Finding Joy in Knowing Jesus | Philippians 3:1-11
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Introduction
As we approach a new season—just weeks away from the start of NFL training camp—I find myself reflecting not only on the game of football but on the “game” of life and faith. Today, I want to share what God is reminding us in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, especially about the source of true joy and the danger of relying on our “spiritual resumes” for our identity and salvation.
Our Spiritual Resume: More Impressive Than Reality?
Many of us know how to polish a resume, highlighting our accomplishments, good deeds, and moral record—even in our spiritual lives. Maybe we take pride in our church attendance, years of service, generosity, or leadership. These things are not bad; they are gifts and opportunities God gives us. The danger, however, comes when we start to rely on these things for our confidence before God, believing our “spiritual resume” is why we’re accepted by Him.
Paul understood this deeply. By outward measure, Paul’s religious credentials were second to none. Yet, after encountering Jesus, he realized all those things—even the best of them—could never make us right before a holy God.
The Danger of "Jesus Plus"
Paul warns us about a subtle but serious error: the belief that we need Jesus plus something else (like moral works or religious observance) to truly be right with God. This teaching, though it often looks religious or “serious about faith,” is dangerous. The moment we add anything to the finished work of Christ as the basis for our acceptance, we’ve stopped trusting Jesus fully.
In other words:
The gospel is not "Jesus and..."—it is Jesus, period.
Paul's Radical Perspective Shift
Paul shares a momentous conviction: “Whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” He uses accounting language, indicating a total rebalancing of the books. All his credentials—his birth, achievements, status, passion—once in the “gain” column, now he counts as loss compared to the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Paul uses strong language, likening his old credentials to garbage or refuse. Not because they are inherently bad, but because they are worthless as a basis for our righteousness before God. Jesus alone belongs on the throne of our hearts.
What Changes When Christ Is at the Center?
When Jesus becomes our confidence and joy, it doesn’t mean that family, work, or obedience to God are meaningless. Rather, they are put into their proper place:
Work becomes a way to serve, not our identity.
Family becomes a gift to steward, not the source of our salvation.
Obedience becomes gratitude, not a bargaining chip to force God’s favor.
To trust Jesus fully brings a freedom and joy that our best efforts never could.
What Do We Gain In Christ?
Paul says he wants to “be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own...but that which is through faith in Christ.” Our identity, acceptance, and hope are found in what Jesus has done—not what we do. Through faith, God gives us the righteousness we could never earn. We are adopted as His children, welcomed into His family now and forever.
The Christian life begins not with an impressive resume, but with honest confession: “God, as much as I’ve tried, I cannot save myself. My best will never be enough. Jesus is enough for me.”
This is where true joy begins—the deep relief of not having to prove what Jesus has already provided.
The Surpassing Joy of Knowing Christ
Paul longs to know Christ—not just to know about Him, but to know Him personally, relationally. There’s a profound difference between reading someone’s biography and sitting across the table with them. We experience this relationship through prayer, Scripture, worship, and even suffering.
True joy is “deep and lasting delight rooted in the presence, power, and promises of Jesus:”
Presence – “I want to know Christ.”
Power – To know the power of His resurrection in our daily lives: to endure, forgive, love, and live with hope.
Promise – The sure hope of the resurrection, a future secured by Jesus.
Paul even embraces suffering—not because suffering is good, but because Christ’s presence turns suffering into a place of deep encounter and unshakeable joy.
The Invitation: Lay Down Your Resume
Let’s prayerfully examine our lives:
What are we relying on to impress God? Our usefulness, respectability, rightness, our ministry? These things can subtly become substitutes for fully trusting in Jesus.
With humility, let’s bring our resumes to Jesus, admitting: “This is not what makes me right before you. Only Jesus does.” Our good works still matter, but they do not save us.
Some of us need to lay down obvious sin. Others need to repent of “respectable self-reliance,” which quietly tries to justify ourselves in our own strength. The freedom of the gospel is this: Jesus is not asking us to make our resume stronger, but to lay it down and come to Him empty-handed.
A Simple Prayer for Joy
Here is the prayer that opens the door to true and lasting joy:
Jesus, I want to know You.
I want my joy rooted in Your presence,
my life strengthened by Your power,
and my hope anchored in Your promises.
This is where the life of joy begins—my prayer for you, and for us as a church community.
Closing Encouragement
As we gather at the Lord’s Table, we celebrate not only freedom as a nation, but the freedom Christ offers every believer: freedom from sin and death, given by God’s grace through faith alone. Communion is a tangible reminder that Christ’s body was broken and His blood was shed for you and for me—that we might truly know Him and find joy in Him.
May we leave our resumes at the foot of the cross and enter each day with simple, surrendered faith in Jesus—the only one who is enough.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Andrew Kasberg
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Opening Prayer
Begin with a brief prayer, asking God to open your hearts and minds to His word and to help each person truly understand and experience the joy of knowing Jesus.
1. Icebreaker: Spiritual Resumes
Think back to your own "spiritual resume." What are you most tempted to put on display as evidence of your Christian faith—church attendance, Bible knowledge, service, or something else?
Can you recall a time you tried to be impressive (with God or others) based on your background or good works?
2. Understanding the Text: Philippians 3:1-11
Paul uses strong language to warn about adding requirements to the gospel. Why does Paul call teachers who add to the gospel “dogs, evildoers, mutilators of the flesh”? What’s at stake if we trust in Jesus plus something else?
In your own words, summarize what Paul means when he says:
“Whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
Discuss the imagery Paul uses about “profit and loss.” How does meeting Jesus flip Paul's understanding of what matters most in life?
3. Good Things, Dangerous Places
Paul admits that many items on his “spiritual resume” were good things (heritage, obedience, zeal) yet calls them “garbage” compared to Christ.
Why do good things become dangerous when they become our hope before God?
Share examples of good things today (family, success, ministry) that might accidentally become substitutes for Christ at the center of your life.
How does Paul challenge us to "put them in their proper place"?
4. Gospel-Centered Confidence
Discuss this quote from the sermon:
“The moment that we add anything to trusting in the work of Jesus in order to receive salvation, then we've effectively said we don't trust the work of Jesus himself.”
Why is it such a relief, and a joy, not to rely on our own goodness or achievements before God?
In light of Gospel freedom, how does this shape how you think about things you once used to measure your worth or acceptance before God?
5. Knowing Christ: Relationship, Not Resume
Paul writes about wanting “to know Christ—not just know about him, but know Him.”
How is this different from just knowing facts or doctrines about God?
What spiritual practices can help deepen your personal relationship with Jesus?
Paul speaks of wanting to “know the power of his resurrection and participation in His sufferings.” Discuss how you’ve experienced Christ’s presence and power—both in strength and in weakness/suffering.
6. Application & Response
“Jesus is not asking us to make our resume stronger. He is calling us to lay it down and come to him empty handed.”
What would it look like, practically, for you to “lay down your resume” this week?
Are there areas where you still seek to justify yourself—either before God or others?
Pray as a group:
Ask God to help you surrender any sources of false spiritual confidence.
Invite God to increase your joy in Christ—rooted in His presence, power, and promises.
7. Communion & Celebration
The sermon ended with an invitation to the Lord’s Table as a declaration of true freedom found in Jesus’ finished work.
How does communion reflect the core of this teaching—leaving our resume behind and receiving Christ’s gift by faith?
If appropriate, end your discussion by reciting together:
“Jesus, I want to know you. I want my joy rooted in your presence, my life strengthened by your power, and my hope anchored in your promises.”
For Further Reflection:
Re-read Philippians 3:1–11 this week and journal about where you find your ultimate confidence and joy.
Ask God to reveal areas in need of surrender and to draw you deeper into relationship with Christ.
Discussion guide shaped by the Reformed and Evangelical commitments of ECO, focusing on grace, vibrant faith, and living out the gospel in joyful dependence on Christ alone.