LEADING WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 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.

Mark 10:42-45 (NIV) 42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 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."

Introduction: True or false? God doesn’t care about our abilities; He only cares about our availability.

CS Lewis- “It is easy to acknowledge, but almost impossible to realize for long, that we are mirrors whose brightness, if we are bright, is wholly derived from the sun that shines upon us.”

Leading with “the mind of Christ” requires that we live in “incarnational tension.”

THE MIND OF CHRIST ALLOWS ME TO: DEVELOP my gifts, skills, abilities and personality without DEPENDING on them. Be COURAGEOUS and decrease my fear of FAILURE.

Strengthens me to resist the TEMPTATIONS of leadership: Pride Discouragement Manipulation Self-image built on what I accomplish

Makes genuine HUMILITY possible. Humility is not degrading myself, it is forgetting myself.

Helps us live and work within MARGINS.

DEVELOPING HEALTHY INCARNATIONAL TENSION… Guard your personal intimacy with Jesus. John 15:5 (NIV) “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.

Observe a SABBATH. Exodus 20:8-10 (TLB) 8 "Remember to observe the Sabbath as a holy day. 9 Six days a week are for your daily duties and your regular work, 10 but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest before the Lord your God…

Keep LEARNING and GROWING. If you aren’t learning, you aren’t leading. 1 Chronicles 12:32 (NKJV) …the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…

Develop relationships with people who will speak truth into your life. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Colossians 3:16 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…

Cultivate SELF – AWARENESS; know who you are and do what God has called you to do. Matthew 25:14-15 (NIV) 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.”

Take your MINISTRY seriously. Never take YOURSELF seriously. Daniel 4:25 (NIV) 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”