PRESSING TOWARD CHRIST
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: PRESSING TOWARD CHRIST
Main Scripture: Phil 3:3-14, Roman 6:12-13, Col 3:2
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Pastor Cornelius encouraged us to press toward Christ in 2024. We explored a few perspectives or viewpoints that may apply in the upcoming year. We are reminded to be thankful for God’s faithfulness in every facet of our lives. In summary, God was with us in 2023 and he will be with us in 2024.
It’s good to reflect on where God has taken us from and where we are now. We can’t know where we are headed unless we know where we’ve been.
Notes:
Paul uses an analogy about his goals in Phil 3. We can learn some things from Paul’s goals that we can apply to our lives as we embark upon 2024, Phil 3:13-14
Paul tells the church in Philippi of his own personal journey. Paul has a moment of reflection. Paul recalls where he’s been in the past and where God has brought him.
Paul had been in ministry for approximately 30 years when he wrote the book of Philippians
Paul had been used by God to do many signs and wonders and to testify of God’s power and love.
Before being used by God, Paul had a history of persecuting the church.
Paul was a different person after his encounter with Jesus, Acts 9:1-7
God knows how to get our attention.
God knows how to get the attention of our children and the people we have been praying for.
Paul didn’t let his past dictate his future;
Paul forgot the things behind and reached forward to what was ahead
(reaching forth—with hand and foot, like a runner in a race, and the body bent forward)
That was Paul’s posture in reaching towards Christ. That should be our posture as we head into 2024
Few different perspectives as we reflect on 2023 and look forward to 2024:
*Thankful 2023 is over
God made a way for us in 2023 through all sorts of adversity, and God is still working in our life. We have not reached perfection.
-Read Phil 3:7-11
Paul is saying:
1. Whatever he knew in the past paled in comparison to knowing Christ
2. Paul wanted to be in Jesus or be found in him through the righteousness of faith
3. He wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection
Know= ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first- hand acquaintance)
4. Participate in Christ’s suffering
Suffering=pathema, "the capacity to feel strong emotion, like suffering"
5. Become like Christ in his death
made conformable unto his death—“conformed to the likeness of His death,” namely, by continued sufferings for His sake, and mortifying of the carnal
6. Obtain resurrection from death
We can let go of the past. We are free in Christ, John 8:34-6
Don’t go back to the place Jesus has freed us from, Rom 6:12-13
*2023 was an awesome year!
Be thankful for God’s provision
Don’t rest on our laurels (To be satisfied with one's past success and to consider further effort unnecessary)
Paul was a very accomplished person, but he didn’t use his pedigree to boast, but his boast was in Christ alone, Phil 3:3-6
Paul was thankful and we should also be thankful for the good gifts God has given us, James 1:17
God gave us the wisdom to create and be successful.
God gave us the strength and ability to perform our jobs.
God opened doors of opportunities for us.
We should give God our very best, Gen 4:3-5
Cain brought God an offering
Abel brought God the first of his flock (the best)
God honored Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s
The Shepherds hurry to the village to look for the Savior, Messiah, and Lord.
*I don’t know what to expect for 2024
As believers we should focus on the heavenly call in Jesus Christ
Gives us purpose and instructions on how we should live
Jesus guides our aspirations and goals
Paul presses on toward the heavenly prize, Phil 3:14
(Press= diṓkō – properly, aggressively chase, like a hunter pursuing a catch (prize)
“Toward” is from the preposition meaning “down,” and has the idea of “bearing down upon” in the direction of the goal. The mark is Christlikeness.)
There is a sense of urgency. Paul is not taking his walk with the Lord casually but he is pursing Jesus.
Paul had a heavenly mindset, and forgot the things behind in his past, Col 3:2
(Just as a runner’s speed is slackened should he think of those behind him, and the thud, thud of their pounding feet, so the Christian’s onward progress is hindered should he dwell on the past full of failures and sins, full of heartaches and discouragements, full of disappointments and thwarted hopes and plans. As long as a Christian has made things right with God and man, he should completely forget the past.)
God keeps us in perfect peace when we put our thoughts on him, Isaiah 26:3
Takeaways:
Reflect on 2023 but don’t bring sin, failures or false pride into 2024
Leave weights behind that hinder our walk in the Lord
Continue to grow/mature in our faith
Give God thanks for his faithfulness
God made a way for us in 2023 he will be faithful in 2024
Give God our best
Focus on Jesus in 2024
Look at our life through the lens of Jesus Christ, get-in/stay in the Word!
Keep our minds on Jesus, commit quiet time with God daily
Commit time with the Body of Christ, get into a community group/Bible Study
Disciple a new believer
Discussion:
What stuck out to you from today’s message?
Have you made a New Year’s resolution?
Is there something in your past that keeps you from moving forward in Christ?
Read Rom 6:12-13, What are your thoughts on this passage? What’s an application for you to live this out?
As you reflect on 2023 what is something you are thankful to God for?
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
Lord you are faithful every year. You were faithful in 2023 and you will be faithful in 2024. Thank you for providing for us and our families through the adversities of life. You walk with us through the difficult times. Father we are grateful for the provision you have blessed us with. It was not by our own hands that we had the strength, the wisdom, and the creativity to provide for ourselves and our families. Every good and perfect gift comes from you. Lord we ask that you guide us in this upcoming year. We want to know you better. Help us to grow in our love for you, and help us to grow in our love for people. Amen
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
