Sermon Notes - Philippians 3:1-14 - Focus - Rising Sun Baptist Church - August 2, 2026

1.        Open your Bibles to Philippians chapter 3.

2.        Paul has spent the first half of this letter giving guidance to the church.

a.        Encouraging them to live their faith.

b.       To work out their salvation.

c.        Not that we are saved by works.

d.       But it helps us and others see that our faith has changed who we are and what we do.

e.        Our faith in Jesus does change us.

3.        Where do we put our trust today?

a.        We might put our trust in our experiences, in what we have seen, touched, and tasted.

b.       Maybe its our education.

c.        The skills we have learned.

d.       Our jobs.

e.        Bank and/or retirement accounts.

4.        These are not bad things.

a.        They help us.

b.       They contribute to our success.

c.        But they don’t save us.

d.       But they will not carry us to eternity.

e.        In all reality they pale in comparison to God being at work in our lives.

5.        Paul talks about this in his letter to the church in Philippi.

6.        Philippians 3:1

a.        Rejoice in the Lord…

b.       This is the 3^rd time so far in this letter that Paul is encouraging the people of God to rejoice.

c.        I think Paul was trying to make a point.

d.       It is easy for us, even when we spend regular time with God to get discouraged.

e.        Life hits over and over and over again.

f.          Maybe we get stuck in the routine of the day.

g.        Work, taking care of the kids, trying to figure out what is for dinner. 

h.        All of that can impact our thought process.

i.          We can forget how much God is doing in our lives.

j.          Which is why we need to rejoice in the Lord.

k.        Remembering that our hope is found in Jesus.

l.          1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

m.     God’s will for us is to rejoice always.

n.        To pray constantly.

o.        And to be thankful in all situations.

7.        How do we rejoice in the Lord…

a.        Remembering what He has done for us on this side of eternity.

b.       Think about how He holds our Hope so tightly that no one can take it away.

c.        By talking to Him.

d.       Reading His Word.

e.        Singing praises in His name.

f.          All of these things can help us rejoice always.

8.        Paul also talked about repeating himself.

a.        He sees it as helpful.

b.       Some of you might be going great, now Pastor is using the Bible to say that repetition is good.

c.        God through Paul states that it is a safeguard for those who hear it.

9.        There are times we come to church or open our Bibles and we are hearing or reading something we have heard or read before.

a.        Maybe many times before.

b.       One of our human tendencies is to go into halfway mode… half listen or half pay attention when we read.

c.        The thing is the words being shared or read are there for a reason.

d.       It is not a mistake that those verses are being shared or read on that day.

e.        Just like it is not a mistake that you are here today.

f.          We need to pay attention.

g.        We never know how God will speak to us that day.

h.        Or if that reminder will carry us through a challenge we will be facing.

i.          Or it might be exactly what we need to share with someone else.

j.          Repetition can grow our faith.

10.   Philippians 3:2

a.        Paul is being truthful and blunt, but these are not nice ways to describe the Judaizers.

b.       The Judaizers are people who would say that faith in Jesus is great, but you still need to follow the OT laws.

c.        Circumcision needed to be done.

d.       Sacrifices at the temple needed to be done.

e.        The feasts and fasts were required.

f.          Basically, they were saying that Jesus was not enough.

g.        That belief that He is God.

h.        Repenting of your sin and accepting of His amazing gift.

i.          That surrendering to Jesus was not enough to save you.

j.          These are people who were leading others astray.

11.   It takes different forms today, but these types of beliefs still exist.

a.        Those that say you need to be baptized to be saved.

b.       We’re Baptist, but we know that baptism is a way of public declaration.

c.        A way of following Jesus.

d.       There are some that state you have to worship in their temple, baptized as part of their church, and even some that say you need to wear blessed undergarments.

e.        Any time something else is needed to be saved, they are saying that Jesus is not enough.

f.          John 14:6

g.        It is not Jesus plus something else.

h.        The only thing we need to spend an eternity with our God, is our surrendering to Jesus.

12.   Philippians 3:3

a.        I know I just said we don’t need to be circumcised to be saved.

b.       What is different here is that Paul is saying we are the circumcision.

c.        Romans 2:28-29

d.       Paul is not talking the physical circumcision.

e.        He is saying a persons heart is to be circumcised.

f.          That there is heart change in those who are followers of Christ.

g.        As was prophesized by Ezekial.

h.        Ezekial 36:26-27

i.          I know I may have muddied the water a bit.

j.          In Philippians we read that we are not to put confidence in the flesh.

k.        But the prophecy mentions that we will be given a heart of flesh.

l.          The prophecy is stating that the hard unchanging heart of stone will be replaced with hearts that are molded by God.

m.     In Paul’s letter we are being told to not trust in the things of the flesh or the world.

n.        Worldly things, fleshly things, will miss lead us.

13.   Our hope, our boast is in the work of the Holy Spirit.

a.        It is in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

b.       In our surrendering to Him and letting Hime change our heart into one that He molds and shapes.

14.   Philippians 3:4-6

a.        This is all true for Paul.

b.       He was educated by one of the most prestigious Rabbi’s alive in his day.

c.        A Pharisee.

d.       Followed the law to the best of his ability.

e.        Not mentioned here, but he was also a Roman citizen by birth, which was a big deal.

f.          From a worldly perspective Paul had a head start above many others.

g.        He even persecuted the early church.

h.        He approved of the stoning of Stephen.

i.          He had letters to arrest Christ followers and was on his way to do so when he met Jesus on the Damascus road.

j.          Paul was a Jew of Jews.

k.        Every reason to boast.

l.          To be confident in who he was.

15.   In our day, that would be like someone born to a wealthy family.

a.        Having every opportunity.

b.       The best education money could buy.

c.        Having a head start over the rest of us.

d.       A head start to worldly success that is.

16.   Let’s keep reading.

17.   Philippians 3:7

a.        This is one of those statements that should make us pause.

b.       Paul had everything.

c.        And he considered it a loss.

d.       The NLT put it as he ‘consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.’

e.        The family heritage.

f.          The education.

g.        The zeal or passion for the Law.

h.        Are all worth nothing.

18.   What Jesus did, replaced all of it.

a.        Because of Jesus, worldly success means nothing.

b.       Paul did not stop there.

19.   Philippians 3:8

a.        Jesus has taken the place of everything that Paul had previously valued.

b.       When he wrote these words, that value was gone.

c.        It is stuff we would flush or toss in the trash.

20.   Paul is not leaving any grey area.

a.        Being saved by the work of Jesus.

b.       Growing in knowledge of who He is and what He has done.

c.        Is vastly more important than anything else in his life.

d.       What Jesus has done is a huge deal.

e.        The question we must each ask is are we making Him THE priority?

f.          Do we value what Jesus has done as much as Paul is proclaiming here?

21.   Philippians 3:9

a.        Paul’s audience would have read this as all the Jewish beliefs are worth nothing.

b.       They did nothing for them.

c.        Righteousness only comes from having faith in who Jesus is and what He did for us.

22.   This verse started with ‘and be found in him.’

a.        To be found in Christ.

b.       Meaning to take refuge in Him.

c.        Psalms 46:1

d.       Our God is always with us.

e.        Regardless of what is going on.

f.          It is through putting our trust in Him that we know that we are saved.

23.   Philippians 3:10-11

a.        A lofty goal.

b.       It means seeking Jesus daily.

c.        Trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit.

d.       Ephesians 1:19-20

e.        The Power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.

f.          It is that same power that helps us turn away from our sin.

g.        The same power that emboldens us when we need to stand and speak the Truth.

h.        The same power that has changed our eternities.

24.   Philippians 3:12

a.        At times we may put people like Paul on pedestals and think they have it all figured out.

b.       We may do that to people in this room.

c.        But Paul clearly says he has not achieved perfection.

d.       None of us can.

e.        We are to make every effort to pursue righteousness.

f.          Remembering we are citizens of heaven.

g.        Working out our salvation.

h.        Living our faith each day.

i.          But we will never grab hold of it.

25.   Philippians 3:13-14

a.        Paul has laser like focus on what is ahead.

b.       Focused on learning all he can about Jesus.

c.        Serving Jesus to the best of his ability.

d.       Putting his trust in the power that raised Jesus from the dead.

e.        Having faith and hope in the Son of God.

f.          Pursuing Him each and every day.

g.        Looking forward to eternity.

26.   Where are we putting our hope?

a.        Where is our focus?

b.       Paul’s encouragement would be to focus on Jesus.

c.        To pursue Him.

d.       Making every effort to grow in our faith.

27.   Thoughts for the road:

a.        What choice can you make today to ensure you are reaching towards Jesus each day?

b.       Is there something in your life that you need to deprioritize because it is interfering with you following Jesus?

c.        Pray about the Holy Spirit guiding you in pointing people to Jesus?

28.   Brothers and Sisters, if you are ready to pursue Jesus fully.

a.        To step out in faith in water Baptism.

b.       To join our church family.

c.        Or to step out in service to others.

d.       I would love to talk with you.

29.   If you don’t know this Jesus that Paul is so passionate about, please hear me.

a.        Jesus came to this earth out of love for us.

b.       He died on the cross so that He could pay our sin debt.

c.        He was resurrected from the dead, defeating death.

d.       In doing so, all who recognize Jesus for who He is.

e.        Who put their trust in Him as their Lord and Savior.

f.          And Repent of their sins, are given new life.

g.        A new life here on earth as a child of God.

h.        And a perfect eternity with God forever.

i.          If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, to be set free from your sins.

j.          I would love to pray with you during our closing song.