Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 2:1-11
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Key Points
- Jesus gives us a new attitude: his very own attitude of humility.
- Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.
- Jesus did not cling to being God, but willingly became a slave for us, humbling himself and becoming obedient to death for us.
- We must move into the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) before we move out: we must always find love within God before we can love others more than ourselves.
- If we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled. If we humble ourselves, we will be exalted.
- The way of Jesus is the way of humility: counting others more significant than ourselves.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3 ESV*
*Note: Through the rest of this sermon series, “All Things New,” we will be working together as a faith family to memorize Philippians 2:3-11. Each week, we will introduce a new verse to memorize while encouraging one another to remember the preceding verse(s) from the previous week(s).
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: We generally enter a room one of two ways. We can say, “Here I am – look at me!” or “There you are – I see you.” How do you usually enter meetings and conversations?
2: Based on the question above, how do you think Jesus stepped into spaces? What sort of attitude do you think Jesus had? What makes you say that?
3: What practical steps can you take to be a “there you are – I see you” person in your own gatherings this week at home, at work, at school, at church, with friends, and out and about in the community?
4: Our pastor challenged each of us to actively seek to serve our faith family here at PCBC in this new season. When you consider the diversity of PCBC, who is God stirring your heart to serve among our children, youth, college students, senior adults, neighbors in Vickery, men, and women?
5: What is an example of a treasured time you spent serving the Lord? What made that experience so meaningful and memorable for you?
6: Read Mark 10:45. Why do you think Jesus came not to be served, but to serve? Why do you think God desires for us as Christ-followers to serve?
7: Who will you reach out to on the PCBC staff this week to find out how you can better serve these days and join in the new things God is doing here at PCBC and beyond?
Pray
Lord Jesus, there is no one else like you. The way you live is so contrary to the way we generally want to live. We want to live for ourselves, but you showed us how to live for others – and in so doing, how to live for you. Teach us to prioritize living with you, so we might live like you, and therefore, live for you. Lord, as we live with you, continue to fill us with a new attitude in you. May we be a people marked by our attitude of humility. May we be quick to consider others more significant than ourselves. May we be quick to consider you most significant of all.
