Philipians 2:1-11: The Attitude of Christ

COMMUNION Slide 1

Welcome.

We’re going to start today with communion. It is easy for us to go through the actions of communion without remembering and reflecting on the weight of communion. Participating in this act is an element of obedience as Christ commanded us to do this in remembrance of Him. But this practice is twofold, while we are to look back on the cross; and remember his death and resurrection, we also are to look forward towards the second coming, when Chris returns in His glory. This is a celebration as much as it is a symbolic gesture.

Before we take communion some simple instructions.

first to participate you do not need to be a member of this church, you do not need to be a member of our denomination, we simply ask that you examine yourselves and ensure you are trusting Jesus as the one who can forgive you of you sins and as the one who is Lord of your life

Second, parents, it is up to you to discern whether your kids are spiritually prepared to take communion Have they accepted Jesus gift of forgiveness and place as Lord of their life?

Third if you need gluten free - we have those here as well

Finally we have the elements here in the front - you can come down the middle Aisle, get the cup and bread, then return along the outside aisle to your seats, once everyone has the elements we will do the meal together.

Now, before we come forward I want to try something new… well really something very old… In the first hundred years of the church there was a lot of debate as to what Christians needed to believe, what were we unified around. A council thus examined the scriptures and created what is called the Apostles Creed. This is a statement that they feel best summarized what the early apostles taught, this creed is one of the oldest summaries of the Christian faith, dating to the early 100s, first written and read nearly 1,900 years ago! So before we partake in communion today let us say this creed together as an act of centering ourselves - an act of readying ourselves for communion. COMMUNION SLIDE 2

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. COMMUNION SLIDE 3

He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. COMMUNION SLIDE 4

PRAY

(soundtech name) if you could play some music, I’d like to invite you all forward to take the elements, and again wait until we all have them; and then I will tell us when to take them together.

People come forward

Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 11.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Take the bread and eat with me in remembrance of Christ Jesus.

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Take the cup and drink with me as we remember our Lord’s death.

Let me pray for us one more time.

DISMISS KIDS TO CHILDREN’S CHURCH

SLIDE 1

I heard a story the other week about two siblings arguing before breakfast. You see their mom was making pancakes and each kid wanted the first pancake. The older sibling, the sister, declared, “I’m the oldest. I’m the princess. I should get the first pancake”. The younger sibling, the brother disagreed. “I’m the baby, you had three years of pancakes before I was born, I should get the first pancake.” But the sister was not going to back down. “I’m bigger I need more food, so if I get the first, you get the second, I get the third, you get the fourth, I get the fifth; we each get what we need.” There is some solid logic there… for a 6 year old at least.... This bickering went on and on and on and on and on and on and… you get the point… if you’re a parent you’re like oh yeah.. I get the point alright. The mom, however, had a realization - this was a great teachable moment, she can use this as a chance to teach her kids about Jesus. So she asks them, “What would Jesus do?” The kids look at each other then the sister perks up remembering her Sunday school lesson from the day before about Jesus feeding a crowd with five loves and two fish. “He’s split the pancake and make hundred, thousands, millions of pancakes and we’d each get all we want!” the mom chuckled, but shook her head, “Not quite.” the brother then remembered his Sunday school lesson as well, about Jesus performing a miracle at a wedding and making water into wine, or what his Sunday school teacher called adult juice… “He’d turn the water into syrup! then we could make all the pancakes in the world and never run out of syrup!” He said excitedly running over to the facet turning it on - sadly seeing just water come out. Again their mom chuckled. “No.” she said again. “You see Jesus was very humble and always looked out for others first - always served others before being served himself. Jesus would let his sibling have the first pancake.” The two kids looked at each other for a second than with a large grin the sister said, “That’s right mom!” Then turning to her brother she said, “This time you can be Jesus and I’ll be the one in need! Mom, give me the pancake.” (pause)

That exact story may have never happened, but if you grew up in or lived through the 90s you are at least are familiar with the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” I don’t know if these were popular anywhere else - but at least in my school and church -these are how you proved you were a Christian SLIDE 2 it had nothing to do with if you went to church, if you believed in Jesus, or any of that - all that mattered to us kids was, did you wear a WWJD, What Would Jesus Do bracelet. Now, I’m not bad talking the intention - the idea that we need to be aware, we need to ask, What Would Jesus Do before we act - that’s a good idea - but to the playgrounds of Hanson Elementary school and the Sunday School Brawls of Trinity Wesleyan Church - the meaning and the intention was lost.

To answer the question, however, of What Would Jesus Do we first would have to know and be able to answer the question - What Did Jesus Do? And this was the problem, second grade me knew the big details, but not the little ones. And too often it is those small details that help us make big decisions.

As we continue our journey through Philippians SLIDE 3 today we will be in Philippians 2:1-11. This is considered by many scholars to be the oldest recorded Hymn regarding Jesus. Some of your Bibles may even have a heading over it labeled the Christ Hymn. It is believed this hymn, this saying, was sung at many early church gatherings as a reminder of who Jesus us, in the same way many churches today quote popular creeds, like we just did before communion with the Apostles Creed. So while a bulk of our time today will be in the last six verses lets first read verses 1-4 to prepare ourselves for this Christ hymn. SLIDE 4 Phil 2:1-4

1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

I debated including these verses in last week’s section, but upon further thought and prayer the Spirit was like Brian - this sets the stage for the Christ hymn, verses 5-11. There is a reason the early church fathers broke the chapters up the way they did... they aren’t always good reasons… but this one works out! Do you remember the terrible promise we ended on last week?

29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Then the very next verse

If there is any encouragement

Yes! We need encouragement after that! And then we see Paul sort of echo the points, the attitudes we looked at last week. Courage, Unity, and Hope. We even see him speak against selfish ambition and conceit… see I told you last week we’d see the motives of those other teachers called out as wrong… But I want to focus just on the last line to launch us into the Christ Hymn. SLIDE 5

in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

There is bit of a cliche saying, a little cheesy - but there is some truth in it - the saying goes, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” That quote is often attributed to CS Lewis… the problem is Lewis never actually said that - a preacher named Rick Warren did - but what Lewis did say was possibly greater… (a humble man) will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

So Warren tells us humility is thinking of our self less, Lewis tells us Humility is not thinking about yourself at all, while Paul, in Philippians tells us humility is considering others as more important than yourselves. Looking not to our interests but to the interests of others.

Humility isn’t saying - I want the first pancake - like the siblings in the story - but saying the other should have the pancake. I’m glad we have a potluck today - this pancake talk is making me hungry… But by thinking of others as more important than yourself we don’t have to lessen our self worth - we don’t have to look down on ourselves - rather we simply need to raise up others.

And this feeds in perfectly to the Christ Hymn, verses 5 through 11. Remember the WWJD bracelets, What Would Jesus Do? Remember the question we need to answer first before we can answer that one? What Did Jesus Do? Well, that is what the next verses answer - but in answering they also tell us about Jesus’ perfect example of humility. So lets jump in to verses 5 through 11, starting with verse 5 trough 8. SLIDE 6

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

Verse five is where we got the title of our series, Adopt the same attitude, and while we have seen a few attitudes throughout this book already - this is the big one - the attitude of Christ. Paul’s wish for the church in Philippi, God’s wish for us, my wish for you is that we can adopt the same attitude of Jesus. We can see the world in the same way as Jesus saw the world. Some of your Bibles may have translated this as, “have this mind among yourselves” or “let this mind be in you”. And when we think of the interplay of those to phrases - when we think of how those phrases can coincide - we have to have the attitude of the mind of Christ. Let me state that simpler, we have to choose to the attitude, the mental state, that is most like the mind of Christ. We need to adopt - willingly take on - the behavior and thought process of Jesus. We need to live a WWJD life - not the playground style, but the real lifestyle of asking What Would Jesus Do in this situation. When hardship hits, when trials face us, when we walk through the struggles promised us in chapter 1 verse 29 - how would Jesus react?

Again to understand, to answer, that question we need to look at the following verses the Christ Hymn - we need to know what did Jesus do? SLIDE 7

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

There are A LOT of interesting things happening here - we first see three references or uses of appearance. SLIDE 8

First: Jesus existing in the form of God

Second: assumed the form of a servant

Third: took on the likeness of humanity.

Form is a weird word - if someone made a massive 10 foot marble statue of me, that would be weird… but we could say that statue has the form of me. It looks like me - the size is different but the shape is the same. But form can also mean that something resembles something else but while looking different. For example a collection of words can take the form of a novel, the form of a song, or the form of a poem. Not all stories, songs, and poems are identical, but they share a form.

So when talking about Jesus existing in the form of God yet taking on the form of a servant, the likeness of humanity, what do we mean? We mean that Jesus existed with the same essence of God, Jesus was one with God. This is made the most clear in the words of John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Then John brings the truth home in verse fourteen when he says

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And to answer the question of who that flesh was John adds in verse 18

18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.”

Verses five through 8 are very much a way Paul is telling us the same thing John did. Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. But Jesus became flesh, emptied himself and took on the form of a servant, the likeness of a human. Jesus is God made man. God living among us as a human, sharing the same struggles, the same temptations, but overcoming them all living a sinless life. God made man, willingly humbling himself, obeying the Father, even when the human side of him wanted a plan B, obedient to death on a cross, one of the times most painful, public, and humiliating deaths.

But lets back up a bit - we’ll get to the cross in a second. What does it mean SLIDE 9 that Jesus didn’t consider equality with God something to be exploited, or some translations say grasped? What does it mean that he emptied himself? Some people would like to say Jesus removed himself from the Trinity. Cut himself off from God’s knowledge, cut himself off from God’s power. But reading the Bible we can tell that can’t be the case. In all four Gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John we see Jesus reveal he still has the knowledge and power of God. So that can’t be the right understanding. A better understanding of this emptying would be that he gave up some divine privilege, and in humbling himself become like us, he took on human limitations. How is that for a trade - giving up divine right and privilege to take on human limitations.

As a human Jesus faced hunger, fatigue, and temptation. As a human Jesus had to learn to walk and talk, Jesus had to be potty trained… did you ever think about that… Jesus gave up heaven for all the comforts of first century … can you imagine - like if it were me I’d be looking at the timeline of history being like, God… dad… how about we wait another few hundred years - see they invent plumbing and AC around here - that would be a great time to become human… but no… Jesus is fully obedient - and becomes fully man while remaining fully God. And this not by force but by choice, willingly emptying and humbling himself - not emptied by God, humbled by God, but by his own initiative as part of the triune God! That is the Jesus we serve! The Jesus who first serve us!

And how did he serve us? SLIDE 10

By being obedient to the point of death, even to death on a cross.

When I was younger I was talking to an older, wiser, friend and I asked something along the lines of ‘if Jesus was God, and knew God’s plan, having been there in heaven when it was created, the obedience, the sacrifice, wasn’t that special - it was partly His idea.’ Now. Junior High or High School me thought I was onto something. I thought I was about to rewrite Christian theology! Then my friend took me to Luke 22. In this passage we see Jesus praying to God the night he is to be arrested before the cross, Jesus prays. SLIDE 11

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Jesus is asking the Father - if there is a plan B, I’m all ears. If there is another way I’m open to discussing it - actually no. He’s not asking that he’s pleading - God please make a plan B! but ultimately Jesus is obedient,

nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.

And we see God send an angel to strengthen Jesus. Jesus was in anguish - do you know what anguish means, have you ever looked it up? It means severe mental or physical pain or suffering. Jesus was suffering! But Jesus was obedient. When I look at the cross with Luke 22 in mind - that changes how I see it. That changes how I feel about it. When we see the anguish Jesus felt, praying fervently,

if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done

We better understand Philippians 2. SLIDE 12

Jesus knew the plan, Jesus was God, Jesus was with God in the beginning, when the plan was formed. But Jesus also knew the pain, the suffering. But in the end Jesus died, for you. (pause) And what should we do as a response to all this? well… we should

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

Then the hymn continues, SLIDE 13 verses nine through 11.

9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We see the result of Christ’s humility and sacrifice as well as further reason we should adopt the same attitude of Christ. God has exalted Christ giving Him the name above every name. I heard another pastor once say than if you ask a church person what name is above every name the average church goer will know they are to say Jesus, but then if you say why, they will be stumped, we won’t be able to answer. but when we look at this whole stanza, this entire three verse section we see Jesus is given a title as well, Lord. And this title isn’t only figurative. What do we do when a Lord is before us? We bow, we show reverence, we show respect. And what does verse ten tell us; every knee will bow. Everyone will bow before Jesus Christ the Lord - those in heaven, those on earth, and those under, in Hell. Every tongue will confess, will admit, that Jesus Christ is Lord some gleefully, some hostilely, and some with regret wishing they’d done so earlier. But a time will come when there will be no question Jesus is Lord! And the end result of this awe, of this worship - the glory of God the Father!

How do we live this truth in our life? How do we adopt the same attitude of Christ Jesus who, unlike us, existed in the form of God and rather than claim his rights and privileges as divine stepped down and took on the form, the life, and death, of a human? How do we take on and imitate this attitude?! Let’s go back to where we began, verse three. SLIDE 14

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

I was preaching once on 1 Corinthians 10 once and someone came up after the sermon to rebuke me for preaching a social gospel. Now, typically that means preaching that our good works, our love for others is the most important thing. And I confessed to her if that’s what she heard that was not my intent, but I couldn’t think where she was getting that from, as I thought through my sermon I could not identify where her concern came from. Then as I reread the passage I realized their problem wasn’t with my sermon, but with the passage. You see in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul told that church a similar thing as to what he told the Philippians here, SLIDE 15

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

And then in verse 32 Paul says

32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Contrast that with SLIDE 16 Philippians 2:3-4 in light of verses 6-11

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

While we don’t have the divinity of Christ to empty ourselves of, to set aside for the mission, we have personal preferences - they could be music types, they could be Bible translations, they could be seating locations - anyone come in today to find your usual seat was taken and you’ve been silently grumbling about it ever since… But Paul is not preaching a social gospel, and neither am I. Paul is not saying - accept everyone as they are, make them comfortable and love them into heaven. Paul is saying we should see the good of others, and while that means we love them, it also means we rebuke and correct them if/when they are living in sin. It means we share the truth of the Gospel with them, even if that is hard for us to say and likely harder for them to hear. On matters of Gospel truth we stand firm! On matters of personal preference… we

consider others as more important than yourselves.

we

look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

Before I pray for us and we go eat delicious food, let me leave you with this question, what might you be needing to empty yourself of? Where might you need humility? How can you adopt this attitude of Christ in your life? Let me pray.