1. Knowing Christ The Gospel and Culture US Christians use make up German Christians drink beer Taiwan’s Christians pray unison What is the heart of the gospel?

2. Knowing Christ The Heart of the Gospel The early church: circumcision? Today? A lot can be left out! Phil 3:1-11

3. Knowing Christ Phil 3:1-6 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.

4. Knowing Christ Phil 3:1-6 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-- 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

5. Knowing Christ Phil 3:1-6 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;

6. Knowing Christ Phil 3:1-6 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7. Knowing Christ The Heart of the Gospel No need to become a Jew first in order to become a Christian! No rules but a relationship!

8. Knowing Christ Phil 3:7-8 7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9. Knowing Christ … more important than: being a Jew (Chinese) background (Pharisee) academic knowledge All rubbish!

10. Knowing Christ … freedom from burden of law 8 …. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith

11. Knowing Christ … freedom from burden of law relationship not rules He wants to bless us always 'I will never stop doing good to them... I will rejoice in doing them good.' (Jer 32:40-41)

12. Knowing Christ … means blessings salvation joy, peace, love freedom healing Himself!

13. Knowing Christ His Blessings we want more blessings do we want more of Him? only a few in any generation believe that the weight of knowing God is a blessing more wonderful than any other…

14. Knowing Christ Madame Guyon sat for hours unable to move tremendous suffering all taken away booklet

15. Knowing Christ A price to pay… 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

16. Knowing Christ Biggest problems = God’s blessing divorce of parents goes through cancer claims loved one broken friendship not restored singleness intolerable burden lost income not replaced

17. Knowing Christ … through shattered dreams Pain forces us to make a choice: numb our pain squarely look at it with Christ a call to greater intimacy

18. Knowing Christ … through worship holding on to Him in pain trusting Him when all goes wrong through tears

19. Knowing Christ Do you really want to know Him? countless blessings greatest blessing: Him price to pay: suffering

20. Knowing Christ … and making Him known overflowing power blessing to others