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Suggestions for leading a study:

Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself. Who wrote it to whom, and why?
Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study. One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
Be prayed up
Have fun!

Pressing On

Text: Philippians 3:12-16 (NIV)

¹²Not 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. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
¹⁵All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Discussion Questions

-In verse 12, why does Paul say that he needs to continue to “press on?”

-Is there a danger in thinking that we have “already arrived” spiritually, and so fail to persevere in our spiritual growth?

-Read verse 13. Paul was a pretty together guy in terms of his knowledge of Christ and the gospel. In spite of that, what does he affirm about himself? What does that say about you and your own spiritual growth?

-What two things does Paul say we must do in verse 13?

-“Forgetting what is behind” may refer to Paul’s achievements, or they may refer to his failures. How can each of these keep us from pressing on in the process of spiritual growth?

-Read verse 15. Do all the people in the church at Philippi completely agree with Paul? Who are the ones that do (or should)?

-Does this verse give us any clue as to how to react to people who don’t agree with us on spiritual matters?

-Paul and the believers in Philippi were at various places in their spiritual journey. In spite of that, what does verse 16 say should be true of all of them?

-What are some of the things that might make people “go backwards” in their spiritual journey?

-What has this passage said to you in regards to your own journey of spiritual growth?

-Is there something you can do in your own spiritual journey to make sure you “press on” until you receive the prize?

Leaders' Guide

This study is about making sure that we continue to be devoted to the process of spiritual growth in our lives.

-In verse 12, why does Paul say that he needs to continue to “press on?”

The reason he states is that he has “not already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect.” Read the previous section to understand what he is talking about, which in essence is knowing Christ. In other words, even the apostle Paul still had work to do on his spiritual growth and relationship to Christ.

-Is there a danger in thinking that we have “already arrived” spiritually, and so fail to persevere in our spiritual growth?

The answer is obviously meant to be yes. Dig deeper, though, and ask your group in what ways they have seen that happen. In some traditions there is a danger of thinking that if you’ve been baptized, or taken communion, or completed some classes or something, that you are released from any more effort in growing in your relationship to Christ. Paul affirms that such a process never ends until you get to heaven.

Here again we see that even the inspired author of Scripture did not consider himself to have completed his spiritual journey. Hopefully that will help people see that regardless of where they are at spiritually, there is still growth that can happen for them.

-What two things does Paul say we must do in verse 13?

Paul says that we must, 1: forget what is behind, and 2: strain toward what is ahead. How this works out is contained in the next question.

-“Forgetting what is behind” may refer to Paul’s achievements, or they may refer to his failures. How can each of these keep us from pressing on in the process of spiritual growth?

This question underscores that the things in our past can be both positive or negative. Focusing on our failures can make us discouraged and unmotivated, thinking that is all that we’ll ever experience. But focusing on our spiritual achievements can also be deadly to moving forward if we think that we’ve already done enough, or grown enough.

-Read verse 15. Do all the people in the church at Philippi completely agree with Paul? Who are the ones that do (or should)?

In reading this verse it becomes apparent that not everyone at Philippi agrees with Paul on this issue. Perhaps some of them thought they had already obtained spiritual maturity and Paul is setting himself up as an example: “Even I haven’t got there.” Paul says that the ones who are mature are the ones who should get it. In essence he is stating that if you are really mature spiritually, you will understand that you will never be completely mature spiritually.

-Does this verse give us any clue as to how to react to people who don’t agree with us on spiritual matters?

Paul is very gracious with those who disagree, and is content to let God make it clear to them in time. People in the church would do very well to take a lesson from this, and instead of dogmatically arguing their opinions on spiritual matters so that everyone agrees with them, acknowledge that we are all in a different place on our journey toward spiritual maturity and let God continue to do his work in people’s lives. A good motto that goes back to the reformation era is this: “unity in the essentials, diversity in the non-essentials, and love (or charity) in all things.”

-Paul and the believers in Philippi were at various places in their spiritual journey. In spite of that, what does verse 16 say should be true of all of them?

At the very least everyone should be sure to live up to where they have already managed to get to in the process of spiritual growth and knowledge of Christ.

-What are some of the things that might make people “go backwards” in their spiritual journey?

This is a question for open discussion. From verse 13 we know that Paul thought a focus on the past can tend to drag you backwards. Also, a sense of complacency about your spiritual growth. You could get from this passage that a lack of growth is actually going backwards. Negative influences from other people or your culture can certainly do it. Bitterness and resentment toward other people can also be a restraining influence on your own spiritual growth. Any kind of addiction is something that some people will fight a never ending battle with in their lives. Your group could come up with more, but this is just to help identify what it is people will have to make sure they deal with in order to grow spiritually.

-What has this passage said to you in regards to your own journey of spiritual growth?

A wrap up question, just meant to make sure that people understand the need for ongoing spiritual growth and to take care of whatever it is in their lives that stands in the way of that.

-Is there something you can do in your own spiritual journey to make sure you “press on” until you receive the prize?

A final application question to try to get specific commitments to spiritual growth. It could mean dealing with things in the past or other influences that keep people from moving forward, or it could be simply a commitment to not be so complacent and start devoting themselves to church attendance, bible study, personal devotions, etc.