Paul didn’t just talk about the humility of Jesus. He was living into that himself. It’s easy to
forget that before he met Jesus, Paul had a promising career as a member of the Jewish
ruling council. “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them
worthless because of what Christ has done” (verse 7, New Living Translation).

• Though Paul had other lesser goals and dreams (e.g. Romans 15:23-28), what words does he use to express the greatest goal in his life? What changed in his attitudes and his way of living when he made knowing Christ his supreme goal? On your list of personal goals, where does knowing Christ rank?
• Verses 8-9 say “all I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him” (The Message). What basis for self-worth (other than relying on his own accomplishments) did Paul claim? To what extent are you able to find your value where he did?