Curriculum: The Gospel Project
Bible Passage: Philippians 3
Discussion Questions:
· What false teachings today may make us stray from exalting and boasting in Christ alone?
· What are some things we need to see as losses compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ?
· What can you confess that you’ve boasted in, rather than boasting in Christ?
Food for Thought:
In our current world of craving to be a viral sensation, an influencer, or an overnight celebrity, we are a society of boasters and braggarts. Sometimes we need to be, to get that job or promotion, even in ministry. So, we can easily be caught up in having confidence in our own abilities and experience. But Paul says otherwise.
When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi while in prison in Rome, he encouraged them to “rejoice” (Phil. 3:1) in times of trouble, even when false teachers try to stir the church away from boasting in Christ alone. Paul’s warning to “watch out for the dogs” (v. 2) was him pointing to the Judaizers, who taught that one must become a Jew before becoming a Christian—observing all the rituals, feasts, diets, and circumcision. Such “Jesus plus” faith was false teaching. It is only through the work of Christ that we are saved, and our outward obedience reflects our inward faith. Paul reminded the church at Philippi, then, that they were to exalt Christ alone as He is the one worthy of glory, and we are not to put confidence in our own flesh (v. 3). Though we may think we have things that we can be confident in the flesh about, they are nothing compared to knowing Christ.
Our goal in life, then, should be knowing Christ, the power of His resurrection, and to share in His suffering (v. 10). Everything else is a loss compared to that (v. 7). Paul found it an honor to live as Jesus lived—yielded in sacrificial servanthood. But Paul knew he hadn’t yet achieved perfection—it would be a process in his sanctification, his journey toward Christlikeness. We can find encouragement knowing that if Paul didn’t think he had attained perfection, we too know that we are on a journey, pressing on, enduring, till Christ calls us home. For our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly wait to be in the presence of Jesus, our Savior. For He is the one that lived a perfect life. He is the one that saved humanity from sin and death. He is the one who alone can boast and brag.
Yet still, He didn’t—He lived humbly and died humbly. We thus learn from His example, and Paul’s example as well. Living humbly in service to others, we don’t need to boast or brag, because Christ is our focus. In Christ alone we find our goal, purpose, and reason for living with hope and joy.
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students, and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/gospelproject.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by Lifeway can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool.
