I Press On
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began by reading 1 Corinthians 9:24‑27, emphasizing that believers are called to run the race of faith with self‑control, aiming for an imperishable prize rather than a fleeting wreath. The teacher highlighted Paul’s disciplined approach and warned against aimless spiritual effort, linking the passage to the broader New Year theme of pressing onward. The focus then shifted to Philippians 3, where Paul’s declaration of counting all worldly gains as loss for Christ’s sake set the tone for the year’s theme, “I Press On.” The teacher unpacked verses 4, 7, 12‑14, illustrating Paul’s honest confession of not yet having achieved perfection and his commitment to forget the past, press toward the heavenly call, and fix his eyes on Jesus. Supporting scriptures such as Hebrews 12:1‑2, 1 John 1:7, and a glimpse of Paul’s hardships in 2 Corinthians 11 reinforced the call to lay aside encumbrances, run with endurance, and pursue spiritual growth in the coming year.
Key Scriptures
But whatever were gains to me, I now consider them losses for the sake of Christ. 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 and consider them rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and to share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, so that I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have already taken hold of it, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brethren, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfectly righteous, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider that I have already taken hold of it, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in any respect you have a different perspective, God will also guide you to the right way. But we walk by faith, not by sight.