1. Philippians

2. 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…

3. …then make my joy complete by being like- minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose….

4. …Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves…

5. …Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others- Philippians 1:1-4

6. Greek Culture: - Philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle) - Literature (Comedians and Tragedians) - Sculpture and Architecture - Science, Astronomy, Math, Medicine - Government (early form of democracy)

7. Roman Empire: - Conquered the Greeks - Philippi- 200 yrs of Roman Rule - Not innovators, but imitators - Built great temples, but with only a marble veneer - Emperor is a god and must be worshiped on bent knee as such

8. 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…

9. …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!

10. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…

11. …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 2:5-11

13. Who, being in very nature God- vs. 6 Morphe vs. schema Very nature= morphe- external characteristics match internal essence, unchangeable Was Jesus just a “good teacher?”

14. …did not consider equality with God something to be grasped- vs. 6 Grasped- held onto for advantage Fame, power, wealth- all the things we covet, Christ willingly laid aside

16. made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness- vs. 7 Kenosis= emptying- Jesus voluntarily set aside the independent exercise of his divine attributes

17. "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does- John 5:19-20 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed- Mark 1:35

18. …taking the very nature of a servant- vs. 7 What do slaves exist for? …in humility consider others better than yourselves- vs. 3

19. And being found in appearance as a man- vs. 8 Appearance= Schemati- form that is subject to change Why is Jesus only in the “appearance” of a man? What’s different about him?

20. …he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!- vs. 8 Cross- reserved for insurrectionists and untrainable slaves Through the cross, god (Caesar) carried out capital punishment Through the cross, god (Caesar) carried out capital punishment

21. A god killed God Why did Jesus do it? Why did he go to the cross?

22. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others- vs. 4

23. Jesus left fame, power and wealth to become a slave, suffer torture and die a scandalous death Practically speaking, how can we mirror Christ’s actions in our relationships?

24. Where I have attention placed on me, look for opportunities to glorify God and serve people Where I have power, find ways to help the powerless Where I have wealth, discover how to manage it to God’s glory and other people’s benefit

26. 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- vs. 9-11 In the end, all will bow and all will confess Christ’s authority and his godhood. Will all be saved?

27. What’s the best way to get my needs met?

28. …if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us- 1 John 4:12 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others- vs. 4

29. …let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self- criticism…And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!- 1 John 3:18-21 (Message)

30. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted- Matthew 23:11-12