3 Following with Joy When have you really needed an attitude adjustment? QUESTION 1 #BSFLthrive BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 97
THE POINT We can live in love and humility even as Christ did. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE I went into a convenience store to grab a bottle of water. The cashier asked, Where are you from? You don t look like you re from around here. I replied, I live in North Carolina. He then said, You look like [pop icon] Pitbull. Do you know him? I said, No, not personally, but I know who he is. Then the pushy cashier asked, Are you married? I responded, Yes, happily. To which he asked, Why are you married? How old are you? I m 37, I answered. He said, You re too young to be married. A man needs many women. I smiled and replied: You need Jesus. And you need a wife. Looking back, I wish I had told him to read Philippians 2. In this passage, we find the right outlook on life. Life isn t about satisfying our lusts; it s about joyfully following Christ and glorifying Him, who willingly gave His life for us. 98 SESSION 3
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Philippians 2:1-2 (HCSB) 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Following Jesus is not a solo act. We grow in Christ as we live connected to other Christ-followers. In these verses, Paul gave us a four-fold motivation for unity among believers. We see these as a series of if statements that we may better understand as since or because statements. The if in these cases refers to certainties, not possibilities. These four motivations for Christian unity are: The encouragement in Christ. We have the blessing of being found in Christ and knowing Christ (3:9-10). Does anything lift our spirits more than knowing we are in Christ? In the midst of trials and suffering, we find encouragement in our relationship with Christ. The consolation of love. Believers have experienced Christ s love, and this shared experience leads us to love one another. The fellowship with the Spirit. The Spirit unites us as brothers and sisters in Christ (1:27), partners with us in the gospel (John 16:13-15), leads us in our service and worship (Philippians 3:3), and helps in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26). Disunity threatened the Philippian congregation, so Paul reminded them of the Spirit-produced fellowship they shared. Shared affection and mercy. We share in a common experience of being the objects of God s compassion. This tender care should cause us to look out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). Why is unity so essential in the church? QUESTION 2 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 99
THE POINT We can live in love and humility even as Christ did. Since the Philippian believers were motivated in these four ways, the church could carry out Paul s command to fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal (v. 2). Paul wanted the church to be like-minded in order to complete his joy. Paul s own well-being was tied to the unity and growth of the church, a group of people he loved so much he called them my children (Galatians 4:19). Just like a parent s well-being is tied to the maturity and growth of his kids, church leaders feel the same way about the church families they are called to lead. Paul encouraged the Philippians to remember their identity and common mission as followers of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:3-4 (HCSB) 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Humility is essential for us to experience unity. More precisely, we must pursue Christ-like humility. The humble person will avoid rivalry and conceit. Earlier in his letter, Paul wrote about the preachers who were wrongly motivated to preach Christ out of envy and strife or to proclaim Christ out of rivalry (Philippians 1:15,17). Now he told the whole church it was necessary to avoid these attitudes. Every church member should beware of the presence of rivalry and seek to put it to death immediately. What are the consequences when people look out for their own interests in the church? QUESTION 3 100 SESSION 3
What are the benefits when people look out for one another s interests in the church? QUESTION 4 Paul told the church not just to consider their own interests, but to look out also for the interests of others. In this age of obsessively taking and posting selfies, a lifestyle of thinking about others seems to be rare. How can we cultivate a life of humility? Reflect on the cross of Christ. Paul gave a compelling picture in verses 5-11 of ultimate humility: Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a man and gave His life on the cross. Reflect on the glory of Christ. In verses 5-11, Paul pointed to Christ s exaltation and humanity s climactic confession and worship of Jesus. Reflect on God s Word. The Bible reveals Christ s humility. When we study the Bible, it can be an act of humility in itself if we read it with an attitude that says, I hunger for your Word more than bread. Look to God in prayer. When we pray, we humbly recognize our inability to meet our own needs. Serve others. By performing humble actions serving even when nobody notices we will begin to grow in humility. This is an active way we can put the needs of others ahead of our own. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 101
THE POINT We can live in love and humility even as Christ did. "Humility is essential for us to experience unity. More precisely, we must pursue Christ-like humility." TONY MERIDA MINE VS. YOURS You arrive at Bible study only to find the youth group in the room you usually meet in. Your group has been given a new space that is smaller, windowless, and not easily accessible. A Christ-centered reaction would benefit me by A Christ-centered reaction would benefit the youth group by A Christ-centered reaction would benefit our church by 102 SESSION 3
Philippians 2:5-11 (HCSB) 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 highlights key doctrinal truths and provides a foundation for Christian living and it s all done in the setting of a hymn. Full of deep theological truths about Christ, this hymn draws us to both adoration and imitation. The more we behold His glory and imitate His character, the more unified we will be as a church. This passage not only teaches us the pattern God gave us to follow in His Son; it also reminds us of the power we have through the Holy Spirit to emulate Christ. We fail to serve God and others perfectly, but Christ died for self-absorbed, self-glorifying people like us. He rose from the dead on our behalf and now empowers us to follow His example. Christ displayed humility throughout His earthly ministry. First, He displayed humility by stepping down from glory. He who had everything willingly became nothing. He further displayed humility in His incarnation. Christ came to earth, took on flesh, and became a servant. Finally, Christ displayed humility through His crucifixion. He gave all the way to the cross, where he gave His very life. How can we work together to obey Paul s command in verse 5? QUESTION 5 The Savior s life was marked by humble service. The Sovereign Creator made Himself nothing. The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). That s the mind-set we need. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 103
THE POINT We can live in love and humility even as Christ did. LIVE IT OUT When we follow Jesus, our lives will reflect His humility and selfless love for people. Read Philippians 2:1-11 every day this week. In your prayer time, ask God to show you areas in your life where you need to be more others-oriented. Learn more. As part of the Trinity, Jesus is God s Son who is fully human and fully divine. Read up on this unique relationship at www.mywsb.com under the topic Incarnation. As a group, identify a need in your church and serve together to meet it. If possible, do so anonymously or with as little fanfare as possible. Make it your goal to serve others with humility and love. Following Jesus is hardly easy and often comes with some personal cost to us. Jesus example blazes a trail that may not lead to fame or recognition, but it delivers something far more valuable: a new attitude. My thoughts 104 SESSION 3 Share with others how you will live out this study: #BSFLthrive