• If you had to brag about one or two things about you, what would they be?  Be serious!

• In verses 4-6 Paul presents himself as someone with reason to “put confidence in the flesh”.  Which of Paul’s statements about himself sound most impressive?  Why?

• Paul’s examples relate to a different culture.  List 3-4 things that our culture might deem as significant for showing that a person is impressive. 

• Verse 7-8 uses accounting terms, weighing one thing on a scale against other things.  What’s being compared, and what wins out?

• Re-read Phil 2:6-11. How does Paul’s example compare with Christ’s?

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!