Sermon Prep | Philippians 2:4–11

ME

HONESTY

Growing up, my family was pretty laid back and didn’t get worked up about a whole lot of things. 

Most days were peaceful.  I would get off the bus and watch Power Rangers or Tiny Toons while eating Vienna sausages, Mom would get home next and start cooking, then Dad would get home, change out of his sweaty work clothes and sit on the couch. 

We would eat, then mom and dad watched Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune while I went to my room to watch tv or get on the ORIGINAL playstation, then dad would go to his bedroom to watch his shows, while mom stayed in the living room to watch hers.

(My brother and sister both got married when I was young, so I was kind of like an only child in the house after that.)

Our family stayed pretty chill about stuff.  Not many arguments or fighting… but the older I got the more I noticed something: we had trouble with being blunt honest with each other.  We didn’t have a problem with lying, but a problem with sharing uncomfortable truths with each other.  Until those uncomfortable truths made us eventually blow up in anger.  And then it would come out totally the wrong way.

See, I was born and raised in Middle TN, but my parents, brother and sister grew up in small towns throughout KY like Owenton, Monterey, Frankfort and Bowling Green. What I’ve noticed from my family and from six years living in KY is that speaking kind to others is a way of life. It’s a part of living in small southern towns.

So instead of saying “You’re an idiot”people say “bless your heart.” Or instead of “shut up” “hush up”

Or, if you’re moving to slow: “Oh that’s ok, your just take your sweet time.”

And the only time we would say something unkind is when we were watching a UK game bc we all know that referees can be the worst people on earth when we’re losing!

*Show Wedding pic*

Then I got married to a beautiful… and honest… woman.

She tells it like it is!

See, we kind of balance each other out. I like to be more chill and bite my tongue, and she can be honest even when it’s awkward.

*Kayla Kyle dating pic*

I remember on one of our first dates we were going to a high school football game. We’re walking across the street to the stadium, she grabs my hand, smiles at me and asks “is this ok?”

Yup that’s cool! (inside I’m like “yeah she digging me though.”)

Kayla understands that when you love someone, it’s better to be honest and up front with them, even when it’s hard. It leads to a healthier relationship.

I’ve grown more honest as the years have gone by because her example has helped me.

Saying hard truths is still really hard for me, BUT I have learned that there are times when confrontation needs to happen- when I have to make myself vulnerable by speaking up even when it may lead to an uncomfortable conversation, an argument, whatever.

WE

*Title Slide*

We’ve all had times in our lives where we wanted to avoid the conversation… when we didn’t want to speak our minds because we were afraid that it might lead to an argument or that we might hurt someone’s feelings if we spoke up.

For some of us, it’s easier than others.

But when we truly love someone, we will be up front and honest with them.

We will speak the hard truths.

Like when a friend is in a romantic relationship that is just really bad for them; we may need to sit down and have a chat with them.

When a friend is making decisions that are hurting them, we may need to speak up.

And on the flip side, true maturity is when we can listen through our emotions when a close friend needs to talk with us about some things in our lives. Like when we aren’t making the best decisions.

And you know what this back and forth honesty requires? ]

VULNERABILITY

GOD

TITLE SLIDE

No one knew about becoming vulnerable more than Jesus.

He left perfection in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, to come to this earth, born in a cave with animals, and working as a carpenter.

I’ve worked as a carpenter, and I can tell you first-hand: it ain’t glamorous.

Jesus came to this earth, made himself vulnerable in a human body by choice, and spoke the hard truths to those in power.

Let’s check out one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible that shows us how Christ made Himself vulnerable and humbled Himself for us:

Philippians 2:4–11 NIV

not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Verse 4: It ain’t all about you! Care about other people!

No one wants to be around someone who is completely stuck on themselves.

*Camoflouge illustration?*

“Arrogance is the camouflage of insecurity”

-Tim Fargo

“I don’t want people to see the real me so I’m gonna hide out behind this blind of ARROGANCE.”

Arrogant people look out for themselves because they are terrified that someone is going to take advantage of them or that they won’t get what they want in life.

A humble person is secure in who they are, not worried about getting their way in life. This allows them to be free to help and build up others.

When we're honest and open with God and others, we grow closer to the heart of Jesus.

When I’m honest and open with God and others, I grow closer to the heart of Jesus.

When I’m honest and open, there’s nothing to hide and I draw closer to Christ as He takes full control of my life. I also have deeper and more meaningful relationships with others because I’m not hiding behind my cynicism and distrust.

*Title Slide*

Betty Stuckey is a shining example of humble servanthood in my life. She was at the church I grew up in and served as youth pastor at. Mrs. Betty taught youth Sunday School for 20 years, she would cook and clean at every meal the church had, she would help sponsor students to go on trips. You name it, she did it- with a smile on her face the whole time, after working hard all week at her job. I still love it when I get to see Mrs. Betty.

Mrs. Betty was free to serve others because she has nothing to hide. Don’t you just love being around these kind of people? They make you just feel better being in their presence because you know that they truly care about you.

A well-known motto among the ancient Jewish rabbis was, ‘Let your friend’s honour be as dear to you as your own’ .

Do you care about your friends as much as you do yourself? If not, you may need to check your pride:

‘There is nothing so foreign to a Christian soul as arrogance.’

-John Chrysostom

Verse 5-7: Think Like Jesus

Jesus is and always has been Lord over everything. But when He made the decision to become human, He didn’t come as a dictator trying to force everyone to do what He wanted.

He humbled Himself and served others.

Paul says that Christians need to have the same mind Jesus did.

You see, in order to love others like Jesus, we must learn to humble ourselves here (point to heart and head).

Our mindset must be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, until we see serving others as a joy rather than a burden.

… “For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross...”

Hebrews 12:2

Jesus knew what the cross would accomplish (our salvation), the thought of our salvation brought Him joy; so He chose to endure it.

When Christians fully grasp this mindset of serving others, it shows Jesus like nothing else can.

When we're honest and open with God and others, we grow closer to the heart of Jesus.

Verse 8: Humble Obedience to the Father

The ultimate act of humility that Jesus shows us is the Cross.

With arms stretched wide, nailed into a piece of wood and lifted up high for the world to see, Jesus was at His most vulnerable.

But that’s just a small part of what’s happening.

As His body dies, Jesus is literally taking billions of people’s sin on Him. All the pain, shame, hurt and regret of humans across thousands of years is laid on Him.

We can’t begin to imagine that kind of pain.

Why would He go through all this?

He was obeying His Father.

And both Jesus and the Father knew this was the only way to save people from an eternity in hell.

VERSES 9-11: Lifted High for all to bow before Him

Because this Son was obedient, God the Father gave Him the greatest name ever: JESUS.

And one day, everyone who ever existed will admit that Jesus is Lord.

“Every knee will bow and every tongue confess...”

Isaiah 45:23–24 The Message

I promise in my own name: Every word out of my mouth does what it says. I never take back what I say. Everyone is going to end up kneeling before me. Everyone is going to end up saying of me, ‘Yes! Salvation and strength are in God!’ ” All who have raged against him will be brought before him, disgraced by their unbelief.

The coming of God’s final rule isn’t just a hopeful wish of Christians, but an unstoppable certainty.

Here’s how it going to happen:

Many will bow to Jesus in joyful adoration, but others who were his enemies will find themselves bowing in shame before Him.

One way or another, EVERYONE will bow before Jesus one day.

YOU

Bruce Almighty pic 1

Scene Setup: At the end of the movie Bruce Almighty, Bruce decides to surrender his life to God. The trouble is, Bruce performed this action in the middle of an interstate highway with a 40 foot truck bearing down on him. When Bruce opens his eyes, he’s in heaven face to face with the One to whom he just sworn to trust with his life and future...

Show Bruce Almighty Video

Bruce Almighty Pic 2

Application: Sometimes we think we know how God should run the universe. When Bruce surrendered his life to God, the last thing that he guessed would happen is that his life would end abruptly upon finishing the prayer. As Bruce gets oriented to his new future, God asks him a question that will test whether Bruce has really surrendered his heart or not.

God steps into this fresh relationship with Bruce with grace and love. Prior to this meeting, Bruce has shown purely selfish motives to achieve his idea of happiness. But Bruce’s journey toward unselfishness is complete when he prays and asks God for a man who will love his former fiance, Grace, the way she deserves to be loved. Because of this prayer, and passing the test, God feels Bruce now qualifies to be that man and sends them back together.

God’s direction to Bruce to pray from the heart is critical for our understanding. Did you notice the difference when Bruce prayed his “Miss America” prayer, and when he prayed from his heart? That feeling is similar to what God feels when we come to Him open, vulnerable and trusting Him to provide what we need. Heart-to-heart prayer is nourishing to both parties. It creates a different kind of relationship than formal talk and phony pretending.

Scripture tells us that God knows what we need before we ask Him, but He wants us to ask anyway. This clip illustrates why. God wants to have intimacy with us and share everything with Him, where we open our heart and love Him with every part of our being.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

-John 1:14

Title Slide

Jesus made Himself vulnerable by becoming a human and giving His life for us.

He was honest and open with His friends and enemies every moment of His life.

Do you act this way with the people around you?

Are you honest and open with nothing to hide?

Or are you afraid someone might hurt you if you were open and honest?

Do you serve others, even when you know they may take advantage of your kindness?

People may hurt you or take advantage of your kindness, (they did these things to Jesus.)

But God calls you to live this way because He knows how it can change the world.

Are you wanting to grow closer to Him today?

Psalm 32:5 The Message

Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.” Suddenly the pressure was gone— my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.

When we're honest and open with God and others, we grow closer to the heart of Jesus.

*Discussion Questions graphic*

WE

Title Slide

What if we all lived honest, open, vulnerable lives with nothing to hide?

What if we served others without thinking about what we could get out of it?

In a world full of selfishness and hate, people would begin to see compassion and love.

When we grow closer to the heart of Jesus, it changes everything.

So may we learn to live humbly like Jesus, growing closer to Him daily.

This will change EVERYTHING.

*Prayer*