Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

World Juniors — over the last 2 weeks.

Top 10 international teams from around the world, made up of the most talented men under 20, compete for the gold medal, to be crowned champions of the world.

There are weeks/months of preparation leading up to the tournament as players push themselves to the limit to make the team, coaches analalyze and discuss which players will give the team the greatest chance to win.

All of this effort and energy going into this one single goal, being the best men’s hockey team under 20 in the world.

There is no confusion about what the goal is.

Every hit, every shot, every pass, every save, every time someone willingly puts their body in front of a 90 mph slap shot, it’s all striving for the same goal… THE GOLD MEDAL!

As we begin our time together looking at God’s Word, I want to ask you, what are you aiming at?

What is your goal/prize/purpose in life?

What are you striving for?

Is there an end-goal that fuels all of your decisions, or are you just running around aimlessly?

These international hockey players put their bodies into the strictest of training, all to receive a gold medal that will not last, but we have the promise of a crown that lasts forever.

How much effort and energy are you putting into receiving that crown?

Paul Knew the worth of that crown.

This morning we’re going to see the focus and intensity that Paul lived with in order to receive it.

Let’s begin by reading Philippians 3:12-16

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BIBLE READING/HEAR JOURNALING

This year we have been encouraging you to join us as a church as we commit to God’s Word in 2023.

We are doing a BIble reading plan called the F260, which doesn’t go through the whole BIble, but 2 chapters a week, 5 days a week.

We have also been encouraging you to learn the HEAR journaling method.

It’s a simple way that you can get more out of your Bible reading.

This is actually the way that I prepare my sermons, and as we go through our text this morning I will show you how simple it is so that you can do it yourselves.

The very first thing you do before you open up your BIble is pray.

God’s Word is incredible and powerful.

He uses it to transform us, so thank Him for it.

The truths in the Bible can only be understood as the Holy Spirit teaches them to us, so ask Him to open your eyes, and speak to you as you read.

Then you will open your Bible and read the chapter.

Have a pen and notebook beside you so you can take notes, write down questions, and complete your HEAR journal entries.

As you read the passage, keep an eye out for a verse or two that stands out, and then write out the reference, and the passage in your notebook.

We have already read Philippians 3:12-16 here this morning, and we are first going to highlight verse 12.

HIGHLIGHT

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Strive to Become What You Already Are

EXPLAIN

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EXPLAIN

What is Paul talking about?

What has he not yet obtained?

We have to go back to the previous section to get our answer.

Last week Pastor Jake preached on chapter 3:1—11, where Paul emphasizes the fact that salvation is not a result of works.

If anybody could be saved by works, it was Paul!

Based on the law, he was perfect!

But once he was saved by Christ, all that he thought he had gained became worthless.

He gave it all up to pursue Christ, to become like Him… so that…

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He was willing to give everything up to attain the resurrection from the dead.

This was worth more than anything he could possibly achieve in his life from an earthly perspective.

But this is what Paul is saying in v. 12 that he has not yet obtained.

He has not yet achieved perfection.

He has not reached the goal of the resurrection from the dead.

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Then he says… “but I press on to make it my own,”

He strives for it!

He presses on to make it his own!

He does everything possible to reach it!

That is the goal he is reaching for.

Why? “because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

This was Paul’s motivation.

Christ Jesus had made him his own!

Paul was grateful for God’s salvation in his life.

He remembered how lost he was, striving for perfection according to the law, boasting in his own accomplishments, working AGAINST the very God he claimed to be working for.

But then, Jesus Christ came into Paul’s life, showed him his sin, called him and set him apart as a minister of His gospel.

Paul was worthy to be tried, condemned, and killed based on his actions, yet he received mercy and grace.

He received forgiveness and a new life.

Christ Jesus had made Paul his own.

Now Paul was going to live his life STRIVING TO BECOME WHAT HE ALREADY WAS.

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Paul wanted his life on the outside to reflect who he was on the inside.

He thought he had attained righteousness of his own that came from the law, but now he had the righteousness that comes from God, through faith in Christ.

Paul was not perfect, and he was never going to experience that perfection on earth as a man.

Perfection is something that can only be achieved in heaven, after death.

But because of all the that Christ had done for him, Paul was going to strive to take ownership of his salvation, because Christ had made him His own.

Last week Pastor Jake showed you all a chart outlining the 3 ways we are saved.

I think it’s worth reviewing at this point again.

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Look at the first row...

Justification — We HAVE BEEN saved — from the PENALTY of sin

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Justification is “an act of God whereby He pronounces a sinner to be righteous because of that sinner’s faith in Christ.”

We are justified, or declared righteous, at the moment of our salvation.

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Now look at the second row...

Sanctification — We ARE BEING saved — from the POWER of sin

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Sanctification is “the process by which Christians are set apart for God from the rest of the world, or the process by which Christians are made holy.”

This is the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul compares the works of the flesh to the fruit of the Spirit.

As we keep in step with the Spirit, He helps us decrease in works of the flesh, and increase in the fruit of the Spirit.

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Finally, look at the third row...

Glorification — We SHALL BE saved — from the PRESENCE of sin

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Glorification is “God’s final removal of sin from the life of the saints so that they stand faultless before Him in glory in eternity”.

At Christ’s coming, the glory of God—His honor, praise, majesty, and holiness—will be realized in us; we will have direct and unhindered access to God’s presence, and we will enjoy holy communion with Him throughout eternity.

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It is glorification that Paul has in mind here that he has not yet attained.

He acknowledges that Christ has made him his own.