Gospel Culture: Humility Philippians 2:1-11

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1 Intro Gospel Culture: Humility Philippians 2:1-11 New series - Gospel Culture - values we pursue as a church community - WHY? What about Romans - SGC Denomination - enjoyed 31 years of partnership We aren t superior - there is a feel and vibe of our culture - newer folks have experienced some of that Bring out of the nebulous and give definition - things we have emphasized that have contributed to the culture we enjoy Not special revelation just for us - special revelation for all - NT Christianity - fruit of the Gospel - not automatic - call us as a church to pursue what God has revealed for us to pursue - old-timers call us back to fundamentals - new folks acclimate Gospel doctrine - gospel culture = hypocrisy Gospel culture - gospel doctrine = fragility Gospel doctrine + gospel culture = power The gospel does not hang in midair as an abstraction. By the power of God, the gospel creates something new in the world today. It creates not just a new community, but a new kind of community. Gospel-centered churches are living proof that the good news is true, that Jesus is not a theory but is real, as he gives back to us our humanness. In its doctrine and culture, words and deeds, such a church makes visible the restored humanity only Christ can give. (Ray Ortlund, The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ, p. 65) Humility, Godliness, Serving, Generosity, Gratefulness, Fellowship, Joy Not all there is to say about the Christian life - for instance no Love - Love is the overarching category - looks like this - also doesn t describe specific practices - your pastors believe that if one possesses these charecteristics they will be a growing disciple and our church will have a robust Gospel culture that shows forth the beauty and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ In a sense - all these things begin and flow out of this first Gospel Culture Value - Humility - I M NOT HUMBLE - WORD OF GOD Let s explore and embrace this fruit of the gospel so we might continue to grow to be the kind of church Jesus wants us to be. 3 POINTS - Peril of Pride, The Beauty of Humility, Practical considerations on how to pursue humility I. The Peril of Pride A. Before we understand humility, we do well to examine the antithesis of humility pride 1. The heart of the first sin - serpent in the garden with Eve - Genesis 3 did God really say, You can t eat from the tree? You will not die - you will be like God. We know the rest of the story - attracted to the lie be like God - world plunged into the curse of sin and death a) Essence of pride is dislocating God as God and placing ourselves in the highest place - elevated importance 1

2 Pride is when sinful human beings aspire to the status and position of God and refuse to acknowledge their dependence upon Him. (C.J. Mahaney, Humility, p. 31) 2. Presence of pride is sneaky, it s insidious, it s in all of us - that s bad news 3. Baby we were born this way! Oh, most of know better than to strut around with obvious arrogance (some do) - we understand social cues - navigate without looking like a total jerk - internally we are bent towards a need for recognition, for validation, for independence - we are bent towards caring about ourselves primarily Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5) We need our props Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) B. Most people aren t obvious - look at me - love me - Illustration: Several different studies have shown that the number one aspiration for kids when asked what they want to be when they grow up - I want to be famous C. Pride says: 1. I m independent and don t need other people 2. I don t need to pray, I can get by on my own reserves 3. My free time is precious and I will guard it jealously for my own interests 4. What I want - possessions, sexuality, comfort, stress-free life - is what matters most 5. I can sidestep God s commands and I ll be good - grace after all 6. Complaining - I deserve better - not trusting in God s providence D. Application 1. We face great peril for we are prideful people - Scripture - God s opposition - ultimately destruction a) Destroys unity in the church 2. In and of ourselves we can t fix this - We need a divine rescue II. The Beauty of Humility (our text) A. So - 1:27 walk in a manner worthy of the gospel B. Verse 1 - if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, and participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy 1. Any? A little? Yeah. Every Christian has - LOOKS US STRAIGHT IN THE EYE C. Complete by being united in love - same mind - one mind - not against diversity - likeminded - shared psychology - shared love - Mind matters big time - verse 3 - what does this look like 1. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves 2

3 a) Doesn t say we aren t significant - we don t matter - we do (we already think so) - others MORE significant than ourselves - verse 4 doesn t say you shouldn t look after your interests but that we are called to pursue others interests with the same zeal we pursue ours. - love neighbor as ourselves b) In opposition to pride - Humility looks like seeing others as more important than ourselves and eagerly seeking to serve them c) WOAH - how do we get there? So counterintuitive - WE SEE THE MOVIE OF OUR LIVES AS THE STAR OTHERS AS SUPPORTING CAST d) how can we possibly adopt this way of humility - verses the cross D. Verse 5 - have this mind - think this way - in Jesus Christ we find the ultimate example of humility and the grace that makes our humility possible - HOLY GROUND 1. He was God but did not hold onto the privileges that were his as God - dwelling in eternal, uninterrupted splendor, glory, joy - worthy of all worship, praise, obedience 2. He emptied himself - didn t lose anything of his Goodness - set aside his privileges - he poured himself out to us by becoming one of us - Reason enough for wonder - the creator become like his creation! 3. SHOCKING - not with splendor and pomp - as divine King - a servant - WHAT? He came to serve us - what kind of God is this? 4. How did he serve - what did his service consist of - the UNTHINKABLE - CONDESCENSION - DEATH - dying in our place for our stinking pride - more - EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS a) This was meant to provoke horror in the imagination In polite Roman society the word cross was an obscenity, not to be uttered in conversation. (F.F. Bruce) It satisfied the primitive lust for revenge and sadistic cruelty. It was usually associated with other forms of torture, including at least flogging the criminal could be tortured to death for days in an unspeakable way. (Hengel) To bind a Roman citizen is a crime; to flog him is an abomination; to slay him is almost an act of murder; to crucify him is what? There is no fitting word that can possibly describe so horrible a deed. (Cicero) b) EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS 5. Beaten, Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted - Crucified - nails and spear 6. The deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that Justice gave - cursed is the man that is hanged upon a tree 7. Forsaken of the Father - bearing the wrath we deserve for our pride and sin - bearing the wrath for the million ways that we dislocate the Creator as King over our lives - Oh such is the nature of our humble God 3

4 Here is where the one who as equal with God has most fully revealed the truth about God: that God is love and that his love expresses itself in self-sacrifice cruel, humiliating death on a cross for the sake of those he loves (Gordon Fee, NICNT: Philippians, p. 217) E. Have this mindset F. Raised - exalted - all glorious ascended - because of his willing obedience to the Father in dying for the salvation of his people - he takes his place in the heavens exalted - bestowed on him the name above every name - what is that name? [22] Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. [23] By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. (Isaiah 45:22-23) G. Before the humble and exalted one the only right response is to fall down to our knees in abject humility H. Application 1. Humility is beautiful and desirable for it originates in Christ - at the center of the universe is a humble God - he is the fountain of humility toward us - he is our example but even more - in his humility - cross - he provides the grace for us to pursue humility 2. How do we move from pride to humility III. Pursuing Humility A. What humility isn t 1. Self-deprecation - beating yourself up - navel gazing - can be selfish 2. Doormat - allowing abuse to happen to you - humility sometimes means holding our tongues 3. Lack of ambition - selfish ambition and godly ambition Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God s holiness and our sinfulness. (C.J. Mahaney, Humility, p. 22) B. It is in this kind of honest assessment stop comparing ourselves to others - that we humble ourselves before God and others and prepare ourselves to encounter the lavish grace of God God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) 1. Don t want to be opposed - we want grace - we pursue humility - humility in the life of this church begins with humility before God God is decisively drawn to humility. The person who is humble is the one who draws God s attention, and in this sense, drawing his attention means also attracting his grace - His unmerited kindness. Think about that: There s something you can do to attract more of God s gracious, underserved, supernatural strength and assistance! (C.J. Mahaney, Humility, p. 29) C. In light of our weaknesses and besetting sins we have every reason to be humble - further we aren t that impressive Illustration: Getting micd up 4

5 D. Application -TURN AND SERVE - more significant 1. Home a) Dad s returning home from work - a context to serve - they are more important than you - prepare yourself b) Busy moms with difficult children - mommy is a sinner too - you pour yourselves out for your kids - my greatest respect for all you do c) Teens with parents - I m unimpressive - I embrace my role 2. Church a) Come to serve - more important than the snooze button don t dictate what s worthy of your service - where s the need? Singles you have a unique opportunity in this season b) Inviting feedback and receiving correction - to be humble is to recognize that I m capable of thinking more highly of myself than I should - I don t see everything in my life clearly - I need the help of others (1) That feedback and correction should be given gently and humbly c) Encouraging others 3. Public a) Break free from American culture of isolation b) My neighbors are massively important in the place God has put me. Savor of Christ Illustration: Kate with neighbors E. Practices (indebted to C.J. s book Humility) - GET BOOK 1. We must engage our minds - have this mind - psychology engaged a) Study the cross - passages like Philippians 2 - HOW CAN WE BE ARROGANT? Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to be saying to us, I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying. Nothing in history or the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in selfrighteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size. (John Stott) b) Conversation with those who know you (spouse) - do you perceive that I place you and the kids as more important than myself? With friends - do you perceive pride in my life Illustration: Kate and I asking if we talked too much c) Begin your day acknowledging your need and with gratitude d) Devos as expression of dependence - Use your commute to work for taking in Scripture e) Come to CG - commitment that expresses I need others in my life - be open and honest - not hiding - receive feedback and correction - gently provide the same 5

6 Close Gospel Culture: Humility As we pursue this virtue, God shapes our church to look like the community of the risen Christ of the cross that we have been called to be. Even as Paul said humble, gospel unity would make his joy complete - KNOW YOUR PASTORS JOY - AND OUR JOY AS A CHURCH Let s throw ourselves together into pursuing humility - all because of the gospel - all for the good of Christ s church - all to the glory of God 6