SESSION 4 GROWING WITH JOY The Point Day by day, I can become more and more like Jesus. The Passage Philippians 3:12-21 The Bible Meets Life We like quick results. We can convert a cold meal into a hot dinner in a minute or less. Movies can be streamed quickly without the once-common trip to the video store. Infomercials invite us to try their quick-and-easy weight loss or muscle-building program. One area that offers no such claim to being quick and easy is spiritual growth. We can be saved in a moment, but growth in Christ is a lifelong journey. The Setting Although chained to a Roman guard and awaiting trial before Caesar, Paul found joy in focusing his attention on the prize of complete spiritual maturity in Christ. He warned the Philippian believers about false teachers with worldly desires, and he exhorted them as citizens of heaven to imitate him in forgetting the past and pursuing together the goal of Christlikeness until they received the reward of glorious transformation in the presence of Christ. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 131
What does the Bible say? Philippians 3:12-21 (HCSB) 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, 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. 15 Therefore, all who are mature should 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. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe 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. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. 132 Session 4
THE POINT Day by day, I can become more and more like Jesus. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To introduce the idea of endurance, set up bottles of water, energy bars, and fruit for your group members to enjoy as they arrive. DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question #1 on page 105 of the PSG (Personal Study Guide): When have you been thankful you didn t quit? Allow time for each person to respond. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 106): Running a marathon requires dedication. In 2014, the 36,000+ runners of the 2014 Boston Marathon carried something extra: the emotion of running that historic event one year after it was marred by tragedy in 2013, when two terrorists bombs killed three people and injured 260 others. TIP: Always arrive early and always stay late. Teaching isn t just contained inside the prayers. Take advantage of all the chances you have to get to know and interact with your group members. Notes Mebrahtom Meb Keflezighi would not be deterred from running the 2014 Boston Marathon. As he ran, he had the names of the previous year s victims written on his bib. Keflezighi ran and won. He was the first American to win in 29 years, and at 38, he was the oldest person to win in over 80 years. As he crossed the line, people in the crowd were chanting U.S.A. Keflezighi lifted his hands upward with joy and triumph. His hard work and endurance paid off. 1 SAY: In Philippians 3, Paul used an analogy of a runner competing in a race to capture his passionate, all-consuming desire to pursue Christ. The apostle s desire to run hard after Christ is a great example of how we strive to become more and more like Jesus. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 106 of the PSG: Day by day, I can become more and more like Jesus. PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. Thank God for providing all that s needed for us to know Christ and to grow spiritually. Display Pack Item #12 to use with your discussion of the Live It Out section. PLAYLIST PICK: Never Going Back by United Pursuit BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 133
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 3:12-14 (HCSB) 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, 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. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Philippians 3:12-14. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 107): When describing the Christian life, the apostle Paul equated it to running a race. In verse 12, he said Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature. Paul s goal was spiritual maturity; but, he wouldn t fully realize this goal until he reached heaven. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How would you describe the goal for Christ-followers? ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Bring your group s attention to the water bottles, energy bars, and fruit. Discuss how these essential items physically enable someone to run a race. Then ask, What things enable us to grow spiritually? As a group, identify habits, experiences, and things that cause us to mature spiritually. DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 107 of the PSG: What experiences or encounters have helped you grow spiritually? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 107): Spiritual growth involves both forgetting and reaching forward (v. 13). We can let go of the past that is forgiven in Christ. Paul had originally persecuted Christians (Acts 22:4-5) but he was forgiven. He simply let go of the past, and so should we. How do we do this? Forget past failures. We must deal with sin: It s only after we ve been forgiven and sought to make wrongs right that we can forget and run forward. Forget past achievements. Paul occasionally recounted some of his ministry achievements (2 Corinthians 11:22 12:4), but he didn t use past victories as an excuse not to press on in the present. 134 Session 4
THE POINT Day by day, I can become more and more like Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 Commentary Spiritual maturity is a continual journey toward Christlikeness. Verse 12: After listing his previous religious benefits and desires in the earlier part of this chapter, Paul declared that his supreme desire was to know Christ more intimately in power, suffering, and experience. Although no real believer would have labeled Paul as immature, he himself realized he was not fully mature. Indeed he had not yet reached this goal. The Greek root occurs three times in this verse ( reached, take hold of, taken hold of ). Paul s great desire was to know Christ and His resurrection (vv. 10 11). The perfection he would have at the resurrection was not yet his. Realizing he had not yet reached his goal, he made every effort to do so. This phrase brings to mind a runner straining toward the finish line. Here again he strived to take hold of (active form) this elusive goal for which he willingly spent his life. He did so because Jesus had taken hold of him (passive form). Verse 13: Again Paul reiterated that he did not consider himself fully mature. Two all-important phrases explain Paul s dedicated pursuit. Forgetting what is behind would include all the points of pride of Philippians 3:5 6, all he had done as Saul the persecutor, all the pain he had endured for Christ, all the headaches of immature church members and false teachers. Looking back can draw us back (Luke 9:62). Let us forget great accomplishments that can make us proud or indifferent and failures that can cause guilt or shame. Reaching forward to what is ahead is to exert with all one s being in pursuit of a goal. These terms were often used of a runner, blanking out every other distraction, and straining with every sinew, reaching and grasping for the finish line. Verse 14: It was with such determination and focus Paul continued to pursue the goal. This word is used in both hunting (relentless pursuit of game) and athletics (diligent pursuit of victory). Such pursuit requires both discipline and determination. At stake is the prize promised at God s call upon Paul s life. Paul wanted to hear God call his name and summon him to the victory stand where he would meet Jesus face to face. Rather than slack off toward the end of the race, Paul was motivated by the calling of God on his life to strain harder in purity and service. He wanted to get to know every dimension of Christ, through every means. The joy of experiencing progress kept him going, but the ultimate joy would be the completion of God s plan for his life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 135
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 3:15-19 (HCSB) 15 Therefore, all who are mature should 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. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe 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. They are focused on earthly things. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Philippians 3:15-19. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 108 of the PSG: What are some obstacles we face in running the race toward Christlikeness? ALTERNATE QUESTION: How can we intentionally position ourselves to benefit from the example of others? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 108-109): In these verses, Paul encouraged Christ-followers to do two things. They were to follow godly examples. Faithful examples included those who lived out the values Paul wrote about, such as putting the needs of others ahead of their own (2:3-4), not grumbling or complaining (v. 14), and pouring out their lives for the cause of the gospel (vv. 16-18). It s essential not only that we hear sound teaching, but we also need to observe sound teaching through the lives of others. They were to avoid enemies of the cross of Christ (v. 18). These are people who appear to profess some sort of Christian faith, but in reality, they re pretenders, and that makes them deceivers. Their actions aren t consistent with their profession of faith in Christ. DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 109 of the PSG: What attributes should we seek out in those we allow to influence us? TRANSITION: In the next verses, Paul described the ultimate prize that all believers can look forward to. Our spiritual maturity isn t complete until we reach heaven. 136 Session 4
THE POINT Day by day, I can become more and more like Jesus. Philippians 3:15-19 Commentary Spiritual maturity comes as we follow the example of mature believers. A true indicator of growing spiritually is that we realize how much further we have to go to become like Christ. This is not a discouraging factor, but one that makes us thankful and joyful for God s gracious activity in our lives, and more determined to honor Him by our continual progress toward complete maturity. Verse 15: Paul said those with spiritual maturity would think this way: they would value the truths regarding life and continuing maturity as Paul himself did (Philippians 3:7 14). Paul left those who think differently to God to correct their thinking. Human arguments cannot convince others of the need for spiritual maturity, nor cause it to happen. Spiritual growth is a work of God. Verses 16-17: Followers of Christ are responsible to live out what we learn. This produces joy. We are not perfect, but we re called to live out what we know. Just as we are to imitate Christ (Philippians 2:5 11), we should also seek godly human role models. This statement is not egotism, as Paul also exhorted believers to seek other role models. He recognized he was not the only one capable of being imitated. They were to imitate others who were like-minded. The first believers had Jesus. But after His departure, believers still needed a physical example. We are to follow the example Paul and others have set. Verses 18-19: The strong emotion here is the only time Scripture records that Paul cried. The term enemies describes those who opposed Christ and the practices of gracious humility. But notice they were enemies of the cross of Christ, not of Paul himself. Four statements explain the theology and practice of these enemies. First, Paul highlighted their desperate end by starting with it: their end is destruction, meaning a fixed doom of eternal damnation. Second, their god is their stomach means the enemies of the cross set their goal on physical desires. They were driven by sensual appetites. For Jews, this included ritual purity, preserving their self-styled holiness. For Greeks, this included satisfying physical appetites. Next, their glory is in their shame They prided themselves in shameful things. For Greeks it would have meant pagan rituals involving sexual practices and prostitution; for Jews, circumcision of the shameful body parts as a requirement for rightness with God. Finally, They are focused on earthly things. Jews focused on rules, regulations, and rituals they imagined would please God. Greeks focused on what would bring power or pleasure. Paul described enemies of the cross as destined for hopelessness, driven by sensual appetites, and dedicated to material things. In contrast to these foolish men are those who joyfully pursue spiritual growth in the humility of Christ. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 137
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Philippians 3:20-21 (HCSB) 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Philippians 3:20-21. ALTERNATE QUESTION: Why is athletic imagery appropriate for the Christian life? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 110): Paul encouraged all believers with several truths. Our spiritual growth will not be fully complete until we reach heaven, where we will be face to face with the Savior. The beauty in seeing the Lord face to face is that He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body (v. 21). All this is Christ s doing. He will transform us by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself (v. 21). DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 110 of the PSG: What makes these verses challenging? What makes them encouraging? DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 111 of the PSG on their own. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share their responses. PRESS ON: If you compared your spiritual life to a race, where would you be? Place an X in the blank that best fits your response. I m not a Christ-follower. I m at the starting line; I m a Christ-follower and ready to grow spiritually. I ve been a Christ-follower for some time, but if I m being honest, right now I ve stalled. I ve hit my stride. I ve come a long way, and am constantly challenged to grow in my relationship with Jesus. Other: What steps can you take this week to grow in your relationship with Jesus? 138 Session 4
THE POINT Day by day, I can become more and more like Jesus. Philippians 3:20-21 Commentary Spiritual growth is not complete until our glorious transformation in heaven. Verse 20: Paul contrasted the enemies of the cross (v. 19) with those who have embraced the cross. He declared that the latter s citizenship is in heaven. Philippi, as a Roman colony with many Roman citizens, thought in terms of citizenship. The stability and security of citizenship were highly valued. Just as the conquering Roman emperor came from Rome, our transforming King will come from heaven. We eagerly wait for the Lord Jesus in His capacity of Savior. Eagerly wait is the same Greek term used in Romans 8:19 for creation s eager anticipation and yearning for its transformation at Christ s return. Because He is the Lord now exalted above every name (Philippians 2:9 11), we are assured our expectation is not in vain. Verse 21: When Christ returns He will transform (to transfigure, transfer) our bodies, said here to be in an humble condition (vile, humiliation; of low estate). This refers to the body in its present state, subject to infirmities, diseases, and death. It is sadly different from what it was when man was created, and from what it will be in the future. The word translated transform speaks of a change brought about from outside that brings about an outward change. Our mortal bodies become immortal. Paul emphatically taught that a part of the Christian hope and expectation that these bodies of ours, all too frail and subject to the ravages of illness and disease, will be gloriously changed. Our new bodies will be in the likeness of Christ s own glorious resurrection body. That would be the body He now has since He has been glorified. We see a small sample of it in the transfiguration (Matthew 17) and in Jesus post-resurrection ministry (Matthew 28:9 10; Mark 16:12,19; Luke 24:13 51; John 20:14 27; 21:4 19). However, there is no way we in our present state can know or understand completely the change Christ s body underwent when He was resurrected. Christ s heavenly body is of the same nature that believers bodies will be in the resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:44-57). Our body is destined for eternity. Our spirit is already experiencing resurrection with Christ, but our bodies must await this wonderful change. Such an incredible transformation will be accomplished by the power (energeia, see our English energy ) only Christ possesses. This word is only used of super-human power beyond our realm of operation. This other-worldly power enables Christ to subject everything to Himself. Subject is a military term used to describe a general marshaling of forces under authority and direction. Such is Christ s absolute authority and power to transform, rule, and reign over all of creation. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 139
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #12, Union with Christ poster. Point out that our spiritual growth is a direct result of our relationship with Jesus. When we seek to know and follow Him, we mature spiritually. SAY: Philippians 3:12-21 calls us to press on toward spiritual growth. GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 112 of the PSG. Forget what is past. Do you have something in your past that you need to forget in order to run? Are you coasting on previously experienced victories? Turn from past experiences and commit to press on to greater spiritual growth. Eliminate sinful habits. Evaluate your life for any sinful habits. Confess these and be aggressive in removing these as part of your daily habits. Replace these with godly habits and ask God for wisdom and strength to persevere in the face of temptation. Get an accountability partner. Find a mature, growing Christian and hold each other accountable for increasing godly habits and removing sinful ones. Meet regularly and commit to pray for each other daily. Wrap It Up SAY: You may never train for a marathon, but Scripture tells us that for believers, life is like a race. Each day, we encounter opportunities to grow spiritually. When we press on toward the prize of godliness in Christ Jesus, we become more and more like Him. Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog. LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry 140 Session 4