
After Life: Pressing On Toward the Prize
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Keep running because the ___________________ life is a _______________.
Beware of the dogs. Beware of the evildoers. Beware of the mutilation. (Php 3:2)
8 But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith. (Php 3:8–9)
12 Not that I have already obtained [λαμβάνω (lam-ba-no)] this or have already reached the goal [τελειόω (te-lī-o-ō)], but I press on to take hold [καταλαμβάνω (ka-ta-lam-ba-no)] of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold [καταλαμβάνω (ka-ta-lam-ba-no)] of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold [καταλαμβάνω (ka-ta-lam-ba-no)] of it yet, but there is one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and straining toward the things that are ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:12–14)
14b ... the Lord said to Abram, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look around from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, 15 because all the land that you see, I will give to you and to your descendants permanently. (Ge 13:14b–15)
25 He was handed over to death because of our trespasses and was raised to life because of our justification. 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ro 4:25–5:1)
You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! You are doing just what your fathers did. (Ac 7:51)
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_____________ good examples by ___________________ the mature in Christ.
Therefore, let all of us who are mature continue to think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you too. (Php 3:15)
I am convinced of this very thing: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Php 1:6)
Only let us think the same thing and walk in line with what we already have attained. (Php 3:16)
Brothers, join together in imitating me and in paying attention to those who are walking according to the pattern we gave you. (Php 3:17)
Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the insight of his friend. (Pr 27:17)
When Jesus spoke to them again, he said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)
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Be ___________ of the _______________ of the cross.
18 To be sure, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. I told you about them often, and now I am saying it while weeping. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. They are thinking only about earthly things. (Php 3:18–19)
Their end = [_______________] destruction
their god = their appetite [their desires ___________ their life]
their glory [________________] = their shame [they speak out and take pride in the _________________ things they do]
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_________ as citizens of _____________.
But our citizenship is in heaven. (Php 3:20a)
20b We are eagerly waiting for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 By the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, he will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body. (Php 3:20–21)
Points to Ponder
- What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
- In vv12–14, explain what Paul means when he says, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me”? How does that speak to your motivation for spiritual growth?
- Why do you think Paul emphasizes “forgetting the things that are behind”? Are there things in your past—failures or even successes—that you need to release in order to move forward?
- Paul urges the Philippians to “join together in imitating me” (v17). Who are some people who have served as Christlike examples for you? How can you be such an example for others?
- V18–19 describe those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” What does it look like today when someone is “thinking only about earthly things”? How can we guard our hearts against this mindset?
- Paul ends with a powerful vision of our heavenly citizenship (vv20–21). How does knowing you belong to heaven shape how you live on earth?
Homework: Colossians 3