LESSON 2 // TACKLING YOUR TASKS Philippians 3:12-16 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. These verses tell us that spiritual maturity starts with the right mindset. People who are “on the grow” in their relationship with Christ have biblical goals, tackle kingdom tasks, count all the costs and commit themselves to winning the heavenly prize. If we are going to move toward spiritual maturity and pursue biblical goals, we must make a decision to “tackle our tasks” with great passion. Growth happens when we are diligently fulfilling the responsibilities God has planned for us and assigned to us. This involves three important elements the Apostle Paul addresses in these verses: 1. Our passion

In verse 12, Paul tells us something about the passion of his heart: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” To understand this passion, it’s helpful to unpack two phrases in this verse: “take hold” and “took hold.” Paul realized that Jesus took hold of his life for a purpose. He also knew that it was his responsibility to take hold of those things for which Christ had taken hold of him. One analogy that describes these phrases comes from football. In a football game, the defense has the task of tackling the player with the ball—to take hold of him and take him down. This is the idea in the terms Paul used. He realized that Christ had “tackled” him for a purpose—kingdom tasks. He had to “press on” to tackle the tasks for which Christ had tackled him. In Acts 26:9-19 we find Paul’s testimony concerning the day Christ tackled him in a life-changing experience on the road to Damascus. Note a fourfold process that happened in his life that needs to happen in our lives as well: He was converted, conditioned, commissioned and consumed with tackling the tasks for which Christ had tackled him.

church-redeemer.org // on the grow // lesson 2

2. Christ’s purpose Why were you tackled by Christ? What purpose did He have for “taking hold” of your life? The Bible tells us that there are at least four main reasons why Christ tackles us: to save us, secure us, satisfy us and set us into His service. It’s this last point that trips up many believers. We frequently think of serving God in grand terms and miss out on some of the most important and practical ways we are called to serve Him. Here’s three words that simplify and clarify what service for God is all about: roles, responsibilities, opportunities. Divine opportunities usually fit in one of three categories: opportunities we miss, make or take. We see this in the following verses:

John 6:9 (NIV) Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. Acts 3:6 (NIV) Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Romans 12:13 (NLT) When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Service for God is not complicated. However, we must make a decision to “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of” us. There must be a passionate pursuit of tackling the tasks for which He tackled us.

3. Tackling our tasks with passion If we are going to grow, we must tackle our spiritual tasks with passion. We must give ourselves wholeheartedly to our God-given roles, responsibilities and opportunities. There are four commitments we can make that will help us do this:

• Energy (Colossians 1:29).

• Enthusiasm (2 Corinthians 8:17).

• Excellence (2 Corinthians 8:7).

• Expectation (2 Peter 1:8). Christ tackled you for a purpose. Make it your aim to follow the example of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-16 and seek to tackle the tasks for which Jesus tackled you. Discussion questions

1. How did Paul express his passion in Philippians 3:12-16? How does this encourage you in your walk with the Lord?

2. What is Jesus’ purpose in “taking hold” of you? What difference should this make in your life?

3. Look again at the four commitments that help you “tackle your tasks with passion.” What

steps can you take to grow stronger in these?