Pressing On: The Call to Spiritual Maturity
Summary
### Summary
In Philippians 3:15-21, Paul emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and maturity for every believer. He acknowledges that he has not yet achieved perfection but is pressing on towards the goal of becoming more like Christ. Paul encourages all Christians to adopt this mindset, striving for spiritual maturity and growth. He stresses the need for clear goals, good examples, and awareness of mistakes to avoid. Paul warns against the dangers of removing God from our lives, which leads to confusion and misguided values.
Paul invites believers into a life with Christ, expecting growth and maturity. He highlights the power of spiritual examples, both good and bad, and urges believers to imitate those who walk according to Christ's example. Paul uses the Greek word "telios" to describe maturity, meaning the goal or completion of a thing. For Christians, the goal is to become more like Christ, which requires deliberate effort and discipleship.
Paul emphasizes the importance of discipleship, which involves learning to follow Christ and disciplining our lives according to His pattern. He assures believers that God desires to be close to them and will reveal more of Himself as they draw near to Him. Paul encourages believers to resist the devil, cleanse their hands, and purify their hearts to draw closer to God.
Paul also stresses the importance of imitating mature Christians and learning from their examples. He warns against following those who live as enemies of the cross of Christ, as they lead to destruction. Instead, believers should focus on the cross of Christ, which is the source of salvation and the symbol of sacrifice for Christ.
In conclusion, Paul calls believers to follow Christ, endure faithfully, and leave behind their old way of life. The call to discipleship is an upward call to life with Christ, both now and for eternity.
### Key Takeaways
1. Striving for Spiritual Maturity: Paul emphasizes that every Christian is called to grow spiritually and mature in their faith. This involves pressing on towards the goal of becoming more like Christ, even though we have not yet achieved perfection. Spiritual growth requires deliberate effort and a clear understanding of our goals in Christ. [01:35]
2. The Power of Spiritual Examples: Paul highlights the importance of having good spiritual examples to follow. He urges believers to imitate those who walk according to Christ's example and to be aware of the mistakes of those who oppose the walk of Christ. Good examples provide a model for living a Christ-centered life. [06:16]
3. The Importance of Discipleship: Discipleship involves learning to follow Christ and disciplining our lives according to His pattern. Paul assures believers that God desires to be close to them and will reveal more of Himself as they draw near to Him. This process requires resisting the devil, cleansing our hands, and purifying our hearts. [12:28]
4. Imitating Mature Christians: Paul encourages believers to imitate mature Christians and learn from their examples. He stresses the importance of finding good examples within the church and warns against following those who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Imitating mature Christians helps us grow in our faith and live according to Christ's teachings. [28:13]
5. The Call to Follow Christ: Paul reminds believers that the call to discipleship involves following Christ, enduring faithfully, and leaving behind our old way of life. This call is an upward call to life with Christ, both now and for eternity. True discipleship requires faithful endurance and a commitment to living according to Christ's example. [40:53]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:35] - Striving for Spiritual Maturity
[03:04] - The Importance of Clear Goals
[04:37] - Christ as the Center
[06:16] - The Power of Spiritual Examples
[08:00] - The Meaning of Maturity
[09:32] - The Goal of a Christian Life
[11:00] - Finding Purpose in Christ
[12:28] - The Act of Discipleship
[14:08] - God's Unceasing Desire for Us
[15:42] - Drawing Near to God
[17:22] - Seeking God's Revelation
[18:56] - Holding True to What We Have Attained
[20:21] - Learning to Live the Life Given by Christ
[21:50] - Being Discipled by Someone
[23:11] - The Influence of Social Media
[24:39] - Empowered by the Holy Spirit
[26:24] - Striving for Godliness
[28:13] - Imitating Mature Christians
[29:44] - The Humility of Following Christ
[31:14] - The Pattern of Discipleship
[32:39] - Modeling Discipleship in the Family
[34:19] - The Importance of Good Examples
[36:01] - Warning Against Enemies of the Cross
[37:27] - The Significance of the Cross
[39:08] - The Call to Follow Christ
[40:53] - The Upward Call to Life with Christ
[42:44] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Philippians 3:15-21
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says he has not yet achieved perfection but is pressing on towards the goal? ([01:35])
2. According to Paul, what are the dangers of removing God from our lives? ([03:04])
3. How does Paul describe the importance of having good spiritual examples to follow? ([06:16])
4. What does Paul mean by the Greek word "telios" and how does it relate to spiritual maturity? ([09:32])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the need for clear goals in our spiritual journey? How does this help in striving for spiritual maturity? ([03:04])
2. How can imitating mature Christians help us grow in our faith? What qualities should we look for in these examples? ([28:13])
3. What does Paul mean by "resisting the devil, cleansing our hands, and purifying our hearts" in the context of discipleship? How does this process draw us closer to God? ([12:28])
4. How does Paul’s warning against those who live as enemies of the cross of Christ apply to our modern context? What are some contemporary examples of this? ([36:01])
#### Application Questions
1. Paul talks about pressing on towards the goal of becoming more like Christ. What specific steps can you take this week to grow in your spiritual maturity? ([01:35])
2. Reflect on the spiritual examples in your life. Who are the mature Christians you look up to, and what specific qualities do they exhibit that you can imitate? ([06:16])
3. Paul emphasizes the importance of discipleship. How can you be more deliberate in disciplining your life according to Christ’s pattern? What habits or practices can you start or improve? ([12:28])
4. Think about the influences in your life. Are there any "enemies of the cross" that you need to be more discerning about? How can you ensure that your focus remains on Christ? ([36:01])
5. Paul calls believers to leave behind their old way of life. Is there a specific area in your life where you need to make a change to follow Christ more closely? What steps will you take to address this? ([40:53])
6. How can you actively seek to draw near to God this week? What practical actions can you take to resist the devil and purify your heart? ([14:08])
7. Paul mentions the power of spiritual examples. How can you be a good example to others in your community? What actions can you take to model Christ-like behavior? ([28:13])
Devotional
Day 1: Striving for Spiritual Maturity
Paul emphasizes that every Christian is called to grow spiritually and mature in their faith. This involves pressing on towards the goal of becoming more like Christ, even though we have not yet achieved perfection. Spiritual growth requires deliberate effort and a clear understanding of our goals in Christ. Paul acknowledges that he has not yet achieved perfection but is pressing on towards the goal of becoming more like Christ. He encourages all Christians to adopt this mindset, striving for spiritual maturity and growth. This process involves setting clear goals, learning from good examples, and being aware of mistakes to avoid. [01:35]
Ephesians 4:13-15 (ESV): "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to grow in your spiritual maturity and become more like Christ?
Day 2: The Power of Spiritual Examples
Paul highlights the importance of having good spiritual examples to follow. He urges believers to imitate those who walk according to Christ's example and to be aware of the mistakes of those who oppose the walk of Christ. Good examples provide a model for living a Christ-centered life. Paul uses the Greek word "telios" to describe maturity, meaning the goal or completion of a thing. For Christians, the goal is to become more like Christ, which requires deliberate effort and discipleship. [06:16]
Hebrews 13:7 (ESV): "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith."
Reflection: Who in your life exemplifies a Christ-centered life? How can you intentionally learn from their example this week?
Day 3: The Importance of Discipleship
Discipleship involves learning to follow Christ and disciplining our lives according to His pattern. Paul assures believers that God desires to be close to them and will reveal more of Himself as they draw near to Him. This process requires resisting the devil, cleansing our hands, and purifying our hearts. Paul emphasizes the importance of discipleship, which involves learning to follow Christ and disciplining our lives according to His pattern. He assures believers that God desires to be close to them and will reveal more of Himself as they draw near to Him. [12:28]
James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What areas of your life need more discipline to align with Christ's pattern? How can you start making those changes today?
Day 4: Imitating Mature Christians
Paul encourages believers to imitate mature Christians and learn from their examples. He stresses the importance of finding good examples within the church and warns against following those who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Imitating mature Christians helps us grow in our faith and live according to Christ's teachings. Paul warns against the dangers of removing God from our lives, which leads to confusion and misguided values. [28:13]
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV): "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."
Reflection: Identify a mature Christian in your community. What specific qualities or habits do they exhibit that you can incorporate into your own life?
Day 5: The Call to Follow Christ
Paul reminds believers that the call to discipleship involves following Christ, enduring faithfully, and leaving behind our old way of life. This call is an upward call to life with Christ, both now and for eternity. True discipleship requires faithful endurance and a commitment to living according to Christ's example. Paul invites believers into a life with Christ, expecting growth and maturity. He highlights the power of spiritual examples, both good and bad, and urges believers to imitate those who walk according to Christ's example. [40:53]
Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Reflection: What old habits or ways of life do you need to leave behind to fully follow Christ? How can you start making those changes today?
Quotes
1. "We are intended. You and I, every one of us, if you're a child of God, we are intended to grow spiritually, to mature, to become more like Jesus Christ. And even in the language of Paul and the rest of the New Testament, we're going to find out, even be aggressive in pursuing that goal. To make sense of this, Paul says, we need to be clear about the goal where we are headed with Jesus Christ." [02:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Friends, Christ is the center. Christ is the standard. And Christ's life needs to become my life. Christ is at the center of all of this. In our passage of scripture this morning, a couple of thoughts are going to help us hold all of this together. First of all, Paul is going to invite us into life with Christ. He expects growth. He expects maturity amongst everyone who's reading this epistle." [04:37] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Friends, God wants to be closer to you than you want to be close to him. If we're honest with ourselves, there are times in our lives when we feel this drive more than anything else. It breaks us. It causes rejoicing. It pulls up every emotion and commitment within us. I want to know Jesus. I want the word of God to be alive to me. We feel that, and we sort of work in that direction, and we show up to church in small group because we're excited about that." [13:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's desire to be near to you is unceasing. His desire to pursue you, to know you, to draw you closer to himself is absolutely unceasing. And the word of God speaks of it like this. I love this passage. There were several in the Old Testament that we could have read, but I want to read this passage from James chapter 4, verses 7 and 8. Here's how James writes about this process of discipleship. Therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." [14:08] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Every single follower of Jesus Christ has a purpose, has an end, has a goal that you and I face our way toward Jesus Christ. And we begin living and walking in his life. And this is where we're going to find meaning and purpose. This is where we're going to find our true identity, friends, is in Christ in the way that he has built every single one of us." [11:00] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So friends, this is the act of discipleship, learning to follow Christ and discipline our lives after his pattern, learning how to follow Christ and discipline our lives after his pattern. So it really is incredibly important to be disciples of Jesus Christ. And I want to talk about this in this epistle, that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, that you get to know Jesus, that you know more and more about who he truly is, with scripture speaks of him, the way the gospels speak of him, the way the epistles reflect on the meaning of the life of Jesus Christ and all that's true about him." [12:28] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "So the apostle Paul as well here in chapter 3 doesn't just kind of lay this out. He doesn't just kind of lay this out. He doesn't just kind of lay this in our laps. He begins to talk about, well, here is a way to do this. We go down to verse 17 now in this passage. And Paul says in Philippians chapter 3, brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes or fix your eyes. It's a curious Greek word. And it means to, it almost means to spy on someone. You're paying very, very careful attention to them." [28:13] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Friends, there is no call to discipleship without Jesus calling us to learn who he is and to imitate his way of life. There is no other call to discipleship for the Christian. There's no call to discipleship without faithful, enduring discipline. We are people who endure. The church is the thing that endures whatever comes. Whatever the world throws at it, we are people who endure. There is no call to follow Jesus Christ without the call for faithful endurance." [41:14] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "There are many, he says, who walk as examples of enemies of the cross. Why is that important? A couple of quick thoughts. Friends, the cross of Christ is our salvation. Christ, the sinless God-man, took our place and died the death that we deserve so that we might live with him. The cross of Christ is our salvation. If they can separate you from the cross, they can separate you from the source of your salvation, and they can convince you that something else will save you." [37:27] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "So the family of God models discipleship. And God intends our family units to model discipleship as well. We go to Psalm 78, verses five, six, and seven say this. He established, God established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn and arise and tell them to their children so that they should set their hope on God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." [32:39] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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