To Know Christ: From Trivia to True Intimacy With Jesus

Pastor Daniel Medders begins by admitting his frustration that his mind remembers trivial facts, song lyrics, and useless information more easily than important things like people’s names, which leads him to ask what is truly worth knowing. He turns to Philippians 3:10 and explains that Paul, who was once obsessively focused on religious achievement, later counted those pursuits as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. Throughout the sermon, he warns against settling for head knowledge or Bible trivia and explains that the Bible’s language of knowing Christ is about an intimate, lived relationship where we deeply understand his character, heart, and ways. He unpacks Paul’s desire to know the power of Christ’s resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to become like him in his death, using examples like sulfur springs, King Tut’s grave goods, and a difficult mule trip in Wyoming to show how shared struggle and purposeful sacrifice create deep bonds and meaningful lives. The message ends in prayer, asking God to help believers clear out what is rubbish, truly know Christ rather than just know about him, and live lives poured out for others in light of the hope of resurrection.