S213 Getting Along

INTRODUCTION

A. Have you ever struggled with a complicated recipe?

1. Rachael has been working on sourdough bread for months

She got the recipe, and the starter, and we thought it might be relatively straight forward to make a loaf or two.

But there was a lot of trial and error. Figuring out what worked and what didn’t.

At first, the basics brought out a basic loaf. It was passable and certainly much more delicious than the store-bought bread on the shelf.

However, if she wanted to get to that bakery-quality artisan bread, she would need to practice, hone her skills, test new techniques, try different flours, and experiment, practice, and practice some more.

Eventually, she had a very high quality, artisan sourdough bread.

But, the pursuit is still ongoing…the pursuit for perfection.

2. Complicated recipes take practice

They might seem straightforward, but there are a lot of factors affecting the outcome. Altitude, materials, quality of ingredients, distractions, even skills.

3. Complicated recipes take tweaking

Finally, when you DO make a good product, you realize you might need to adjust slightly. You might need to add a bit more sugar, or a little less butter for the next attempt.

While it might be good, it is not yet perfect.

B. Getting along with one another is a lot like a complicated recipe

1. There are a few basics we all must acknowledge and with which we begin

We have to say nice things. We need to listen to one another. We should not be cruel or unkind in our words.

Some of these basics we learn as children, while others we have to develop as adults.

It becomes something different when it comes to getting along as Christians.

2. It takes practice

We need to get along and be unified when we are together at worship or Bible class.

But the challenges come when you realize we won’t always see eye to eye on matters of scripture. On things we hold dear or find important, we realize it hurts or becomes difficult to get along with someone who doesn’t hold the same view. We need to practice.

When we spend a lot of time, together, we start to wear on one another’s nerves. We need to practice unity and kindness.

3. It will need to be tweaked from time to time

Even when we think we have it down, we need to tweak it from time to time.

When new challenges crop up. When we haven’t been together for some time. When new people and personalities are introduced.

Unity and getting along with one another needs practice.

4. Getting along is not a strength of the world…which further complicates our recipe

Not that we WANT to be bad at unity or getting along, but we are in the world and affected by the divisions we see all around us. Politics…current events…all lend toward frustrations.

C. God’s people need to get along with one another

1. Unity is one of our defining features the world should notice (John 17.20-23)

John 17:20–23 NASB95

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Jesus’ prayer was for our unity. We must be one, just like Jesus was unified with the Father.

Unity in purpose, in focus, in relationship.

2. Unity is necessary as we get together

We must be getting together, it is important for our spiritual health. (Hebrews 10.24-25)

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB95

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

When we get together on a regular basis, we are helping one another.

3. Unfortunately, we are experts, as God’s people, at division

a. Denominations are a sign of this division (1 Corinthians 1.10)

1 Corinthians 10:10 NASB95

Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

b. Even petty arguments within the congregation will crop up between Christians (Philippians 4.2)

Philippians 4:2 NASB95

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

D. As we come back together, we want to revisit our “recipe” for getting along by looking at unity

Philippians 2:1–11 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. Unity is our goal

2. Unity comes from having the right mindset, we see modeled in Jesus

E. Maybe you are not out of practice, but like every good recipe, unity takes some tweaking

1. Readjusting the recipe for different situations

2. Revisiting a recipe we haven’t used in a while

3. Working to make the small tweaks that will make the recipe really fantastic

4. These are the same things we are going to do for our unity as a congregation

BODY

I. Because of Christ…Unity (Philippians 2.1-4)

A. Why we should have unity (Pp 1.1-2a)

1. If there is any...

This is not a doubt in Paul’s mind. This is the, “If the sun rises in the east, then you need to wash your hands for dinner...” sort of saying.

BECAUSE there is… would be a correct way of looking at this.

a. …any encouragement in Christ...

b. …any consolation of love...

c. …any fellowship of the Spirit...

2. What we receive in Christ informs our motivation for unity

They should see and remember these blessings in Christ, as a motivation for staying united to one another.

3. Paul wants this because it will make [his] joy complete

B. Unity is same-mindedness (Pp 2.2b)

1. We are to of the same mind

What does your mind do?

It motivates. It plans. It executes. It is what defines your identity is so many internal ways.

We need to have the same mind as God’s people. Motivated…working…thinking…in the same direction.

2. How do we have the same mind?

a. …maintaining the same love...

We need to work at (maintain) our love. This is the SAME love, we are all focused upon. Not our own definitions of love, but rather what God has defined and demonstrated toward us.

Remember, the love that has consoled us (c.f. Pp 2.1)? This is the love we demonstrate toward one another to achieve same-mindedness.

b. …united in spirit...

Our spirit is the innermost part of who we are as men and women of God. We are united in that deeper part of one another.

How are we united? What brings us together? We have the same spirit.

Not a spirit of what I want or what I get, but the Spirit of God…the willingness to take on God’s character instead of my own.

c. …intent on one purpose...

Intent suggests we are focused and working toward this one purpose.

What divides groups of people? Many things, but often, many different focuses and purposes.

C. Unity comes from humility (Pp 2.3-4)

1. Reject the world’s way of thinking

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit...

Selfishness means I am worried about myself in all my thinking and motivation.

Empty conceit means I think I am pretty great…I am proud of myself. But notice, it is empty conceit: there is nothing of substance to my thinking more highly of self than others.

2. When I demonstrate humility of mind, I will think of [others] as more important than [myself]

I will think of their needs as more important than my needs.

I will think of their desires as more important than my desires.

3. I can take care of myself, so long as I am also [looking out for] the interests of others

As much as I spend time looking out for what is good for myself, I am also looking out for what is good for others.

D. When we reunite as a congregation, these attitudes of unity and humility are going to be critical

1. Like the old recipe we have used in the past, but might be out of practice

2. Maybe with new people, new circumstances, we have to try new things

3. The method to unity remains the same:

a. See the value of the church…remember all we have together and what we share in our congregation

b. Focus on the same things: the things of God and His work

c. Remember humility of self will get us to see others in our congregation as important

E. But what does humility look like? How do we define humility?

II. Like Christ…Humility (Philippians 2.5-11)

A. Have this attitude in yourselves… (Pp 2.5)

1. This is the goal for our own mindset

2. We look to the example of Jesus

3. Not just what He did, but the mindset He had to maintain to accomplish what He did

B. Humility in Christ meant He emptied Himself (Pp 2.6-8)

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C. God’s response to humility: glorification (Pp 2.9-11)

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CONCLUSION

A. Reviewing the basics

1. We have to do it in school

When we get back from a long break (like summer or Christmas).

It helps remind us of things were were all doing before we left, but might have fallen out of practice.

2. We are reminded in scripture

There are places (like 2 Peter 1.12-15) where they are reminded of the basics they had already known.

3. We might be a bit out of practice

We haven’t been around one another very much these last few months.

We haven’t been around people, in general.

4. There is more stress and division in the country

Politics are used as an excuse to try and divide.

This pandemic has been quite stressful and very divisive.

Sure, the church will have some affects from this, as we are all affected by our own media intake, our own opinions, and the stress we feel in day to day life.

B. Getting along is basic, but very important

1. We have very important relationships with one another

2. We can get on one another’s nerves

3. But, we must value one another, and strive for peace between each other

C. The goal: being like Christ

1. Being like Christ in our relationships toward one another

2. Being humble like Christ in our view of self

3.