IN THIS LESSON

Press On: Releasing the Past, Trusting God, and Pursuing the Prize

In this lesson, instructor Jon Pinkerton leads us through one of the most powerful personal testimonies in all of Paul's writings — Philippians 3:5–14 — where the apostle lays down every earthly credential and counts it all as rubbish for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus. We examine the transformative concept of spiritual circumcision: not an outward mark in the flesh, but an inward work of the heart and spirit, rooted in faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the gospel. Paul's radical revaluation challenges us to audit our own priorities, asking ourselves whether we are placing our confidence in status, education, or achievement rather than in the unchanging word and will of God. We then turn to the pressing call of Philippians 3:12–14 — "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead" — where we are urged to release both past failures and past victories so that nothing holds us back from the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This lesson is a powerful invitation to reject complacency, embrace spiritual maturity, and press on with everything we have toward the goal God has set before us.

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 6:15 pm on Zoom.

by The Schrader Lane Church of Christ

Facilitated by Jon Pinkerton

Multiple-Choice Q&A

Self-Directing, Immediate Feedback

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Barry's Bureau – Lesson 9 Quiz
Lesson 9 Quiz
Confidence in God, Spiritual Circumcision & Pressing On
Philippians 3:5–14 | Barry's Bureau
"Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
— Philippians 3:13–14 (NKJV)

Test your understanding of Lesson 9. Seven questions will challenge you to dig deeper into Paul's teaching on releasing worldly confidence and pressing on toward the upward call of God.

Question 1 of 7
Question 1 of 7
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"One plus God is infinity — you don't need anything more than God to accomplish what He would have you do." — Instructor Jon Pinkerton

Study Game - Match the Teaching

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Barry's Bureau – Lesson 9 Matching Game
Lesson 9 – Matching Game
Press On: Match the Teaching
Philippians 3:5–14 | Barry's Bureau
0
Matched
8
Total Pairs
0
Attempts
How to Play: Click a term on the LEFT, then click its matching definition on the RIGHT. Make all 8 correct matches to win!
Term / Concept
Spiritual Circumcision
"Press On" (Phil. 3:14)
Righteousness from God
"Rubbish" (Phil. 3:8)
Confidence in the Flesh
"One plus God is infinity"
Forget What Is Behind
Upward Call of God
Definition / Application
Paul's word for worldly credentials and achievements when compared to Christ
Releasing past failures and victories so nothing prevents forward obedience
An inward, heart-level transformation through faith in Christ, not a physical mark
The divine prize and goal toward which Paul pursues in Christ Jesus
Persisting in growth, learning, teaching, and serving without complacency
Trusting in status, accomplishments, or religion rather than in God alone
God's sufficiency: with God, one believer has everything needed for His purpose
Right standing before God received by faith — not earned through the law or works
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All Matched!
You matched all 8 pairs
total attempts
"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:14 (NKJV)

Study Game - True or False?

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Barry's Bureau – Lesson 9 True/False Challenge
Lesson 9 – True/False Challenge
Pressing On: True or False?
Philippians 3:5–14 | Barry's Bureau

Think you know your way through Philippians 3? Paul gives us bold, challenging teaching — and some statements are easy to confuse. Put your knowledge to the test!

Rules: Read each statement carefully and decide: TRUE or FALSE?
You'll receive immediate feedback and a Scripture-based explanation for each answer. There are 10 statements total.
Statement 1 of 10
Statement 1 of 10
0
Correct
0
Incorrect
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"I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." — Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)