Christ’s Example of Love
Phillipi was sort of a retirement city so had mostly older people and particularly those from the Roman guard who had retired.
Likely due to the large number of older people set in their ways and retired Roman guard, Christianity had a lot of resistance in the city.
Paul’s story is that was jailed back in Rome but the church at Philippi had sent people, provisions, and help to Paul in Jail so he was writing back to them with sort of short stories and thoughts on his experiences. Philippians 2:6-11 is sort of the center that the stories revolve around, even perhaps becoming a hymn or poem and that’s why many Bibles have it in sort of poetic block form.
1:1-11 - opening prayer - thanking God for them
1:12-26 - Paul’s imprisonment - reaching people in prison - die is gain or live for others either ok
1:27-2:18 - following Jesus example
2:19-30 - two examples - Epaphroditus helped, almost died, but is OK now.
3:1-4:1 - Paul’s example - Circumcision works - Paul’s past counted as nothing to knowing Christ - citizens of heaven
4:2-9 - Challenge to live Christ’s example - Eudia & Syntyche - live without complaining
4:10-23 - Paul’s closing
Interesting insights into Paul’s heart. He wishes for unity and for others to follow Christ’s example, growing in Christ, and showing through Paul’s example. (Paul’s call for following Christ and church unity).
Two boys fighting over the first waffle. Let go my Eggo? Mom says be like Jesus and put others first. The oldest boy tells the youngest, you need to be like Christ and give me the first waffle! (joke taken from Skip Heitzig)
Philippians 2:1-4 (Unity in the Spirit)
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, 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.
V2:1-4 - Discuss unity
V3: Nothing out of Selfish Ambition - world’s way - world’s success (SAD = self, another/others, deity/God) - opposite of Christ’s way (JOY = Jesus, others, yourself)
What was Christ’s ambition - He was selfless - He went to the cruel Cross for us to save us and bring unity with God and others! He showed us how to be selfless!
Sadly we all are a bit selfish sometimes.
Selfishness is the opposite of loving. Selfishness is sort of satanic and is the world’s way.
God’s way is sharing and loving!
Philippians 2:5-8 (Mindset of Christ - Descent and Ascent)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, (nature / in the form of)
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, (nature / form)
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!
V2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: - what mindset is that? Refers to v6-8
V2:6-8 discuss Jesus’ deity - His heavenly standing - His emptying - His exalting. (big Jesus’ deity verses!)
Emmanuel - God with us!
5-8 These verses are in block form likely because the early church may have made a song of these verses.
Christmas message, Easter Message, Evangelical Message, and Ascension message (verse below)!
Christ’s ambition was His love for us! He wanted to save us and bring unity between us and God and us and others (love God, love others).
Philippians 2:9-11 (Jesus exalted)
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.
We can’t understand such a great love that would give up heaven, come to this messed up world, going from a king to a servant, and even going to the cross to take our place!
Because of this awesomeness that Jesus did we should praise His name above every name!
Not only is Jesus awesome because He is God, but now because of His saving work and love, He took His awesomeness up a notch and now who can deny that His name is above every name!
What an amazing loving God we serve! God is love!
People declare a day or month for all sort of things. Someone’s Birthday, history month for this or that! If anyone deserves such praise and adoration is Christ for what He did! No one will surpass the great thing that Jesus did and every knee should bow in heaven and earth in praise of Jesus because of what we see in verses 6-8! He gave up everything to save you!
Jesus did this for us! He gave up heaven, emptied Himself, took the nature of a servant, helping and healing others, and ultimately going to the cross to take our place, and was resurrected and ascended!
Sometimes in this world people just hate each other all of the time. We shouldn’t be this way!
We should love all of the time.
I imagine that’s how Hell will be. People who love hate will get their fill in Hell. In hell, people will hate each other for all eternity. That’s what I imagine Hell will be like.
How about Heaven? People who love love will get their fill in Heaven. In Heaven people will love each other for all eternity. That’s what I imagine Heaven will be like.
Jesus says we should love as He loved. The same mindset or attitude of Jesus! WWJD! He would love! Love God and Love Others.
John 13:34,35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Now imagine for a moment if Jesus wasn’t loving, imagine if He didn’t go to the cross? We can’t save ourselves, we would be lost and messed up forever without hope. But God loved us so much that he.. John 3:16
Imagine the great love that God has for us. And that same mind that was in Christ, we should also have the bible says! We should love too, not just a little but love awesomely! Jesus loved to where it hurts! Jesus loved to the point of death! He did this for us!
Christ gave us the ultimate example of Love! We should follow that example!
Don’t be full of yourself - full of self - be full of Christ and full of love!
How do you touch the lives of others? Do you show them your ugly selfishness or your beautiful love? People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!
Who’s greater? The one who’s at the table or the one who serves?
Jesus came to us as one who serves, even washing the disciples feet as an example!
Haters gonna hate? Don’t be that way!
Lovers gonna love? Yes, be that way!
Will you commit to put aside hate and put on love as Jesus loved?
Share your waffles!
