My Brothers and Sisters Deserve Better (Part 1)

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday July 5, 2009

© 2009 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

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Notes
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 6/28 - 7/4: 2 Kings 13:1 - 25:30; Acts 18:23 - 23:10; Psalm 146 - 150; 1 - 2; Prov 18:2-13
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V My Brothers and Sisters Deserve Better
> Preparation - Philippians 2:1-11
V Standing Issues
V From a word Bishop gave me:
V Make it plain
* Use accessible language and modern parables.
* Make sure people do something with God's message.
* Keep it simple.
* Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
* Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
V Introduction
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* Paul writes from prison (probably circa 61 A.D. in Rome - Acts 28:16-31)
V Read Philippians 1:1-20
V Note the goal of Paul's prayer (Philippians 1:9-11):
* that their love would grow enabling them to be pure and blameless
* that God would be glorified and praised as a result
* Love is a key underlying motivation for everything that follows here.
V Read Philippians 1:27-30
* Note - "in one spirit, contending as one man (i.e. one soul)"
* Paul is writing to believers who are themselves experiencing struggles (agon agwn Gk. - imagery of conflict in a stadium).
* This sounds religious, but God has some real treasure here for us.
V Unity In The Body
V This should remind us of Jesus' prayer:
* He prayed for his followers to be one - John 17:20-23
* He prayed for the world to know that the Father has loved them even as he has loved Jesus.
V Remember we said that love was a key underlying motivation!
* Love spends itself on others.
* Love seeks to benefit others even at its own expense.
* Love and unity go together!
V Paul has more to say on the subject - Philippians 2:1-2
V "One in spirit and purpose"
* Paul appeals to the encouragement, comfort, and spiritual fellowship that they are already experiencing with Jesus and the Holy Spirit as believers.
* As recipients of these blessings he urges them to make his joy (Philip 1:4) complete (Philip 1:6) by growing in unity.
V Some questions to consider:
* Do you have any encouragement from being united with Christ?
* Do you have any comfort from his love?
* Do you have any fellowship with the Spirit?
* Do you have any tenderness and compassion?
* Do you still experience these blessings in your struggles?
V Unity is challenging (so is love)!
* It's hard to be united when things are going well!
V How can we be united when things are tough?
* People will often unite against a common enemy.
* What do we do when we feel that we're each encountering unrelated enemies or struggles?
V It's fashionable to say "why can't we come together?"
* Especially in the black community.
* Remember the sixties
V People in our communities long for examples of unity:
* The Greatest Minds
* Music?
* God's Word gives us some practical steps for achieving unity.
V Read the passage: Philippians 2:3-4
V Key thoughts:
* Abandon selfish ambition and vain conceit
* Consider others better than yourself and look to their interests
* Follow Jesus' example
* Summary: Move from self-centeredness to other-centeredness
* Transition: Let's take a deeper look at self-centeredness.
V Self-centeredness
V Two key manifestations of self-centeredness:
V Selfish ambition eritheia (eriqeia Gk.):
* “I deserve better”, "my child deserves better"
V Illustration
* Keeping score with money
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V Vain conceit - kenodoxia (kenodoxia Gk.):
* “It’s all about me”
* “what’s going to make me happy?”
V Illustration
* How does this affect me? What's in it for me?
* Union negotiations
* Self-centeredness is part of a bigger problem
V We were not designed for self-centeredness
* Our first parents, Adam and Eve, chose "independence" (i.e. sin)
V Independence from God leads to self-centeredness
* Independence from God forces me to rely on myself.
V Self-centeredness hinders the unity that God wants for us.
* Self-centered people can't unite.
* They make divergent choices based on their distinct circumstances.
V Illustration
* choosing a movie or a restaurant
*
* Transition: Now that we've looked at self-centeredness, let's take a look at "other-centeredness".
V Other-centeredness
* Read the passage: Philippians 2:3-11
* The focus of the passage is primarily our other brothers and sisters in Christ.
* "Other-centeredness" is a prerequisite for the unity God wants for us.
V Key manifestations of "other-centeredness":
V In humility consider others better than yourselves:
* “my brother and sister deserve better”
V Illustration
* We do this with family,, especially with our children.
* The movie "The Brothers" reference to the "last piece of food".
* Giving up your place in line and going to the back.
V Each of you should look not only to your own interests . . .:
* “it’s not just about me”
V Illustration
* People who come early to set up on Sunday
*
* "Other-centeredness" promotes unity.
V Transition:
* Paul is practical.
* He doesn't just tell us what to do, he gives us a practical example.
* Paul himself is sacrificing for others (he's writing from prison).
* He doesn't use his own example however - he cites Jesus.
V Follow Jesus' Example
V Jesus puts the Father's interests (redeeming lost humanity) ahead of his own (his eternal equality with God).
* From heaven to earth to show the way
* From the earth to the cross my debt to pay
* From the cross to the grave
* From the grave to the sky - Lord I lift your name on high
* Transition: OK that's Jesus, but what about you and me.
V What difference does it make? So What?
V Self-centeredness is addictive and other-centeredness is the cure.
* The more you focus on your own needs the more important they seem to you.
* The more you focus on your own needs the less you're able to stand on God's promises (which are based on trusting him).
* The less you're able to stand on God's promises the more you have to rely on yourself.
V There are two kingdoms - God's and Satan's
* One wins; one loses - 2Corinthians 2:12-16; Philippians 1:27-30
V God's Kingdom
* Members put others first - Philippians 2:1-4
* Members will be rewarded - Philippians 3:12-14; 20-21
V Satan's kingdom is losing -
* Members put themselves first.
* Members will be destroyed - Philippians 3:18-19
* Transition: Now that you know what's at stake let's see how we can put this into practice!
V Begin focusing on others:
V In humility consider others better than yourselves (i.e. “my brother and sister deserve better”):
* Waiting in line
V Each of you should look not only to your own interests . . . (i.e. “it’s not just about me”):
*
* Transition
* Conclusion
V Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion
* Welcome Cards - refer to script
*
* Men's Prayer
V Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
V Philippians 2:1-11
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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.
V Discuss the following:
* Any selfish ambition (i.e. an "I deserve better" attitude) or vain conceit (i.e. an "it's all about me" attitude) you've demonstrated recently.
* Practical ways you can consider others better than yourself this week.
* Practical ways you can look to the interests of others this week.
* How does Jesus' attitude as described in this passage help you?
V Witnessing Activities
* What do you find helpful when it comes to evangelism?
* What makes evangelism more difficult for you? How can we help?
V Scriptures For 07/05/2009 Life Church Sermon
Philippians 1:1-20
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
Philippians 1:27-30
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
John 17:20-23
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Philippians 2:1-11
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 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.
2Corinthians 2:14-16
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
Philippians 3:12-21
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Understanding The Bible

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Here, for your convenience, are the Bible passages that we will be using in today's sermon at Life Church. We use the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible so that you can read it in modern English. You may have been accustomed to reading or hearing the King James Version of the Bible, which uses older English (with words like "thee" , "thou", "thine", "believeth", etc.). If so, don't be alarmed - the passages below are really from the Bible even though they are in modern English.

The Bible was originally written in three ancient languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. None of the people in the Bible, and none of the people who God used to write it spoke English. In fact, English did not even exist as a language when the Bible was written. The King James Version, first published in 1611, was a translation of the Bible from it's original languages into the every day English that people used back then - almost 400 years ago! They didn't just speak that way in church - they spoke that way with everyone. English has certainly changed a lot since then! Since you probably don't speak Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, you're going to have to read the Bible in translated form. At Life Church we believe that since you're going to read an English translation of the Bible you might as well use an up to date one - written in the English you speak every day. God wants you to understand his Word so that you can put it into practice!
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