Pursuing Maturity in Christ

1.  The Thoughts of the mature Christian! Verse 15

• Are Goal Oriented!

          a)  Win the Prize for which you have been called heavenward
          b)  Know Jesus: Power of the resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering
          c)  Count everything else as loss in comparison!

• Have the mind in you that was in Jesus!
• Patient toward immature Christians!
• Confident that God is willing to make Himself clearly known to ALL Christians!
• Seeks the revelation of God’s view of the world. For us this is primarily through the understanding of the written Word of God!

​2.  The Actions of the mature Christian! Verse 16

• Do what you already know to do!!!!
• Sometimes maturity isn’t about knowing more but about doing more of what we know!

​3.  The Role Models of the mature Christian are intentionally and carefully chosen! Verse 17

• Join together to help one another reach the goal! 
• Positive biblical examples are to be followed!
• Contemporary examples and models are to be closely watched as a pattern of life!
• Avoid walking alone in life!

4.  The enemy of the mature Christian is anyone who is an enemy of the cross of Christ! Verses 18-19

• Told often about them…
• Told again with tears…
• There are many of them
• Their future is destruction!
• Their god is their stomach!
• Their Glory is their shame!
• Their mind is set on earthly things!
• Any philosophy of thought or religion that is opposed to salvation by faith in Christ alone! 

5.  The Focus of the mature Christian is on your heavenly citizenship! Verses 20-21

• Enjoy your Heavenly citizenship
• Eagerly await Jesus’ return! Our Savior, Lord, and Christ!
• Will come with power to bring everything under His control!
• Will transform our bodies and make them like his own!