The Way of Jesus

A new way to be human

Philippians 2:1–8 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

JOY Defined

Three things we learn from Philippians 2:1-8 about the Way of Jesus.

#1.

The Way of Jesus is a Whole Church Effort

The path being presented is a path that everyone in this room is being called to do together!

Everyone say “in it together”

Philippians 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Paul is using “if” as a way to make his readers realize that what he is saying is actually a reality.

Five benefits of being in Christ that call for a whole church effort

Encouragement - Christ is a help to His people.

Comfort - Christ’s love shows us we are not alone.

Participation - The Holy Spirit is presently active in our lives.

Affection - Christ has proven that God has made us objects of His love and desire.

Sympathy - Christ has shown us that God has compassion on us even though we have sinned.

All these are supposed to be motivators for us to collectively and together pursue the way of Jesus.

Same Mind

Same Love

Full Accord

One Mind

We have to be in it TOGETHER!

When one person in the church is unwilling to walk the way of Jesus… It makes it more difficult for the rest of the church to walk in the way of Jesus.

The Way of Jesus is a Whole Church Effort

#2.

The Way of Jesus is a Humble Effort

Following Jesus means loving and serving others more than loving and serving yourself.

Philippians 2:3–5 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Selfish ambition = Desire to make yourself greater than others and do whatever it takes to put others below yourself.

Conceit = Pride in your own abilities, knowledge, and worth.

Are you motivated to do good in order to gain something over someone?

#3.

The Way of Jesus was Paved by Jesus

Jesus doesn’t ask us to do something he hasn’t already done.

Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV)

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

By definition as God, Jesus was the only man who had a right to be conceited or selfish.

But Jesus chose humility and love instead. He perfectly modeled it for us!

Jesus is a trailblazer! He trailblazed the path he invites us to walk on! He did it first!

The beautiful thing about the way of Jesus is that it is lit by grace.

You will fail at the way of Jesus, but yet, when Jesus trailblazed the path, he was doing it in order to protect us from our failure on it.

APPLICATIONS

Encourage one another to follow Jesus.

Ask God to make you more humble and servant minded.

When you fail at the way of Jesus, remember the blood of Jesus.

Reflection Questions

Who, in your life, has modeled the way of Jesus to you?

When are you most tempted to have “selfish ambition” or be conceited?

Are people who only talk about themselves or their own interests fun to be around?

Do you recognize when you do this?

How can you be more aware of your own selfish ambitions or conceit?

Why was Jesus the only person who had a right to be selfishly ambitious or conceited?

What did Jesus do instead?

What does it mean when Pastor Caleb says “the way of Jesus is lit by grace”?