"Together, We Press On: The Surpassing Worth of Christ"

Text: Philippians 3:4–14
Theme: As a community, we renounce empty boasts and strain forward together toward Christ, our
shared treasure.

Sermon Introduction:
On this Ninth Sunday after Trinity—as the green paraments remind us of our growth in grace—we're confronted with a startling truth: the most religious man in the room stood empty-handed before God. Paul's credentials were impeccable: born a pure-blooded Israelite, educated by the finest rabbis, zealous for God's law. Yet he calls it all "rubbish" compared to knowing Christ.

What does this mean for us, the ordinary faithful gathering on an ordinary Sunday? It means the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Whether you've been in this pew fifty years or fifty minutes, whether you can recite the catechism or are just learning to pray—what matters today is that we together fix our eyes on Jesus.

---

Introduction: A Countercultural Community

Imagine a group of people who’ve all discovered the same hidden treasure—a treasure so valuable that it reshapes everything about their lives. They no longer compete for status, because they’ve found something far better. That’s the church at its best.

In Philippians 3, Paul writes to a diverse congregation—Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, rich and poor—and says, "This is how we live now: we count everything as loss because knowing Jesus is better." This isn’t just a personal devotion; it’s a community manifesto.

Today, we’ll see how this passage calls all of us, as Christ’s body, to:

1. Let Go of Empty Boasts Together (vv. 4–6)
2. Hold Fast to Christ Together (vv. 7–11)
3. Press On Toward the Prize Together (vv. 12–14)

---

1. Let Go of Empty Boasts Together (vv. 4–6)

Paul starts by listing his religious résumé—his "credentials" that once earned him respect. But then he says, "These were my trophies, but now I’m throwing them in the trash for Christ" (vv. 7–8, paraphrase).

Why Does This Matter for Us?

• In the church, we’re tempted to compare:
• "I’ve served longer."
• "My family founded this church."
• "I’ve never messed up like that."
• But the gospel levels us: No one earns God’s love.

Illustration: It’s like a team where one player brags about their stats—until they realize the only stat that matters is whether you’re on the winning team. In Christ, we all win together.

Application:

• Where are we, as a church, still clinging to pride in human achievements?
• How can we remind each other that our worth comes from Christ alone?

---

2. Hold Fast to Christ Together (vv. 7–11)

Paul’s radical shift—from trusting in his pedigree to treasuring Christ—isn’t just his story. It’s our story.

Three Marks of a Gospel-Centered Community:

1. We Celebrate Grace, Not Performance (v. 9)
• We don’t measure each other by how "good" we are, but by how loved we are.
2. We Share in Suffering and Joy (v. 10)
• When one suffers, we all weep. When one rejoices in Christ, we all celebrate.
3. We Keep Jesus at the Center (v. 8)
• Like the treasure in Matthew 13:44, He’s the one thing we all agree is worth everything.

Illustration: A potluck where everyone brings their best dish, but the real feast is the host Himself.

Application:

• Are we a community where people feel loved before they’re "good enough"?
• How can we point each other to Christ this week?

---

3. Press On Toward the Prize Together (vv. 12–14)

Paul doesn’t say, "I’ve arrived." He says, "We’re not there yet—so let’s keep running together."

What Does This Look Like for Us?

• We Forget the Past Together (v. 13)
• No grudges. No glory days. We move forward as a family.
• We Strain Forward Together (v. 13)
• Like runners in a relay, we pass the baton of faith to the next generation.
• We Fix Our Eyes Together (v. 14)
• Our shared hope is Jesus—not politics, programs, or personalities.

Illustration: A rowing team where everyone pulls in sync—because the prize is worth it.

Application:

• Who in our church needs encouragement to keep running?
• How can we, as a community, "strain forward" this year?

---

Conclusion: A Church That Runs Together

Paul’s words weren’t just for solo saints. They were for a people—a community learning to lose the world to gain Christ.

So here’s our challenge:

• Let’s lay down our trophies. No more comparing.
• Let’s lift up Christ. He’s our only boast.
• Let’s run this race together. The finish line is closer than we think.

Final Charge:
"Brothers and sisters, join me in this: Forget what’s behind. Strain toward what’s ahead. Press on together toward the prize—our King Jesus." (Phil 3:13–14, adapted)