Philippians #7 - Pressing Toward the Goal

CROWD Church Livestream

Wondering what it looks like to follow Jesus when you haven't got it all figured out? This week at Crowd, we're getting honest about the ups and downs of the faith journey through the lens of Philippians 3. From Will's dodgy javelin throwing days to Dan's insights about spiritual training, we're unpacking what it really means to 'press on' without burning out.

Dan Orange takes us through a fresh look at Paul's letter, exploring how the Christian life is less like a Usain Bolt sprint and more like finding your own pace in a marathon. Plus, during Conversation Street, we tackle those tricky questions about dealing with past hurts, finding sustainable spiritual rhythms, and what it means that God's actually pursuing us while we pursue Him.

Whether you're just curious about faith or you've been following Jesus for years, this honest conversation about keeping going when life gets messy is for you. Because sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is admit you haven't got it all sorted.

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Time Stamps

00:00 Welcome

03:04 Main Message with Dan Orange

25:08 Conversation Street

30:00 Balancing Effort, Rest, and Standing Firm

35:00 Dealing with the Past and Emotional Healing

40:00 Daily Rhythms and Spiritual Practices

45:00 Protecting the Heart and God's Pursuit

49:00 Conclusion and Notices

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Show Notes

- Welcome from Will Sopwith and Anna Kettle.

- Will and Anna share personal anecdotes about their experiences with athletics.

- Discussion on the challenges and memories associated with school sports.

Exploration of Philippians 3:12-4:1

- Dan Orange introduces the next part of Paul's letter to the Philippians.

- Emphasis on the themes of pursuing goals and the analogy of athletics in spiritual life.

The Art of Letter Writing

- Dan reflects on the lost art of letter writing and its personal significance.

- Encouragement to express feelings through written words.

Athletic Analogies in Spiritual Pursuit

- Dan draws parallels between athletic training and spiritual discipline.

- Examples of Usain Bolt and Paula Radcliffe illustrate dedication and focus.

Pursuing God and Being Pursued

- Discussion on the mutual pursuit between God and believers.

- The story of the prodigal son highlights God's pursuit of humanity.

The Goal of Christian Life

- Examination of the ultimate goal as citizenship in heaven with God.

- Encouragement to focus on spiritual goals rather than earthly achievements.

Forgetting the Past and Moving Forward

- Dan discusses the importance of not dwelling on past mistakes.

- Emphasis on learning from history and building on past experiences.

Community and Support in Faith

- The role of community in supporting and encouraging one another in faith.

- Encouragement to engage with others and ask questions about faith.

Managing Life's Rhythms

- Discussion on balancing effort, rest, and standing firm in faith.

- Personal reflections from Will and Anna on maintaining spiritual rhythms.

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More info: https://crowd.church/talks/philippians-7-pressing-toward-the-goal

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Next week - it's the continuation of the Philippians series with Sharon Edmondson. Please like, follow, subscribe, and share the podcast with friends.

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Key Words

Crowd Church, Philippians series, athletics analogy, spiritual journey, pressing towards the goal, letter writing, biblical teachings, Christian faith, God's pursuit, community support, spiritual growth, endurance race, personal reflection, scripture reading, prayer life, emotional healing, past experiences, spiritual discipline, life rhythms, spiritual focus, divine love, spiritual encouragement, faith journey, spiritual community, biblical insights, spiritual resilience