Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Lay Your Religion Down!

Last Sunday, I continued my study of the book of Philippians. I covered the first portion of Paul's testimony, in which he discusses his conversion from Judaism to Christianity.

What a text!

Here is the skeleton from Sunday's sermon.

TITLE: “Lay Your Religion Down”

TEXT: Philippians 3:4-9

SERMON SERIES: PHILIPPIANS: PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL

THEME: The dynamics of Christian conversion

POINT: Lay your religion down!

OUTLINE:

I. Paul’s past confidence in his flesh (3:4-6)

A. Paul boasting about his confidence in the flesh (v. 4)

A. A confession (v. 4a)

B. A challenge (v. 4b)

B. Paul basis for confidence in the flesh (vv. 5-6)

1. Paul’s confidence was in who he was (v. 5)

2. Paul’s confidence was in what he had done (vv. 5-6)

II. Paul’s powerful conversion to faith in Christ (4:7-9)

A. What Paul gained (vv. 7-8)

1. The extent of Paul’s loss (vv. 7-8)

2. Paul’s estimation of his loss (vv. 7-8)

• Paul made a definite decision (v. 7)

• Paul made a daily decision (v. 8)

B. What Paul gained (vv. 8-9)

1. Paul gained the knowledge of Christ (v. 8)

2. Paul gained the righteousness of Christ (v. 9)