Of Wills and Ways, Part 1 Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Of Wills and Ways, Part 1 -------------------------- Date: 8/8/2002 Keywords: "confidence" "flesh" "gain" "loss" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Philippians 3:4-7* 4. although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5. circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6. as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Questions 1. What do you admire most in someone's unexpected (or expected) success?   2. How much pride do you take in your upbringing, family status or education?   Practical help Why do all the "Rags-to-Riches" stories seem to capture our admiration? Why all the pedestals for the self-made man or the self-made woman? A more searching question is why does the Apostle Paul "rag" on his own pedigree and achievements in today's passage? The things we admire in those R-to-R success stories — beating the odds, uncanny determination, resourcefulness, that "try, try again" attitude — we likely admire because we haven't experienced them in our own lives. In the next several studies, we'll explore how Paul puts a new focus on "Where there's a will, there's a way!" Get ready to give up, and win! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission." ---