• In verse 8 Paul says he counts everything as “rubbish so that I may gain Christ” and then (verses 9-11) he lists some things that are part of gaining Christ.  The New Living Translation lists these as the following.  Rewrite them in your own words.

  • Become one with Him

  • No longer coin on my own righteousness

  • I become righteous through faith in Christ

  • To know Christ

  • Experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead

  • Experience the resurrection from the dead

• What value do you place on your own religious upbringing?  Your schooling?  Job seniority?  Trophies?  Experiences?  If all this was taken away from you, would you be a less valuable person?  Comment.

• What would happen if you considered all things “loss” and “garbage” for Christ’s sake?  What things might you have to consider loss that you now value?  Take some time to write a list of ways this attitude might affect various areas of your life.

• What can we learn about God’s and Christ’s nature from 3:1-11?

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!