The Foundation Of Growth, Knowing Christ. Philippians 3:7-10

The Foundation of Growth; Knowing Christ Philippians 3:7-10

Good Morning

Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

"The Foundation of Growth: Knowing Christ" Philippians 3:7-10

Turn with me in your Bible to the book of Philippians chapter 3 and say, "Amen" when you are there.

Today, we’re beginning a journey through a new sermon series on "Growing in Our Relationship with Christ."

Every one of us desires to grow in some way—whether it’s in our careers, our relationships, or even our physical health. But the most important growth we can experience is in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

And the place where it all begins is knowing Him—not just knowing about Him, but truly, deeply knowing Him in the core of our being.

I want to start with a story about James, a man I met a few years ago. James had been going to church for over 20 years. He had memorized Scripture, served in ministries, and knew how to talk about Jesus in a way that seemed so natural. But one day, sitting in his car after church, he had a moment of clarity. "I know a lot about Jesus, but do I really know Him? Do I really feel His love, His power, His presence?"

It was a hard question, but it was the beginning of a life-transforming journey. James began seeking Jesus—not just in the context of church life or as a theological concept—but personally. He dug deeper into prayer, he meditated on God’s Word, and he asked God to reveal Himself in a new way.

That’s when everything began to change. For James, knowing Jesus moved from his head to his heart, and it radically altered his entire life.

Today, I want to ask you the same question:

Do you just know about Jesus, or do you truly know Him?

1: Knowing Christ through Salvation

Let's turn to Philippians 3:8-9.

Paul writes about the treasure of knowing Christ.

He says, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…”

Think about that: Paul had everything—he had status, power, respect, education—but when he encountered Christ, it was as if everything else in his life became secondary.

It wasn’t just about religion; it was about a radical relationship with the living Savior. And in that moment, Paul was changed.

I’m reminded of the story of Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul. Saul was zealous in his faith—he was passionate about defending the Jewish law. But his passion led him to persecute Christians.

Then one day, on the road to Damascus, he encountered Jesus in a blinding light.

The voice of Jesus spoke to him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4).

That one moment of encounter with the living Christ turned Saul’s entire world upside down. It was the beginning of his personal relationship with Christ, and everything else in his life became meaningless in comparison.

Let me ask you, have you had that kind of encounter with Jesus?

Maybe you’ve heard about Him your whole life, but have you personally encountered Him?

Jesus is waiting for you to experience that relationship with Him, where you move from knowing about Him to knowing Him intimately and personally.

- If you’ve never received Christ as your Savior, if you’ve never encountered Him in a personal way, today is your day.

- Ask yourself: Do I know Christ?

Is He, my Savior? Or is He simply someone I’ve heard about?

2: Knowing Christ through Scripture

Next, let’s talk about knowing Christ through Scripture. The Bible is not just a book of rules or ancient stories—it’s the living Word of God, and it reveals the heart of Jesus to us. Every page of Scripture points to Him.

I want to share a story about Sarah, a young woman who had struggled with feelings of unworthiness. She had always believed in Jesus, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow “too broken” to be loved by God.

Then one day, a friend encouraged her to read Psalm 139. As she read these words, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”, something in her heart began to shift.