In Sermon Illustrations: "Philippians 3:12-21"

Dream-Stealers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2011

DREAM-STEALERS Years ago, I heard Pastor Anthony Mangun tell a story at Because of the Times that I have never forgotten. . . . The story is told of a young man by the name of Monty, who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer, who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:14

Tags: Goals

Come Sweet Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

COME SWEET DEATH The picture is indelibly etched on my memory, I'm sure because at the time the incident seemed so bizarre, so peculiar. The scene was an elementary school talent show; all of us had been groomed and polished and persuaded that we had some talent or another to display before our ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Tags: Death

I Can't Remember

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

I CAN'T REMEMBER An elderly man moved into a retirement community. It wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was attracted to him, also. They spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Tags: Aging

C. S. Lewis In The Problem Of Pain: "Our Father ...

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 3, 2011

C. S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain: "Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20-30

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Aiming At The Right Target  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

AIMING AT THE RIGHT TARGET Some of our deeds are of great value, especially those done in dependence upon God for His glory and honor. Some of our deeds are worthless. They accomplish nothing of eternal value and will be quickly forgotten after we are gone. Matt Emmons had the gold medal in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-16

Tags: Goals

True Leadership

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Mar 9, 2012

TRUE LEADERSHIP From the pages of “The Essence of True Leadership (Be a Leader and not a Boss)” V.Balu, D.B. Jain College, Chennai - 600 096. T. Nadu, S. India… The legendary Russi Modi of Tata Steel in India, was a phenomenal success with thousands of his company's employees. Revealing the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-15

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: *other

Wishing For Pascal's Brain  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 17, 2013

WISHING FOR PASCAL'S BRAIN Biblical Education is the process by which Godly character is formed, strength of clear conscious and sound mind is amplified, and understanding is sharpened, as a result of which one can walk in divine wisdom. Someone once approached Blaise Pascal, the famous French ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-14

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgetting What Is Past And Straining Toward The Future

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Commentator Gordon Fee recalls the famous “miracle mile,” the first time two milers ran under four minutes in the same race. Roger Bannister and John Landy competed in Vancouver, B.C. in 1954. Landy had led all the way, but coming off the final turn toward the finish line he looked over his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Forgetting The Past, Heavenward Calling, Future Oriented

Denomination: Baptist

You Can Keep Your Fork

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A woman had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given three months to live. Her doctor told her to start making preparations to die. So she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20, Revelation 22:12, Colossians 1:27, Titus 1:2

Tags: Citizenship, Heaven, Future, Hope

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Drifting

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 7, 2019

Drifting Along (Philippians 3:12-21) Intro: The two trappers In the mid 1800’s their were two trappers that had been trapping muskrat and beaver all summer and fall. They had been working their traps in the Cumberland Plateau area of Tennessee. With their packs full of furs ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21

Tags: Complacency, Drifting

Denomination: Pentecostal

Failure Maybe Opportunity?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 12, 2020

REMEMBER FAILURE MAY BE BUT AN OPPORTUNITY---- GEORGE CAMPBELL MORGAN, 12/9/1863. He died May 16, 1945. He preached his first sermon at 13 years of age. In 1888 a young man named CAMPBELL MORGAN had made application to the WESLEYAN SCHOOL of ministry. Campbell was one of 150 men to apply ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Ecclesiastes 12:1

Tags: Remember, Opportunity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Discipleship Is A Call To Suffer

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

John R. Scott gives a modern example of one who suffered for the gospel observing that… "Few men of this century have understood better the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He seems never to have wavered in his Christian antagonism to the Nazi regime, although it meant for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 3:1-20, Romans 1:16

Tags: Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Suffering, Will Of God, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News: Finish The Race!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 27, 2021

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. WRONG WAY, ROY ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Get Up, Finish Well

Denomination: Assembly Of God

For Many Of Us, Our New Years Resolutions Seem To ...  PRO

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jan 10, 2008

For many of us, our New Years resolutions seem to resemble carbon dating – where we can establish the date of our resolution by how many “half lives” it has had. Here are some examples: 2003: I will read at least 10 books a year. 2004: I will read 5 books a year. 2005: I will finish Portals of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-16

Tags: Money, Diet, Resolution, New Year, Carbon Dating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

A Thanks Offering For Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering For Heaven Philippians 3:20 says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When A Dream Dies

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Jan 18, 2009

When a Dream Dies When a dreams dies, the world is not the same You realize in an instant everything has changed Tomorrow will be different The plans will all be new For the dream that you were chasing No longer lives inside of you. To know the race is over and you’ve been left behind Is like a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Like A Rolling Stone

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 29, 2022

Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest song writers of all time. In 1965 he wrote "Like a Rolling Stone" - one of his most popular songs. It has been acclaimed as the greatest lyric ever written. "Like a Rolling Stone" is statistically the most acclaimed song of all time. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:37-42, Philippians 3:7-14

Tags: Community, Purpose, Identity, Loneliness, Meaning Of Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Marathon

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 17, 2022

On Sunday, October 16, 2022 my daughter, aged 25, ran her first marathon – the Toronto Waterfront marathon. Though I’m currently living 3000 kms away in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada – I was there at the race to cheer her on. I was not prepared for the emotional intensity of the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 3:14

Tags: Salvation, Perseverance, Gospel, Discipleship, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wave

Contributed by Gregory Artz on Nov 5, 2022

In elections there is a term “The Wave”. This term means that a large change is coming, and one side is going to have substantial losses in the upcoming election. In the news you will hear about an upcoming “Blue Wave” or a “Red Wave”. However, as Christians, we will choose to trust in the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20, Matthew 8:23-27

Tags: Heavenly Citizenship, Sovereignty Of Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Delete Or Repeat

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

Delete or Repeat Choosing What We Carry Forward Picture your life as a computer desktop crowded with files. Each one represents a memory, a habit, a choice, or an experience. Some files are useful and frequently opened. Others are outdated, damaged, or simply take up space—slowing everything ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15, Isaiah 43:18-19, 1 John 1:8-9, Philippians 3:12-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Future, Goals, New Year, Tomorrow, Commitments, Starting The Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist