Scripture referenced 2 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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Philippians 2:1-11 main passage read aloud in full as the basis for the entire teaching
1 If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
2 make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
3 doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Keep this verse
Psalm 34
cited as the source of the song 'taste and see' sung before the teaching
1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
15 Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
16 Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
This message came from a Monday evening study at First B Jackson, working through Philippians 2:1-11. The focus was on what it looks like to have the attitude of Christ, and why that attitude is even possible in the first place. The passage gives both a list of things to pursue and the only real foundation on which they can stand.
What was said
The session opened with Philippians 2:1-11, a passage whose heading in the Bible is "having the attitude of Christ." Before reading, the preacher pointed out that the text presents a list, and that lists in scripture are worth slowing down for. The list here includes things like agreeing wholeheartedly, loving one another, working with one mind and purpose, being humble, thinking of others as better than yourself, and taking an interest in others.
The point he kept coming back to was that this list does not stand on its own. The behaviors described in the second half of the passage depend entirely on what comes in the first half: encouragement from belonging to Christ, comfort from His love, fellowship in the Spirit, and hearts that are tender and compassionate. He described these two sides as inseparable, working hand in hand.
When Paul says "you must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had," the passage grounds that command in what Jesus actually did. Though He was God, He did not cling to equality with God. Instead He humbled Himself, submitted to God, and died a criminal's death on a cross.
The passage then turns to what God did in response. Because of that humility and obedience, God elevated Jesus to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all names, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
After the reading, one person in the room shared something that brought the passage into plain view. She described meeting two people last week whose lifestyle she did not share, and feeling herself resist at first. Then, she said, an overwhelming love came over her that she knew did not come from herself. She was able to love them the way she would love anyone in the room, and she said it blew her away because it was clearly God at work, not her own effort.
That story landed close to what the text was saying. Taking an interest in others can be managed on your own. But the kind of love she described, crossing a line you would not cross on your own strength, is what the passage points to when it roots the whole list in the encouragement, comfort, and fellowship that come from belonging to Christ.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- The preacher asked why we would strive toward the attitude of Christ. What reasons from Philippians 2 do you find most compelling, and why?
- The preacher described the items in the list, things like agreeing wholeheartedly, humility and taking an interest in others, as inseparable from encouragement, comfort, fellowship and tender hearts. Do you agree that one flows from the other? What has your own experience shown you?
and 3 more questions in the guide
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