Paul's Plan For Being A Better Christian (From our 1-4-26 Worship)

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/DEPQ6tyPsIY

Show Notes

Episode Summary Some men risk everything for a dream. Heinrich Schliemann risked his fortune and reputation to find the ancient city of Troy—a place everyone else said was a fable. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul took an even greater risk, counting all his previous status and achievements as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

In this first service of 2026, we look at Philippians 3 to uncover Paul’s "recipe" for spiritual growth. Just as muscles only grow when they are strained to the point of failure, our spiritual lives require us to forget what lies behind and strain toward what lies ahead.

Key Takeaways

• The Schliemann Example: Like the man who discovered Troy, we must be willing to pursue a vision even when it requires risking our comfort or current status.
• Self-Evaluation vs. Common Sense: Paul was confident in his salvation ("I am going to heaven"), but he never let confidence override the common sense that he still had work to do.
• The Art of Forgetting: Spiritual growth requires "forgetting what lies behind." This isn't accidental memory loss; it is an active, mental struggle to refuse to let past failures or successes weigh you down.
• Straining Forward: Growth is uncomfortable. Just as lifting heavy weights requires exertion, pressing on toward the high calling of God requires spiritual strain.
• Don't Move: The secret to long-term faithfulness is often simply refusing to quit.

Scripture References (ESV)

• Philippians 3:3-21: "For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
• Hebrews 10:24: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."
• 2 Corinthians 10:5: "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."