Giving Like Jesus

Philippians 2:4 ESV

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

Has there been a time in your life when you followed the wrong crowd and ended up on a difficult path because of the company you kept?

Proverbs 13:20 ESV

20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 13:20 serves as a lifelong reminder that when people walk with the wise, they become wise. When they walk with fools, however, they suffer consequences. Walking with the wise often provides us the opportunity to learn from someone else’s mistakes rather than repeating those same mistakes ourselves.

Without exposing too much detail, describe a time when you learned from someone else’s challenges. Was it because you simply observed their plights and problems or because they learned their lessons and passed on specific warnings?

In many instances, the climax of a faith-based film is the presentation of the gospel and a person’s acceptance of Jesus as Savior. The narrative spends a fair amount of time on life before Christ, followed by the specific way a person encountered Christ, leaving little time to show the person learning to follow Him. The Forge is different in that regard. Not even halfway through the film, we see the central character hear and receive the gospel. As Mr. Moore presented the gospel, he gave a brief testimony describing his own life before Christ and the way his relationship with Jesus changed him. We then see Isaiah walking through Scripture alone and receiving God’s gift of salvation. But this is only the beginning of the story. The film makes it clear that trusting Christ is the first step in a lifelong journey of following Him.

In the clip, Mr. Moore gave a brief highlight of his life before Christ. How would you sum up your life without Jesus in just a few words or phrases?

As he shared with Isaiah, Mr. Moore also quoted his mom and indicated her influence in his life. Who would you cite as integral in the development of your faith? What about them made such a difference in you?

If you can recall specific words of wisdom or encouragement those people offered, share that with the group.

Mr. Moore also shared and explained a key verse of Scripture. You’ll encounter that specific reference again this week in your study. For now, what is a passage that is central to your understanding of the gospel?

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.

As a group, sum up the passage in Philippians 2, and name the specific parts of Christ’s example that Paul instructed believers to follow.

equality did not + advantage

made nothing

took role of servant

note the washing of feet

dying on the cross

made in human likeness

as big of service of anything

took on flesh

appearance of man

not of God which could have been desired

but was not sought out

humbled Himself

obedient to death

not for His wrongdoing

for ours

death on a cross

not a quick punishment

not a minor pain punishment

a period of torture

a period of suffering

a period of shame

why?

out of love for His children

Out of love for His creation

Out of humility

We love because He first loved us

love is shown best through service

service reaches the pit of the heart

Note the descriptions of Jesus’s humility seen in these verses.

How do we cultivate the same kind of sacrificial humility we see in Christ?

When it comes to living out the character of Christ, humble generosity takes center stage. God humbles the proud and exalts the humble (Luke 14:11 “11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”” ) and since Jesus humbled Himself more than anyone, God exalted Him above everyone (Philippians 2:5-9). Selfless, sacrificial love communicates Jesus in a way words alone cannot.

This week, you’ll be encouraged to give like Jesus in your relationships and spheres of influence. Pray that the same gospel you’ve received will be one you’ll give your life to, passing it on to others in both words of truth and humility of heart.