Sunday School Text and Lesson - Philippians 3.1 - 15; 4.8

Philippians 3.1 - 15; 4.8

How do we approach our daily walk?  Do we consider where we where "just after after salvation" to where we are now in our walk?  

What do we consider as gain in our life? - or is the better question - What do we consider a loss in our life? 

Let's examine Paul for a moment.

Paul persecuted the Church. He had believers dragged from their homes, imprisoned, tortured, and in the case of Stephen stoned to death. Sometimes we try to measure our self-righteousness against another person's sins, thinking "At least I'm not that bad."   What is the danger of this type of thinking?

Now lets switch people for a moment and briefly look at Moses......

The writer of Hebrews drew a picture of faith for us in the person of Moses. This patriarch's story correlates strongly to what Paul says about his righteousness being "loss" in the light of knowing Christ. In Hebrews 11:25-26 we learn that Moses "considered reproach for the sake of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward" (HCSB).

Now back to Paul.........

Paul looked forward to the reward his life of faith in Christ would bring him. Jesus, Himself, "for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne (Heb. 12:2b). In both cases we see men of faith laying down all earthly treasures and enduring suffering to be like Christ in their pursuit of eternal rewards. Consider this .....What is the reward for which you long in the heavenlies? Is there anything you would hesitate to give up or endure for the sake of the cross?

We tend to dwell on the immediate and measurable, such as spiritual growth, disciplines, service to the church, or time spent in Bible study and prayer. All these can be good things but they must have an end in mind. If all we're doing is checking off our good Christian deeds for the day, we miss the point.  Do your practices conform you to Christ's image? Are they your straining toward the goal to win the prize God has promised you in your calling? A marathon runner builds confidence with every mile marker passed. But it's breaking the tape across the finish line that really matters.

Now to the text

Philippians 3.1 - 15; 4.8

1. Verse 2. There is a word that is repeated three times in the Greek in this verse. If you read a NIV translation you will not see this. Take time to read another translation and see what Paul is saying.  The New American Standard Version and New King James has it. What word is repeated three times?  Ask yourself why?
   
2. What is dog a metaphor for here?
3. What does it mean, "We are the circumcision"?
4. Why was circumcision so important to Paul's audience?
5. What does "straining toward what is ahead" suggest?
   
6. Philippians 4.8. Why is it important that we think about the right things?
   

Please pray for this lesson and the upcoming worship services both in the am and pm.  See you Sunday.