Pressing Forward with Purpose

Pastoral Prayer

Let us join our hearts together in prayer.

Gracious and holy God, You are the One who calls us forward, the One who meets us in our weakness, the One who holds us when we cannot hold ourselves. We come before You today with open hands, asking You to do in us what only Your Spirit can do.

Lord, You know the things we cling to— the trophies we polish, the regrets we rehearse, the identities we protect, the fears we hide. You know the weight we carry, and You know how tired we are from carrying it.

Teach us, O God, to count as loss anything that keeps us from the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Loosen our grip on what cannot save us. Strengthen our grip on the One who has already taken hold of us.

We pray today for resurrection direction— for hearts that press forward, for minds that strain toward what lies ahead, for spirits that refuse to live backward. Where we are stuck, set us free. Where we are discouraged, lift our eyes. Where we are weary, steady our steps. Where we are afraid, remind us that Christ is near.

Lord, we pray for those among us who are carrying burdens: for those facing uncertainty, for those walking through grief, for those battling anxiety, for those longing for healing, for those who feel unseen or unheard. Surround them with Your peace— the peace that guards hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Make us a people who stand firm in the Lord, who rejoice even in the waiting, who pray in every circumstance, who receive Your peace with open hands, and who put into practice what we have learned.

And as we continue to worship together in this chapel, shape us into a community that presses forward with purpose and stands firm in Your grace.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, and our upward call.

Amen.

Opening — Returning to Philippians 3

Friends, as we gather again in this chapel, we continue walking with Paul through this letter to the Philippians.

Have you ever had something you were proud of become something you had to lay down at the feet of Christ? A title you wore like a badge. A reputation you polished. A record you kept close. A role that made you feel secure. A version of yourself you worked hard to build. Paul knew what that was like.

And if we are honest, many of us know what that is like too. Sometimes the hardest things to surrender are not the obviously sinful things, but the things that once made us feel secure.

Two weeks ago, in Philippians 1, Paul told us that the church is alive — alive because Christ has begun a good work in us.

Last week, in Philippians 2, Paul showed us the shape of that life — the mind of Christ, the humility of Christ, the pattern of Christ.

Today, in Philippians 3, Paul shows us the direction of that life.

Where does resurrection life go?

What does it pursue?

What direction does it give to a church that belongs to Christ?

For that answer, Paul turns our eyes to one thing: the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:7–14

Friends, open your Bibles with me to Philippians chapter 3, beginning in verse 7.

Hear now the Word of the Lord:

Philippians 3:7–14 ESV

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.

This is the Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Let’s keep our Bibles open as we walk through this passage together.

Paul does not begin by telling us to try harder. He begins by showing us what must be revalued when Christ becomes supreme.

1. Paul reorders his values

Paul begins with a confession that is both honest and freeing:

“Whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”

And Paul does not leave us guessing about what those gains were. In the verses just before our reading, he lays out the résumé of the life he once believed would carry him forward.

Paul had covenant pedigree: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews.

He had religious achievement: as to the law, a Pharisee — trained in Scripture, disciplined in practice, and respected for his seriousness.

He had public reputation: as to zeal, persecuting the church. He was known, feared, and recognized by the religious establishment as a defender of tradition, even though his zeal was tragically aimed against the people of Christ.

He had outward religious success: as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

In other words, if anyone could have trusted his résumé, Paul could have.

But then Paul takes the whole thing — his background, his achievement, his reputation, his performance — and lays it on the scales beside Christ.

And when Christ is on the other side of the scale, the whole résumé loses its weight.

And church, this is not just Paul’s story. This is where the passage starts asking questions of us.

And Paul says: all of it… loss.

Some of it was good. Some of it was tragically misdirected. But none of it could save him. Christ is better.

Better than the applause we chased. Better than the control we clung to. Better than the version of ourselves we were afraid to lose.

But what are we still treating as if it could save us?

What are we afraid we would be without?

Our competence. Our service. Our reputation. Our control. Our ability to be useful. Our ability to hold everything together.

Paul is teaching us something essential: You cannot run the race while dragging a suitcase full of old trophies and old regrets — even if some of those trophies once looked impressive.

This is the first movement of pressing forward: naming what Christ is asking us to release.

The Christian life is not just losing what cannot save us. It is gaining the One who can.

2. The surpassing worth of knowing Christ

Paul moves from loss to gain.

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

This is the center of the whole passage.

Paul is not pressing forward toward achievement, recognition, comfort, or status. He is pressing forward toward Christ Himself.

Knowing Christ is not merely a concept. It is not merely a doctrine to define. It is not merely a Sunday routine.

Knowing Christ is a relationship that deepens, a life that grows, a purpose that expands.

Paul says: “I want to know Christ — the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”

That is not casual faith. That is committed faith.

And notice the order: resurrection power, and fellowship in suffering.

Paul is saying: I want Christ in every part of life — the joyful parts and the costly parts.

This is the second movement of pressing forward: Christ is not merely the reward at the end of the race; Christ is the goal we are moving toward now.

3. Honest humility and holy ambition

Paul says: “Not that I have already obtained all this.”

That is humility. He’s admitting he hasn’t arrived.

But then he says: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

That is holy ambition.

Humility says, “I’m not there yet.” Ambition says, “But I’m going forward.”

Paul refuses to settle, stagnate, or drift.

He presses. He strains. He reaches.

This is resurrection direction.

And notice the phrase: “Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Paul presses forward because Christ pressed forward first — toward him.

This is the third movement of pressing forward: we press on to take hold of Christ because Christ has already taken hold of us.

4. Forgetting what lies behind

Paul continues:

“One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”

This does not mean erasing memory. It means refusing to let memory define destiny.

Some of us are trying to drive forward while staring in the rearview mirror — at mistakes, disappointments, who we used to be, what we used to have.

Paul says: forward is where Christ is calling us. Forward is where purpose is. Forward is where obedience takes shape.

Letting go is not weakness. Letting go is obedience.

And Christ is gentle with those who are learning how to let go.

This is the fourth movement of pressing forward: Christ teaches us how to stop living backward.

5. Pressing toward the upward call

Paul ends with this powerful declaration:

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Heavenward. Upward. Forward.

This is not self‑improvement. This is divine calling.

Christ is not calling you backward. Christ is not calling you sideways. Christ is calling you upward.

The upward call lifts your eyes, strengthens your steps, clarifies your purpose, and steadies your heart.

This is the fifth movement of pressing forward: Christ calls us upward — toward Himself.

That would be enough for a sermon. But because Paul does not stop at forward motion, I do not want us to stop there either.

6. Pastoral charge — Standing firm in what we’ve learned

And church — because I’m not sure when I’ll be scheduled to lead chapel again — I want us to hear how Paul continues this letter.

Philippians 3shows us the direction of resurrection life: press forward toward Christ. But Philippians 4shows us the posture of resurrection life: stand firm in the Lord, rejoice, pray, receive His peace, and put into practice what we have learned.

Paul says: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters… stand firm in the Lord.”

Paul says: “Rejoice in the Lord always… let your gentleness be known… the Lord is near.”

Paul says: “Do not be anxious about anything… but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Paul says: “And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The peace of God stands guard at the door of the heart and mind, not because the world is quiet, but because Christ is near.

And then Paul says: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me… put it into practice.”

Church — that is my prayer for you until I’m scheduled to lead chapel again.

Not that you remember my sermons. Not that you remember my words. But that you remember Christ.

And that you put into practice what Paul has taught us:

Stand firm. Rejoice. Pray. Rest in His peace. Press forward with purpose.

So press forward toward Christ, and stand firm in Christ.

That is how resurrection life keeps moving without losing its peace.

Founder Tie-In — Charles Wesley and the upward call

And just as we’ve done the past two weeks — Wesley in Philippians 1, Asbury in Philippians 2 — we turn again to one of the voices that shaped our tradition.

If John Wesley taught us the urgency of grace, and Francis Asbury taught us the cost of mission, then Charles Wesley gives us a worshipful voice for the direction of holiness.

Charles Wesley’s hymns and prayers often lift the believer’s eyes toward Christ, holiness, and final hope. That instinct fits the movement of Philippians 3: not settling for what lies behind, but pressing onward toward the goal.

Paul calls us toward the upward call; Charles Wesley gives that same longing a worshipful voice.

Both point us toward Christ.

Landing — Bringing it home

So church, Paul has shown us the movement of resurrection life:

We release what cannot carry us. We pursue Christ as surpassing worth. We press forward because Christ has taken hold of us. We stop living backward and follow the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We stand firm in the Lord, rejoice, pray, and rest in His peace.

Christ is not leading you into your past. Christ is not leading you into your fears. Christ is not leading you into your regrets.

Christ is leading you forward. Christ is leading you upward. Christ is leading you deeper into life with Himself.

So this week — and in the weeks ahead — ask Christ to show you:

One thing to release. One thing to pursue. One step to take forward.

Maybe it is a trophy you need to stop carrying. Maybe it is a regret you need to stop rehearsing. Maybe it is one act of obedience you have delayed.

Bring that honestly before Christ. You do not have to pretend it is easy. You only have to trust that He is better.

Not in pressure.

Not in performance.

But in resurrection direction.

May Christ steady our steps, lift our eyes, and guide our hearts as we press forward with purpose and stand firm in His peace.

The past does not get the final word. Fear does not get the final word. Christ does — and He is calling us forward.

And now, as Christ taught us, let us pray together:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.