearest and most earnest teachings about Jesus Christ. Paul taught that if we live in faith and gratitude, the Lord can further the gospel cause through us. By building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, we can avoid being led astray by worldly philosophies and traditions.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “Philippians and Colossians”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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What opposition have you recently faced when doing something for the Lord? Read Philippians 1:12–14, 19–26 to learn how Paul’s attitude when facing opposition affected the Lord’s work.
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What have you recently sacrificed for the Lord? Read Philippians 3:4–15, and consider why sacrifice is so important to your spiritual progress.
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Think of someone who you know who is firm in their faith in Jesus Christ. What do you admire about them? Read Philippians 4:1, 4–13, and look for ways that can help you “stand fast” (verse 1) in Jesus Christ.
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What are some philosophies or teachings in the world today that could draw you away from the Savior? Read Colossians 1–2; 3:1–17, and look for truths about Jesus Christ that can protect you from false teachings.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of Philippians and Colossians.
Skill Training
Philippians 4:4–13 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Using Teachings of Church Leaders to Understand the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
How can my attitude when facing opposition affect the Lord’s work?
You could begin by inviting students to share some experiences when they have faced opposition while seeking to do the Lord’s work.
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When you are facing opposition, how can your attitude affect the Lord’s work?
Consider displaying the following picture and explaining that Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while he was in prison, most likely in Rome (see Philippians 1:7, 13, 16).
Invite students to read Philippians 1:12–14, 19–26, looking for what they can learn from Paul about doing the Lord’s work while facing opposition. You could ask questions like the following:
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How did Paul’s imprisonment affect the spread of the Savior’s gospel?
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How do you think Paul’s attitudes toward his imprisonment helped to move the Lord’s work forward? (Students may share a truth like the following: As we live in faith, hope, and gratitude, the Lord can further the gospel cause through us.)
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When have you seen someone’s faith, hope, and gratitude while facing opposition help to move the Lord’s work forward?
You could share one or more of the following scenarios or some of your own. Invite students to consider how they could move the Savior’s work forward with faith, hope, and gratitude in each scenario:
One of your friends sends you a negative video about Church leaders.
You want to serve a mission but face opposition from your parents, who are not members of the Church.
In the area where you are serving as a missionary, there is strong opposition to the Church.
Give students a moment to think about any opportunities they may have in the upcoming week to face opposition with faith, hope, and gratitude. After sufficient time, encourage students to follow Paul’s example as they go through their week.
What sacrifices do I need to make for Jesus Christ?
Write on the board the following definition of sacrifice by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
To sacrifice means to give something up in favor of something more valuable. (“Our Heartfelt All,” Liahona, May 2022, 124)
Display the following questions, and give students time to ponder and record their thoughts:
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When is the last time you were asked to give something up in favor of something more valuable? What was the more valuable thing? Do you feel like it was worth it? What thoughts, feelings, or concerns do you have about sacrificing for the Lord?
Explain that Paul taught principles that can help us with questions and concerns we may have about sacrifice. Read Philippians 3:4–15 looking for what Paul taught about sacrifice. (You may want to explain that the word “conformable” in verse 10 means agreeable, the phrase “follow after” in verse 12 means press forward, and the word “apprehend” in verse 12 means obtain.)
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What did Paul sacrifice to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ in his life?
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What is the “prize” (verse 14) that the Savior gives to those who sacrifice to follow Him?
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What principle can we learn about sacrifice from these verses? (Students may identify a truth like the following: As we willingly sacrifice to follow Jesus Christ, we come to know Him and prepare to receive eternal life.)
Read together the rest of Elder Uchtdorf’s statement on sacrifice:
To sacrifice means to give something up in favor of something more valuable. … Throughout history, faithful Saints have sacrificed personal desires, comforts, and even their lives for the Savior.
We all have things, large and small, we need to sacrifice in order to follow Jesus Christ more completely. Our sacrifices show what we truly value. Sacrifices are sacred and honored by the Lord. (“Our Heartfelt All,” Liahona, May 2022, 124)
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What are some things you, your family, or friends have sacrificed to follow Jesus Christ?
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What blessings have come from making these sacrifices for the Savior?
Display the following incomplete sentences and invite students to complete them and to act on any impressions they receive:
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The sacrifice I most need to give to the Lord is …
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I can make this sacrifice by …
What can I do to “stand fast” in the Lord?
Write on the board the following passages, and invite students to search them, looking for a common theme:
1 Corinthians 16:13–14; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 1:27; 4:1
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What do you think it means to “stand fast” in the Lord?
Consider reading the following statement by Elder Ulisses Soares:
Seeking Christ in every thought and following Him with all our heart requires that we align our mind and desires with His. The scriptures refer to this alignment as “stand[ing] fast in the Lord” [Philippians 4:1]. This course of action implies that we continually conduct our lives in harmony with the gospel of Christ and focus daily on everything that is good. (“Seek Christ in Every Thought,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 83–84)
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What can make it challenging for young adults to stand fast in the Lord?
Invite students to read Philippians 4:4–13, looking for principles that could help someone stand fast or be aligned with the Lord. Then display the following instructions:
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Select the principle in Philippians 4:4–13 that most interests you.
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Prepare a brief message (around 3 minutes) about how this principle could help someone stand fast in the Lord.
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Find a supporting scripture or statement from a Church leader to use in your message.
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Share a scriptural or personal example of how this could be applied to our lives.
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Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Provide students opportunities to teach and testify. One learning outcome of this course is to provide opportunities for students to share their discoveries in the scriptures. When students share the truths of the gospel with each other, they become active participants in their learning. As they bear testimony of what they teach, they invite the converting power of the Holy Ghost into their lives.
After students have had time to prepare their messages, have each student work with a partner and each take a turn sharing their message. Encourage them to bear testimony of what they teach.
You could conclude by inviting a few students to share what they learned from their partner’s message. Invite them to act on what they learned from the principle they taught.
What can I do to protect myself from false teachings?
You could show students a picture of a plant that’s been pulled out of the ground. Ask students to think about whether they know anyone who has been “uprooted” from their faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. (Note: Be sensitive that some students may feel like they are experiencing this themselves.)
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From your observation, what can lead to someone becoming uprooted in their faith?
Explain that in his letter to the Colossians, Paul was concerned about the Colossian Saints’ spiritual roots or foundation. Church members were being exposed to false teachings and practices (see Colossians 2:4, 8, 16, 18, 20–23). Some Saints were in danger of embracing these false teachings.
Have students look in Colossians 1:21–23 and 2:6–7 for any words that describe being spiritually rooted, and write them on the board. (For example, “grounded,” “settled,” “rooted,” “built up,” and “stablished.”) Then write on the board the following truth: By being grounded and rooted in Jesus Christ, we can avoid being led astray by false teachings.)
Divide the class into at least four groups. Assign each group one of the following scripture blocks. Invite students to mark or write down truths that can help someone be rooted in Jesus Christ.
You could display the following questions and invite students to discuss one or more of them in their groups:
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What truths in these verses can help you feel grounded or rooted in Jesus Christ?
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How can these truths help you to avoid being deceived by false teachings?
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How has your testimony of a truth in these verses helped you to remain faithful when facing false teachings?
After time for group discussion, you could have some students do one or more of the following:
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Explain about a truth you discussed today that helps you to feel more rooted in Jesus Christ.
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Describe a time when your faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ helped you avoid being led astray by false teachings.