Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 3:1-11
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Key Points
- Jesus gives us a new confidence: to give all we are to him.
- Part of the new confidence Jesus gives us is a new pursuit: seeking Christ.
- Paul counts everything as loss compared to truly knowing Christ in a personal, life-giving relationship – and so should we.
- Part of the new confidence Jesus gives us is a new position: being in Christ.
- Because Paul is in Christ, when God looks at Paul, God no longer sees Paul’s attempts to attain righteousness before God. Instead, God sees his own Son, Jesus, who is perfect righteousness before God for Paul – and for us, too.
- Part of the new confidence Jesus gives us is a new power: living with Christ.
- Paul is empowered to endure suffering because Paul knows Christ suffers with him, and he will come to know Christ more through suffering with Christ – and so will we.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,” -Philippians 2:6 ESV*
*Note: Through the rest of this sermon series, “All Things New,” we will be working together as a faith family to memorize Philippians 2:3-11. Each week, we will introduce a new verse to memorize while encouraging one another to remember the preceding verse(s) from the previous week(s).
This week, try to recite Philippians 2:3-6 together:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: What does confidence have to do with giving all we are to Jesus?
2: What does it mean to you to pursue Christ? What has pursuing Christ looked like in your own life lately?
3: What do you think is the primary purpose behind pursuing Christ? Why is Christ worthy of our life-long pursuit?
4: What does it mean to you to be in Christ? Really think about it. What hope can you hold onto in your everyday life because you are in Christ?
5: Read Ephesians 2:4-7. Based on what you read in those 4 verses (also penned by Paul), respond to the following questions:
- When did God love us?
- What did God’s love for us motivate God to do with us?
- Where were we before we received God’s rescue, and where are we now?
- Why did God do what God has done for us?
6: How does knowing the reality that we – who are in Christ – are presently seated with Christ in the heavenly places (according to Ephesians 2) affect the way you look at your everyday life here on earth?
7: Re-read Philippians 3:10-11 and look closely this time. What does suffering have to do with the power of Christ’s resurrection?
8: Look back at what Paul wrote earlier in his letter to the Philippians, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake,” (Philippians 1:29). When you think of something being granted to someone, what connotation does the word “granted” usually have? How does this verse, in conjunction with today’s message, affect your understanding of suffering?
9: How have you personally suffered with Christ? How did you come to know Christ in your suffering? What sort of power did you find through suffering?
10: What message of hope are you taking away from today? Who will you share it with?
Pray
Lord, we confess we have believed there are pursuits, positions, and powers greater than you. Forgive us for trying to go outside of you to find what can only be found in you. Help us believe you are the prize worth pursuing all the days of our lives. Help us believe we are presently seated with you in the heavenly places in Christ. Help us believe there is power in suffering with you for the sake of your story – and ours, too.
