Philippians 2

Intro

If you remember, started a new sermon series last week

Going through Philippians

also last week there was new word that we learned does anybody remember what it is? Candy Exegesis

Does anyone remember the definition? Candy

A scholarly practice of interpreting and explaining biblical texts.

Last week spent time just in chapter 1 talking about the Joy of the Lord and how we can have Joy in the midst of suffering

Now I want to see who was paying attention

The book of Philippians was written by the apostle Paul

To the church of Philippi

What was happening to Paul while he wrote his letter? Candy

He was writing the letter to encourage the church from the persecution they were feeling

There is one theme throughout the entire book of Philippians

Does anybody remember what that is? Candy

Joy, so much so that that the book is often called “The Letters of Joy”

All that being said we are going to continue to walk through this book

And we are going to be in chapter 2

going straight through seeing what we can learn from Paul

1. We need to be in agreement

Philippians 2:1–2 “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

Do you remember last week when I shared about the Star wars marathon

One year during the marathon we did at at my dads church

He would let us hang out in the basement

We could use the kitchen and anything we wanted in the church

Made pizza rolls

And without saying anything we were in agreement with each other

Have you guys ever had a moment like that?

I mean we do it all the time in our society:

When someone says sneeze you say bless you

Don’t use all caps when your’e typing

Hold the door for someone when they are right behind you

Or maybe something more serious

If a friend tells you something that they want kept a secret

You stand up for each other if someone is talking bad about each other

Show up for each other when you're going through something

And so we have things that without having to really even say anything we are just in agreement

I believe that this is exactly what Paul is trying to say in this

“By agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose”

The point he’s trying to make is that when we do things as the body of Christ we are on the same page

And thats easier said than done right

But Paul is saying look if we really want to serve the Lord. if we really want to live for God. we need to be in agreement with each other

Now what does that mean?

does that mean that you and I have to be in agreement about literally everything?

of course not!

We all have our own preferences and things that we like

But here is what I want you to hear

When we are in Christ there is an unspoken agreement about who Jesus is in our lives

and truthfully. the only way we are going to get there is by spending real time with each other

It doesn’t mean we need we need to all be best friends, but we respect each other, and love each other the way that Jesus would

2. We need to sacrifice for each other

Philippians 2:3–5 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Drink story in fridge with Del

Truthfully I could have just sacrificed and not drank the last few that I saw in there

Right thats something small

But there are lots of times when we face things like this

where we get to make a decision about who’s needs come first. ours or others

And Paul is telling us in this passage

When it comes to being apart of the body of Christ you are the last one in line

Your needs, wants, desires get put in the back

you are living to serve

Because what else does he say in that passage

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had

One of the most famous passages of scripture

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus laid out that his life was about serving

not about being served

We live in a culture nowadays that is about me,myself, and I

it is about looking out for myself

Making as much money for me

Getting the highest score for myself

So that I can be the best

Not just with those things

But think about TikTok

Insta

Even facebook

they have Algorythemns that track everything that you do

They are constantly looking to make it about you

What do they look at longer

Who’s pages are they on

What posts do they like

And so we need to be asking ourselves

Who do we need to be serving better?

Mom

Dad

Brother

Sister

friend at school

friend in CSM

When we live for Jesus we forfeit getting to worry about self

The truth is when we step into a relationship with Jesus it isn’t about us anymore

We are living for him

to serve him and to follow him

and one of the key things that he is all about is how we can better serve others .

3. We need to know that People at watching us

Not in like a creepy weird way

Philippians 2:14–15 “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

I remember when I was in 6th grade I was in math class and we had a kid named Michael in our class

Got mad threw a desk across the room

After that happened all of us are sitting there looking at the sub

Its dead silent.

Because we are waiting to see. what is going to be his reaction

its one of those moment's where you are just watching

all of your focus is on him because you want to know what he’s going to do

The truth is when we choose to walk the christian life it is the same way for us

people are always watching us to see how we will react to things.

And I promise you as you get older this just gets even more amplified.

for some of you it could take you a minute to think of someone who is not a christian in your life

But you get a job

When and if you go to college

people are looking to see what you are going to do

And I say all of this to freak you out

I say it because I want to help you

and I really I say it for 2 reasons

Because people are watching you. you have an opportunity and a you have a responsibility

Lets go back to our scripture again

He says “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

So on one hand we have our responsibility we need to be living clean and innocent lives

That means we need to be focusing on the Lord. living to please him do things that would be honoring to him

on the other hand we have an opportunity. we can really show someone the love of God and make a difference in their life

4. We need to Encourage one another

2 scriptures

Philippians 2:20–21 “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.”

And

Philippians 2:25 “Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.”

The truth is you and I need to affirm each other

And you might hear this scripture and think “Paul is talking about more than just the affirmations here”

And I would say yes. I agree that he is, but one of the most beautiful things that I think Christ has revealed to me through this

Is how Paul talks about those that he cares about

I mean he has real excitement that his friends are going to get to meet his friends

You guys ever had a situation like that before?

Where you have friends that get to meet your other friends? and you kind of get excited

Paul is doing the exact same thing in this scripture

He’s like “I got someone on the way and they are just awesome”

And so what I wonder for us. is do we talk about each other in this room like this

Man I haven’t met anyone else like *blank*

Man *blank* has such a good heart

Man *blank* is just so kind they always hold the door

And this isn’t just some like

OH SWEET WARM FUZZY

I mean real authentic, genuine building each other up

because here is the thing

We need to encourage each other, because the enemy hates it

Think about it

If I sit here and tell *blank* all the reasons that she is awesome

And she leaves that interaction feeling encouraged and loved by God

What do you think is the first thing the enemy is going to want to do

PUT A STOP TO IT

That being said today I want to close us out with doing something that may be weird for some of you

Did this at UF

Guys on one side

Girls on the other

Find a partner and I want you to encourage each by telling them at least 2 nice thing about them

And then say a prayer for them

And find a different person and do it again