Philippians 3:12-21 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Present: Progress towards v.12-13a 1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. Full devotion is a state of our hearts when our understanding of truth is equal to our level of surrender. Mindy Caliguire Philippians 3:12 GNB I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. : Live with you back to it v.13b Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 1:8 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Isaiah 43:18 : Reach for it v.14-21 Questions for personal study and/or Discipleship Group: Opener: Robert Ballard said it was his quest to search for the Titanic. What is your particular quest? Go to the Source: Read Philippians 3:12-21 What do you think Paul had in mind when he mentions the “prize” (v. 14)? What does it mean for you to live as a “citizen of heaven” (v. 20)? Live it out: Comparing your life to a race, where are you at now? Sitting it out? Injured on the sidelines? Warming up? In the starting blocks? Pushed down the ground like Eric Liddell? Running full tilt? Pacing yourself? Ready to give up? Why did you answer this way and how can your group help you?