Pressing On: A Focused Journey in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Focused Vision in Christ

Description: In our Christian walk, it is crucial to maintain a focused, cross-centered vision. This concept, inspired by the phrase "Aim Small, Miss Small" from the movie "The Patriot," emphasizes the importance of narrowing our spiritual focus to the essentials of following Christ. Often, our large appetites for worldly things distract us from the narrow path that leads to life. A healthy spiritual appetite, as highlighted by John Stott, is essential for growth in Christian living. Scripture frequently addresses promises to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, reminding us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and the cross. [38:26]

Bible Passage: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6, ESV)

Reflection: What are some worldly desires that distract you from focusing on Christ? How can you narrow your spiritual focus to prioritize your relationship with Him today?

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Day 2: Moving Beyond the Past

Description: The Apostle Paul teaches us that while our past may shape us, it doesn't have to hinder our progress in Christ. He emphasizes that he has not yet attained perfection but continues to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ and sharing in His sufferings. This is a powerful reminder that our conversion is just the beginning of our journey, not the end. We must continually strive to grow in our faith, forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead. By doing so, we can move beyond our past mistakes and failures, focusing instead on the future that God has in store for us. [40:29]

Bible Passage: "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What past experiences or mistakes are holding you back from fully embracing your future in Christ? How can you actively choose to forget what lies behind and press on towards what lies ahead?

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Day 3: The Power of Confession and Forgiveness

Description: Confession and forgiveness are essential tools for spiritual growth. Confession allows us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit, acknowledging our sins and seeking God's grace. Forgiveness, on the other hand, frees us from the chains of past hurts and enables us to move forward in our faith journey. Both practices are necessary for healing and growth in Christ. By confessing our sins and forgiving others, we align ourselves with God's will and open our hearts to His transformative power. [50:37]

Bible Passage: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a sin you need to confess to God today? Is there someone you need to forgive? How can you take a step towards confession and forgiveness right now?

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Day 4: True Maturity in Christ

Description: True maturity in Christ is not about being sinless but about bringing stability and control under the Spirit. It involves recognizing our imperfections and relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us. We need community and mature believers to support and guide us, as the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. By surrounding ourselves with a community of faith, we can grow in our spiritual maturity and become more like Christ. [55:34]

Bible Passage: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: Who are the mature believers in your life that you can turn to for guidance and support? How can you actively seek out and engage with your faith community to grow in spiritual maturity?

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Day 5: Our Heavenly Citizenship

Description: This world will never fully satisfy us because our true citizenship is in heaven. As believers, our mission is to preach the gospel and make disciples, encouraging one another to stand firm in the faith. The gospel is the life-permeating truth that changes everything, and it serves as our daily reminder of God's grace and our need for Him. By keeping our focus on our heavenly citizenship, we can navigate the challenges of this world with hope and purpose. [01:03:17]

Bible Passage: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing that your citizenship is in heaven change the way you live your daily life? What steps can you take today to share the gospel and encourage others in their faith journey?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into Philippians 3:12-4:1, focusing on the theme of aiming small and missing small in our Christian walk. This concept, borrowed from the movie "The Patriot," emphasizes the importance of having a focused, cross-centered vision in our discipleship. We often struggle with this because our appetites are too large for worldly things, which distract us from the narrow path that leads to life. John Stott's insight on having a healthy spiritual appetite was highlighted, reminding us that Scripture often addresses promises to the hungry.

Paul's message in Philippians teaches us that our past may shape us, but it doesn't have to hinder us. He emphasizes that he has not yet attained perfection but continues to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ and sharing in His sufferings. This is a powerful reminder that our conversion is just the beginning of our journey, not the end. We must continually strive to grow in our faith, forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead.

We also discussed the importance of confession and forgiveness as tools to help us move past our old selves and grow in Christ. Confession allows us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit, while forgiveness frees us from the chains of past hurts. Paul’s life serves as an example of how to live a life focused on Christ, despite our imperfections.

Moreover, we touched on the dangers of perfectionism and lawlessness within the church. True maturity in Christ is not about being sinless but about bringing stability and control under the Spirit. We need community and mature believers to guide us, as the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation.

Finally, we were reminded that our citizenship is in heaven, and this world will never fully satisfy us. Our mission is to preach the gospel and make disciples, encouraging one another to stand firm in the faith. The gospel is the life-permeating truth that changes everything, and it is our daily reminder of God's grace and our need for Him.

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Key Takeaways

1. centered vision. This means narrowing our spiritual focus to the essentials of following Christ, rather than being distracted by worldly desires. A healthy spiritual appetite is crucial for growth in Christian living. [38:26]
2. The Past Shapes but Doesn't Hinder: Paul teaches that while our past may forge us, it doesn't have to hinder our progress in Christ. We must forget what lies behind and strain towards what lies ahead, continually pressing on to know Christ more deeply.

3. Confession and Forgiveness: These are essential tools for spiritual growth. Confession allows us to participate with the Holy Spirit, while forgiveness frees us from the chains of past hurts. Both are necessary for moving forward in our faith journey.

4. Maturity in Christ: True maturity is not about being sinless but about bringing stability and control under the Spirit. We need community and mature believers to guide us, as the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation.

5. Citizenship in Heaven: This world will never fully satisfy us because our true citizenship is in heaven. Our mission is to preach the gospel and make disciples, encouraging one another to stand firm in the faith. The gospel is the life-permeating truth that changes everything.

### [38:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:37] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
[36:09] - Movie Analogy: The Patriot
[38:26] - Aim Small, Miss Small
[40:29] - Forgetting the Past
[45:14] - Pressing Towards the Goal
[49:48] - Confession and Forgiveness
[55:34] - Maturity in Christ
[63:17] - Citizenship in Heaven
[69:48] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean when he says he has not yet attained perfection but presses on towards the goal? ([41:10])
How does Paul describe the relationship between our past and our spiritual growth? ([40:29])
What are the two tools mentioned in the sermon that help us move past our old selves and grow in Christ? ([50:37])
According to the sermon, what is the significance of having a "cross-centered vision" in our Christian walk? ([38:26])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead? How does this perspective help in our spiritual journey? ([45:14])
How does the concept of "aim small, miss small" apply to our daily Christian living and spiritual focus? ([38:26])
What role does community play in achieving maturity in Christ, according to the sermon? ([55:34])
How does understanding our citizenship in heaven influence our actions and priorities on earth? ([01:03:17])

Application Questions

Reflect on your current spiritual focus. Are there worldly desires that are distracting you from a cross-centered vision? What steps can you take to narrow your focus? ([38:26])
Think about a past event that may be hindering your spiritual growth. How can you apply Paul's teaching of forgetting what lies behind and pressing on towards the goal? ([40:29])
Confession and forgiveness are essential for spiritual growth. Is there something you need to confess to God or someone you need to forgive? How will you take action on this? ([50:37])
In what ways can you contribute to the spiritual maturity of your community? Identify one mature believer you can learn from and one less mature believer you can mentor. ([55:34])
How does the understanding that our true citizenship is in heaven change the way you view your daily life and mission? What practical steps can you take to live out this truth? ([01:03:17])
Identify one area in your life where you struggle with perfectionism. How can you shift your focus from being sinless to bringing stability and control under the Spirit? ([43:49])
The sermon mentioned the importance of preaching the gospel and making disciples. Who is one person in your life that you can share the gospel with this week? ([01:03:17])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The big thing is, is that often when we think about following Christ, we aim at everything. When Christ himself told us, Anybody who wants to follow after me, he has to deny himself, take up his cross, and come after me. Then he'll say, you're going to lose your life in doing that. And he says, the road to life is what? It's narrow. It's wide that leads to destruction. Very narrow that leads to life. We should aim small. We aim small, we miss small. We should aim small. We should have a cross-centered vision." [38:26] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you confess your sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Wow. That is a gracious God right there. Confession. Second one. This may be meddling a little bit. Forgiveness. Do you know what holds so many Christians at bay and in their past is because they have people who have hurt you, but you've not forgiven them." [51:19] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Your citizenship is in heaven. Your citizenship is in heaven. And so what do we do? We preach the gospel until everybody is a citizen in heaven. That's what we do. We preach and go. And I know this world feels uncomfortable. It should feel uncomfortable. It doesn't fit you. You are a citizen of heaven. So what do we do? We encourage one another, the brothers and sisters in Christ, in the faith to stand firm." [01:04:07] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "May I remind you of the gospel this morning. Our works are but filthy rags before him. We stand accused by the accuser and Satan. No one is righteous. No, not one. But into the midst of that, into our brokenness, stepped the perfect one. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin. Born to set man free. He walked this earth. He absolutely healed those that were blind. He brought those that were dead back to life. He took a group of 12 men and they absolutely changed the world." [01:06:27] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "There is no sin that can keep you from Jesus. No sin. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I follow after him. I'm on a road. Sometimes a veer off. I'm going to come right down here. I'm going to stand. We're going to have some elders on the other side as well. If you need the forgiveness of Christ, I'm not a priest. But I surely am a pilgrim on this journey. And I would love to tell you about how powerful God has changed my life." [01:07:55] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The past, your past, my past, it may forge you. But it doesn't have to hinder you. So what I'm saying to this is when Paul talks about what's behind him, there are certain things behind you that may be different. Maybe nobody knows about them. They don't have to hinder you. They do not have to hinder you." [40:29] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you are a believer, and you've walked with Christ a lot, if we've walked, sometimes the longer that we've walked with Christ, sometimes we think that we've already got there, and there's nothing more that Jesus needs to tell us. I've been walking with him for 40 to 50 years. Paul is going to say, I've not attained it. I've not. It is still an adventure. I still get excited. I'm maybe even cuffed to pray Torian Dard at this point, but I'm still excited about Christ." [41:43] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "What keeps you from advancing in your faith, growing in your faith today? Do you think that you're going to get the complete knowledge of who Jesus Christ is? No, we're always attaining it. There are seventh and eighth graders that God moved in their life this past week. Amen. They may not know everything there is to know about Christ. There are some of you who are so schooled in how to know about Christ, but they're growing, right? They may not, you may not know everything, but what you know, you obey and you live out and you love." [53:06] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When you're growing, it keeps you in the upward calling. It keeps you in the upward calling. We get away from trivial things. We'll tell you, the enemy has done so much with trivial things in the life of church when we've got our mind off the most important things. And a sign of immaturity is when we trip over trivial things and don't pursue the most important things, which are the eternal things." [54:14] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "This Christian life is not a Lone Ranger life. You need community so much. You need to know people who have gone before you so that you can look at your life, know they're maturing, and follow after them. And these people should not get caught up in trivial things. This is how you know you're following a mature person. And a mature person doesn't mean that they've gone to church all their life. It means that they're following Christ all their life. And Christ, they have a posture of humility." [56:23] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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