“How To Enjoy Your Christmas Dinner”
Phil 2:1-11
Subject: What does Christ’s incarnation and sacrificial life teach us about relationships?
Complement: ... humility - to put others before self.
Exe idea: as Jesus came and died for us we also must die for others.
Preaching idea: To Enjoy your Christmas dinner take a healthy helping of humility.”
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: (NIV) Who, being in very nature[a] 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!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Introduction:
Christmas and the meaning of life – relationships matter more than things! Gift buying and shopping seem expected this time of year – consumerism and materialism rule without any shame or limitation
Black Friday this week... the sales are on... the flyers are being studied like sacred scripture. Price matching is an art form!
I was at Canadian Tire this week just walking past a display of cordless drills... I merely slowed down to look – and a guy comes over to tell me in a quiet voice ... “the same drill is cheaper at Home Depot.”
Now, Lets look ahead to Christmas dinner... the turkey is in the oven... food is plentiful... now the only thing left to decide is...
Where will I sit?
Who will I talk to?
Who will I avoid?
What if the conversation gets awkward or tense???
• Stressed out about who’s coming to dinner?
o Social anxiety
o What to wear!
• You want to on your best behaviour!
• People matter more than things...
Context in Philippi; friction? See 4:2 I plead with Euodia and Syntyche... “be of the same mind” – they worked with Paul!
• “in competition for status!”
• Could likely be founding members of the church
• Clement...co-workers
• So lets look forward a few weeks... whose coming to Christmas dinner? ... maybe some people you would rather not see!
• You want to be polite – but you also want to avoid certain people.
• What to do?
How to handle yourself?
1. Enjoy your dinner --- Sit At The Same Table(!) ...
...Get Along: v. 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,(theology) 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (application)
This is written to a church...
Does it work for Christmas dinner?
Here we have gospel followed by gospel implications!
Find your “same’s” – not your different
• Same mind – find common ground
• Same Love
• Same mind
• More in common than not
• Human!
• Image-bearer
• Citizenship
• Broken/scarred
• Hurt people will hurt people ? “help hurting people”!!!
There are no ordinary people – everyone is a masterpiece – made in the image of God – and someone for whom Jesus died.
2. Enjoy Your Dinner – Take A Healthy Helping Of Humility Is Calorie Free! V. 3
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
• We have to fight against – by God’s grace – the innate tendency to “SELF”
Example ? dinner talk... table talk....
(“repeat after me ... “I could be wrong...” )
– did that hurt?
“in humility value others above yourselves” v. 3
You before me - self-service! Or sacrifice/
/manage selfish tendencies
Selfish ambition is... looking out for me and mine (reputation/image)
3. Enjoy your dinner - You First...then, Pass The Potatoes, please; v. 4.
"not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
This isn’t normal behaviour – but it is “normal Christianity”!
Implication - Be a good/very good listener!
• Where do we learn listening skills? (answer: nowhere!!!)
Do you know anyone who talks about themselves too much?
• James 1. – be slow to speak...quick to listen!
• James 3 – tongue is full of deadly poison – set on fire by hell
Listening Is One Of The Greatest Expressions Of Love And Respect.
• Most people are average to poor listeners
• Passive listening
• Active listening
*** and yes...Your Marriage will improve if you try listening more.
People need to feel heard!
4. Enjoy Your Dinner...Ask yourself WWJD; v. 5-11
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!
A hymn-like piece of writing – Imagine the church singing these words!
Jesus went from Status to no status//privilege - to “end of the food line”
Jesus is Creator; divine being... holy... eternal... “I am”
Becomes human... he comes down to our level...
• Peasant family
• Small village
• Servanthood!
• “nothing”
• “You can live as a nobody when you have nothing to prove”
Jesus had nothing to prove!
***Jesus knew his identity!
**Likewise - You and I are “in Christ” v. 1
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
I want you to catch this – it's the key to everything in this message.
Q. what does it mean to be united with Christ?
• One-ness
• Partners
• His identity is our identity.
• We have been brought into his family/ given his righteousness.
Jesus Was Obedient To Death!
• Cruel... torture...
...Now your at Christmas dinner... awkward conversation time:
o “you’re killing me...”
o “He will be the death of me”
o “ I was dying inside...” (good!... now you're acting like a disciple!)
**God exalted Jesus... God will exalt you!
• Your reputation will grow
• People will notice your grace and kindness
Do you know that in the kingdom of God we will judge angels! ( 1 cor 6:3)
That’s a promotion!
Paul has an Example: ... “Notice Timothy”
2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself,
• “Timothy has proved himself” ...
• ”everyone looks out for their own interest...”
***Christian leaders are to model Jesus’ virtues – so the community can see their example and copy it too.” (Campbell)
5. Enjoy Your Dinner ...When We All Get Along... It's Like Momma At Christmas ...“This brings me joy”! (... like MOM)
“mom” – “my heart is full” seeing you all together/laughing/telling stories...
Conclusion: Preaching idea: To Enjoy your Christmas dinner take a healthy helping of humility.”
Application ... Reality Check... Sounds Easy .... But It's Not!
What are the Challenges to healthy relationships -...developing godly virtues/ especially humility?
#1. Identify Lies – and replace them with truth....
(what lies do you believe about yourself that make relationships difficult?)
• Insecurity?
o Needing to impress people
• Intelligence/education
o I’m not as smart as so and so..
• Success...
o I have to prove my success to others
• Defined by mistake (a divorce? An abortion?)
o I carry shame
o I haven’t forgiven myself...
• Mental illness
•
• Shame?
...In your childhood you started to believe a lie about yourself... you often regard it as the truth – but it's a lie.
Now we know that the devil is a liar and the father of lies... Jesus said this --- “there is no truth in him.”
He is a deceiver.
Replace the lies with truth.
***You need healing in order to have healthy relationships.... then you can essentially heal others!
***Hurt people – hurt other people... healed people bring healing to others...
The truth is you are united with Christ!
#2. Remember the 5 Love languages...
• Try using these 2 love languages! ( to enhance relationships...)
o Words of affirmation – not criticism /not argument
o Quality time together
#3. Joyfully Accept Your Calling (!) To Be A Bridge Builder...working with Christ our Lord!
a peace-maker...
an encourager...
#4. You May Feel Drained By Some Relationships – when you do – remember this – Jesus emptied himself (v. 7) – you when you feel empty you’re in good company.
Rene Girard was the head of Anthropology at Stanford University and studied the nature of culture. Girard made an astonishing discovery - the very things that destroy a culture are ingrained in human nature—selfishness, violence, and greed—things we Christians call "sin."
Girard also found that the thing that holds culture together is the need for a scapegoat. Everybody needs somebody to blame. Girard found this principle deeply embedded in every culture he examined.
When he studied the culture of Judaism the Old Testament, he found this principle of the scapegoat where a priest confesses Israel's sins unto a literal goat and drives the goat into the desert.
As Girard read on into the New Testament, he discovered the scapegoat had a name, Jesus of Nazareth. He is the ultimate scapegoat.
In Christ the debts that we owe and the debts that others owe us are reconciled. Since everyone needs someone to blame, God says, "It's your fault, blame me."
This core relationship comes first...
Finally... relationships matter....people matter... No.1 relationship is with Jesus our saviour and Lord.
Preaching idea: To Enjoy your Christmas dinner take a healthy helping of humility.”
