This blog is based on a sermon from Philippians. You can listen to the sermon here (unfortunately, some of the sermon was not recorded).
Sermon Text: Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve been a part of a church for a while, you’ve probably experienced or witnessed conflict within the church.
Why is it that so many churches seem to have so much conflict?
Of course, no church will never be able to eradicate all conflict because every church is made up of sinful people.
But what if there is some way that we can minimize conflict within the church? Our text this morning speaks to this issue.
Last week, as we finished Philippians 1, Paul began giving instructions to the Philippian church.
Paul told the Philippians to “live worthy of the gospel” by:
- Being unified around the gospel (27)
- Not fearing those who oppose the gospel (28)
- Being willing to suffer for the sake of Christ and the gospel (29-30)
In last week’s text, Paul was addressing external opposition. In today’s text, we see Paul focusing on how to have unity within the church.
BIG IDEA: Our church will have unity as we practice Christlike humility and service.
Our church should be marked by unity (1-2)
We see in verse 2 Paul’s command to have unity. But before he gives the command, he provides the basis for Christian unity and fellowship in verse 1.
The basis of unity and Christian fellowship (1)
Phil 2:1 – So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
Paul uses the conditional statement “if” to get the Philippians to consider whether these qualities are present in their lives.
- Encouragement in Christ – nothing should lift our spirits more than knowing that we are in Christ. Paul is encouraging these believers when he himself is in prison.
- Comfort from love – because we know the love of Christ, we are to love others. See 1 John 4:19.
- Participation (or fellowship) in the Spirit – since all who are in Christ have the Holy Spirit within them, this should bring unity.
- If the Holy Spirit truly lives within us, then we will be united around the Bible, which is breathed out by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21).
- If someone in the church consistently causes division, this text implies that they do not have the Holy Spirit living within them.
- Affection and sympathy – affections and sympathy (or mercy) towards others flows from our union with Christ.
Because we are in Christ, we should be encouraged and comforted, knowing that we are loved by him.
Furthermore, because we are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit, we should have unity and love one another.
In other words, Paul is saying if we have truly come to know Christ, then as true believers, we will be progressing in the faith.
These qualities will be increasingly present in our lives. Remember, Paul said in Phil 1:6 that where God has begun a work, He will bring it to completion.
So, our union with Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit within our hearts is the basis for unity in the church.
We see the basis for unity in verse 1. We see the command for unity in verse 2.
The command for unity (2)
Phil 2:2 – complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Paul says to the Philippians, since the things from verse 1 are present in your lives, “Complete my joy”, or “Make my joy complete”.
How could the Philippians complete Paul’s joy?
First, by “being of the same mind” – As Christians, our minds should be in tune with God’s Word.
Second, Paul says, “Having the same love” – We should love Christ as well as other Christians.
And finally, “being in full accord and of one mind” – We should be in agreement about the purpose of the church – to make disciples of Jesus (Matt 28:18-20).
Each of these phrases Paul uses in verse 2 point to unity. Paul, who is imprisoned for the sake of the gospel, says that his joy would be complete if the Philippians would live in unity. This shows us how important unity is in the church.
Why is Paul so concerned with unity?
If believers cannot live in unity, the transformative power of the gospel comes into question and the gospel message loses credibility among unbelievers.
If believers cannot live in unity, the transformative power of the gospel comes into question and the gospel message loses credibility among unbelievers.
How can we say we believe the gospel and have been transformed by the gospel if we are unwilling to forgive one another and to serve others (see Matt 6:14-15; 18:21-35)?
Just as a house divided against itself cannot stand, neither can a divided church. A divided church will be spiritually weak and no threat to the kingdom of darkness.
What are some ways we can cultivate unity?
- By assuming the best of others’ motives.
- By listening in order to understand the perspective of others.
- Be refusing to speak ill of our Christian brothers and sisters.
We should practice Christlike humility and service (3-4)
Phil 2:3 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Remember from Phil 1:15 that Paul said some people were preaching out of envy and rivalry.
Some people, in their selfish ambition, join a church for the wrong reasons. They think it will increase their stature in the community – perhaps to win a vote or to market their business.
Others will leave a church and join another church if they are not given a certain position within the church. A person who is conceited believes he is always right and expects others to agree with him. He is only happy when he gets what he wants. I’ve heard it said that you see someone’s spiritual maturity (or the lack of it) when they don’t get their way.
Both those who are driven by selfish ambition and those driven by conceit are not seeking to make much of Christ, but to make much of themselves. They are seeking to advance their own agenda rather than that of Jesus.
This attitude is totally different than that of Jesus, who took emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Notice that Paul continues in v. 3: “but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Paul wants us to see that selfish ambition will ruin a church, but humility helps build it.
Selfish ambition will ruin a church but humility helps build it.
When Paul wrote Philippians, humility was not considered a virtue. There were likely many retired Roman soldiers who were members of the Philippian church. These were proud men of position, but Paul told them to have humility.
Paul says that rather than being motivated by selfish ambition or conceit, we as Christians should walk in humility by counting others more significant than ourselves.
In verse 4, Paul shows what it looks like to put others first.
Phil 2:4 – “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
I’ve heard it said that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. A humble person thinks of others while a selfish person thinks only of himself.
In a culture that is all about me, myself, and I, Paul says that we should seek to put others first.
Many people in America attend a worship service to get something (a good message, good music, God’s blessing) for themselves rather seeking to serve their fellow church members and exalt Jesus.
In reality, church is not a service you attend but a people to belong to – other baptized Christians who are seeking to further the kingdom of God.
Conclusion
So, Paul’s argument in vv. 1-4 is this: if we are truly Christians, then we should be unified. The problem is that in our flesh we are driven by selfish ambition and conceit. But we are to put off those things and grow in humility and service.
As we grow in humility and service, we will grow in unity.
First, how can we grow in humility?
1. We can grow in humility by reflecting on the cross (see Phil 2:6-8).
There is no room for pride when we realize that we deserve nothing but God’s wrath and eternal punishment.
2. We can grow in humility by reflecting on the glory of Jesus (see Phil 2:9-11).
Rather than making much of ourselves, we should bow the knee to King Jesus.
3. We can grow in humility through prayer.
When we refuse to pray, we are pridefully refusing to acknowledge that we need God’s help. We should also pray to God for humility, asking him to help us love others more than ourselves.
4. We can grow in humility by serving others (Mark 10:45)
Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
As we serve others, we are reminded that we are not the center of the universe.
Second, what are some practical ways we can look to the interests of others within the church?
- Pray for one another.
- Show hospitality by having church members into your home, especially those that you don’t know well.
- Invite someone to your Sunday school class.
- Take someone a meal when they have a baby or are sick.
- A younger Sunday school class might give up the nicer classroom on the first floor to the senior adults who have a hard time climbing the stairs.
- Older members can serve younger members by being okay with adding an instrument or two to the church music (so long as the congregational voices are still featured).
- Serve in the nursery even when you don’t have kids.
The important thing to remember is this – we should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.
We should not think in terms of “us vs them” but instead “let’s make much of Jesus together.”
When Christians are controlled by humility and love, they will be genuinely united in spirit and will not allow small differences to divide them or hinder their service for the Lord.
Why do many churches have so much conflict? Because of of pride and selfishness.
How can we avoid conflict within the church? Through humility and service.
As a church, are we united?
Are we humble?
More personally:
Has your life been changed by the gospel?
Are you walking in a manner worthy of the gospel?
Do you promote unity within the church?
Is your life marked by humility and service?