“I’ve put in my time. It’s time for the younger crowd to step up.” Really? Paul was older, battle-scarred, imprisoned, and had already given decades to following Jesus—and he still said, “I haven’t arrived.” Philippians 3:12–16 challenges the idea that there’s ever a retirement age for growing, serving, obeying, and becoming more like Jesus. Don’t spend the rest of your life living off yesterday’s faith. Read today’s study guide.

Your Christian résumé may be getting in the way of Jesus. Paul had the right background, knew the Bible, followed the rules, worked hard, and took his faith seriously. Then he made a shocking discovery: none of it could make him right with God. In Philippians 3:1–11, Paul shows us where our confidence belongs, why obedience still matters, and why knowing Jesus is worth more than everything else we could accomplish.

What does a mature follower of Jesus actually look like? Paul doesn't give us a list of impressive accomplishments—he points to two ordinary men: Timothy and Epaphroditus. They weren't famous or flashy. They were faithful, dependable, caring, and willing to sacrifice for others. Philippians 2:19–30 forces us to ask a challenging question: Am I simply learning more about Jesus, or am I actually becoming more like Him? This lesson gets very practical.