Sunday, November 4th 2007 “Reaching The Finish Line”
Today’s Scripture is Philippians 3:12-14
I. Keys to Reaching the Finish Line
1st Know Where You Are!
Philippians 3:12
It is important that we know “Where” we are in order to get where God wants us to go!
Philippians 3:4-6
Paul was "born of the tribe of Benjamin"----Paul was "born of"---not a proselyte!
Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee"----Acts 22: 3
Paul was good in the eyes of the religious leaders but did not know the real Law Giver!
Philippians 3:13 “Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it.”
Questions:
1. What is it that Paul had not taken hold of?
2. Are there any modern day “Pharisees”? (don’t mention any names!)
3. In what ways was Paul religious but didn’t know the Law Giver?
II. Keys to Reaching the Finish Line:
1st Know Where You Are!
2nd Know Where It Begins! Where is the starting point?
Philippians 3:12
Paul was never the same again after his encounter on the road to Damascus!
You must get in the race at the starting line if you’re going to be a viable contestant!
Questions:
1. How does Paul’s “race” compare to today’s track race or marathon?
2. Was Paul concerned with being perfected after his conversion?
3. Why did Paul say he must “press on”?
III. Keys to Reaching the Finish Line:
1st Know Where You Are!
2nd Know Where It Begins! Where is the starting point?
3rd Know What Simple Is! Forgetting those things which are left behind
Paul persecuted the Church---Acts 9:1 "....He, Saul, was still speaking threats against the Lord's disciples.
Paul consented to the murder of Stephen!--Acts 8:1 "And Saul was there giving approval to his death."
Pauls life contained a past that needed to be forgiven and forgotten
Paul's past needed to be forgiven!
It is a tragedy when we let the past ruin the future!
Phil. 3:13
We must ask Christ for forgiveness and then forgetting!
Allowing the past to become the STANDARD for the future is FATAL!
A backward look is only good for growth, if it is to compare where and who we are and for planning
Questions:
1. Why is it it so hard to forget the past?
2. Do you feel forgiven even if you can’t forget the past?
3. How can we let the past ruin our future?
Look Ahead!---The forward look
Philippians 3:13-14
Sin is just missing the mark!
Paul says "I am pressing toward the mark!!!"
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
v14: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward
This is the year to fulfill the "HIGH CALLING OF JESUS CHRIST"!!!
The history of the Christian church is of men and women doing the greatest of things in the worst of times
Questions:
1. What is the “mark” Paul is pressing toward?
2. Read Philippians 3:14 in other translations
3. What is the “upward call”?
About Us
- Hope Community Church
- Santa Maria, California, United States
- Real People, Real Issues, Real Life Hope Is Real! Hope Community Church is committed: To demonstrating God’s love through building families & sharing hope. To minister to all levels of a persons life; child, adult and senior. To providing a safe environment for all to flourish spiritually and physically. To see people totally radically changed and to build up the body of Christ. This will be accomplished by providing meaningful worship and praise services, Bible-based preaching and exhortation, comprehensive education and discipleship programs, in-home ‘Life Groups’ and extensive outreach efforts. Programs will be designed to minister to people across all demographic groups (men and women, married and single) and in every age group (children, youth, college/career, and young, middle and senior adult).