Community Group Weekly Resource
August 23, 2024

August 25, 2024 Service

The Gospel is Hope.


Philippians 3:12 - 4:1 (ESV)

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. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Paul’s constant message is a call to unity, surrendered lives to God and each other for the sake of the gospel. He knows and talks about life in the present not being easy or perfect. It is hard, there is sin but sanctification is occurring and that produces hope, something worth running after. Paul includes himself in the race, working out his salvation also as he is in a process of being made complete too.


Pastor Jacob reminded us of the three stages of the Christian life.

  1. Justification (past) – believing and accepting Christ’s righteousness as ours, we are justified in Christ before God. Paul says, “forget what lies behind you,” you are justified in Christ now.
  2. Sanctification (present) – we are being made complete by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Paul says, “straining forward to what lies ahead,” work through the pain, suffering and keep running the race.
  3. Glorification (future) – we will be fully made right, all things will be made right for all of eternity with God in heaven. We will be with Jesus. Paul says, “press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…our citizenship is in haven.”


Paul is exhorting us to fix our eyes and hearts on Jesus. He is the prize. And to run hard with a passionate pursuit of the upward call of God, “holding true to what we have attained.”


We have to ask ourselves, is Jesus my prize or something else? Am I running with passion with and toward Him as the goal? If not, Paul wants us to see it and make a correction.


Paul says, “Imitate me, and walk according to the examples you have in us.” He’s referring to himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. This is not a prideful statement but an invitation to model and imitate what is found to be of Christ in them. He warns of those who have their hearts set on earthly things and reminds us that we are children of God, citizens of heaven, awaiting our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Another emphasis on Christ being the prize.


The theme of competing and running a race is often in Paul’s communications. In Hebrews he says,


Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2)


Jesus himself ran the race. He completed it. His prize was you and me.


Reflection

  1. What are your eyes and heart fixed on as you run the race God has set before you?
    Name this in conversation with the Lord

  2. How is the Holy Spirit moving your heart to a renewed “pressing on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”?

  3. Your citizenship is in heaven. Think about this. What does this mean to you now? In coming years? For eternity?

  4. How do you desire to live in light of being a child of God and having your citizenship with Him forever?


COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION

  1. Read the passage for this week together: Philippians 3:12-21

  2. Talk about what it means to run this spiritual race.
    How is it difficult? What are the challenges?
    What helps to run it well, the way Paul exhorts us to?

  3. How do we watch out for those who do evil?

  4. Talk about what it means to have our citizenship in heaven. How does this help us run the race set before us?

  5. How did Jesus run the race and complete it? Talk about the reality of your being His prize


Spend time praying for each other and for our church to be reconciled in the ways God desires and for our witness to be made good, pure, and glorifying to the LORD.


Grace and peace on this journey together,


Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor