Jesus calls us to unity and to value people

Introduction (Me)

Well good morning again , Journey Church. My name is Jayson, and I’m the Student Ministry Director for our middle and high school students. I’m also a chaplain in training for the Navy and I’m here learning about ministry from everyone at Journey. I am so joyful and thankful to worship with you today.

Now, you may be wondering why our lead pastor, Pastor Phil, isn’t up here this morning. Well, he’s not feeling so great and came down with the flu this week. So if you all can keep him in your prayers for a quick recovery and that he gets some rest.

So today, you have the JV team up here…that’s me. Just asking for your patience and love this morning.

And I just want to say welcome to those of you that are here today for the first time at Journey. This place wouldn’t be the same without you! It takes a lot of courage. And if it’s your first time ever in church…Thank you for being here today. And we want to let you know that Journey was started especially for you.

Maybe you get a little uneasy about organized religion, or are a little skeptical of things. Well, you’re in the right place. And Pastor Phil says all the time that when you discover how good God is, you’re going to love following Him for the rest of your life. We don’t want to pressure you, we just want you to see for yourself the goodness of Jesus.

So, before we get started today, I want to pray for us and also Pastor Phil. Let’s bow our heads together.

Disney World is the place that my wife and I got engaged at. It was near the big castle in the middle of the park. We had a great time together. But to be honest, I am not the biggest fan of long lines of people waiting to get onto rides. My wife would tell you the same about me. Or having to wait in traffic to get a parking spot at Disney.

But overall, while we were there I was really thinking about my wife and me having a great experience. I didn’t think about others unless the lines were too long or it was too crowded. Then my thoughts of others weren’t the most positive.

So, I have a very important question to ask you:

What do you think about when you picture yourself, or you with your family, at Disney World?

Do you feel all of the joy surrounding you as you jump on those rides?

Do you think about all of the great food and activities for you and the family?

Do you think about the crazy experiences you’ll have in the park?

Or…

Do you think about the experiences of other people at Disney? What they feel, think, or are going through?

We all get it, right? Putting the thoughts or feelings of others first, especially those we don’t really know, is not easy. It may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

In this series we’re going through together, in the book of Philippians, we are talking about the joy Paul wrote about in His relationship with Jesus and his love for the people of the church of Philippi, even while he was physically in prison. This idea that “to live is Christ.” To Paul, it mattered…that people mattered.

Tension (We)

We all have times where we struggle with humility. Humility in putting others before ourselves…this may get a little personal here…

You cut someone off in traffic because they are making you mad.

You lose your parking spot to someone else.

You hear someone smacking on their piece of gum next to you.

You get frustrated at the Walmart worker because they aren’t bagging your groceries fast enough. There’s a reason why they went to self-bagging!

You get mad at your kids because they lost the TV remote, and you’re trying to watch your show for the night.

This list can go on for days!

It’s this idea that we feel we are more important than someone else. But as we’ll see today, putting others before ourselves creates unity. This idea that people matter to me, because people matter to Jesus.

Sometimes I wonder why it is so hard for me to walk in humility and put others before myself. I bet you struggle with this as well.

Here’s the tricky thing about humility–it means you have to actively try to think of others before yourself.

The things we say to people.

The actions we do to people.

The thoughts we think about people.

All of these impact people.

It means being selfless and thoughtful of others. But when we choose the opposite of humility, we get arrogance, pridefulness, and selfishness.

She thinks differently from me, so it’s just hard to get along with her.

He has a job, so why is it so hard for him to provide dinner for his family?

He’s holding up a sign on the sign of the road, why can’t he just get a job? It’s not that hard.

She says she’s so busy with life, but I have way more going on than her. I don’t know why she’s complaining.

When we get caught up in comparing and contrasting, wanting our ambitions over others, thinking the things in our life are way more important than someone else's, we forget that the person right next to us has needs and desires just like you and me.

And even though we may not always mean to come across a certain way towards someone else, the other person still leaves feeling hurt and tattered.

Without even realizing it, something is happening deeper. We start to lose joy, love, and compassion for people. The very people that God blesses us to be in relationship with.

Here’s the good news. We’re not the first people to deal with this, and what we talk about today can be a game-changer in the way we view and care for people. A way we can create Christ-like unity with others.

Truth (God)

Thankfully, the people in the Philippian church thousands of years ago—just after the time Jesus was alive on Earth–needed a joyful reminder to walk in humility and love others.

The passages we’re going to look at today were written by the Apostle Paul, who was the greatest missionary in the history of Christianity. He helped spread the Christian faith, and he often wrote letters to encourage people and help them learn more about Jesus.

The people he wrote to in this particular letter, the Christians in Philippi, were so near and dear to Paul’s heart. He loved them, they brought him so much joy, and this letter “stands out as being the most personal” of all the letters that he wrote. And Paul wrote a majority of the letters in the New Testament.

The warnings that Paul gives in these passages we’re looking at today are “cautionary and preventive,” really showing his joy for them. Paul wanted his friends to know that there were some things in their lives getting to the point where he needed to say something. Things that if left unchecked would lead to “division” and “strive.”

And today, what Paul says can apply to us here at Journey whether you’re visiting for the first time or have been here a while.

In the letter we’re looking at today, and have been in this series, Paul addresses what it looks like to have humility as Christ followers and the importance of elevating others above ourselves. We’re going to look at Philippians 2:1-5, but let’s start in verse 1. Here’s what he said in Philippians 2:1 (NIV):

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,..” (Philippians 2:1 NIV)

Here, Paul was talking about the encouragement and comfort that the Philippians already received in their lives, through Jesus Christ. This verse provides the basis for what Paul is going to talk about in the next few verses. The idea that this encouragement is only experienced through Jesus.

As Paul talks about “comfort from his love” he is speaking of Jesus’s love. The Philippians had comfort in love…

That they had a place with Jesus after their life on earth.

Here in their present state.

And through all their sufferings and dangers.

Then Paul talks about a common sharing in the spirit. What does this mean? It means having a close relationship. Having something in common with someone. This is a partnership that God, through His Holy Spirit can only give. The Holy Spirit is the one who affects our hearts and lives, even in how we do life alongside others.

In Romans 12:5, Paul says, “...We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Our common sharing in the Spirit is in participating with others.

When we decide to live a new life in Jesus, we experience God’s tenderness and compassion. God is compassionate for you. There’s a switch in our minds and hearts as we give ourselves to Jesus…we experience tenderness and compassion that surpasses anything on this earth.

Together, these core ideas came together for the Philippians because they knew God and had a relationship with Jesus. The Philippians experienced the love of Jesus, there was participation with the Holy Spirit, and they were blessed by God’s tender and loving mercy.

Ultimately, the baseline for what Paul tells us today rests in our relationship with Jesus. The rest of the verses are null unless Jesus is at the center.

But Paul didn’t stop there. And I think the reason why is because he knew that there was another step. It’s like telling your kid to be nice to others at school, without telling them why it matters. I think that’s why Paul took it an important step further.

He said…2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Paul’s not just talking about a good thing to do–be nice to other people. He’s talking about the result of living in the certainty of having a relationship with Jesus.

He’s talking about the result of living in harmony with people. In fact, striving for unity and humility is to live like Jesus.

Paul knows that we live in strife and self-interest, but he encourages us to be restored together in unity. It’s so vital that Paul stresses it to get the point across.

And this like-mindedness that Paul talks about…it doesn’t just focus on our thoughts, but moves into our will; it is our interest in others and our decisions that impact others.

Love is reciprocal, which ultimately goes back to the love Jesus has for us. What are we doing for those that have needs in our church? In our family? How about those in our community?

It’s essential to focus on the Gospel of Jesus in the way we care for others. Otherwise, we are just like everyone else in this world.

In the next two verses, Paul says this…

“3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Yep, this is where Paul is taking a stab at our hearts. For you, this is when…

It’s your way or the highway.

You don’t value your spouse or friend’s opinions.

“Sorry” is a hard word for you to use.

Not thinking about someone’s time over your own.

You see, this list could go on for days.

Paul’s ultimate desire is that we run away from self-seeking and arrogance, and put others first.

Jesus was consistent and had a pattern in practicing humility. This is also a pattern for us to emulate as we count others better than ourselves. Not just here in the four walls of Journey, but in our total lives.

Similarly, Paul wasn’t here just for his own good, but for the good of others. He wanted them to know Jesus. He said, “I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33 NLT). What is the mark of your love? Does it seek self? Or does it seek service to others?

Check out what Paul says in verse 5…

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)

Think of it this way:

Jesus calls us to unity and to value people.

When we choose to see others the way Jesus sees people, it's different. We focus on…

Jesus’ love for others.

The worth God assigns others.

The value of others.

God’s purpose for others.

The gifts and talents of others.

God designed us to be in relationship with Him and people. Because of that, God wants us to lean on what Jesus did for us, to in turn do the same for others. That’s the way God wants us to think about people, view people, and even what we say about people. To focus on what Jesus did for us on the cross, to in turn look out for the interests of others. It matters…that people matter.

Dallas Willard was an author and philosopher, and he once said, “Jesus does not call us to do what he did, but to be as he was, permeated with love. Then the doing of what he did and said becomes the natural expression of who we are in him.”

Interactive

So, I have to admit that I love Chick-fil-A. Guilty as charged (show picture of nugget meal). I love their nuggz (chicken nuggets for those of you that don’t know). These nuggets are like the manna God gave His people back in the Old Testament of the Bible.

And to top it all off the employees are so nice. After they give you your food, they always close the conversation by saying “my pleasure.” Just try it one day. Say anything you want and they’ll say “my pleasure.”

“Hey, the food is great.” “My pleasure.”

“Hey, can I have some polynesian sauce?” “My pleasure.”

“Hey, can I have a free meal?” “My pleasure.”

Actually, I’m really hyped because I heard they’re building one here in Gretna, but I’m not sure when. I can’t wait!

As a matter of fact, I used to work at a Chick-fil-A. My wife used to work there too.

And when they trained their employees, they always taught us that every person that walks in has a story. Every person has meaning. This idea that it’s better to be there for others and care for them.

Dan Cathy, the former CEO of Chick-fil-A, once said, “Every life has a story…if we only bother to read it.”

This reminds their employees that everyone they interact with is a chance to create a remarkable experience. How much more does this way of viewing people apply to Christ-followers?

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul writes, “For we are God’s masterpiece…” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

in Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…” (Genesis 1:26 NLT)

One of the first thoughts we have when we look at these verses is to look inward to ourselves. We think about how God has made us as His masterpiece. That he made us in His image.

While this is true, what would it look like if the first thought we had was for someone else? Take a look at the person to your left. Take a look at the person to your right. This is probably someone in your family or a good friend. The person to your left and right was created as God’s masterpiece, created in His image and likeness.

And if you take the time to look across the room from where you’re sitting, you’ll also notice another person created in His masterpiece and in His image and likeness. Now, what would it look like if you thought about that person before yourself when considering who God made us to be.

“Every life has a story…if we only bother to read it.”

Whose story are you missing?

Application (You)

In light of all of this, here’s what you can do:

Acknowledge it’s not all about you.

The author, C. S. Lewis once said, “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud.”

Humble ourselves before God. To say, “God, unworthy, I've messed up, I need your help.”

Practice a daily fellowship with Jesus. Without Jesus we can do nothing. He alone is your source of life.

What would it look like, today, if the first thought you had was for someone else, rather than your own?

What would it look like, to truly be unified with Jesus and have genuine value for people?

If you live for Jesus, it is not only possible, it is also an important aspect of your calling.

Landing (We)

In a book called, “Taking the Word to Heart,” by Robert Roberts, he writes of a day where someone he knew visited a fourth grade class where the teacher put together a game called “Balloon Stomp” (show picture of Balloon Stomp).

The goal of this game is simple. Every child would tie a balloon to one leg, and then would proceed to “obliterate everybody else’s balloon without letting anything happen to yours.” Once you got your balloon stomped on and popped, then you were out.

The teacher said “ready, set go” and it went crazy. Balloons popping everywhere, dog eat dog, until only one remained. “Their balloons were predictably laid waste.”

Then something else happened. Another class of 4th graders came in. The game was prepared the same way. Each child got a balloon tied to their leg and were told the rules.

Then the teacher said, “ready, set, go.” Some of the kids began to stomp on other balloons, but there was one girl that stood her ground and allowed a boy to pop her balloon. Then the boy did the same for her.

Once the game was done, all of the kids cheered together. They had messed up the original rules of the game. Only one child should win, but they found something different. They found camaraderie, trust, cooperation, gentleness, and concern for one another.

Imagine a church where putting others above ourselves was the theme rather than a children’s memory verse.

Imagine a community that walked in humility and genuinely valued others.

Imagine what would happen this week if we chose to value people not because it's the right thing to do, but because of what Jesus did for us.

As you head out today, I want you to leave encouraged by Paul’s words and remember that…

Jesus calls us to unity and to value people.

Let’s pray.