Philippians 2:1-8
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Strained relationships
Conflicts
Unity
Brings tremendous power and potential
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” Philippians 2:3
- Stop having selfish AMBITIONS
Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.” Philippians 2:3
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” James 4:1
- Stop having selfish CONCEIT
Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.” Philippians 2:3
Self centered pride and arrogance is the result of conceit.
“Pride goes before destruction”.
The person who gets too big for his britches will eventually be exposed in the end.
“Where there is strife, there is pride.” Proverbs 13:10
- Increase HUMILITY
Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.” Philippians 2:3
Humility is not thinking less of yourself – but thinking of your-self less.
“Pride brings a person low, but the lowly (humble) in spirit gain honor.” Proverbs 29:23
- Increase CONSIDERATION
of others
“Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:4
“Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2:4
The Greek word for “look” is “scopos” from which we get the word “scope”.
- Develop a Christ-Like CHARACTER
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus had a servants’ attitude!
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:16
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”