Sermon Tone Analysis

How wealthy is Jesus?

How Much was HE willing to give up for You and Me?

Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1–11 (NIV84)

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

If God Gave Up Everything to become like us; doesn’t it stand to reason that we should imitate HIM?

What would that look like?

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 (NIV84)

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

....

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

.....

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

JOY OF HELPING

The churches in Macedonia—Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea—had given money even though they were poor (8:1), and they had given more than Paul expected.

This was sacrificial giving—they were poor themselves, but they wanted to help.

The point of giving is not so much the amount given, but why and how it is given.

God does not want gifts given grudgingly.

Instead, he wants his people to give as these churches did—out of dedication to Christ, love for fellow believers, and the joy of helping those in need, as well as the fact that it was simply the good and right thing to do.

How well does your giving measure up to the standards set by the Macedonian churches?

Giving should come from the heart not the pocketbook.

How eager is our heart to give back to God a portion of what HE gave to us?

Pure

J

O

Y

Come from Jesus

Philippians 2:1–11 (NIV84)

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

As a symbolic act of sacrifice, open your Bible to this section of 2 Corinthians and place your wallet, watch, and personal calendar on top.

Spend a few moments in prayer releasing your time, money, and commitments to the Lord.

Listen for what he might want you to do today with those three areas of resources.