Good ‘Tude, Good Mood

Spiritual Growth 101: Serving

Story: Hiking with Cory. You can wear the shirt. You can look the part, but true humble servant leadership is what’s on the inside. For ultimately, what’s on the inside will reveal itself in the end.

Title: Good ‘Tude, Good Mood

Passage: Philippians 2:1:4

Christian Humility

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 make my joy complete by thinking (phroneo - values) the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition 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.

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 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— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Background: Paul is writing this letter to the church at Philippi. Paul and his friends started this church on his second missionary journey. This was the first church established on the European continent. The church sent a gift with Epaphroditus to be delivered to Paul. Paul was in prison at the time. This letter is Paul thanking them for their generosity and encouraging them in the faith.

Main Points: 3 practical ways to live out the text

1. Selfishness brings discord, disunity, and dysfunction.

   1. “Selfish ambition”

      1. By this Paul is addressing people’s attitude to push their way to the top.
      2. Who do I need to step on or over to get to where I want to go?
      3. This is the attitude of “I’m either going through you or over you, but one way or another I’m getting to my goal!”
      4. Selfish ambition is “My way…”, “My goals…” “My purpose…” “My desired outcome…” “My title…” “My promotion…” “My, My, My, My….”

      5. Working in selfish ambition has your advantage at the forefront of your words and actions.

         2. “Conceit” - excessive pride in oneself

      6. This is the attitude of trying to impress others so that you look better.

      7. Someone that is conceited is constantly doing whatever it takes to puff themselves up.

      8. Imagine a space where everyone is looking out for the interest of others. Where making a good impression is not the main focus, but where everyone is looking out for the needs and interests of one another. Who wins in that scenario? EVERYONE!

         3. Question: Do your personal interests dominate your actions?
         4. Philippi was a cosmopolitan and diverse city. We find some of this diversity laid out in the book of Acts chapter 16. Lydia was a God-fearing Gentile from Thyatira and a wealthy business woman (16:14), the slave girl (16:16-17), and the Roman jailer (16:25-36). Unity has to be protected.

      9. When there is great diversity, it is critical to protect the unity.

      10. Boulder is very diverse. There are people from all walks of life. Almost everyone is a transplant. Paul gives us clarity and practical handles in how we are to experience harmony and unity in the body.
      11. A humble attitude produces harmony, unity, and blessing

   2. “Selfishness can ruin a church, but genuine humility can build it.” - Life Application Study Bible

   3. “For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” - Romans 12:3 CSB
   4. True humility is not demeaning yourself, but elevating others. It’s not about you bringing yourself down. It’s about having a proper perspective of your position.

   5. Illust: I’m reading a book right now titled “Be humble, stay hungry, and always hustle.” A humble attitude is always linked to exceptional leadership.

      1. Question: Think of some of the greatest leaders you know. The greatest bosses you’ve ever had. Were they prideful, conceited, and full of selfish ambition? Or were they humble and truly looking to elevate those around them?

         5. It’s my prayer that we pursue Paul’s charge in verse 2 “having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

      2. If we are going to truly pursue unity, love, and be intent on one purpose, it is going to require all of us to consider others more important than ourselves.

      3. Carry the problem like it’s your problem. Shoulder the load as if it were your load. Celebrate as if it was your victory. This is true unity.
      4. “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.” - Romans 12:13 CSB
      5. Slave to your circumstances, or servant to a cause.

   6. You can’t always choose your season, but you can choose your spirit. You can approach life wanting and ready to be served, or you can have a change in perspective and look for opportunities where you can serve and be a blessing to others.

   7. “I have the right?” Of all people to have the right it was Christ. This is why we have the perfect example to follow of true servanthood. The God of all creation demonstrates for us what it looks like to forfeit His “right” to become a servant to all humanity.
   8. “Paul’s attitude determined his altitude” - unknown

   9. Illust: A server in a restaurant

      1. A waiter or waitress that doesn’t serve? Has anyone here ever experienced this? This makes no sense to me.

Walking Points: The Greatest Example (an old hymn)

1. “Form of a servant”

   1. To adopt the same attitude of Christ means to value what Christ values. Christ gave himself for us, therefore we are to give ourselves to one another. Eph 5:1-2. “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”

   2. “He humbled Himself”

   3. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45

   4. “God highly exalted Him”

   5. “For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.” - 2 Corinthians 4:5

   6. “Outlook determines outcome” - Warren Wiersbe
      1. James said the same thing. James 4:1-10
      2. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:10
      3. If the outlook is selfish, the actions will be divisive and destructive.
   7. “Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,” - 1 Peter 5:6

Invitation.

Let’s pray.