Pressing On: The Journey to Spiritual Perfection

In our journey of faith, we are called to press on to perfection, a concept rooted in Hebrews 6:1, which encourages us to move beyond the elementary teachings of Christ and strive for maturity. This pursuit of perfection is not about achieving flawlessness overnight but is a lifelong journey towards becoming more like Christ. Jesus Himself set the standard in Matthew 5:48, urging us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. This call to perfection is not unrealistic; rather, it is a goal that requires perseverance and endurance, much like a marathon race. We are encouraged to keep moving forward, even if it means crawling at times, to reach the finish line.

The Apostle Paul exemplifies this pursuit in Philippians 3, where he counts all his worldly gains as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. His passion was not merely to serve but to know Jesus intimately, allowing his ministry to flow from that relationship. This is a reminder that our service to God should be an overflow of our relationship with Him, not a means to earn His favor.

Furthermore, our relationships within the church should reflect this pursuit of perfection. We are called to see our fellow believers as our true family, transcending earthly ties. This means valuing our spiritual family over our blood relatives, as our connection through Christ is eternal. In doing so, we must also strive to promote and encourage others in their spiritual growth, rather than suppressing them out of jealousy or fear of being surpassed.

Finally, true worship is not merely about singing songs but involves a deep surrender of our treasures and desires to God. It is about falling before Him, acknowledging that He is our ultimate treasure. This heart of worship should precede our service, ensuring that what we do for God is rooted in genuine devotion and not mere obligation.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Pressing on to Perfection: The call to perfection is a journey, not an immediate achievement. It requires perseverance and a willingness to endure challenges, much like a marathon race. We are encouraged to keep moving forward, even if it means crawling at times, to reach the finish line. [04:12]
• 2. Knowing Christ Above All: Like Paul, we should count all worldly gains as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Our service to God should flow from our relationship with Him, not as a means to earn His favor. [06:04]
• 3. Spiritual Family Over Earthly Ties: Our connection through Christ is eternal, and we should value our spiritual family over our blood relatives. This means promoting and encouraging others in their spiritual growth, rather than suppressing them out of jealousy or fear. [09:56]
• 4. True Worship: Worship is not merely about singing songs but involves a deep surrender of our treasures and desires to God. It is about falling before Him, acknowledging that He is our ultimate treasure. This heart of worship should precede our service. [11:25]
• 5. Service Rooted in Worship: Our service to God should be rooted in genuine devotion and not mere obligation. By being worshippers first, we ensure that what we do for God is aligned with His will and not just our own bright ideas. [12:47]
  ** [12:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:35] - Pressing on to Perfection
• [01:21] - Perfection as Maturity
• [02:20] - Jesus' Call to Perfection
• [03:27] - The Journey of Endurance
• [05:29] - Knowing Christ Above All
• [06:49] - Service as an Overflow
• [09:10] - Spiritual Family Over Earthly Ties
• [11:25] - True Worship
• [12:22] - Avoiding False Teachings
• [14:32] - Breaking Generational Curses
• [18:30] - Pressing on Despite Imperfection
• [22:19] - Running the Race
• [29:26] - Leadership and Encouragement
• [38:59] - Training Others in the Church
• [52:49] - Foundation and Superstructure
• [57:34] - Building on the Foundation
• [63:58] - Worship and Service
• [72:23] - Conclusion and Prayer

1. Hebrews 6:1 - "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God."
2. Matthew 5:48 - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
3. Philippians 3:7-10 - "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

1. What does Hebrews 6:1 suggest about the progression of our faith journey? How does it relate to the concept of pressing on to perfection? [01:08]
2. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus calls us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. How does the sermon explain this call to perfection? [02:20]
3. According to Philippians 3:7-10, what does Paul consider as loss, and what is his ultimate goal? How does this reflect his pursuit of knowing Christ? [05:29]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between our spiritual family and our earthly ties? [09:56]

1. How does the sermon interpret the call to perfection in Matthew 5:48? Is it seen as an immediate achievement or a lifelong journey? [03:27]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of perseverance and endurance in our spiritual journey, and how is it compared to a marathon race? [04:12]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between knowing Christ and serving Him? Why is it important for our service to flow from our relationship with Him? [06:04]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our spiritual family should be valued over our earthly family? How does this align with the teachings of 2 Corinthians 5:16? [09:56]

1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Are there areas where you feel you are still at the starting line? What steps can you take to press on towards maturity? [22:32]
2. Consider the concept of knowing Christ above all else. How can you prioritize your relationship with Him in your daily life? What practical changes can you make to deepen this relationship? [06:04]
3. How do you currently view your spiritual family compared to your earthly family? Are there ways you can foster deeper connections within your church community? [09:56]
4. True worship involves surrendering our treasures and desires to God. What are some treasures or desires you find difficult to surrender? How can you begin to offer these to God in worship? [11:25]
5. The sermon emphasizes service rooted in worship. How can you ensure that your acts of service are motivated by genuine devotion rather than obligation? [12:47]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged in your spiritual journey. How can the analogy of a marathon race encourage you to persevere and endure? [04:12]
7. Identify one person in your spiritual family who you can encourage in their faith journey. What specific actions can you take to support and uplift them this week? [09:56]