KEYS TO LIVING THE ‘PRESSING’ LIFE

The Apostle Paul was not casual or sentimental in writing to the Philippians regarding the Christian life. He was intentional, directional, and disciplined. It was forward movement — pressing, straining, pursuing Christ with clarity and commitment.

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). It was singular in focus and without compromise.

Years ago, I wanted to translate Paul’s passion into a practical pattern for myself and my church. What would it look like to press toward that goal in daily life?

Out of that season of prayer and reflection came the acronym P.R.E.S.S.I.N.G. It serves as a discipleship framework built around eight core practices: praying, rejoicing, evangelizing, studying, serving, instructing, nurturing, and giving.

These are not random activities. They are spiritual habits for modeling, maturing, and multiplying disciples.

Our identity in Christ produces our actions for Christ. In the past, I focused on conduct over character. I now know that being who God called me to be will naturally produce the correct results.

It all begins with identity. When believers understand who they are in Him, their actions follow. Prayer warriors pray. Worshipers rejoice. Witnesses share the gospel. Students pursue God’s Word. Nurturers care for others. And givers invest their time, talent, and treasure in God’s kingdom. After all, givers give.

God is calling His people to be saints — set apart for His service, shaped by Christ, and steadily transformed into His likeness. This conviction shapes P.R.E.S.S.I.N.G. as a discipleship model. It moves in three intentional phases: modeling, maturing, and multiplying.

Model it. Before we can lead others in praying, rejoicing, evangelizing, studying, serving, instructing, nurturing, and giving, we must demonstrate. Modeling is visible discipleship. Pressing toward Christ in a way others can observe and imitate is essential.

Mature in it. None of us is perfect. Pressing implies progress, not perfection. God calls us to grow in grace and knowledge of His Son. We deepen our prayer lives, cultivate joy, sharpen our understanding of Scripture, refine our service, and develop wisdom in teaching and nurturing others. Growth is continuous. Pressing is ongoing.

Multiply it. What we model and mature in must be passed on. Discipleship extends beyond personal growth — it reproduces spiritually. We teach what we have learned. We walk with others as they grow. We encourage them to model, mature, and multiply in turn.

This is how the church moves from addition to multiplication. It is not about programs but about people. It is not about being busy but about being. It is not about fulfilling tasks but about faithful transformation.

To press toward the goal is to pursue Christ intentionally. P.R.E.S.S.I.N.G. provides a practical expression of that pursuit. It calls believers to cultivate the habits of discipleship while remembering that those habits flow from who we are in Christ.

When we are praying saints, rejoicing saints, evangelizing saints, studying saints, serving saints, instructing saints, nurturing saints, and giving saints — we are pressing toward the goal.  And as we model it, mature in it, and multiply it, we sharpen our brothers and sisters in Christ as they press forward as well.

The result is we become a praying church, a rejoicing church, an evangelizing church, a studying church, a serving church, an instructing church, a nurturing church, and a giving church to the glory of God through Christ.

This is more than an acronym. It is a discipleship pathway, a strategy for spiritual growth, and most importantly, a call to keep pressing — together — until we obtain the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. B&R — Brian M. Carmichael Sr. is pastor of Holy Temple Baptist Church in Memphis and serves as Black Church Specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.