Journey to Joy: Losing to Gain

We live in a world that constantly teaches us to gain. We naturally think of gain as more, but Paul presents us with a completely different way of thinking. In today’s passage, we discover that we gain when we lose.

Watch the full Sunday service and message by Pastor Dennis Jacobson below.

SERMON TEXT

Philippians 3:1-11 (ESV)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 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.

SERMON NOTES

What are we to lose?

• • We must lose our confidence in the flesh
  • We must count our gains as loss
  • We must lose our own righteousness to receive His

Losing the world does not mean we lose everything. The goal is not simply to know about Christ – but to know Him.

Questions to Consider

• • What am I trusting in besides Christ?
  • What am I unwilling to surrender?
  • Do I know Christ? Is He my treasure?

You may lose much by following Jesus. But when you gain Christ, you have gained what matters most.

Make Christ your supreme treasure today!