Week 9 | Philippians 3 | Know Christ
Focusing on one chapter each week, dig deep in the chapter and daily discovery questions as we seek to be caught up together in the joy of Christ!
PHILIPPIANS 3 | KNOW CHRIST
1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 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; 6 as 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. 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.
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.
Remember, revisit, and pray through today’s discovery questions throughout your day. If helpful, read and rewrite a scripture that God highlights to you. Memorize and meditate on it throughout the week. Share and talk about it with family and friends.
DISCOVERY QUESTIONS
These questions are structured in a weekly rhythm, ideally beginning on the Monday after we introduce the chapter during our Sunday Service.
This is a journey of grace, not grit! Trust in the Lord, and let Him lead you!
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Read the chapter slowly…
What is being said about God? What word, phrase, or image shows you something about God’s character, heart, or work?
Remember, revisit, and pray about what you are beholding about God throughout your day.
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Read the chapter slowly…
What does this chapter say is true of you, of people, or of the Church? What are you being invited to receive?
Remember, revisit, and pray about what you are receiving from God throughout your day.
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Read the chapter slowly…
Where does this chapter expose false ways of living, striving, relating, or seeing yourself? Are you living by your own grit or by God’s grace?
Remember, revisit, and pray about what you are examining with God throughout your day.
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Read the chapter slowly…
What is one concrete act of faith, love, humility, reconciliation, prayer, generosity, or witness you can practice today in response to what is being revealed in this chapter?
Remember, revisit, pray about, and respond by practicing what God is revealing.
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Read the chapter slowly…
Who needs encouragement from this passage? Share one verse, one sentence, one prayer, or revelation you’ve had with them today.
Remember, revisit, pray about, and bear tangible witness to others.
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Read the chapter slowly…
Looking back over the week, what has God shown you?
Remember, revisit, and pray about what He has shown you throughout your day.
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Read the chapter slowly…
Looking back over the week, looking at this moment, and looking forward, what do you want to bring to God and others as you gather around Christ?