WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY

 Press Toward The Goal

Lynn Patterson

 Hardwood floors, roaring crowd, hotdogs, orange ball, I know what you are thinking Bible Study!

Lesson Background

      Philippians is a letter Paul wrote to the church at Philippi while he was in a Roman prison, about 54 to 62 years after the death of Jesus. The congregation was fairly young , being established about 10 years earlier. The overall theme of the letter is the joy of Christ, as it is mentioned 18 times in the 4 short chapters.

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say again: Rejoice!

A great emphasis is placed on Church unity and Christian humility. The Philippians were privileged people, the city was located on the main highway from the eastern provinces of Rome and near the Macedonian gold mines. As the only colony in the area they were tax exempt and had the legal status equal to most Italian cities. This wealth and privilege might have been a source of pride, the idea of humility and depending on others would have seemed strange to them.  Among the first members of the church were Lydia, a demon possessed girl, and the Philippi jailor.  (Acts 16:12-40)

Scripture

     Philippians 3:14-20 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often and tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame- who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship s in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.   

Lesson

     Basketball is my favorite sport, during the fall Mark and I attend a game nearly every night of the week. In our small community of Asbury everyone it seems comes out to support our Rams. If you want to get a seat during the game you have to get there an hour early and last year during playoff season people started lining up at 3:00 for a 7:00 game. Having spent that much time in the gym might be why I read this scripture and immediately related it to a basketball game, as there are many similarities between the game and our Christian walk.

     The goal. Paul says to press toward the goal. The goal in basketball is to win the game, the goal Paul spoke of was being Christ like and the ultimate goal, Heaven. We can’t live like we have already arrived; we have to press forward, everyday becoming more mature and more like Jesus. In v. 12 he says “not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Jesus Christ has also laid hold of me.” Jesus “recruited” us for his team, not to be a bench warmer, but to be in the game. Every day we should look for ways to improve ourselves, reading the Bible, studying, and living. Don’t be saved and satisfied, there is so much more. Jesus knows what our full potential is, but he won’t force us to reach it, that is entirely up to us. Reach for the goal!

     Our opponent. In b’ ball it is the other team, as a Christian our main adversary is the Devil, but there are others. Our opponent is everything that is in the way of us reaching the goal of becoming mature Christians. Satan is the other team’s coach. He has studied our team; he knows our weaknesses as well as our strengths. He has watched us in the game enough that he can predict our actions. He knows that we are much more easily defeated where we are weakest, that is where he hits us the hardest. To the Philippians their weakness was pride, what is ours? Pride, anger, laziness, lust, easily hurt feelings, fear, these are only a few of our opponents, there are so many more. We have to learn to recognize that these are areas that are under the attack of Satan. We have to charge past these things, put them behind us, stop letting Satan have this victory over us. Press toward the goal.

     The team. We have heard many times, “there is no I in team.” A basketball game is won not by one person but a team playing for a common goal. I love to watch Micah’s team; it is made up of several boys that have played together for a few years. Their coach has instilled in them the importance of being a team; those little boys love each other. If a player misses a shot, no one makes fun of him, they slap him on the rear and say, “that’s okay.” The only fighting that goes on is when someone hurts one of our players, Micah, the protector, has been made to sit on the bench and cool down several times because he intended to “git” someone who hurt one of his friends. Paul was telling this church to be a team, “let us mind the same thing.” We are in this walk together, whatever effects one of us, effects us all. When we have someone who is down we should all help pick them up. Paul also in v. 17 said that the people could follow the example of his life and in turn others should follow theirs. What kind of example do we make for others; if someone is following our footsteps are we leading them toward Christian maturity? Move toward the goal together.

     The coach. It amazes me how I can yell at Micah with him sitting two feet from me and he can’t hear me, but in a crowded gym, with 200 people yelling, he can hear the voice of his coach. The coach tells him watch out for that trap, this player is going to try this, or he tells him which direction to go in. He can give warnings and directions, but it is up to the player to respond to his voice or to ignore it and go in his own way. When a player does this they can accidentally score points for the other team.  Our coach is Jesus; his is the voice we can hear over all the noise of life. He warns us of the traps of the devil and tries to keep us from harm. He gives us direction and encouragement, but we have free will and decide to listen to him or to go off on our own. He can see dangers and opportunities that we can’t, we have to learn to listen and obey his voice. Press toward the goal.

     Conclusion. Paul was telling the church to keep going, press toward the goal of being a mature Christian. We are all in this together; we are all parts of the body of Christ. We have to listen to the voice of Jesus and follow his word in order to steer clear of danger, and to make sure that we are going in the right direction.

God Bless!