Unchanging Pursuit

Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12

Philippians 3:7-9

People who KNOW God want to be WITH God

He is the Goal of the Gospel

of people then, of people now

"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."

“whatever gain I had…” (vs 7)

1. what sort of things did Paul formerly put value on?

(his accomplishments, his commitment, his own goodness)

2.what sort of things do people your age put value on?

(health, accomplishments, clothes, apple products, abs, cars)

3 Paul had a "then something happened" moment on the way to Damascus

What was yours like? When did God get your attention?

4 When he met Jesus, but saw the things he previously put value on as being "rubbish"

Why was he able to see things differently? 

What keeps us from viewing things we probably shouldn't value as rubbish? Like why do we hold on to those things?

5 For believers - there must be a value change

Bonhoeffer said: “The call of Jesus teaches us that our relation to the world has been built on an illusion.” 

Do you agree? What does that tell you about what happens when you meet Jesus?

(There is a waking up, a snapping out of it, a coming to our senses)

Have you ever identified a lie the enemy was trying to get you to believe?

6 Paul "considered" a lot (vs 8 NIV)…that means he thought about things, weighed them, and came to a conclusion

What conclusion did he arrive at?

7 What does it take to carefully consider something? 

8 When Paul realized everything else was garbage, he said he gained Christ.

You can't have both, its either one or the other, and Christ is very much better

9 Paul wanted to be "found in" Christ.

He wanted Jesus to be a part of every decision and every moment - all of his identity was not wrapped up in Jesus

10 What is a worldview? (the presuppositions that shape the way you understand your world, the foundation/starting point)

11 What is Paul's new starting point? Like what does he know that shapes his decisions?

(That Jesus is worth living for and joy, satisfaction, acceptance, peace comes from him

12 How can this passage of Scripture make an impact in your life? Like what does it teach you?