Philippians 3:12 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. BiG Idea: Following Jesus isn’t a in the park, it’s a race to be . Philippians 3:13-14 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Your doesn’t define your in Jesus Gospel forgetfulness is choosing to leave in order to faithfully pursue and point to Jesus . Isaiah 43:18–19 18 “Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. 19 Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Hebrews 12:1 12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, Gospel driven lives let go of that slows us down from running hard after Jesus Every believer’s challenge is to face every opportunity with the cross us, Christ us, and the Spirit us Philippians 3:15–16 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Maturity is found in , not achievement Philippians 3:17a 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters,... Faith is meant to be and . Philippians 3:17-19 …and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things, Challenging Questions: Whose example are you following? What are you showing others about Jesus? Philippians 3:20 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer’s responsibility is to the culture and values of God’s Kingdom here and now Philippians 3:21-4:1 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. 4 So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. Challenging questions: Where are you coasting? How do you need to press forward? Where has your citizenship in heaven taken a backseat to your citizenship here? This Week I Will: Pursue Jesus By: Point to Jesus By: Memorize: Philippians 3:14 Next Sunday: Philippians 4