The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ - Pt. 2

Sunday Service

The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ - Part 2
Philippians 3:7-11

THEME: Getting saved is a lot like getting married. Those of us who are married have some added insight into what Paul was saying in these verses about his relationship with Jesus Christ. Our marriage began when we walked down the aisle and made a commitment to love each other no matter what for the rest of our lives. But as special as that wedding day was, and despite all that we knew about our mate and how much we loved them before we got married, that was just the beginning. Marriage is a lifelong pursuit of getting to know our spouses better and growing more in love with them. That’s the way it was for Paul and his relationship to Christ. From the moment he met Christ on the road to Damascus and committed his life to obey and serve Him, he wanted to know Him more and more and be more like Him. That blinding encounter with the risen Lord Jesus completely changed Paul’s life and he became a new man with new values, new passions, new goals, and new hopes. In verses 7-11, Paul explained this radical reversal of values, passions, goals, and hopes he experienced when he was born again.

1. PAUL’S APPRAISAL OF HIS PAST (vv.7-9)

2. PAUL’S ASPIRATION FOR HIS FUTURE (vv. 10-11)

- FIVE WAYS TO KNOW CHRIST AND GROW TO BE LIKE CHRIST

- YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE CHRIST

- YOU NEED TO RELY ON CHRIST’S POWER

- YOU NEED TO SUFFER WITH CHRIST

- YOU NEED TO OBEY LIKE CHRIST

- YOU NEED TO LONG FOR CHRIST’S RETURN

Thank God for the hope of heaven you have based on your relationship with Christ. Ask Him to grant you greater intimacy with Christ and greater conformity to Christ so that when people spend time with you they feel like they are in the presence of Jesus.