Philippians 3:17-21

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.



~ What people do you think Paul was talking about verses 18-19?
~ How do you see God's sovereignty in this passage? What is your personal response to His sovereignty? In light of this how will you pray today?

Philippians 3:15-16

Following Paul’s Example

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. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.


~ How much of your day goes toward your pursuit of growing in Christ and becoming mature in your faith? Do you find yourself pushing off your quiet time and finding other things that need to be done first?
~ How might you praise God today for all He has done to get you where you are in your spiritual walk? Will you ask Him to uncover the areas that are holding you back from growing in spiritual maturity?

Philippians 3:12-14

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.


~ How do we as followers of Christ strive for Christlikeness? How are you pressing on toward the goal of Christlikeness?
~ What are some distractions that tend to slow down your race (spiritual growth)? What might God be calling you to do differently starting today?

Philippians 3:10-11

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.


~ How have you experienced God's power and what was your response?
~ What does it mean to participate in Christ suffering? How has this suffering affected you?

Philippians 3:4-9

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.  7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.


~ In what ways have you tried to obtain your own righteousness? How has your relationship with Christ changed your view?
~ Based on these verses how is righteousness truly obtained?