Sermon Outline:

Big Idea: In our love for the Lord and one another, we must press on toward the upward call of God in Christ.

1. Let us strain forward. (3:12-16)
2. Let us walk together under the cross. (3:17-19)
3. Let us stand firm awaiting the Lord. (3:20-4:1)

Bible Fellowship Group Study Questions:

1. According to Paul, what is the goal?
2. What are some areas of your life where you have not yet attained perfection, but still press on towards the goal? How can you apply the principles of Philippians 3:12-16 to help you keep striving towards that goal?
3. Have you ever experienced a setback or failure that made you want to give up? How can the example of Paul in Philippians 3:12-16 inspire you to keep moving forward and pressing towards the goal?
4. In what ways do you tend to focus on the past, whether through regret or nostalgia, instead of looking forward towards what lies ahead? How can you apply the mindset of forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, as described in Philippians 3:12-16, to help you move forward in a biblical way?
5. Who are some people in your life that you can look to as examples of following Christ? How can you imitate their faith and way of life, as Paul encourages in Philippians 3:17?
6. In Philippians 3:18-19, Paul warns against those whose "god is their belly" and who "set their minds on earthly things." In what ways do you see these tendencies manifest in your own life or in the world around you? How can you guard against them and keep your focus on Christ, as Paul encourages in Philippians 3:20-21?
7. Paul urges the Philippians to "stand firm in the Lord" (Philippians 4:1). What are some practical ways you can do this in your own life? How can you cultivate a strong and steadfast faith, even in the midst of difficult circumstances or opposition?