“Why Can’t Everybody ELSE be Less Selfish?!”

July 13, 2008  Philippians 2:1-4,12-22  Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)

The Problem and the Potential

●    selfishness all too common, expected
●    selfish ambition, conceit, complaining, crooked (2:3f, 14f, 21; Rom 3:10ff)
●    potential to be loving, looking to others’ interests, pure (2,4,15)

The Attitude of the Almighty Servant

●    Us in Christ / God in us
    ○    benefits of being ‘in Christ’ - encouragement, comfort, love, tenderness, compassion (1)
    ○    God works in you - gives desire, power to do what pleases Him (13)
●    Give up grasping - Empty yourself for service:
    ○    Jesus didn’t grasp equality with God, but humbled Himself, obedient to death (6ff; Gen 3:5)
●    Learn to "think with" and share a common outlook with the community of believers
    ○    have Jesus’ attitude; be like-minded, harmonious (2ff)
    ○    to ‘think with’ other Christians requires fellowship and teaching (Heb 4:12; 2Cor 10:5)
●    Get it in gear
    ○    obediently work out your salvation (5,12)
    ○    shine like stars - let others see your good deeds, praise God (15f; Mt 5:16)
    ○    Timothy proved self by gospel work; Epaphroditus risked his life to serve, bringing Paul church’s gift (20,22,27,30)

Re-try and Recycle

●    rubber recycler committed business to God, humbly kept on despite hardships