The Motivational Source of the Church: Hope

Text: Philippians 3:1-4:1

Title: The Motivational Source: Hope

Where or who do you put your confidence in? 

1 Paul Warns

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. 

2 Paul Witnesses

Though I myself have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been. Made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me . . . But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is head, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

3 Paul Walks

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say 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 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. 

A. Worship Jesus

B. Know Jesus

 C. Trust Jesus

Main Idea: Our Hope in Christ is Our Motivation for walking with Christ 

Challenge: Imitate Paul who imitates Christ.