Anthem Thousand Oaks Teaching

Paul reminds the Philippian church that our citizenship is in heaven, and that changes how we live now. In this message from Philippians 3:17–4:9, we look at what that looks like: patterning our lives after people whose character we can actually know, pursuing unity when conflict comes, rejoicing in the Lord in every circumstance, meeting anxiety with prayer, and choosing to dwell on whatever is true, honorable, and lovely.

Steve Larson teaches Philippians 3:10–14 and asks whether our pursuit of Jesus is worth infinitely more than anything else the world offers. He walks through Paul's five passions: to know Christ, to know the power of his resurrection, to share his sufferings, to become like him in his death, and to attain the resurrection. He closes by challenging us to let go of the past and keep pressing on until the day we finish our race.

From Philippians 3:1–11, Thula Mbambo asks whether knowing Christ intimately is worth more to us than anything else we value. Walking through Paul's call to rejoice even in suffering and his warning against a "Jesus plus" gospel, he shows Paul counting every credential and gain as rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, not as head knowledge but as close, experiential relationship. He closes by inviting people to come to Christ for the first time or to lay down whatever sits on the throne of their hearts.

From Philippians 2:1–11, Rob uses clenched hands—the things we try to grasp and control—to open Paul's Christ hymn: Jesus, though equal with God, did not cling to status but emptied himself as a servant to the cross, and God exalted him. Working the passage backwards, he shows humility is not just a mindset but the pattern of Jesus' life, and that we can loosen our grip when we trust God to hold us. He calls the church to complete Paul's joy by outdoing one another in honor and service—open hands that go be like Jesus.

From Philippians 1:18–30, Jake unpacks how Paul could rejoice while chained in prison with his future uncertain: because our future is secure in Christ, we are free to give our lives for the gospel. For Paul, to live is Christ and to die is gain, so his very life becomes a generous gift for the church's progress and joy, even when living worthy of the gospel goes against the grain and costs something. Pointing to Christ's own self-emptying in Philippians 2, Jake challenges us to stop rushing past hard seasons and ask how God wants to use them to shape His gospel life in us.

From Philippians 1:12–18, Bert walks through Paul’s prison season and the “strange chemistry of providence”—how God turns what looks like lead into gold without calling evil good. Paul hands God his limitations, rivals, and resentment, and discovers the gospel cannot be chained: even hard seasons and mixed motives can advance Christ. The challenge is resilient joy that asks, “God, what are you up to?” and rejoices whenever Christ is preached.