The Mind of Christ (2)

Introduction

Interrupted:

How many remember: “We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast to bring you this important announcement.”

Generally happened when there was newsworthy events happening around the world.

There is a lot happening in the world around us and we need to stop for a moment and allow God to interrupt us.

SO much going on

So much being SAID about what is going on that there is a significant polarization in our country, culture, communities, seeps into the church.

It is a dangerous thing when the church begins to echo the arguments of the world.

Worse yet, when the church members argue amongst themselves they waste God-given breath intended to spread the gospel and potentially lose their voice in the world altogether.

Ed Stetzer classifies the culture we currently find ourselves in as “The Age of Outrage.”

In his book Christians in the Age of Outrage, Stetzer notes,

“We have reached the point where the comment section of major newspapers are a greater testament to the depravity of man than all the theology of the Reformers put together.” (p. xii)

ILLUST - Stetzer notes how this has seeped into the church by giving the illustration of the 2015 Starbucks Red Cup Controversy.

Joshua Feuerstein posted Facebook message, “Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus.”

Received close to 200K likes and over 70K comments.

Truth is: Starbucks, in at least the six years prior, had NEVER put “Merry Christmas” on their cups.

“Outrage overwhelms truth.”

— Stetzer

It may not currently be coffee cups, but there are certainly events and issues that have the potential to cause polarization in the church, sometimes leading to outrage, and, if we are not careful, division.

Music

Black Lives Matter

Donald Trump

Schools, churches, business closing and opening

Masks

ILLUST - a tug-of-war spends a lot of energy but accomplishes very little.

Issues only affecting us outside we tend to leave there but when they affect how we do church we reveal a heart issue.

“It is easier to be angry and pithy than to be Christlike and on mission.”

— Stetzer (p. 2)

Here is what we are NOT going to do:

1) We are not going to solve the issues. God is less concerned about the issues at hand than about the attitude of our heart. We are going to talk about a gospel response to these and any issue.

2) We are not going to apply this message to anyone but ourselves. “HE really needs to hear this.” “I hope SHE is watching the livestream.”

Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV)

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

If we examine the imperative verbs in the passage we can get an overall sense of what Paul is trying to communicate to the Philippian church.

In vvs 1-4, Paul is calling the church at Philippi to be unified:

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind

Interestingly, he doesn’t offer five ways to make and maintain unity in the church.

He offers one attitude: humility

5 Have this mind among yourselves,

Nor does he offer three ways to be humble

He simply points to Jesus

The Key is found in

Phil 2:5

. In the verses building up to verse five, Paul makes his case for unity through humility, and in verses 6-11 he gives us the ultimate example of unity through humility.

Key Verse:

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

** For the body of Christ to complete the work of Christ, we need the mind of Christ. **

Philippians 1:27–28 (ESV)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

“Worthy” = Behave like citizens worthy of

We cannot stand against the world outside the church if we are divided inside the church.

Christian Unity Through Personal Humility (1-4)

Christ’s Humility Brings Unity (5-11)

Christian Unity Through Personal Humility (1-4)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy

Four Demands for Unity (1)

“So if. . .” = Therefore, because we know that. . .

Because we are in Christ.

We belong to each other.

Because of the love of God.

We were made a part of the family of God through an unwarranted, selfless love (agape), what right do we have to show anything different?

Because of the community of the Spirit.

koinonia - We share in the Spirit. Not any one of us has all of the Spirit. We need each other to fully express the Spirit.

Because tender hearts and mercy are marks of a true believer.

affection and sympathy

Affection = ‘inward parts’ - guts.

and sympathy = pity, mercy

Four Descriptions of Unity (2)

Being Likeminded

If we all pursue the mind of Christ, we will be likeminded

Being ‘likeminded’ does not mean we all think the same. It has more to do with internal unity than external uniformity.

Uniformity describes our outside, while unity is borne from within.

Sharing the Same Love

Some people in the church are ‘porcupine Christians’ - they have lots of good points but they are really hard to get close to. Cute from a distance, but you really not wanting to hug them. (If you can’t think of anyone like that - it’s probably you!)

What’s the difference? When things are going well it is often hard to tell the difference between ‘like’ and ‘love.’ When difficulties arise in a relationship ‘like’ is removed and ‘love’ is revealed.

Displaying a United Spirit

sunpsuche - We share with our brothers and sisters at the soul level

ILLUST - Like a team

Living for One Purpose

We share one mind - one purpose.

This is where I believe most churches falter. Most churchgoers are more focused on their preferences for church than they are the purpose of church.

I would imagine that 90% or more of what causes division in the church (or reasons why people leave the church) has anything to do with theology or mission — usually pride and preference.

Two Defeaters of Humility (3-4)

Selfish Ambition

Self Focus

Christ’s Humility Brings Unity (5-11)

The Mind of Christ (5)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

“this mind” = attitude of humility

Paul gives example of this mind - In Christ

Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)

12 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Jesus knew He was God. (6)

The mind of Christ rightly understood who God was and who He was.

This is how the story of the incarnation starts — Jesus as God.

More often than not, division / fights happen as we view ourselves as better than others.

count others more significant than yourselves.

“Don’t they know who I am”

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. .

What did Jesus “empty” himself of?

Power? NO

Identity as God? NO

Jesus didn’t empty himself by putting off something but by putting on humanity.

Jesus willingly gave up His rights in order to serve. (7)

Says B. B. Warfield, “The Lord of the world became a servant in the world; He whose right it was to rule took obedience as His life-characteristic.”

The only One who truly had a right, gave up His rights.

Show me a time when Jesus stood up for His own rights.

*Pause*

John 13 - washing disciples’ feet?

What rights are you willing to give up in order to serve for the gospel?

I would argue any that do not directly serve the gospel!

I have a right to . . .

Sometimes we can be so focused on our rights that we miss an opportunity to share the gospel.

Jesus gave up every right in order to secure the gospel!

Jesus was obedient even at great risk to himself. (8)

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus submitted Himself to death for the sake of the gospel.

How willing are we sacrifice for someone else?

History has examples of believers risking their lives to serve the dying (even in plagues!) for the gospel.

We must remember that the mortality rate for the unbeliever is 100%

ILLUST - Driving the martyrs to Ft. Wayne.

What are you willing to risk for the gospel?

Are you willing to be inconvenienced? Uncomfortable?

Jesus remained focus on the mission for God’s glory. (9-11)

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The purpose of your life is to glorify God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

World says the purpose of your life is to satisfy self

If it wasn’t focused on the mission, Jesus did not allow himself to be distracted by it.

ILLUST - Pastor Don and his dogs distracting my kids.

God help us if we end up talking more about masks than about the mission.

If we share more conspiracy theories than we share the gospel message.

If we are more concerned about catching a virus than we are about spreading the gospel.

More concerned about protecting our individual rights than we are about producing disciples.

When we get to heaven, Jesus is not going to look at us and say, “Wow, you really nailed that mask thing.” He is going to ask us how we loved each other / how we risked for the gospel / how we gave up our own rights in order that someone might hear the gospel.

The end result of a humble attitude is an exalted Christ.

This is the mind of Christ.

Conclusion

“We are living in a day — and this is indeed our moment — when we need to live like Christ, as gospel Christians in the midst of the shouting, anger, and hatred. And it’s going to get worse.”

— Stetzer (p. xv)

The opposite of the Mind of Christ is not the mind of the world — it is PRIDE.

Actually preached this message before. Last time gave pieces of tin foil “mirrors” to remind us to whom the message applies.

*PRAY*

Commit today: