Dave Connolly tackles a question many believers struggle with: why does faith sometimes feel empty despite doing all the "right" things? Through Philippians 3:1-11, he challenges the performance mindset that plagues modern Christianity. Paul counted his impressive religious credentials as rubbish compared to knowing Christ personally. This isn't about adding more spiritual activities to your life, but about recognising that everything you've achieved or possess pales in comparison to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus. Includes practical guidance on pursuing God in everyday life, from prayer to work to relationships, with insights from Conversation Street about what genuine spiritual pursuit actually looks like when you make Christ the centre rather than an add-on.
01Talk notes
Have you ever found yourself doing all the right things but feeling disconnected from God? Going through the motions of church, ticking off spiritual activities, yet wondering why it all feels empty?
Dave Connolly unpacks Philippians 3:1-11 and addresses something many of us struggle with: the distinction between religious performance and genuine knowledge of Christ. This isn't about adding more to your spiritual to-do list. It's about discovering that everything we've been chasing pales in comparison to knowing Jesus personally.
02**Performance Over Relationship**
Before we jump to solutions, we need to understand what Paul is confronting in this passage. He's writing to people he loves, warning them three times to "watch out" for false teaching. These weren't just casual cautions. This was a father figure protecting his spiritual children from danger.
The problem? Religious leaders were insisting that external rituals and practices were the path to God. Get circumcised, follow these rules, perform these functions. Sound familiar? We might not discuss circumcision today, but we have our own versions: attending every service, volunteering for everything, praying for exactly 30 minutes each morning, and reading five Bible chapters daily.
Paul challenges this head-on. As Dave points out, these false teachers were emphasising ritual over relationship, performance over intimacy with God. They were saying, "You can't know God the way we know God unless you do what we do."
But here's what scripture actually tells us: "Don't you realise that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself. For God bought you with a high price." Our value isn't earned through religious activity. It's already been established.
03**Gain Through Loss**
Paul presents a radical framework that overturns our cultural understanding. He had everything the religious world valued: the right credentials, the right education, the right pedigree. If anyone could claim status through religious achievement, it was Paul.
Yet he writes something startling in verse 8: he counts all of it as loss "compared with the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."
This isn't self-deprecation. This is recalibration. Paul isn't saying his achievements were worthless in themselves. He's saying they're worthless as a means of knowing God. The Greek word Paul uses for "mutilators of the flesh" cynically relates to circumcision itself, showing how ritual had replaced relationship.
Dave challenges us to ask: where are we looking for spiritual fulfilment? In doing something? Being with somebody? Or through Christ himself?
The framework is clear:
- What scripture says: You were bought with an infinite price (past tense). Your value is already established.
- How Jesus modelled this: His arms were outstretched on the cross, and they remain outstretched today. He receives us exactly as we are.
- Why it's good news: We can't earn God's love, but we can live lives that are surrendered to Him. It's not about being good enough; it's about being loved enough.
- A real-life example: Paul himself. A man who had it all by religious standards, who encountered the Living God and realised everything else was rubbish in comparison.
This is faith with its sleeves rolled up. Not adding more religious activity to prove your worth, but recognising you're already precious to God and responding in worship.
04**Make It Real**
So how does this actually work in everyday life? How do we move from religious performance to the genuine pursuit of Christ?
At Work: Dave mentions that worship isn't about dressing a certain way or being in a certain place. Before the live stream, the Crowd Church community gathered for prayer, engaging with the Living God. That same engagement can happen at your desk, in meetings, or during your commute. It's about inviting God into the reality of Monday morning, not just Sunday evening.
In Your Thought Life: Here's a practical example Dave shares about prayer. Instead of praying "God give me more grace to cope with Matt," try praying "God give me an opportunity to demonstrate grace with Matt." That's a real difference. One is about making life easier for yourself. The other is about reflecting God's character to others, even when it's difficult.
In Your Home: Dave uses the illustration of a garage filled to the brim with things. His American friend has had this massive double garage for over 20 years, constantly shoving stuff in, always talking about what he'll do with it. However, you can't add more until you remove what's already there. Sometimes we have to remove things from our lives before we can make room for more of God's presence and power.
During Difficult Times: The talk addresses those valley experiences we all face. Joy isn't an emotion or a permanent state of euphoria. As Dave explains, "Scripture says the joy of the Lord is my strength. It's not an emotion, it's the very thing that will strengthen you and I, whatever we're going through." This isn't about a sleepy smile when your heart's broken. It's knowing God's strength in you.
05**Conversation Street**
During the Q&A, some brilliant questions emerged about what pursuing Christ actually looks like in practice.
In what ways has God changed your life?
Matt reflects on verse 8: "Whatever I have I count it as loss for the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ." That's a fascinating mindset. What would life look like if we actually lived that way? Whether it's status, achievements, money, family, location, or even seeing your football team win the league, counting it all as loss compared to knowing Christ changes everything.
It's understanding your priorities. Whatever you've done, whatever you've achieved, whatever you've got, it's nothing compared to knowing Christ.
What does the pursuit of God look like?
Jan describes it as intimacy with a person. It's about getting to know him, inviting him into all aspects of life. "Pursuing him is just a continued walk with him. It's like, no one's going to stop me from doing this." Life throws things at us, but it's about keeping going.
Matt adds that pursuit requires single-minded focus. You can't chase two things at once. If Jesus really is who he says he is, then that knowledge means you cannot chase everything else at the same time. "All of that stuff is fine," he explains, referencing Paul's words about forgetting what's behind and pressing towards the goal. "My single determined purpose is to know Christ and to know him more."
This doesn't mean spending 16 hours a day in a prayer room. It means pursuing God in the workplace, as a husband, father, friend, son, neighbour, seeking God in the activities and reality of everyday life. He's not an add-on. He's the centre.
Pursuit is proof of desire.
Dave closes with this simple phrase from an old friend: "Pursuit is proof of desire." What are you actually pursuing? Someone training for the Olympics gets up at 5 am when it's freezing and snowing, with no one cheering their name, because the vision of the goal is enough to get them out of bed.
Wanting to do something and actually doing it are two entirely different things. Saying you want to get healthier versus actually going to the gym. Saying you want to know Christ versus actually pursuing him with intention and effort.
06**What Changed**
The conversation reveals something significant: pursuing Christ isn't about perfection or religious performance. It's about a continued walk with him, refusing to let anything stop you.
Matt and Jan discuss how pursuing God means removing things from your life that hinder that single-minded focus. As Jan puts it, the message was "like a wake-up call, like a shaking." It's God, in His mercy and grace, giving us the opportunity to change what we're doing, the way we're living our lives, and our relationships. "It's not too late."
Paul's transformation shows us this clearly. He was a religious man, well-known, feared if not loved. But he was doing all the wrong things until he encountered the Living God. His life was utterly transformed.
07**Next Steps**
Here are practical ways to apply this teaching:
- Examine what you're pursuing: Write down what actually occupies your time, thoughts and energy. Then ask yourself honestly: Am I pursuing these things or pursuing Christ through them? Where's the difference?
- Clear out the garage: What needs to go to make room for more of God? This isn't about giving up everything, but about priorities. What's crowding out space for intimacy with God?
- Change how you pray: Try praying for opportunities to demonstrate God's character rather than asking God to make things easier. "God, let me show your grace today" instead of "God, help me cope."
- Read Philippians 3:1-11 multiple times: There's wealth in these verses that can't be captured in one talk or blog post. Read them several times. Let them strengthen you.
- Practice rejoicing: Start your day by rejoicing in the Lord, not just expressing gratitude for what you have. This is about joy in knowing him, regardless of circumstances.
08**The Ultimate Goal**
Dave shares something profound: "God has gone ahead of you. Wherever you're going tomorrow, God has gone ahead of you. Wherever your season of life you're in at the moment, God has gone ahead of you and he's prepared a way for you."
When you genuinely believe your body is a gift from God, already infinitely valuable, given to you to enjoy and use for his glory, everything changes. Exercise stops being the thing you fail at every January. Sleep stops being that nightly battle. Both become what they were always meant to be: gifts from a God who loves you exactly as you are, and opportunities to worship him with everything you've got.
Paul articulates a radical shift in values and priorities. As we read through Philippians, God challenges our priorities and values. As we start to see them change to align with his, we realise we've drawn closer to God. We read his word with greater understanding. We pray with greater awareness.
09**A Challenge Worth Accepting**
Are you living your life sold out for God? Maybe you're not right now. Here's the truth: you can. God loves you where you are, exactly as you are, going through what you're going through. He cares so much that he died for you, and he's still longing to meet with you.
When Jesus died on that cross, his arms were outstretched. This evening, those arms are still outstretched. We just need to come as we are. We'll never be good enough, but he receives us and will change our lives.
For those who already know Jesus, we must continue to live our lives surrendered to Him. It's not about what we can achieve. It's about who we can live for. We can't earn God's love, but we can live lives surrendered to Him.
It's not easy being a Christian, especially these days. Even saying you're a Christian is challenging. Saying "this is what the Bible says" is another challenge altogether. However, we must be prepared to set aside everything else and focus solely on God.
Being a Christian isn't about a private relationship. It's a personal relationship that we're called to share. We're not called to live legalistic lives, but to treat others with the same grace and love that God has shown us. To live lives transformed by God's grace and goodness. In times of challenge and difficulty, we cry out to him and walk closely with him.
Three key points to take away:
- Transformation through faith, not effort: It's not what we do, but who we know
- Christ is the centre of our identity: Not our behaviour, good or bad
- The concept of gain and loss: As we surrender our lives to God, we lose nothing. We gain life itself.
What are you pursuing today? Pursuit is proof of desire. The greatest pursuit you could ever embark on is knowing the Living God who died for you, gave his son to die for you, and loves you endlessly.
Topics in this talk
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(250) The Pursuit of Knowing Christ (Philippians 6) - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFOhZ_uuCdM
Transcript: (00:00) well good evening welcome to crowd Church my name's mmon and beside me is Jan bur Jam good evening we're actually very close aren't we I've just noticed that's on the camera we too close should I move slightly over here there we go okay uh let's just move that there we go sorry about that it's way too much mat on the screen very warm welcome to you uh it's great that you're here with us we are broadcasting live from Liverpool England so wherever you are in the world wherever you're watching this uh it's (00:29) great to be with you and if you with us live say how's it in the comments' be great to hear from you let us know where you're watching from and if you're watching this on catchup just get in touch by the website we'd still love to hear from you but a very warm welcome to you how's your Sunday been Jan yeah it's been quite relaxing thank you why quite relaxing well just youve done nothing been ironing and doing stuff like that but it's been all right okay just to be clear ironing is not relaxing for me I (00:53) quite like it do you yeah I've got a lot do you want to do that as well I don't like it that much just checking uh just you know because we've got plenty so yeah yeah yeah absolutely uh so who we got in the comment let me say how's it some folks Matt crew says England won 5 nil uh which apparently is really useful uh will says hi all hi Will hi will all right calm down have to say that loud hello see can't hear me just broke will speakers well it was great to uh see you in the comments uh Nicola's in the comments as well although Nicola is (01:33) actually here in person woooo yeah yeah so she's joined us here normally Nicola's online uh with us and but she's here in person today so very warm welcome to you um Erin's here as well good afternoon hi Erin good afternoon good evening yeah yeah yeah it's evening where we are have no idea where you are in but yeah good evening very warm welcome to you so let me tell you what's going on today in crowd church we have sweet pee you might see a dog appearing on screen on occasions um and so just the the crowd church dog is just with us as well so everyone's welcome here at crowd it's true is it (02:08) yeah including sweet pee yeah yeah all creatures great and small please don't start singing though yeah I won't so yeah what's going to happen today uh we've got the very Reverend and just all around Good Egg which is Dave Connelly speaking to us today we have been working our way through the book of Philippians you are you excited yeah I love Philippians I thought you're gonna love Dave for a minute I love Dave as well so we're going through Philippians bigest fan Dave biggest fan uh we're g to go through Philippians uh we're on part six don't worry if you've not seen the other parts you can catch it with those at a later time Parts one (02:47) through five are already up this is part six um after Dave has finished speaking to us we're going to go into conversation Street which is my favorite part of the service I mean I I you know I'm looking forward to hearing Dave speak um I'm looking forward to hearing me answer the questions even more though so we're going to go into conversation streets any questions any stories anything you want to share write them in the comments and we would love to try and answer those for you as we go out through the service so yeah have I missed anything no you sure how are you feeling because this is your first time (03:16) hosting in person feel it's a bit strange yeah cuz normally we're in the studio yeah yeah yeah so a bit exposed do you you you'll be fine you'll be fine Jan uh normally I say normally up until a few weeks ago we did crowd from a studio now we're doing it from um the church in Liverpool Frontline Church we're part of Frontline Church and so we have behind the cameras the faces of some very beautiful people um all watching us as well so it's all a bit non studio and it's your first time with an audience yes yeah are we good congregation congregation not an (03:48) audience yeah sorry not really an audience get it right Matt get it right Julie's online hey Julie uh yes good to see everybody in the comments do keep uh commenting as we go through so like I said as we as Dave up to do the talk Q Dave get yourself ready um as Dave does the talk uh write like I say write your questions thoughts comments stories anything you want to share anything you want to ask put it in the comments as we go through uh because we've got conversations coming up but let me introduce to you if you don't know this guy Dave connley is such a Legend um (04:18) I've known Dave for since I was about 18 years so that's a long time let's just say that's at least 30 years and not go any further um and so I've known Dave over 30 years uh and he's such a great guy he's one of the founding pastors of Frontline Church um has such a lot of wisdom a lot of great things to say and a lot of experience about walking with God so I'm really really interesting to hear about this as we get into flippins part six which is all about the pursuit of knowing Christ from memory it is it is (04:47) thankfully I hope so okay good so without further Ado let me hand over to the very Reverend Dave Conelly [Music] [Music] good evening it's so good to be with you whether you're watching online or whether you're here in church and um it's my privilege to share um with you some thoughts and that's it's not an in-depth Bible study because 20 minutes doesn't give you that opportunity and there's much that can be said but much that won't be said so we're going to look at um Philippians chapter 3: 1- 211 I would encourage you take the time to read these verses only 11 vers verses (06:00) read them several times there's such a wealth of encouragement and direction for us and it will do you good so the theme of our um Talk is the pursuit of knowing Christ it's such a rich passage you know I'm talking to us for those of you who know Christ it's such a rich passage it will strengthen you if you don't know the Lord Jesus as your savior yet it's still for you and it should stir questions in you and a hunger and I would encourage you to pursue them send some messages in um online and the guys will respond to them this section of (06:43) Paul's letter um it's to the Philippians he loves this group of people he's planted this church he as a father to them and he identify several key ideas they're very practical very and they are pra iCal application and they're relevant for you and I today and I think sometimes we think yeah that was okay for them but they're not living in the 21st century they just had their own unique problems so let's have a look at these things and if we start reading in verse one and two and I want to just put something in you watch out there there's a theme that (07:23) will come out and it's the phrase watch out or look out depending on what version of the Bible you read and and if you haven't got a Bible yet if you're looking online and you're trying to find a good translation try the ESV the English Standard Version it's such a good translation it says this finally my brothers in Brackets sisters rejoice in the Lord that's a theme you will hear in Paul's writing all the way through rejoice in the Lord he says this to write the same thing to you is no trouble to me me and (08:01) is safe for you look out for the dogs look out for the evildoers look out for those who mutilate their flesh here's a father speaking he's not just a theorist but he says it once he says get on with it but a father will repeat himself as many times as he needs to to protect um his loved ones Paul he really loves this group of Believers in Philippi he's quite willing to just reemphasize certain points to them he wants them to guard against false teaching so that they may continue to grow in all things that God has got for them you know um there are so many (08:50) things that pull us away from God's word so many people who would want us to come away from God's word and for a whole vast array of reasons but we need to be faithful verse one rejoice in the Lord that's a great place to always star from to come from a place of being thankful Paul continually emphasizes this rejoicing you know um he talks about Joy um a lot as well and you know scripture says the joy of the Lord is my strength it's not an emotion it's it's the very thing that will strengthen you and I whatever we're going through you know we don't spend all our lives on (09:34) that permanent highs or if you do can you write a book and let me know CU um that's not my experience there are times when we have Valley experiences difficult times and it's in those times we need to know God's strength I don't mean walking around with a sleep smile on your face when your heart broken I don't mean that I talk about the knowledge of knowing God's strength in you all joy is in him not in anything or anybody we don't find our joy in doing something or being with somebody we find in him alone it challenges me personally to ask myself where am I looking for my (10:15) spiritual um fulfillment where am I looking for my happiness wherever doing whatever with whoever or am I doing it through Christ there's a lot of distractions out there and we can be fulfilled doing a lot of the wrong things three times Paul warns the readers to look out or to watch out watch out for the those dogs doesn't sound very Christian does it for those people who do evil for those mutilators of the flesh multiple watch outs so it's important there's a warning war in and that warning applies for us (11:05) today we need to be constantly aware of the message that we're hearing the message that we are applying to our lives is the message from some wonderful person whether it be on YouTube or wherever or are we literally taking it from this book this is where we need to be taking our message from this is where we need to be taking our lead from the word of God because it is literally God's word it's not been outdated it's still as relevant today as what it was when it was first written Paul doesn't hesitate to use strong (11:43) language derogatory language in fact but when you think people you love and you've invested in are in danger sometimes we have to say strong stuff eh if somebody's walking to the edge of the CLI say oh excuse me Sharon um there's you're about 3 foot from the end and she continues to walk you know said Sharon there has to be some agency and at some point I may have to run over and snatch her back to pull her back and I said well that was a bit rough you know what did you want an email sometimes we have to be moved so (12:19) much so that we have to be moved to action when Paul uses this language about dogs I wonder if Paul was thinking of Jesus's words um to the Gentile Canaanite woman and um if you might want to have a look at that it's in Matthew 15 vers 26 to 27 just to give us some context you know he speaks these strong words to these religious Jewish teachers he speaks very strong these are people who carry a lot of um um sway in their community and yet Jesus identifies them as the very thing that are distracting people from finding God for (13:12) themselves Paul reprimands these false teachers he doesn't just talk about them he talks to them he reprimands them anybody like being reprimanded yeah not me and I'm sure they didn't and he reprimands them for their evil lives as well as for their insistence on um circumcision we see you'll see as you read those scriptures these Jewish religious leaders are emphasizing on a Jewish custom of circumcision get circumcised on you know God but God's a personal God not it's not about ritual for them it was ritual (13:58) and it was accept able but for Gentiles it was not needed as we'll go on to say sometimes you know we're led to believe if we do all the right things in the right order that we'll know God you can do all the wrong things in the wrong order and God still wants to know you it's not about living just living right it's about living for him it's about us surrendering Our Lives to him and to his ways and to his will the Greek word for mutilators the um the Greek word that's used here when it's talk about mutilators of the flesh it cynically relates to the word (14:45) that they use for circumcision these teachers were used a falsehood they were flu well we are circumcised you are not you can't be you can't know God the way we know God and can I just tell you don't believe that our God is a personal God and he loves you for who you are coming with all your story that you've got in life and he loves you and he receives you at that and as you encounter him you will see your life transformed just like the man who wrote This Book Paul his life was transformed he was a religious man he was well known he was feared he wasn't (15:25) so much loved but he found that he was doing all the wrong things and he only found that out when he encountered the Living God I want to challenge us as we look at um these scriptures that it's not about um some form of service or some form of function it's about knowing Living God it's about worshiping a living God just before we came on live We were singing We were worshiping the Living God we were glorifying the Living God our worship isn't about us dressing a certain way living a certain way it purely is about knowing the one and only true God and as (16:22) we worship Him scripture tells us that we worship Him in spirit and in truth and as we worship God as we worship God it brings glory to God and that's what we want to do we want to glorify God we want to live for God and we do want to do the right things but can I just tell you don't get caught up in doing all the right things and being detached from a God who died to know you you know um I don't know where you're watching um this evening but I want to tell you this don't settle for less than what God has got for you you know whether we (17:16) worship in beautiful beautiful cathedrals or whether we worship in someone's living room whether we use a contemporary form of service or a um liturgy they're not that important it's about engaging with the Living God and I'm using that phrase a lot today it's engaging with the Living God as we worship we engage with a living God we're not singing about somebody we're singing and worshiping somebody and his name is God Almighty the Holy Spirit he guides us he shows us how to live he shows us how to worship the holy spirit will always cause us to want to live and worship God (18:07) Almighty himself Paul talks about having confidence as you read through these scriptures he talks about he he's a he's a really well-known character he's achieved much but since he encounters God he talks about his confidence his confidence his confidence is in what he's isn't in what he does but it's in who he knows and who he's living for where's our confidence today he has no confidence in just fulfilling religious activity it's great to be part of church and to come to church and be involved you know and serving all the different areas of (18:56) church but we can also do those things out outside in our workplace in our neighborhoods in our family it's about the heart what is at the heart of that you know Paul says this after all his achievements and there were many listen to this he says that he can them as loss or as rubbish he says this compared with the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord he says that in verse eight compared with the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord so in all the the the estem that people would give him you know when they were inviting um rabbis Etc to come and (19:51) speak Paul would be at the top of the list but he forsakes all that and he says no the greatest thing I have is no knowing Christ Jesus I want to ask you you know are you living your life sold out for God and maybe you're not this evening I want to tell you you can and you may say I don't know your story absolutely I don't and I don't need to I just know that there is a God who loves you where you are exactly as you are going through what you go and he cares and he loves you so much that he died for you and he is still longing to (20:36) meet with you when Jesus died on that cross his arms were outstretched and this evening those arms are still outstretched to us and we just need to come as we are we'll never be good enough but he receives us and he will change your life for each of us we need to continue if you know the Lord Jesus we need to live our lives as surrendered to him it's not about what we can achieve it's about who we can live for Paul L links gaining Christ in verses 9 through 11 Paul links gaining Christ with receiving God's gracious gift of his righteousness it's not (21:29) through what we can do in our own goodness it's all about him we can't earn God's love we can't earn it but we can live lives that are just given over to him it's not easy being a Christian have you noticed these days it's it's not easy even saying you're a Christian and to say this is what the Bible says is just another challenge but you know we have to be prepared preped to forsake everything else and focus in on God and what God causes people to do it's in having faith in in having that faith in Christ alone that we truly get an understanding what it is to have our sins forgiven to (22:19) know what it is to have God's grace and mercy in our lives I wonder when you pray um let's take any topic but let's take Grace on that topic of Grace When you pray do you pray God give me more grace to cope with Matt or do you pray God give me an opportunity to demonstrate Grace with Matt does that real difference you know because to have Grace for Matt who will love it's like saying the right thing but saying God give me an opportunity I'm after saying God let him mess up in order for me to show your grace to him does that (23:04) make sense and when we gain Christ it becomes less about us and just solely about him and I see that you know time's running away from us here but you know God wants to transform our lives and he wants to fill us with more of his spirit and I don't know if you um have a garage at home but I I've Got a Friend in America he's got this massive double garage and he's always shoving stuff in it and he's always got all these great ideas of what he's going to do with this garage but in the 20s something years (23:40) I've known him he's just shoved stuff in and say oh I I want to do so much more but sometimes we have to get rid of stuff before we can put more stuff in there comes a time when there's no way else you can shove stuff not inside of other stuff that's inside of other stuff and as you read these um writings of Paul to the Philippians he's saying make room make more room for God in your life and not just about making room for God but make room for the presence of God the power of the holy spirit in your (24:21) life you know it's not easy and as Paul is talking to this church he's telling them it isn't easy to take a stand as a Christian it's not easy to be a Christian but we don't do it in our own strength we do it in his strength and his strength alone you know but and we need to know that we need to look forward to a day when Jesus woke the Earth on that evening of the last supper and they broke bread and they took the wine he says you do this till I come again and I love when we break bread well you might (24:55) know as communion I love the phrase do it until he returns because there's a promise there and if you know the Lord Jesus he is saying I am coming back that is a promise and we'll do it till that point and then we will know if we're still alive then we will know his resurrection if we are dead we will know his resurrection we will be caught off with him we'll have re and Resurrection bodies and we'll have a new life so that's my I'm just alarming here to say I'm finished and I just want to close with two minutes on this God has gone ahead of us wherever (25:40) you're going tomorrow you need to know that God has gone ahead of you wherever your season of life you're in at the moment God has gone ahead of you and he's prepared a way for you it will not overcome you if you put your trust in him what an amazing inheritance that we have we are real people living in a real world with a real God Paul says in verse one he says there's finally sisters and brothers rejoice in the Lord and knowing that God is with us regardless what we're going through changes how we see (26:15) things just some closing thoughts in verses 1 to 11 there's a challenge to Believers to pursue an intimate knowledge of a personal savior being a Christian it's not about a private relationship it's a personal relationship that we are told that we need to share that's why we do what we do to share the goodness of God with everybody we meet when we're not called to live legalistic lives but we're to treat others with the same GR Grace and love that God has treated us we are to live lives that are transformed by God by God's grace by God's good goodness and in times of Challenge and (27:12) difficulty we are to cry out to him and walk closely with him verse seven and eight it's a profound message where the Apostle Paul articulates a radical shift in values and priorities as you read through this book I I I want I want to say you know God would want to challenge our priorities and our values and as we start to see our values and our priorities change to his we start to realize that we have drawn closer to God and as we talk about him differently I believe that as we draw close to God we start to read the (27:58) word of God with greater understanding we pray with greater understanding and literally in closing let me highlight just these three points and phrases transformation through faith not effort Christ is the center of our identity not my good behavior or your good behavior the G the concept of gain and loss as we surrender Our Lives to God we lose nothing we gain life itself the pursuit of knowing Christ I wonder what each of us are pursuing this evening an old friend of ours used to say this simple phrase Pursuit is proof (28:50) of desire and I would encourage you with all my heart to pursue the Living God who died for you gave his son to die for you and love you endlessly amen welcome back as I quickly take my seat thanks Dave love that love love that lots of comments Lots going on in fact I'm going to pull this close to me John sorry so I can see it uh I forgot well welcome to you if you've joined us by the way mid live stream great to be with you um Janny good to see you in the comments you're Legend uh and Erin as well good to see you in the comments uh very good so yeah lots of questions going on but (29:42) first Jan General thoughts to that it just made me um you know it it was like a wake up it's like this is this is the time now to it was just like a a shaking yeah and um I just I just think it was exciting um hard you know challenging but it's what we need what we needed to hear right now as you know as a nation as a people individually so why do you think it's exciting because God in his his mercy and his grace is giving us um an opportunity to quickly um change what we're doing the way we're living Our Lives yeah um you know it's not too late (30:38) to um to sort of change our habits uh you know what what we're living for the way we're living um our relationships um it's not too late in yeah Philippians that chapter um just highlights God's mercy really another opportunity yeah yeah yeah totally like I say deeply challenging chapter it's okay sweet pee was saying amen that was a dog barking by the way it was genuinely a dog barking if you would think was that really a dog bar yeah it was a dog barking we've got a sweet pee in the room she just agreeing with you yeah actually Tangy was taking photos and she (31:15) wasn't nappy she's like go get a different shot but it's so questions let's go through the questions Dave said that God will change your life in what ways has God changed your life good question how long have you got yeah it's a really it one of the things I find fascinating about this this portion of scripture that that Dave pulled out was this whole idea that whatever I have I count it as loss for the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ yeah that's a fascinating mindset isn't it and I I wonder what life would look like if we (31:55) actually had that mindset the whole time actually to say whatever I have whether it's status achievements money wealth um whether it's family location a desire to see Liverpool win the league whatever it is who wants that me Everton winning the league might might be well you just you just need to count it all as loss especially if you're an Everton fan uh oh don't want to go there but it's it's that thing which says I count it all as loss it's like I understand my priorities here right so whatever I've done whatever I've achieved whatever I've got it is nothing compared to the fact that I now know (32:39) Christ I think it's magical and I think it's wonderful and it's it's one of those things I think we need to remind ourselves of every day um and in fact one the thing that Dave started off the talk with is it it starts Paul starts his section off with the word Rejoice like I don't know I I've seen a lot of people talk about um you know like the need to do gratitude journaling have you come across this a real big Trend you know you need to write a grattitude journal be thankful you know you write your stuff down and I think yes there's (33:11) some there's a lot of health benefits there's a lot of mental health benefits to it but that I think rejoicing and starting off with rejoicing is more than just gratitude it is actually rejoicing in the Lord is more than just going I'm thankful for my house now that's part of it right but it's also going yeah but it doesn't matter whether I've got a house or not because I know Christ is that have I got that right uh but it's that it's that taking it a step further and going actually the ultimate thing here is I know Jesus um and that changes my whole life in so (33:47) many ways absolutely puts it in perspective doesn't it yeah it does it does um Pursuit is proof of Desire so good some wrote here yeah it's an old uh yeah yeah they used to say that isn't it it Pursuit his proof of Desire um which is so true it's like what you go after is actually what matters most yeah yeah um to you yeah yeah it it does and you see this a lot you know I you take a really timid example I suppose of someone who goes to the gym um and says oh you know I want to get healthier well saying that is one thing doing it is entirely different right and (34:23) pursuing that is entirely different and it's the same with our Christian faith it's like and I Think Jesus is Worthy to be pursued um which amen which if I don't know if you've ever pursued anything it's not like an easy thing to do is it I'm I'm knacked after like five seconds especially if it's a kid um but chasing after something takes intentionality takes effort um and it just doesn't happen it's like um when you you know wanting to but you see yourself doing a particular career or job then there's often training before then yeah um like going to University (34:59) getting the right courses getting the right grades all of that is training is pursuing something yeah um and it's important to be pursuing the right thing um because you know I just remember um fairly recently um during the Olympics um swimmers sort of saying you know I've I've been doing this um sort of working yeah a hard um in training for for many years um but it's you know no one sees there's no glory in getting up at 500 a.m. (35:40) when it's freezing and snowing um but I have to do that um and that is you know they're doing something because they're pursuing something um and it's not always pleasant but the goal having that vision of winning the gold medal or whatever is enough to get them out of bed at 5:00 or whatever it is because no one's cheering your name at 5:00 in the morning right they're not no of course no You' you've sort of wandered into what we're talking about next week oh yeah a little bit on the goal um so we'll come back to that don't go anyway uh Erin says in the comments um that she loves that gives (36:17) her great comfort so she loved the talk um will says great sermon thanks what does pursuit of God look like Julie wrote in the comments chasing after him and not letting go but what does pursuit of God look like for you it's just it doesn't mean that um my walk or you know someone's walk with god is perfect or it means that when life gives you a little battering every now and again that you you know you're not focusing on that but God you accessing God to help you and to get to get up it's it's about as Dave said it's about intimacy with a person it's about (37:04) getting to know him it's about inviting him into all of those things so pursuing him is just a continued walk with him it's like no one's going to stop me from doing this um and life does try to throw things at us doesn't um but it's it's keeping going pursuing something is it's just keeping going yeah it's true and here's the other thing about Pursuit I don't know if you've ever tried to chase two things at once you can't do it no you got to go one way or the other right if you're chasing that way you can't chase that way at the same time and so if you're chasing the pursuit for (37:44) me of Christ is the single determined purpose in my head to go if this is real and Jesus is who he says he is if he really is the Son of God and he's not a lunatic and a liar for making it all up right cuz we know he was real we know he came yeah which makes him either a lunatic or he's actually who he says is what he can't be to quote um CS Lewis is Jesus is not a good person no he can't be he can't be a good or holy person because he was either a liar or he was true right so if it is true and if Jesus really is the Son of (38:21) God then that knowledge in my head I have to pursue that which means I cannot Chase these are the things and this is what Paul's saying isn't it I count it all as loss it's like all of that stuff is fine in fact later on he says in Philippians the one thing I do and again I'm kind of sneak peeks here the one thing that I do I forget everything that is behind me and I press on towards the goal of the upward call in Christ Jesus in other words my single determined purpose is to know Christ and to know him more and I (38:52) think that for me will answering your question pursuing Christ is that now does does that mean I spend 16 hours a day uh in the prayer room reading my Bible of course not no do you not do that uh 15 but no CU I mean we have of course you've got to live haven't you right yeah of course yeah so it's pursuing God in the and understanding what that means in the workplace it's pursuing Christ knowing what that means as a husband as a father as a friend as a son neighbor a neighbor all of those kind of things it's um it's understanding and pursuing God in the activities and reality of (39:30) everyday life right yeah he's he's a part he's the center of your your life yeah yeah not an add-on yeah Fant Erin says she's uh off to work now bye Erin bye Erin have a good have have a good time of work whatever you're doing I was going to say shift but was kind of an assumption I was going to say shift yeah yeah um and so hope it's good hope it's good hope it's good thank you for joining us well Jan I am aware of time yes and I I appreciate we've only got through a few of the questions um but I you know sometimes these these things are more um (40:05) caught than taught is you know and I think actually the thing that I'm going away with is he is just worthy of our Pursuit our single determined focus and just taking things out of our life that stop that and just go for like say bit of a shake I loved um just just finally for me um I loved you know when Dave um mentioned in in the the passage um that Paul was talking quite sort of you know quite sharply um to um the Philippian people and well to you know um and I I just have a sense over the last couple of months weeks (40:50) that um it's actually time to um to say what we're what really needs to be said I think we can you know for once have a better foot around sometimes we can be too scared to hurt someone's feelings or um you know we don't want to offend anyone and I think we've become too much like that as as you know as British people as uh as Christians um we don't we don't want to offend anyone but actually if if you know your son your daughter your cousin your sister is about to fall off a cliff or is about to get addicted to something (41:36) or then we need to Blum and you know pull them and we need to get um you know I don't care if someone says you that was a bit rude yeah I'm trying to you know I I just think the time has come the world is such that it's time now to act actually yeah you know very good yeah totally true say it as it's got to be said and I think I'd also extend that and say actually you've got to say that to yourself yeah cuz we deceive ourselves more than anybody absolutely and um actually just giving yourself a good talking to in the mirror they're always fun anyway and on that bombshell Jan (42:19) thank you so much for joining me how did you find it you're in person I really enjoyed it I really enjoyed the worship yeah beforehand I think that really helps yeah yeah so if you are in Liverpool watching this do come join us we start at 6:30 more than welcome come join us in the evening for a time of worship which we don't live stream um the live stream normally starts at 7: so if you're local do come join us um or even like Nicolo who made a special trip all the way up from erford from the shers from the shers to be with us (42:49) tonight which is phenomenal so uh do come join us we'd love to see you good to meet you um but yeah we're gonna close the live stream there for basically if you have any prayer requests anything that's come up tonight that you want to sort of talk through or mention to anybody do get in touch you can find out more about what we do on the website which is www.c crowd. (43:13) church oh look it's coming up on the screen go Tech girl is the tech girl is on the tech there go Tech girl is um so yeah do get in touch with us or you can reach out to us on social media at crowd church or you can WhatsApp us uh we do pray every prayer request that comes through gets sent around and we do pray for people so we would um love to pray for you Mona what time did you call this okay so Mona's just come through the door as we're about to when the live stream uh so it's Mona's like my sister so I wouldn't talk to people that way I would MOA but not most of the (43:49) people uh but it's it's been great to be with you like I say any prayer request do get in touch would' love to hear from you uh it's been great to be with you come join us next week as we carry on the conversation I think it's I don't know why I'm looking over there I think it's Dan orange next week I think it's Dan orange who's going to be Will's doing something he was a few weeks ago I know he's he said he's doing something is he okay maybe he's hosting anyway we should really know shouldn't we uh what it's going to be great so do come join (44:15) us next week thank you so much for joining us have a fantastic week wherever you are in the world yeah yeah by God bless bye [Music]
