Philippians 2-The Heart Of Christ

Title: Philippians 2-The Heart of Christ

Date: 7/9/17

Place: BLCC

Text: Philippians 2.5-11

CT: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Jesus Christ.

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In his sermon titled "Think Hard, Stay Humble," Francis Chan told the following story about a man named Vaughn who radiated the love of Christ to everyone around him:

A few years ago, a missionary came to our church and told a beautiful story about sharing the gospel with a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea. At the end of the story this missionary said, "I should really give the credit to Vaughn, my former youth pastor who loved me and inspired me to live for Christ and share the gospel with others."

The next week another guy came to our church and he challenged us to start sponsoring kids living in poverty. The second speaker also concluded by saying, "I'm involved in this ministry because of my youth pastor, a guy named Vaughn." I found out those guys were from the same youth group!

Then the next week another speaker named Dan told us about his ministry at a rescue mission in the inner city of L.A. After Dan's talk, I casually mentioned, "It was so weird: the last two weeks both of our speakers mentioned how much impact their youth pastor, Vaughn, had on them." Dan looked surprised and then he told me, "I know Vaughn. He's a pastor in San Diego now, and he takes people into the dumps in Tijuana where kids are picking through the garbage. I was just with Vaughn in Tijuana. We would walk in the city, and these kids would run up to him, and he would show such deep love and affection for them. He'd hug them and have gifts and food for them. He'd figure out how to get them showers. Francis, it was eerie: the whole time I was walking with Vaughn, I kept thinking, If Jesus was on earth, I think this is what it would feel like to walk with him. He just loved everyone he ran into, and he would tell them about God. People were just drawn to his love and affection."

And then Dan said this, "The day I spent with Vaughn was the closest thing I've ever experienced to walking with Jesus."

Hearing this made me think, Would anyone in their right mind say that about me? Would anyone say that about you? … As I thought about all this, I prayed, "Lord, that's what I want. I don't want to be the best speaker in the world. That doesn't matter. I don't want to be the most intelligent person on the planet. That's not what I want to be known for. I want to be known for someone saying, "Wow, he's a lot like Jesus."

Francis Chan, "Think Hard, Stay Humble," PreachingToday.com

Several years ago I was traveling through the back roads of Florida and I ran into this little store to grab a pop. The cashier asked, “Where are you from? You don’t look like you’re from around here?

I said I was from Ky.

He said I looked like some pop star from around there.

I said, “No that’s not me.

He went on to describe this fellar and then he asked me if I was married.

I said yes very happily.

He said, “Why are you married? How old are you?”

I’m 37, I answered.

You’re too young to be married. You need many women

I said, “No that is really overrated man.”

He said, “Really? I think you need many women.”

I said, “I think you need Jesus, and you need a wife.” Than I said, “I’ve got to run, but you need to rethink your outlook on life.”

Starting a new 3-week Series on Philippians. We are going to be looking at the book of Philippians the next there weeks. This first week we look at the heart of Christ.

In Philippians 2 Paul exhorts the Philippians to adopt Jesus’ death as their central outlook, their central mindset for life. Instead of living to get and get and get—more women, more praise, more money—the Christian is called to imitate Christ, who came to give and give and give.

Get out your Bible. I want you to follow along with me as I read this passage today.

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Philippians 2.5-11

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!