Phil 3 One Thing

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the

LORD and to inquire in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha

welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was

distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her

then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be

taken away from her.”Luke 10:38-42

The 5 “One Thing” Passages

• Psalm 27:4

• Luke 10:41-42

• Mark 10:21

• 2 Peter 3:8

• Philippians 3:13b-14

STRAINING TOWARD THE

GOAL

Phil 3:12-‐21

LIVING FOR CHRISTAs the ONE THING in LIFE

1. The PURSUIT of Christian MATURITY– PRESS toward the Goal (Phil 3:12-16)

1. The PRACTICE of Christian MINISTRY– PATTERN “Life” for Others (Phil 3:17-21)

…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the

dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies

behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in

Christ Jesus.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Philippians 3:10-16

PURSUIT of Christian MATURITY –PRESSING Toward the Goal (3:12-16)

1. DISSATISFACTION

Not that I have already obtained it or am already perfect, but I press on… I do not

consider that I have made it my own. Phil 3:12-13a


1. DISSATISFACTION

This is the statement of a great Christian who never permitted himself to be satisfied with his spiritual attainments… A sanctified

dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race.

Warren Wiersbe


1. DISSATISFACTION

Not that I have already obtained it or am already perfect, but I press on… I do not

consider that I have made it my own. Phil 3:12-13a

I am not there yet!

I am far from perfect!

I want to know Christ more!

I still need to grow in maturity!

I hope all of you who are (more) mature Christians (but not perfect yet) will see eye-to-eye with me on these things (that is, we

are all not fully mature yet), and if you disagree on some point, I believe that God

will make it plain to you.

Phil 3:15 (Paraphrase)


1. DISSATISFACTION

The mark of Christian maturity is knowing & acknowledging that you are not yet fully mature… thinking you have arrived is a

sign you haven’t!NT Wright


2. DIRECTION

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I

press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:13b-14


2. DIRECTION

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I

press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:13b-14


2. DIRECTION

No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:62


1. DISSATISFACTION– Feeling complacent

2. DIRECTION– Looking back at past failures

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you

have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now

tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is

their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will

transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to

subject all things to Himself.Philippians 3:17-21

PRACTICE of Christian MINISTRY –PATTERNING “Life” for Others (3:17-21)

1. IMITATE & EMULATE

Imitate or emulate those who have learnt to live life here as citizens of heaven, not those who are living as citizens of earth.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according

to the example you have in us.

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is

destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set

on earthly things.

Philippians 3:17-19


2. PATTERN & MODEL

Let us pattern for those we disciple, through our own example, how they can live life as a citizen of heaven, not life as a citizen of earth.

Let us model for those who look to us, a life that is set on the things of heaven, not a life

that is tied to the things of this world.


2. PATTERN & MODEL

Are you living a heavenly-minded and godly life that sets a pattern for others to follow?

OR Are you living an earthly and self-centered life

which is modeling for others the kind of life they should not follow?

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God

in Christ Jesus.

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus

ChristPhilippians 3:13b-14, 20

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Phil 3 One Thing