6. Forget and Focus

Announcements

Sunday School class switch THIS SUNDAY

Sunday School picnic: Saturday at 3pm… Might be cancelled though, keep your eyes peeled.

Sign up for the Moncton retreat

High school & middle School disc golf

Random Question

What’s one thing you’re glad you did this summer? And one thing you wished you would’ve done differently?

Prayer

Praise: Brind’Amours update.

Lesson

Recap

Last week we covered one ENTIRE verse, speaking on the importance of serving one another as a team. We’re a body of believers, and God has gifted each of us in unique ways so that we would serve Him and contribute.

This week, we’re going to finish chapter one and make our way through the first four verses of chapter 2.

Vs. 28-30

Philippians 1:27–28 NKJV

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Alright, this one’s interresting, Paul’s calling us not to be terrified…

What are we to NOT be terrified of? (Our enemies)

This is the only time this word is used in the NT, it’s giving the idea of being startled.

Ill:

- Pastor Andy walking by the office

- Horses scared to enter woods

Paul’s calling us to be unflinchable when we’re sharing the gospel, to not be moved.

What are some things that make you scared to share the Gospel?

Human interaction

Being wrong

Not knowing what to say

Getting rejected

Fear of people’s perspectives on us

There’s plenty of reasons why we might be scared to share Christ with others. But here in vs. 28, our steadfastness/fearlessness is something God is going to use as a sign to unbelievers. It says that, “to them a proof of perdition [destruction]” So what it’s saying is that when we are not budging, we won’t give up, unbelievers realize that they’re on the losing side.

Boxing match: you realize you’re in trouble if your opponent keeps getting up, you can punch him all day but you know he won’t stop.

As Christians, we can get back up because we get our strength from God, and that makes unbelievers realize, “uh oh, they have God, and I don’t.”

So, vs. 29-30

Philippians 1:29–30 NKJV

29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Why can we suffer with hope? (Because our suffering is not pointless, we’re suffering for the cause of Christ, and that will always be useful.)

So, that’s how chapter 1 ends off, Paul’s got a physical battle in which he’s staying joyful, now in chapter 2, the Philippians have a spiritual battle he wants them to be joyful in.

Vs. 1

In chapter 1, Paul told the Philippians of the joy he experienced because of his relationship with Jesus. It was an internal reality, so that means nobody or nothing can take it away from him. In chapter 2, Paul wants the Philippians to know the joy they can have if they get along with each other. We call it UNITY!

Philippians 2:1 NKJV

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

There’s four times in this verse Paul says, “if there is this, that…” What are these statements?

Consolation in Christ (Consolation = encouragement. So, “If we get encouragement from knowing Jesus.”)

Any comfort of love (Any comfort from the love of Jesus for us)

Any fellowship of the Spirit (Any fellowship with Christians because our bond in the Holy Spirit)

Any affection and mercy (The care and compassion God has given us)

Are any of these things just listed uncertain? Jesus might comfort us? Jesus might love us? etc. (No, they are all facts that you can take to the bank. These are all things that we KNOW we have because of Jesus)

Are these things that we do for others? Or that God has done for us? (God)

Paul’s sitting us down here for a one on one lesson. “Hey, if Jesus comforts you daily, He shows His love for you, you have fellowship with others because His Spirit, and He shows you mercy, then He expects you to live for Him.”

If God’s given us all this, it’s our reasonable service to do whatever He asks of us. So he follows up in vs. 2, “Here’s what I want you to do since you have all these things.”

Vs. 2

Philippians 2:2 NKJV

2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

“I want you to make my joy full, complete.”

Can you think of anything that’s made you so joyful you felt like you were gonna burst? (Harvesting my deer last year)

That’s the kind of joy Paul wants to feel.

Proverbs 10:1 NKJV

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

Ill: Are you sometimes embarrassed to be around your brother/sisters in public?

“I don’t know this person!!!”

Q: Flip it the other way, do you know some people you’re more than proud to be with in public?

“Yeah everybody, take a look at me! Look at who I’m with right now!”

Paul wanted to be able to say that about the Philippians. “Hey everybody, take a look at the Philippians! They love each other because Jesus first loved them. I’m proud to call myself their friend.

What things did the Philippians have to do to make Paul proud (vs. 2)? (be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind)

Like-minded: Paul tells them to be like-minded 10x in Philippians alone!

What does it mean to be like-minded? Does it mean we must agree on everything?

Ill: Everyone shows up with the same clothes at church, everyone has the same favourite song, favourite verse, favourite food, etc.

What does it mean then? (This has to do with our life values)

Can we all agree that God made the heavens and the earth?

Can we all agree that Jesus is God?

Can we all agree that there is life after death? (Yes! Paul wants the Christians to be unified in these beliefs, because that changes the way we live in the present)

Having the same love: Everyone is equally loved and valued

Q: What’s the biggest parenting “no-no”? (Don’t pick favourites!)

In the body of Christ, we have no favourites. It doesn’t matter if you’re a poor ole’ guy or the richest lady alive, we love you and treat you the same!

Being of one accord = United in spirit

Of one mind: We’ve got the same purpose! We’re all working together as a team to reach the same goal.

Vs. 3

So, that was the concept of unity, what it looks like, not in verse three we see how that looks like in our every day lives.

Philippians 2:3 NKJV

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Selfish Ambition:

How much should be done through selfish ambition? (Nothing!)

Definition: Advance ourselves at all costs, even if it hurts others.

Hobbit Illustration: Alfrid Lickspittle

Conceit

Do any of you know what conceit means? (It’s a showy type of pride, but can’t prove itself when tested)

“Talk the talk but can’t walk the walk.”

Ex. Fitness Influencer’s daily routine In front of camera vs. behind camera

So, those are the things we’re told NOT to do, but then in the end of the verse we are told to DO things.

What does Paul want us to do? (Lowliness of mind, esteem others better than yourself)

I love the wording here, lowliness of mind…

What’s another word you could use to describe this? (Humility)

Right! So, in humility, I’m going to esteem others better than myself.

Is this an easy thing to do? (Absolutely not!)

Our natural tendency is to think about ourselves first.

- Get in front of the dinner line

- Get the nicest seat

- Eat the last cookie

- Want the most attention

We’re just so drawn to ourselves! Our natural attitude is always going to go back to selfishness.

Ill: Shovelling last night…

- What do you think I was thinking about as I was shovelling?

- What ACTUALLY was going on…

“Woe is me!”

- Failed to remember that some people are going through SERIOUS difficulties at the moment. I was too selfish to remember to bring them to the Lord in prayer.

God calls us to do less of this, to think more of others.

Now here’s a good question…

Is it humble to put myself down? Why is that not humble? (It’s pointing the attention to yourself, just in a sneaky way)

“Oh I’m so bad at this! I’m so bad at teaching Bible lessons guys, Pastor Andy has way more experience than I do.”

“I’m not good at anything! Nobody likes me! I’m useless!”

“I’m so bad at being a goalie, I used to be a player, you know.”

“You probably won’t laugh at this joke, I’m really not creative, boring actually!”

Where am I pointing the attention to? (MEEEE!)

Is that humble? (No way)

You won’t hear much from humble people, they don’t talk about themselves a lot. Humble people care more about what you think, they listen to your story.

Vs. 4

When we finally understand what true humility is, verse 4 explains what that’ll look like practically.

What will our priorities be when we’re humble? (We look out for others interests before our own)

When someone has a problem, it’s actually my problem too if I’m humble! The verse says that we’re “looking out” for the interests of others…

Ill: Looking through binoculars for squirrels.

As we’re humble, we’ll be scoping out others, seeing where we can be a blessing, how we can help them. That means you’ll ask them pointed questions, you’ll make an effort in being involved in their lives!

Application

Humility is thinking about others more than yourself

God will be pleased when we humbly serve others