Scripture
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Other Resources:
Prison Epistles
Joy of the Lord: The Spiritual Mind
Philippians 3:1-21
WHAT ARE YOU STILL CARRYING? — Two monks on a pilgrimage came to the ford of a river. There they saw a girl dressed in all her finery, obviously now knowing what to do since the river was high and she did not want to spoil her clothes. Without more ado, one of the monks took her on his back, carried her across and put her down on dry ground on the other side.
Then the monks continued on their way. But the other monk after an hour started complaining, "Surely it is not right to touch a woman; it is against the commandments to have close contact with women. How could you go against the rules for monks?"
The monk who had carried the girl walked along silently, but finally he remarked, "I set her down by the river an hour ago, why are you still carrying her?" -- Irmgard Schloegl, The Wisdom of Zen Masters
One of the hardest things we must do is to let go of something from the past. Someone does us wrong and seeks forgiveness, but we want to keep carrying the memory. Or maybe we made a mistake and we can't seem to stop beating ourselves up, despite the fact that we have done what God says to do to be forgiven. We don't want to keep carrying the memory (and the guilt), but we do. In fact, it often seems more difficult to forgive ourselves than to forgive others.
Paul said, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14-15).
Paul had to forget his past achievements (as an esteemed Jewish leader). He also had to forget his past failures (which including persecuting and killing God's people).
What are you carrying today that you should have set down a long time ago?
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
Where should we put our confidence?
No Confidence in the Flesh — Philippians 3:1-21
1Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith ina Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. God is ... What do we learn about God?
2. We are ... What do we learn about people?
3. How does one rejoice in the Lord? (v. 1)
4. Why is Paul so concerned about the influence of the "dogs" on this Christian community? (v. 2)
5. If this problem with those promoting circumcision had gone unchallenged, how would this have hurt the Gospel? (v. 2)
6. Why should we not rely on the flesh? (v. 4)
7. List the qualities that Paul could have boasted in: (vv. 4-6)
8. How did Paul now view all of the things listed in question four? (vv. 7-8) Paul lived a "good" life before he became a Christian. Was he trying to put down his religious background?
9. How did Paul want to be found in Christ? (v. 9)
10. How can we know Christ and "experience the power of His resurrection"? (v. 10)
11. How can we share in the sufferings of Christ? (v. 10)
12. For what did Paul strive? (v. 11)
13. Using the imagery of a track race, where does Paul picture himself in his spiritual fife? What prize is he after? How is he going to reach it? (v. 12)
14. What did Paul want to forget? Explain (v. 13)
15. What is the "prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"? (v. 14)
16. From what Paul says in this passage (particularly the second half), what do you think is going on in this Christian community? What makes a Christian perfect?
17. How can we all live up to the standard?
18. What are we to be imitators of? (v. 17) What is the example mentioned?
19. Who are the enemies of the cross of Christ? (v. 18)
20. Where is our citizenship? Explain what this means. (v. 20) What should characterize the "citizens of heaven"?
21. How will Christ transform these humble bodies? (v. 21)
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. How would you compare your upbringing to Paul's? Your passion for Christ to Paul's?
2. Do you need to walk away from something in your past keeping you from becoming new in Christ?
3. If you had to compare your life in Christ right now to a track race, where would you be: Sitting on the sidelines? Warming up? At the starting blocks? Giving it your all?
4. What are you passionate about? Are you more likely to strive for excellence in your secular life or your spiritual life?
5. How would you finish the sentence in verse 13: "But one thing I do..."
6. I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
7. You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
8. How does this equip us be a better disciple and help empower us to “make disciples”?
Sometimes we have to let go of the past in order to enjoy the present, and be able to dream of the future.
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