GROWING
DEEPLY SUNDAY
a daily scripture guide
MONDAY: Philippians 3:4-14 Self Confidence
Week of August 21- August 26
The Apostle Paul lays out the reasons why he should feel confident. He was a
member of the chosen people by birth, educated in Scripture, and was a member
of the most prestigious group in the temple. Yet, he realized that none of this was
as important as the gift of Christ.
REFLECTION: Reflect on a time you felt self-confident. Was your confidence based
on you alone, or were other factors involved?
TUESDAY: Philippians 3:4-14 Rules and Reality
Paul knew the social and religious laws that governed behavior. When he accepted
the reality of Jesus as the Christ, he understood that none of the rules were as
important as the reality of Christ.
CONSIDER: Consider a time when something that had guided your life was altered
by a new reality.
WEDNESDAY: Philippians 3:4-14 The Short-Sightedness of Self-Reliance
Self-reliance is a positive trait. We all experience times when we have no other
person to rely upon. However, to live in Christ means that we no longer rely on
ourselves alone.
QUESTION: Do you feel that you can only rely on yourself? How would/could your
life change if you accepted God as guide and Christ as companion?
THURSDAY: Philippians 3:4-14 Faith
Verse 9b says it all: For Gods way of making us right with himself depends on
faith. Faith surpasses self; surpasses lists of rules; surpasses all else in life.
QUESTION: How is my faith compared to my self-confidence? How would
strengthening my faith assist me in my daily walk through life?
FRIDAY: Philippians 3:4-14 The Finish Line
In most of life, we have an end point, a finish line toward which we focus. In our
spiritual walk, we realize that we continue in an unbroken line enriching and
widening our relationship with God through Christ.
REFLECTION: Reflect on the idea that a rich relationship with God through Christ
is not a destination, but a journey.
SATURDAY: Philippians 3:4-14 Looking Forward
Unfortunately, we all have the tendency to focus on what was rather than what
lies ahead. Planning ahead is important, but focusing on what is past can stop our
forward movement. With Gods help, we move forward in faith and in right living.
PRAYER: God of forgiveness, God of guidance, God of continual strength, help us
to recognize your presence and lean on your love and strength.
SERMON
Our Spiritual DNA: The Best of All... August 20th
Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14 (NLT)
...though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if
others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of
Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamina real Hebrew if there ever was
one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to
the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for
righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless
because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when
compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake
I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain
Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness
through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.
For Gods way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to
know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I
want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will
experience the resurrection from the dead!
I dont mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have
already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which
Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved
it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what
lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize
for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale
House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
My Notes:
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