If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
Blog Site
Derek’s Blog which comes out weekly to fortnightly is at -
Go to the new more user friendly version - beingrecreated.org
Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
Where we love, there is our passion. If we love God, we will be passionate about Him.
We live in a world with one key passion - Ourselves! Love for God demands this passion for ourselves to be supplanted by a passion for God. Passion does not come from following rules and regulations, it is reordering of our lives around a desire to love God.
Bible Zone
Philippians 3 is a great outpouring of Paul’s passion for Jesus.
- Passion Expressed - Paul shares his passion for Jesus.
- Christ the aim of life - Outcome Paul aims for in Christ - A reward in heaven..
- Paul’s Motivation - Paul presses on to the goal of Christ with all his being.
This is how Paul expresses his passion for Christ. Philippians 3:4-8
- How does Paul express value for Christ?
- Paul starts off with a list of religious items where he could have “found the answer.” What do people do today who “have the answer?”
- What is it that Paul wants between himself and Christ?
Philippians 3:4-8 4 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! 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.8 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 9 and become one with him.
Philippians 3:9-11
- Looking at Paul’s desires, what is he is looking for as an experience of Christ?
- How does Paul express the way he values Christ?
- Paul sees every experience of life as an opportunity to experience more of Jesus. How do you relate with Jesus about your experiences?
- What is the outcome of such a life lived with Jesus through His experiences?
Philippians 3:9-11 9 ... I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.* For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith.10 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,11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Phil 3:12-14
- How is Jesus’ view of the purpose of life seen here?
- In the following verses look at the passion with which Paul wants to be like Jesus.
- What would be involved in such a lifestyle for you?
Philippians 3:12 I don't 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.13 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,14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
PASSION FOR GOD
