Counting the Right Things (April 19, 2026)

LRBC frames its life around three commitments: to know Christ, to grow in faith, and to go make Him known. Worship belongs at the center of that life—an orientation of heart that seeks encounter with God rather than a checklist of religious activity. Philippians 3 exposes the most dangerous spiritual posture: being “almost there” — respectable, zealous, and disciplined outwardly but lacking a regenerating encounter with Jesus. Ritual without regeneration produces unity fractures, false confidence, and misplaced trust in fallible people or systems.

Paul contrasts the Judaizers’ insistence on circumcision and law with worship “by the Spirit” and boasting only in Christ. Religious accolades, social status, and moral performance amount to nothing compared with personal knowledge of Jesus. Paul removes any soft language: he calls former gains scubala—trash or dung—to shock hearers into seeing how bankrupt reliance on the flesh really is. The true exchange Paul urges is radical: count worldly gain as loss to gain Christ and be found in Him, receiving righteousness that comes by faith rather than law.

Knowing Christ proves practical and transformative. Progressive sanctification unfolds as a lifelong, relational growth: the power of Christ’s resurrection changes desires and habits, and the believer also shares in Christ’s sufferings. That combination produces a life that dies to self, lives by faith, and endures persecution with hope. This life looks forward with urgency to the resurrection at Christ’s return; being “close enough” never suffices.

Unity, generosity, and mission flow from valuing Christ above personal preferences, resumes, or traditions. The congregation’s health depends on individuals who fully abandon self-righteousness, embrace Christ’s righteousness, and pursue ongoing transformation. The call proves costly but joyful: surrender everything to know Jesus more, so life’s meaning and witness cohere around the surpassing worth of Christ.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. True worship flows from the Spirit Worship that pleases God issues from a regenerated heart rather than outward conformity. When worship roots itself in the Spirit, obedience becomes a fruit of transformation instead of a performance. This shifts identity away from roles and credentials toward dependence on Christ alone. [31:34]
• 2. External religion disguises spiritual emptiness Beautiful rituals and moral performance can conceal a lack of personal union with Christ. Such externals can create self-confidence that resists repentance and blinds communities to theological error. The cure requires confronting what actually shapes trust and turning from human systems to Christ-centered truth. [34:04]
• 3. All credentials count as rubbish Worldly status, religious pedigree, and moral achievements lose their claim on the soul when measured against knowing Jesus. Calling these things “scubala” forces a hard evaluation: what gives life is not what a person has done but who a person knows. The posture of willing loss frees the soul to pursue deeper communion with Christ. [49:18]
• 4. Know Christ; pursue progressive sanctification Spiritual growth resembles apprenticeship rather than a one-time transaction; it blends resurrection power with shared suffering. Progressive sanctification reshapes desires, daily choices, and responses to pain as followers become more like Jesus. That ongoing formation prepares the church for unity and mission in light of Christ’s return. [52:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:02] - Invitation to Worship
• [28:28] - Opening and Context
• [29:00] - The Danger of “Almost There”
• [31:34] - Read Philippians 3:1–3
• [34:04] - Warning About Judaizers
• [40:51] - Paul’s Religious Resume
• [46:16] - Counting All As Loss
• [52:27] - Progressive Sanctification Explained
• [58:42] - Resurrection Power & Urgency
• [62:05] - Unity, Mission, and Priorities
• [70:08] - Prayer and Response
• [75:52] - Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Reading
Philippians 3:1–11 (ESV)
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

John 4:24 (ESV)
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

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Observation Questions

1. What three contrasts does Paul make between external religion and true worship in Philippians 3:1–3?
2. How does Paul describe his former religious achievements in Philippians 3:4–6, and what strong term does he use to dismiss their value in verse 8? [49:18]
3. According to Philippians 3:10–11, what two aspects of knowing Christ does Paul emphasize as part of a believer’s growth?

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul use such harsh language like “dogs” and “rubbish” (or “dung”) to describe religious performance? What does this reveal about the danger of misplaced trust? [48:15]
2. How does the idea of “progressive sanctification” (mentioned in the sermon) connect to Paul’s desire to “know Christ” in both resurrection power and suffering? [52:45]
3. In John 4:24, Jesus says worship must be “in spirit and truth.” How does this contrast with the “almost there” spiritual posture warned about in the sermon? [29:00]

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Application Questions

1. What “credentials” (e.g., roles, achievements, or habits) do you unconsciously rely on to feel spiritually secure? How could actively calling them “rubbish” free you to depend more on Christ? [50:16]
2. Reflect on a time when religious routines (like church attendance or Bible reading) felt like a checklist rather than worship. What practical step could help you reconnect with Jesus as the purpose of those habits?
3. The sermon warns against valuing traditions or preferences over Christ. Where have you seen this create division in relationships or churches? How could prioritizing Christ reshape your response? [39:42]
4. Paul says knowing Christ includes sharing in His sufferings. What current hardship or frustration could you view as an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus rather than just a problem to fix?
5. The phrase “close enough isn’t close enough” challenges complacency. Is there an area of your life (e.g., anger, pride, or secrecy) where you’ve settled for “almost there” instead of full surrender? [01:04:15]