Basin Theology Series

OPEN: When we go into a store, we oftentimes will look for name-brand products that we know we can trust. We’ll recognize those products by their trademarks or logos.

(at this point we showed a series various trademarks from local companies)

Companies spend thousands of dollars on a trademark that will be recognized and associated with their product because they hope that when you see their logo, you’ll think of quality and reliability.

That reminded me of a true story I once read about a soldier serving who had been serving guard duty thru-out the night.

(Have any of you had to stay up all night? I once worked at a factory where they put on as an inspector on 3rd shift. I went out to eat lunch in my car at about 3 am, laid my head back just to rest my eyes, and woke of 2 hours later. So I can sympathize with this soldier).

Early in the morning, this soldier reported to his commanding officer who demanded, “Did you sleep well while on duty?”

“What made you think that I fell asleep?” asked the surprised soldier.

“Look in the mirror,” came the officer’s reply.

As the guard stood before the mirror he saw on his forehead the imprint of the Mercedes Benz logo from his truck’s steering wheel.

APPLY: There on his forehead was the trademark of his vehicle. And that trademark revealed something about him.

In Philippians 2, Paul tells us that there should be a mark on us as well… the mark of Jesus Christ. This trademark should be something that others will see and recognize because our “… attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8

Our attitude should be the same as Christ’s – that should be our trademark. And that trademark should reveal something about us and about Jesus.

I. What should this attitude “reveal”?

It should reveal to others what Jesus has done for us.

Notice what Paul says in Philippians 2:1-2 (read along with me)

“IF you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

IF any comfort from his love,

IF any fellowship with the Spirit,

IF any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Paul is asking us: What is the mark of Christ’s ownership of you? What difference has Jesus’ trademark made in your life?

· Have you received encouragement because of Christ’s presence in your life?

· Have you been comforted by His love

· Have you sensed the presence and the fellowship of His Spirit?

· Have you understood His tenderness and compassion?

If so… then you need to reflect those benefits to in your life by doing the same for others.

ILLUS: In 1784, Ben Franklin wrote a letter to a man named Benjamin Webb:

"Dear sir: Your situation grieves me and I send you herewith a banknote for 10 louis d’or. I do not pretend TO GIVE such a sum; I only lend it to you.

When you shall return to your country, you cannot fail of getting into some business that will in time enable you to pay all your debts.

In that case, when you meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending the sum to him, enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation when he shall be able and shall meet with such another opportunity.

I hope it may go through many hands before it meets with a knave that will stop its progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. I am not rich enough to afford much in good works, and so am obliged to be cunning and make the most of a little.

With best wishes for your future prosperity, I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant.

B. Franklin.

Franklin was telling this man – “I’ve done this for you. Now, you go and do that same thing for others.”

And that’s essentially what Jesus is saying to us: “I’ve done this for you… now you do something like that for someone else.”

In other words, we need to find a way to show off Christ’s “trademark” in our lives to reveal to others what He has done for us.

So what Paul is saying here is this: IF YOU BELIEVE you’ve received any benefit by belonging to Christ THEN…