Joy In Humility

Intro- story of the mountain lion

Shared experience and mission help grow bonds.

Act 16

-Lydia the purple clothe dealer

-Female Slave

-Roman Guard

The Gospel of Jesus Christ will unite people like nothing else will.

Act 16

New International Version (2011) Chapter 16

34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Our unity is not about uniformity but Christlikeness.

New International Version (2011) (Chapter 2)

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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 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.

Unity with Christ is the only way to have unity with others.

New International Version (2011) (Chapter 2)

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

New International Version (2011) (Chapter 2)

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

If Jesus was humble, why wouldn’t we be too?

“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”

-Timothy Keller

New International Version (2011) (Chapter 2)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Better translation to work on….

New International Version (2011) (Chapter 2)

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” u Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Our attitudes reflect our true allegiance.

The outcome of obedience to to Christ is overflowing joy.

What we have in common (Jesus) is more powerful than what makes us different.

The way to higher joy is lowering ones self.

The world says joy is about indulging in all your desires, Jesus shows us joy comes from humility.

“Humility is not a character trait to develop, it's the natural by-product of being with Jesus.” -Louie Giglio