Walk the Talk in Fellowship

Let me ask you a question this morning. Are you setting yourself up for success or failure? Did you know you could be setting yourself up for failure, and not even know it.

I am not talking about financial success or failure. I am talking about relationship success or failure. Did you know the Bible has a great deal to say about relationships. There are tips in our passage today about how to have success relationships.

Are you ready to learn about relationship success? Are you ready to discover:

The Transformative Power of Fellowship

This morning we are going to figure out how to build transformative relationships though Fellowship.

Are you ready. Take out your sermon notes and lets get started.

First grasp the:

1. Foundation of Fellowship

Philippians 2:1–2 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Underline the words, The Same Mind.

To be of the same mind means to think the same thing, have the same attitude, have the same opinion, and be intent on the same goal.

G. Walter Hansen

I disagree with him. I don’t think it is having the same attitude or the same opinion.

But it does not mean that. what does it mean to have the same mind? Does it mean we will always agree with each other? No. Does it mean one of us is right and the other is wrong. No.

It means we cultivate the mind of Christ. The phrase means to think the same thought. Not the same thoughts of the pastor, or the everyone in the church, instead it means we are all working to figure out what Jesus wants, what Jesus is thinking

I could be wrong. In fact, I often am wrong. But Jesus Christ is never wrong. So we strive to have the mind of Jesus.

Underline the words, The Same Love.

When we have the same love, we will love the things Jesus loves.

No law has ever been passed that can compel one moral being to love another, for by the very nature of it love must be voluntary. No one can be coerced or frightened into loving anyone.4

A. W. Tozer

Love like Jesus loved. Who did he love?

A young boy had little to give to the mission offering at church. He decided to contribute his only toy, a prized action figure. The next week, he witnessed someone else finding joy in his gift. That child's simplicity revealed a deep understanding of love — it’s not about the size of the gift but the heart behind it. Just as Christ gave everything for us, we too are called to give our all in love, no matter how small it may seem.

The foundation of Fellowship is having the same mind, and the same love as Jesus.

2. Humility in Action

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second, humility is the third.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Humility is the beginning of true intelligence.

John Calvin (French Reformer)

Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought.

Charles Spurgeon

Humility is putting others’s interests ahead of your owe. Humility asked the question, how can I help.

Jesus said it well in

Matthew 20:28 NASB95

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

No one is immune for the vice of pride, which is the opposite of humility.

Not only is a pastor’s focus an indicator of his affections, but so is his attitude. There can come a turn in a successful ministry when the pastor stops thinking about how to serve and care for the congregation, and how his congregation should be caring for and serving him. People and their needs are an interruption. The turn of the affections takes place when the pastor feels that he has given enough, and now it’s his time to receive. He begins to believe that the church exists to support, serve, and steward his gifting and ministry

WRITEBOL, JEREMY: Pastor, Jesus Is Enough: Hope for the Weary, the Burned out, and the Broken. Bellingham, WA : Lexham Press, 2023

Humility is having a modest opinion of oneself.

What two words in our text are the opposite of humility?

Conceit

Selfish

In the Gospels, we see Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, exemplifying humility in a profound way. Despite being their teacher and Lord, He chose the role of a servant. This act reminds us that true greatness in the Kingdom of God comes from serving others. When we place ourselves in positions of service, we embody the humility that Christ taught us, transforming our relationships and communities through selflessness.

3. Christ's Example For Us

Philippians 2:5–8 NASB95

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We, you and I, need to be more like Jesus.

1517 Christ’s deeds and examples are commandments of what we should do.

John Wycliffe

Imagine a ship navigating through a stormy sea. It follows the beacon of a lighthouse that stands strong and unyielding against the waves. Jesus is that lighthouse, showing us the way through turbulent times. By following His example, we find a steadfast guide amid chaos, just as the ship finds safety by trusting in that unwavering light.

If you find yourself struggling to express love to your family members during conflicts, take a moment to pray for the 'mind of Christ.' When a disagreement arises, instead of reacting defensively, respond with understanding and compassion. Before speaking, ask yourself, 'What would Jesus say or do in this situation?' Lean into His love and let that guide your words and actions. Consider setting aside time each evening to reflect on moments where you demonstrated Christ’s love within your family, and ask for God’s help in areas where you could grow.