(08-09-28) Being on the Team - Philippians 2.1-13; Matthew 21.23-32
Being on the Team – Philippians 2:1-13;
Matthew 21:23-32
· Coming to Wales unintentionally
o starting to discover a culture that was right on my doorstep
§ one of the hardest things to come to terms with: rugby
o but also the sense of commonality/community
§ being a team (hard to separate the nation from the rugby!)
· not just nationalism; family
· Working together as a team (Phil 2:1-4)
o on the same side, with the same aim
§ loving one another, living as one body, one household
o the natural result of being united in Christ
§ all who have received His forgiveness; chosen to follow Him
§ selfishness and vanity have no place in the Church
§ mutual love and placing the other person before yourself
· the last biscuit!
· The great example of humility (vv5-11)
o knowing who we are and who we are not
§ easy to take our eye off the ball and look at the players
§ people doing great things
§ living good lives
o John the Baptist knew who he was...
§ could have ‘achieved’ so much
§ had a strong following
§ perhaps a denomination
o but his job was to point to Jesus
§ and we have the same job
§ done by looking to others’ interests as well as our own (v4)
· John the Baptist featured in Jesus’ challenging parable
o the Pharisees, who looked like they were doing the right things
§ had had their authority questioned by Jesus in the Temple
§ no-one overruled the High Priest other than the Messiah
· and here was someone acting like that was him
o Jesus both answers and doesn’t answer their question
§ in the sidestep is the answer
· ‘Yes, I am the Messiah’
· confirmed as John baptised Him
· Being God’s people; following Jesus; being in the team...
o is it just outward appearance?
§ do we wear the replica shirt, but never step on the pitch?
o knowing the right words to say; even saying them
§ but our lives show no sign of being changed
o being outwardly religious, but inwardly empty
§ “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
o this isn’t becoming a Christian club, not dealing with people outside of it
§ but being part of a household, a family, which first relates well to one another and then to the rest of the world
· So we pile up the images
o a team
o a people/nation
o a household/family
· And we hear Jesus challenge to live a different way of life
o which puts others needs alongside or above our own
o to avoid being in the Church for what we get from it
o but to see the Messiah, the Christ, the Saviour; Jesus
§ and to follow His example for the rest of our days
· Phil 2:5-11