Sermon Notes
The Pursuit
PHILIPPIANS – Part 11
June 21, 2026
3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
Philippians 3:12-4:1
Pursuing Christian Maturity
- With Humility
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal
Philippians 3:12a
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
Philippians 3:13a
- With Passion
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:12b
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
Philippians 3:13b
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
- With Gospel-Centeredness
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the
power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will
be like his glorious body.
Philippians 3:20-21
When you see people taking care of the vulnerable, caring for orphans, doing all that is good and right and true, giving
to the poor, speaking edifying words to one another, outdoing one another in showing honor, showing no partiality or
racism, putting the needs of others ahead of their own, you should say: “This smells like heaven!” We should be giving
the world a glimpse of what’s coming in the future. We can show them what the King is like and what the kingdom is
like. People should look at the words and deeds of believers and say, “You aren’t from around here, are you?” You can
tell them, “My citizenship is in heaven. I’m just passing through.”
- Pastor and Author Tony Merida
Stand Firm In The Pursuit
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way,
dear friends!
Philippians 4:1