The Christ Centered Life – Unity Through Humility

Philippians 2:1-11

Created by David Turner For Sunrise Baptist Church, El Paso, TX www.BibleStudies-online.com

Video: me, me, me

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XHkMPA1334

The secular person is interested in self.

A Christ Centered person, like Christ places others people above

self.

Philippians 2:1–4 (HCSB)

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not

⌊only⌋ for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

The Christ Center Life Puts Others Above Self

Christ

Family

Work

Church

Community

Education

Recreation

There are benefits of being IN CHRIST which should result in

Christ like behavior.

What Do we have IN CHRIST?

We have encouragement!

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

The four Ifs:

1. Encouragement In Christ –

Are you in the sphere of Christ? Are you saved? Do you part of the household of faith?

Encouragement (paraklasis) - comfort, encouragement, admonition, exhortation.

Is it an encouragement to be IN CHRIST? Answer: of course there is.

We are consoled by Christian love

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

2. If any consolation of love.

Paramuthion – consolation, comfort. Like paraklete but used only in the context of people.

John 11:19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.

Have you received comfort and consolation from believers? Answer: of course have!

We have fellowship with the Spirit

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

3. Is the Spirit of God living in you? And in other believers ? Is He not working in you and them? Is it not the Spirit living in you that bonds you together? Answer: Of course there is!

We have affection and mercy

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any affection and mercy,

Affection – bowels, intestines – “tender emotions”

Mercy – sympathy

Do you have tender emotions and sympathies for others. Answer: of course you do.

Since you have these ifs …

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy

If the four Ifs are so (they are!). Then the following ought to happen, and it will complete my joy.

Complete my joy – have the same mind

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy

by thinking the same way,

Four “sames” – focus on unity

1. Have the same mind

Complete my joy – have the same love

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy

by thinking the same way,

having the same love,

Equal love, mutual affections for one another.

Complete my joy- be one in person

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy

by thinking the same way,

having the same love,

sharing the same feelings,

Lit. fellow souled – of one soul, one body, harmonious

Fulfill my joy- Have the same purpose

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any consolation of love,

if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy

by thinking the same way,

having the same love,

sharing the same feelings,

focusing on one goal.

Single purposed

The result is unity

• If we have:

– The same mind

– The same love

– The same affections

– The same feelings

• We won’t fight

• We will put others before ourselves

• We will consider the other persons needs.

Unity is a Command

3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit,

Rivalry – Selfish ambition, hostility, feelings of strife, self seeking gain

Conceit – Vain Glory, cheap pride, pride without a proper basis, empty conceit

Put others above self

3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit,

but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Humility – “lowliness of mind”, not thinking highly of yourself

The Christ centered life cares about the needs of others

3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit,

but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

4 Everyone should look out not ⌊only⌋ for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

The Christ Center Life Puts Others Above Self

Christ

Family

Work

Church

Community

Education

Recreation

Where does Paul’s idea of humility come from?

Philippians 2:5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

Video: Pride and humility

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z40KT8yzZak

Humility Is

Philippians 2:5–11 (HCSB) 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.