Being of one mind
Unity in Community • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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We are continuing in the series Unity in Community.
We are learning how much this is a necessity and has always been, not just in our day.
It seems to be the model that God had in mind. We have seen we must Live in Unity and Be Others Centered.
This is not easy but to survive the blows from society and to stand opposed to the evils in our world we simply must have unity in community.
What can help a church is to be so connected in intent and thinking as to be one mind.
This idea we will see is very important.
Let us read together Chair Bible pg. 786 Philippians 2:1-5
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
Are you ready for the message God has fur us?
Cool let’s dig in!
Be of the Same mind
Be of the Same mind
Notice the first word in verse 2 “make” - What Paul is saying is this is a timeless command and truth For the church.
This means what follows is universal and on going.
From the time Paul gave this command to the Philippians through now is intended to be true of the all churches in all generations!
Then we have this very interesting phrase “by being of the same mind”
There is an interesting way in which these words in verse two work together.
We start with the main verb of the passage “same mind.”
The Greek word is stating the purpose for what follows.
working with the Greek word for “by” explaining why the fulfillment of the command “make” brings Paul joy.
Putting it together then in this passage Paul is not making a recommendation to the church, no he is commanding the church through all generations!
The Greek word “same mind” means think, set one’s mind on, to think in a particular manner.
The sense of the word is to dispose the mind in a certain way.
It is more than than think but to also have a settled way on understanding, in a much larger meaning to take someone’s side.
Thus be in an agreement and live in harmony!
Paul also repeats this idea in the close of the verse.
“Intent on one purpose” comes from the same Greek word as “Same mind.”
The NIV picked up on this, “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (NIV)
Five Important Words
Five Important Words
There are five important verbs that follow the phrase “by being of the same mind” between verses 2-4.
The action of these verbs tie directly to the verb in this phrase.
Verse 2.
“maintaining”
“intent on”
Verse 3
3. “consider”
4. “more important”
Verse 4
5. “look out for”
The action of these verbs is simultaneous with the action of “by being of the same mind.”
And all of these actions fall under the command “make”.
The sense then is that all of the actions are also imperatives.
That would mean then that these are not suggestions, or practices worth noting!
We must do these things!
What I think God is revealing to us unity in community is not a suggestion, but a commanded necessity!
It means in this case we are joined in soul, and mind with one thinking!
Look at these
Verse 2.
“maintaining” - We have the same love for one another that God has for us
“intent on” - again we are one mind, we have the same thinking!
Verse 3
3. “consider” - From last week we are others centered!
4. “more important” - we consider each other of greater value that ourselves!
Verse 4
5. “look out for” - I look to your interests before my own!
A New Testament Principle
A New Testament Principle
Over and over we find in the New Testament the principle of being of the same mind repeated:
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
Here we can pray about it and ask God to grant it among us
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Here it is expressly commanded that we me be like minded
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble;
In these two passages the idea is harmony.
When we put all these passages with our passage we find that is it not only repeated, it is repeated and commanded!
Why is it so important? Am I not to have my own ideas and thoughts.
That is not what I think God is telling us.
Like someone said: In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity!
There are ideas and understandings in some things that we can disagree on, but on those things that are essential we must have unity, be harmonious, be of the same mind!
When we are not of the same mind, intent on one purpose, maintaining the same love, united in Spirit, Satan comes in and drives a wedge between us!
Even people in the world can pick up on our not being like minded and use it against us!
When we tie this to our passage of Philippians 2:2
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Notice we are intertwined not just in mind, but united Spirit.
That word united, means being united in the same character, affections, and especially mindset.
The picture is there is no place for division! Notice love is at the center!
We are back to the picture of a body with its members intertwined and connected in a way that we move and wok as one.
Conclusion:
When I look at church history, and especially what the early church suffered in the way of persecution.
The church grew, the church was united, and it is because of what God has been revealing to us in this series.
There is a united oneness in heart, soul, and mind that did not allow for fractures and splinters.
Gordon Fee in his commentary states, “On its own merit this passage, read over and over again with prayerful hearts, could go a long way toward curing the ills the beset our Christian communities.” (Gordon Fee)
I think it’s healthy when there is discussion and shared thought. However, we must be careful with our opinions and conclusions because that can lead to division.
Its like Paul told Ephesus Ephesians 4:1-6
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Here is the best example of being of one mind with this list.
And as last week who is the model and example to follow?
Paul in the verses that follow shows us it is Christ!
“Have this attitude” another translation “have this mind” same root word as “same mind” in verse two.
Literally be of the same mind as Christ, how, in what way?
It is applying everything we have said the last two weeks, be others centered, and like minded!
With this reminder how are we doing Church?
Let’s reflect in ourselves!
Let us pray!