The way to true greatness is through selfless sacrifice (30-32)
The way to true greatness is through humble service (33-37)
The way to true greatness is through unwavering allegiance (38-42)
Summary
What is true greatness? In our culture, we hear about greatness all the time. Sports pundits debate about who is the greatest player in each sport. Political pundits talk about the greatest (and worst) presidents. Those debates are fine to have but what really matters is God’s definition of greatness. We find this in today’s text (Mark 9:30-42).
First, the way to true greatness is through selfless sacrifice (vv. 30-32). For the second time (see Mark 8:31), Jesus tells his disciples that he will be handed over, killed, and after three days, rise again. The disciples still do not understand that Jesus, the Messiah, has to die (v. 32). Jesus went to the cross knowing the agonizing fate that awaited him. Jesus’ selfless sacrifice is the pattern for all his disciples (not that we need to die on the cross but we must be willing to die to ourselves).
Second, the way to true greatness is through humble service (vv. 33-37). On their way back to Capernaum, the disciples argued about who was the greatest among them. Jesus overheard their conversation and taught them a lesson on true greatness – “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (v. 35). Of course, this was totally countercultural then and still is today. Jesus took a child in his arms and explained to his disciples that they should be willing to receive those whom society rejects in his name (vv. 36-37).
Consider the paradox of greatness in God’s kingdom: If you desire to be first by gaining position, power, and prestige, then you will get nowhere in the kingdom of God. However, if you seek to serve, you will be exalted; for in serving, you serve Jesus, and in serving Jesus, you are serving God the Father.
Third, the way to true greatness is through unwavering allegiance to Christ (vv. 38-42). Jesus rebuked the disciples for trying to stop a man who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name (v. 38). Ironically, this man had succeeded where the disciples had failed (Mark 9:18). Perhaps they were jealous of his success. John reasoned that because this new disciple was not in their circle he was not to be trusted with such responsibilities. This is a lesson most of us need to learn as well.
We can easily fall into the trap of thinking that our church, our denomination, our worship style, or our Bible translation is the only right one. Jesus is saying don’t be so critical of others. Sure, time will tell whether or not a ministry is truly honoring to Christ but our default should be to give someone the benefit of the doubt until they prove themselves unfaithful.
God’s kingdom is bigger than our experience of it (Mark 4:26-32). We tend to think in terms of our community, our church, our association, our denomination, but God’s kingdom is for every tribe, every tongue, and every nation (Rev 7:9).
In closing, here are a few questions to consider:
What is your standard greatness – the world’s or Jesus’?
Do you seek to promote yourself or serve others?
Do you expect others to serve you or are you seeking to serve others?
Are you willing to follow Jesus’ example? Are you willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel and doing good to others?
This blog is based on a sermon from Philippians. Unfortunately, the sermon was not recorded. I previously preached this sermon at another church, when you can view here.
We’ve been walking through Philippians, which is a letter that Paul wrote from prison to a church that he loved very much.
We cannot achieve unity in our church simply by me preaching on it. I agree with Tony Merida:
“Unity is a result of people adoring and emulating Jesus. The more we behold His glory and imitate His character, the more unified we will be as a church.”
tony merida
In simple terms, we should adore Jesus and live like Jesus.
Our text today is one of the most famous passages in the New Testament and is one of the foremost Christological passages. It is sometimes referred to as the humiliation and exaltation of Jesus.
Sermon Text: Philippians 2:5-11
BIG IDEA: The humiliation and exaltation of Jesus should lead us to follow Jesus’ example and to worship Him as Lord of all.
We are to have the attitude of Christ (5)
v. 5 – “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
The ESV says “mind”. The NIV says “mind-set.” Most translations say “attitude.”
We are to think like Jesus, and value what he values. In this context, we see that Jesus values humility and service more than self-exaltation.
The attitude of Christians should reflect the attitude of their master, Jesus Christ.
When Paul says that we are to have the mind or attitude of Christ, he is saying that we should not be prideful and selfish, but rather that we should be humble and selflessly serve others.
In this passage, we see the attitude of Christ. First, we see his humility:
“did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (6)
“emptied himself” or “made himself nothing” (7)
We also see his service:
“took the form of a servant” (7)
“became a man and died on the cross” (8)
The world lives to get and get and get—more pleasure, more praise, more money. What Paul is saying to us is that as Christians, we are to imitate Christ, who came to give and give and give.
As we look at Philippians 2:6-11 this morning, I want you think about these questions:
Do you seek to get, get, and get, or to give, give, and give?
Do you have the mind/attitude of Christ?
Are you humbly seeking serve others within the church as well as those outside the church?
We are to have the attitude of Christ. We are also to learn humility from Christ.
We are to learn humility from Christ (6-8)
Jesus’ Humble Renunciation (6)
“who, though he was in the form of God”
The phrase “form of God” doesn’t mean that Jesus “had some Godlike qualities or appearance, but that he was of the same nature or essence.”
Jesus was the true and exact nature of God. This phrase means that Jesus was and is equal with God.
Biblical Christianity says is that there is one God who has eternally existed in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He was not created. There was never a time when the Son of God did not exist.
“We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.”
Council of Nicea (325 AD)
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 17:5
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
“did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (6)
This means that although Jesus was God, He did not use his high position for His own advantage but chose to serve and to give. Jesus deserved the praise of every person He encountered but He lived open-handedly and provided an example for all of us to follow.
So often, we live exactly the opposite of how Christ lived.
We want to exalt ourselves, but Jesus made himself nothing and submitted to the will of the Father.
We want to be in charge, but Jesus took the form of a slave.
We reject God’s Word in sinful disobedience, but Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s Word.
We so often give in to temptation, but Jesus always overcame temptation.
What are you grasping for? What are you holding onto?
Are you living for pleasure?
Are you seeking power and position?
Are you living for money?
Have you bought into the lie of the prosperity gospel? Do you think that if you come to church and give that God will make you happy, healthy, and wealthy?
Christians are not immune to pride and selfishness.
We see it in the SBC with denominational politics – pastors promoting themselves and slandering others on social media.
We see women seeking to be pastors when God has forbidden it.
In many churches, there are some people who want all the power in the church but don’t want to serve in any way.
In our marriages, are we seeking to serve or be served?
Friends, Paul is calling us to live like Jesus, who, rather than grasping for a position of power, took on the form of a servant.
How can we do this? We need the gospel, as Paul shows us in the next verses.
Jesus’ Humble Incarnation (7)
“but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (7)
Jesus did not cease to be God when he took on human form but rather gave up his rights. He rightfully deserved to remain at the right hand of God, but He took on the form of a servant and was born as a baby.
Jesus, the perfect Son of God, took on human flesh. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
Norm Geisler writes, “Jesus’ incarnation was not the subtraction of deity, but the addition of humanity.”
A.W. Tozer said, “Jesus veiled His deity but He did not void it.”
Jesus took on the form of a servant.
Have you noticed in the Gospels that Jesus is always serving others and not the other way around?
While American Christianity says to live your best life now, to become a better you, to love yourself, and to slay your giants, Jesus exemplified true greatness by serving and dying.
Imagine what would happen in the church if we all followed the example of Jesus and sought not to grasp for power and position but to seek to humbly serve one another.
Jesus’ Humble Crucifixion (8)
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…”
Jesus’ whole life was marked by humility:
He was not born in Rome, Athens, or Jerusalem, but Bethlehem.
He lived 30 years in relative obscurity in Nazareth.
In his earthly ministry, he was known for loving the unlovable.
At this death, he was nailed to a cross between two criminals.
Notice that the text says that Jesus humbled himself. No one humbled Jesus.
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Jesus, John 10:18
“…even death on a cross.”
In the Roman empire, crucifixion was the cruelest form of official execution. Depending on who you read, some say that Roman citizens could not be crucified. Others say that Roman citizens could only be crucified if they were convicted of high treason. Certainly, crucifixion was commonly reserved for the lower classes, especially slaves.
The Jews believed a person was cursed if he died by crucifixion. And yet, Scripture says that Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).
Christ went from the highest position imaginable (the right hand of the Father) to the lowest (crucified between two criminals) because of His love for His people. His selfless love was an expression of His deity.
Even Hollywood understands what a powerful story the gospel is.
In the live action Lion King movie, Mufasa tells Simba this: “While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give.”
In The Dark Knight Rises, Batman (who is billionaire Bruce Wayne) fights to save Gotham and its people when he could’ve lived for pleasure and himself. Instead, he serves the city of Gotham by putting his life on the line every night.
Because of the gospel, we should be marked by service and love to others.
As Christians, we are to have the attitude of Christ. We are to learn humility from Christ. Finally, we are to bow the knee and exalt Jesus Christ.
We are to bow the knee and exalt Jesus Christ (9-11)
Jesus’ Exalted Position (9)
Jesus humbled himself, and God has highly exalted Him.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, (9)
The phrase “the name that is above every name” refers to Lord (see v. 11). The Father has given Jesus a new name – “Lord” (Phil 2:11; cf. Isa 45:23-24). This name that is above every name is Lord. The Greek word is kurios, which was the word used to translate Yahweh into the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament).
Look at one verse from the Old Testament:
Is 42:8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
Yahweh (Lord) is the awesome covenant name of the God of Israel – “the name that is above every name.”
Our Adoration and Confession (10-11)
so 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.
Notice that Paul mentions heaven, earth, and under the earth.
Every part of creation will bow. No part of creation is exempt:
In heaven, the angels will bow.
On earth, humanity will bow.
Under the earth, the demons and Satan will bow.
Every creature will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Every creature will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
In New Testament times, Christians were persecuted and could be killed for saying that “Jesus is Lord” rather than Caesar.
Every week, we gather as Christians to declare that Jesus is Lord – not Caesar, not President Biden, and not anyone else on earth.
Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
To be saved, we must repent and believe the gospel.
At Christ’s exaltation, Jesus will be acknowledged by all creation as Lord of all Creation.
Every one of us will bow the knee.
Some will bow before Him and confess Him as Lord with great joy.
Others will bow before Him and confess Him as Lord with despair and anguish.
How would you answer these questions?
Have you bowed the knee to Jesus?
Do you have the attitude of Jesus?
Are you serving others like Jesus?
Are you seeking to exalt yourself or to exalt Jesus?
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).
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.
