Philippians 3:12-16

English Standard Version Chapter 3

12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Same Prize. Renewed Press.

The Goal Is More

12 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. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 

I press to make IT (the power of his resurrection) He has made ME his own

I am His.

I want more

The church has become a boarder industry 

We have a theology of salvation in which becoming a Christian has very little to do with becoming like Christ. 

Being a Christian is about more than just coming across the line.

Invite somebody to Illinois and they stay at the welcome center.

We Must Learn To Press

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Two verbs in Middle voice: It implies that the subject is performing the action, but is also deeply involved in or affected by its results

Forgetting - let; escape; forget, lose thought of; forgot that; leave disregarded, neglect, leave off, to set aside

What does it look like to actively forget things

Conscious detachment

Write and release (burn paper)

Letters to the past (forgiveness…setting the record strait)

Confession

Straining - to reach out or stretch out toward

Not two things…one thing 

Like casting a fishing line 

You don’t want one without the other

TO PRESS IS = Forgetting and Straining at the same time, all the time.

We Need People To Show The Way?

15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 

“Think” this way

phroneō

This is a not cool cognition or philosophical approach.

There are at least 4 verbs in Greek that would have located this “thinking” in our heads. But, Paul opts for the word that locates the thinking in our gut.

This is thought fused with attitude, affection, and will.

A disposition, not an opinion.

The mature must BE this way…LIVE this way.

What way?

I’m not perfect, but I’m pressing.

My greatest desire for this church…for the church at large is become a community of relational discipleship.

Preaching can do only so much

Bible study can do only so much

People need to see this life with God being lived out in the fine textures of daily life

Marriages and Friendships

Education and Career

Sickness and Struggle

Wealth and Success (Conversation this weekend: we have failed at discipling wealthy people)

Some people take the approach of “we’re going to treat you like everyone else.”

Some people treat them like a bank…the church and the Kingdom need your money.

What does it look like to fold my life as a wealthy person into God?

Just Up Your Average

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 

The devil loves to take what God intends as a gift of grace and turn into a law.

Here’s another place where I am failing. (TRUST ME. I AM PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THIS)

Just press a little more today than you did on yesterday…and plan to press a little more tomorrow.

Live a little more relationally than we did on yesterday…and plan to lean in a little more tomorrow.

We cannot be a perfect church. But, we can be a pressing church.