Sermons on Philippians 3:7-14


The various sermons below interpret Philippians 3:7-14 by emphasizing a shift from worldly values to a Christ-centered life. They commonly highlight the idea of leaving behind past achievements and focusing on spiritual growth and transformation. The sermons use vivid analogies, such as a resume, Olympic athletes, and a quilt, to illustrate the process of reorienting one's life towards God. A shared theme is the necessity of intentionality and effort in the Christian journey, as seen in the use of Greek words like "theoma" and "diako" to emphasize living for God's glory and pursuing spiritual growth. The sermons also stress the importance of a complete commitment to Christ, using metaphors like having "both feet in" to describe the wholehearted dedication required to fully embrace one's identity in Christ.

While the sermons share common themes, they also present unique perspectives. One sermon focuses on the contrast between living for God's glory and seeking human approval, urging believers to examine their motivations. Another sermon distinguishes between grace and effort, emphasizing that while salvation is by grace, sanctification requires intentional effort. A different sermon highlights transformation and new beginnings, encouraging believers to release past achievements and failures to embrace God's new work. Lastly, a sermon emphasizes righteousness through faith, contrasting personal achievements with the deeper pursuit of knowing Christ and attaining resurrection.

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Philippians 3:7-14 Interpretation:

Living for God's Glory, Not Man's Approval (Shades Mountain Baptist Church) interprets Philippians 3:7-14 by emphasizing the shift from living for human approval to living for God's glory. The sermon uses the analogy of a resume to describe Paul's past accomplishments, which he now considers loss compared to knowing Christ. The sermon highlights the Greek word "theoma," meaning theater, to illustrate the temptation of living life as a performance for others rather than for God.

Intentional Discipleship: Pressing On in Spiritual Growth (Grace Bible Church) interprets Philippians 3:7-14 by focusing on the concept of pressing on in spiritual growth. The sermon uses the analogy of Olympic athletes to describe the effort and intentionality required in spiritual growth. The Greek word "diako," meaning to follow hard after something, is highlighted to emphasize the persistent effort needed in the Christian journey.

Embracing Transformation: Moving Forward in Faith (Hanford-Laton Church of the Nazarene) interprets Philippians 3:7-14 by using the analogy of a quilt made from old fabric to illustrate how God transforms past experiences into something new. The sermon emphasizes the importance of respecting the past without relying on it and highlights the active choice of forgetting the past to embrace God's new plans.

Embracing Our Identity as God-Seekers (Trinity Dallas) interprets Philippians 3:7-14 by emphasizing the concept of being "all in" for Christ. The sermon highlights Paul's willingness to count all his achievements and pedigree as loss for the sake of knowing Christ. The preacher uses the metaphor of having "both feet in" to describe a complete commitment to Christ, contrasting it with being half-hearted or double-minded. This interpretation focuses on the idea of pressing through resistance to fully embrace one's identity in Christ.

Philippians 3:7-14 Theological Themes:

Living for God's Glory, Not Man's Approval (Shades Mountain Baptist Church) presents the theme of living for God's glory over human approval. The sermon emphasizes the importance of examining motivations and striving to live for God's glory in all aspects of life.

Intentional Discipleship: Pressing On in Spiritual Growth (Grace Bible Church) introduces the theme of grace not being opposed to effort but to earning. The sermon highlights the distinction between salvation by grace and sanctification by effort, emphasizing the need for intentional spiritual growth.

Embracing Transformation: Moving Forward in Faith (Hanford-Laton Church of the Nazarene) presents the theme of transformation and new beginnings. The sermon emphasizes the importance of releasing past achievements and failures to embrace God's new work in our lives.

Embracing Our Identity as God-Seekers (Trinity Dallas) presents the theme of righteousness through faith, emphasizing that true righteousness is not based on personal achievements or adherence to the law but through faith in Christ. This theme is expanded by discussing the idea of pressing on to attain the resurrection from the dead, which involves a continuous effort to know Christ more deeply and to live out one's faith fully.

Philippians 3:7-14 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing Transformation: Moving Forward in Faith (Hanford-Laton Church of the Nazarene) provides historical context by mentioning that Paul's Bible was not the same as ours, relying on the traditions of his people and the Old Testament books, including the Psalms. The sermon highlights the Jewish tradition of remembrance and how Paul, coming from a people who are rememberers, reflects on his past accomplishments.

Philippians 3:7-14 Cross-References in the Bible:

Living for God's Glory, Not Man's Approval (Shades Mountain Baptist Church) references Matthew 5:14-16 to emphasize the call to let one's light shine for God's glory. The sermon also references 2 Timothy 4 and John 12 to illustrate the dangers of living for human approval and the importance of standing on the truth of God's word.

Intentional Discipleship: Pressing On in Spiritual Growth (Grace Bible Church) references Romans 6:1 and Romans 8 to emphasize the importance of living a new life in Christ and the process of sanctification. The sermon also references 2 Corinthians 11 to highlight Paul's sufferings and the motivation behind his perseverance.

Embracing Our Identity as God-Seekers (Trinity Dallas) references several biblical figures and stories to expand on Philippians 3:7-14. The sermon mentions Jacob wrestling with the angel, emphasizing the persistence required to receive God's blessing. It also references the woman with the issue of blood, highlighting her determination to reach Jesus despite obstacles. Zacchaeus is mentioned as an example of someone who went to great lengths to see Jesus, illustrating the idea of pressing through resistance to know Christ.

Philippians 3:7-14 Christian References outside the Bible:

Intentional Discipleship: Pressing On in Spiritual Growth (Grace Bible Church) references Dallas Willard, who stated, "Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning." This quote is used to emphasize the importance of effort in spiritual growth while distinguishing it from earning salvation.

Embracing Our Identity as God-Seekers (Trinity Dallas) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in the discussion of Philippians 3:7-14.

Philippians 3:7-14 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Intentional Discipleship: Pressing On in Spiritual Growth (Grace Bible Church) uses the analogy of Olympic athletes to illustrate the effort and intentionality required in spiritual growth. The sermon describes the intense training and dedication of athletes, comparing it to the spiritual journey of becoming more like Christ. The sermon also references Muhammad Ali's quote about winning or losing a fight far away from witnesses to emphasize the importance of effort and preparation.

Embracing Our Identity as God-Seekers (Trinity Dallas) does not provide any illustrations from secular sources specifically related to Philippians 3:7-14.