Philippians 3:1-14

This is our Sunday teaching from Hannah Poole. Recorded live at our service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 27th July, 2025. Below you can find the full talk audio, and a summary article.

Want to lead a Connect Group session on this teaching? The notes are here!

Talk Summary - Nothing Compares to Knowing Jesus

There are moments in life that bring joy—a good meal, a job well done, even bumping into a celebrity... But the Apostle Paul offers a different kind of joy in Philippians 3. A deeper joy. A joy rooted not in what we do, wear, achieve, or know—but in who we know.

"Whatever happens," Paul writes, "rejoice in the Lord." He isn’t offering shallow positivity. He’s pointing to a joy that endures through suffering, through failure, through everything life throws at us. It’s a joy grounded in knowing Jesus Himself.

Paul had an impressive CV—tribe of Benjamin, strict law-keeper, zealous for religion. But compared to knowing Jesus? He calls it garbage. And that’s the heart of his message: real joy, real righteousness, real life come not from our effort, but from our union with Jesus.

That’s easy to forget. We slip into thinking we need to look the part, do all the “right” things, serve with endless energy. And serving is good! But it’s not the source of our worth. Jesus is. Not knowing about Him. Knowing Him.

And not just in the good times. Paul writes that even in suffering—even in death—he presses on. Why? Because resurrection follows. Pain and hardship aren’t the end of the story. Jesus walked that road ahead of us and now walks it with us.

So how do we grow in knowing Him? Like any relationship: spend time. Pray. Read Scripture. Worship not just with your mouth, but with your whole being. Get around others who love Him. Show up as your real self—not your “Sunday best”—and let Him meet you there.

And when life feels discouraging or disconnected, remember this: your joy doesn’t depend on your performance. Your name is written in heaven. You are His.

So, like Paul, let’s press on. Not to earn approval, but to know Jesus more. That’s the race. That’s the prize.

And there’s nothing greater.