Philippians 2:1-2
The Goal of Humility – Unity

Philippians 2:3-8
The Nadir of Humility – The Cross

Philippians 2:9-11
The Glory of Humility – Jesus Christ

The Goal of Humility

“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.”

Philippians 2:1-2

Four Ways to Bring Unity and Peace
Thomas A. Kempis

1. Be desirous, my son, to do the will of another rather than thine own

2. Choose always to have less rather than more

3. Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to everyone

4. Wish always, and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee

nadir /nā′dər, -dîr″/

noun
1. A point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith.

2. The lowest point

The Nadir of Humility

“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. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

Philippians 2:3-8

Humility is...
“the noble choice to forego your status, deploy your resources, or use your influence for the good of others before yourself.”

John Dickson
Humilitas

“Honor was universally regarded as the ultimate asset for human beings, and shame was the ultimate deficit…Much of life revolved around ensuring you and your family received public honor and avoided public shame.”

Humilitas (p. 86)
by John Dickson

“The Deeds of the Divine Augustus” A.D. 13

• On fifty-five occasions the senate decreed that thanksgivings should be offered to the immortal gods on account of the successes on land and sea gained by me.

• I gave three gladiatorial games in my own name and five in that of my sons or grandsons.

• I produced shows in my own name four times and in place of other magistrates twenty-three times.

• Some eighty silver statues of me, on foot, on horse and in chariots have been set up in Rome.

• Italy too has twenty-eight colonies founded by my authority.

• In my thirteenth consulship, the senate, the equestrian order and the whole people of Rome gave me the title of Father of my Country.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth

• I grew up in a backwater, Roman occupied town called Nazareth
• I was the product of a scandalous birth involving a peasant girl
• I never owned a home
• I was never married or had any children
• I never wrote a book
• I never accumulated wealth
• I never ran for office or won an election
• I never traveled more than 200 miles from where I was born
• I was convicted and sentenced to capital punishment on a cross, dying in the most painful and shameful way imaginable

Jesus chose...

• Suffering over Esteem
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:2b-3

• Service over Position
“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

• Subjection over Power
“You call me “Teacher” and “Lord” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” Luke 13:13-14

• Submission over Honor
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

The Glory of Humility

“Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name 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.”

Philippians 2:9-11

Three Ways to Practice Humility

1. Refuse to minimize your failures – and confess them (I John 1:9)

2. Overlook Offenses (Proverbs 19:11b)

3. Separate your achievements from your identity (Philippians 3:8-9)

THIS WEEK'S TAKEAWAYS

Key Theme:
• Jesus Christ showed us what humility looked like through his sacrifice on the cross

• Definition of humility “the noble choice to forego your status, deploy your resources, or use your influence for the good of others before yourself.”

Key Application:
As you pray this week, physically kneel down and pray, “Lord Jesus, this morning, I choose to acknowledge that you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and your name is above every name. Thank you that one day every knee in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, will bow and that every tongue will confess that you are Lord. This morning, I do this with joy and pray that I may glorify you today.”

Key Verses:
• Philippians 2:1-11
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• 1 John 1:9
• James 4:10

Key Takeaways:
1. What small habit can you start this week that will build humility in your life?

2. One of the things Thomas A Kempis encouraged us to do as believers was to “Choose always to have less rather than more”. Why would putting this into practice cause humility and peace? What would it look like in your life if you chose to do this in some small way?

Resources for today’s sermon are available upon request in the church office.

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