Fellow Citizens — TDW Kids

Citizens of Heaven

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Paul told the Ephesians they are “fellow citizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19). He also wrote to the church in Philippi about living as citizens.

A Roman colony. Philippi was “the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony” (Acts 16:12). A Roman colony was a city far from Rome where many of the people were Roman citizens. They followed Rome’s laws and were proud to belong to Rome.

Far from home. Philippi was hundreds of miles from Rome, yet many of its people lived like Romans. Their way of life showed that they belonged to Rome.

What a citizen is. A citizen belongs to a city or a country. Citizens share its rights, follow its laws and care about its good name.

Live like a citizen. Paul wrote, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). The word Paul used for conduct means to live as a citizen. Believers belong to God’s kingdom, so they live in a way that honors their King.

Belonging to God’s kingdom. In the same way, believers belong to God’s kingdom even while they live on earth. Their lives show whose kingdom they belong to.

A good name. A citizen who behaves badly brings shame on his city. A believer who lives in a way that fits the gospel brings honor to Jesus.

Worthy of the gospel. Worthy means fitting. A life worthy of the gospel fits the good news about Jesus: honest, kind, forgiving and full of trust in Him. It does not mean being perfect.

Two homes. Christians can be good citizens of their own country, love their neighbors and obey good laws. But their first loyalty belongs to God.

A city that lasts. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Hebrews 13:14). Cities on earth rise and fall. God’s people look forward to a home with Him that lasts forever.

How citizenship comes. No one becomes a citizen of God’s kingdom by being good. Every one of us has sinned against God.

Jesus opens the way. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is welcomed into God’s kingdom.

Belonging and safety. God’s people treat each other as family. If anyone ever makes you feel unsafe, even someone you know, tell a parent or a trusted grown-up.

What this means for you. At school, at home and on the playground, you represent your King. Ask Jesus to help you live this week in a way that fits His good news.

Ephesians 2:19 calls Gentile believers “fellow citizens with the saints.” Paul spoke of citizenship again when he wrote to Philippi.

Philippi. Acts 16:12 calls it “the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.” As a Roman colony, many of its people lived far from Rome yet held Roman citizenship, kept Roman law and took pride in the name.

Politeuomai (Philippians 1:27). “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” “Let your conduct be” is politeuomai (say: poh-lee-TYOO-oh-my), to live as a citizen. Readers in a Roman colony would most likely have understood that picture right away.

A colony’s identity. A colony was a small piece of Rome planted far from Rome, keeping Roman ways in a foreign land. The church is like that: a community of God’s kingdom living in the middle of this world.

Rights and duties. Citizenship brought privileges, and it also brought duties. Believers receive grace freely, and that grace calls for a life that fits it.

Worthy. Worthy means fitting, in balance with something else. A life worthy of the gospel matches the good news it claims to believe.

Two citizenships. Believers honor earthly authorities and serve their communities, but their highest loyalty belongs to Christ the King.

Loyal and kind. Heavenly citizenship does not make believers careless neighbors. It makes them honest workers, kind friends and people who pray for their towns.

No continuing city (Hebrews 13:14). “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” Every earthly city changes or passes away in time. Believers hold earthly things loosely and long for the city to come.

Hope that shapes life. Because believers seek “the one to come,” they can be generous, patient and brave now. Their future home changes how they live today.

Citizenship by grace. No one earns citizenship in God’s kingdom. Every person has sinned; outsiders are made citizens only through Christ.

The cross and the resurrection. Christ died for our sins and rose the third day. By faith in Him, foreigners become fellow citizens.

Safety among God’s people. A healthy community protects its weakest members. If anyone, even someone you know well, makes you feel unsafe, tell a parent or a trusted adult.

Application. Ask yourself: if someone watched me for a week, what would they learn about the King I belong to? Choose one habit that fits the gospel better.

Worthy of the Gospel

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Paul told the believers in Philippi how citizens of God’s kingdom live together.

A good report. Paul wrote, “so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs” (Philippians 1:27). Paul cared about them and hoped to hear good news about how they were doing.

Even when no one is watching. Paul did not want them to follow Jesus only when he was there. Faith is real when it keeps going after the leader has left the room.

Stand fast. He wanted to hear “that you stand fast in one spirit” (1:27). To stand fast means to stay firm and not give up following Jesus.

Striving together. They were to be “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). Striving together is like players on a team working hard for the same goal.

One team. On a good team, players do not fight each other. They help each other and work toward the same goal. God’s people do the same for the gospel.

The goal. The team was not playing for a trophy. Their goal was “the faith of the gospel”: holding on to the good news and sharing it with others.

Not afraid. Paul added that they should be “not in any way terrified by your adversaries” (1:28). God was with them.

Paul’s example. Paul himself kept trusting Jesus in hard times, and he wanted his friends in Philippi to keep trusting Jesus too.

Never alone. Standing firm never means facing danger by yourself. If someone threatens you, bullies you or makes you feel unsafe, tell a parent or a trusted grown-up.

Worthy living. A life worthy of the gospel tells the truth, helps others, forgives quickly and keeps trusting Jesus on hard days.

The gospel itself. The good news is this: every one of us has sinned, and Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Then He rose from the dead. That is the best news in the world.

Faith first. We do not earn God’s love by living well. We trust Jesus first, and then His Spirit helps us live in a way that fits the gospel.

What this means for you. Find a friend who loves Jesus and encourage each other this week. Pray together, and look for one way to share the good news.

Philippians 1:27-28 describes how citizens of heaven live together under pressure.

Present or absent (1:27). “So that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs.” Faithfulness that depends on the leader being in the room is not yet worthy of the gospel.

Stand fast in one spirit. Paul wanted to hear “that you stand fast in one spirit.” To stand fast is to hold your ground and refuse to give way.

One spirit, one mind. This is not everyone being the same. It is a shared purpose that holds believers together: the faith of the gospel.

Synathleo. “With one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” “Striving together” is synathleo (say: soon-ath-LEH-oh), to compete side by side like athletes on one team. The contest is for the gospel, never against one another.

For the faith of the gospel. The shared goal is the gospel itself: guarding its truth and spreading it to others.

Not terrified (1:28). Believers are to be “not in any way terrified by your adversaries.” Opposition is real, but it does not have the last word.

Holding the line together. When one believer is tempted to quit, others can stand beside him. That is part of striving together for the gospel.

Courage that spreads. Paul was facing hard things himself, and he wanted the Philippians to stand firm as he did. Courage grows when believers encourage one another.

Courage and wisdom. Courage is not the same as keeping danger secret. If anyone threatens or harms you, tell a parent or a trusted adult.

The gospel we live for. Every person has sinned. Christ died for our sins on the cross, and He rose again the third day.

Grace before conduct. Worthy conduct does not earn salvation. It flows from faith in Christ, who has already brought us near.

Worthy, not perfect. A life worthy of the gospel is not a perfect life. When believers fail, they confess their sin, receive forgiveness and keep going with Christ.

Living the message. The gospel spreads through words and through lives that match them. Honesty, kindness and courage make the message easier to hear.

Application. Think of one believer who can be on your team for the gospel. Pray for each other, and plan one way to share or show the good news this week.

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