1. ONE MASTER ONE MESSAGE and ONE MISSION

2. We can work together – whatever our denomination, doctrine, or distinctive

3. PHILIPPIANS 2:1-4 WHAT MAKES WORKING TOGETHER WORK?

4. 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. Philippians 2:1 I. RECALL THE HAND OF GOD’S BLESSINGS

5.  “encouragement” - the blessing of God standing beside us to help  “comfort” - the blessing of God motivating us with His love  “fellowship” - the blessing of God partnering with us  “tenderness & compassion” - the blessing of God showing His affectionate sympathy These blessings help us to be brotherly and sisterly, because God is fatherly. I. RECALL THE HAND OF GOD’S BLESSINGS

6. 1.People are not burdens: People are blessings. 2.People are not problems: People have problems. 3.It’s always too early to give up on people. IMPLICATIONS OF GOD’S BLESSINGS TO HOW WE SEE OTHERS

7. Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:2 II. RETAIN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY

8. The emphasis on “like,” “same,” & “one” displays the value of HARMONY.  Since we can have God’s encouragement, we can be like-minded.  Since we can have God’s comfort, we can love one another.  Since we can have God’s fellowship, we can partner in being united.  Since we can have God’s tenderness & compassion, we can have the same goal of being tender and compassionate. II. RETAIN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY

10. MY TYPXWRITXR Evxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys. I havx wishxd many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-six kxys that function wxll xnough but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx.

11. Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that our church is somxwhat likx my typxwritxr – not all thx kxy pxoplx work propxrly. You may say to yoursxlf, “Wxll, I am only onx pxrson. I won’t makx or brxak thx church.” But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx bxcausx a church to bx xffxctivx nxxds thx activx participation of xvxry pxrson.

12. So, thx nxxt timx you think you arx only onx pxrson and that your xfforts arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, “I am a kxy pxrson in thx church, and I am nxxdxd vxry much.”

13. The dysfunctional key in the typewriter illustrates the power of one – just one letter affects the many letters around it.

14. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 III. REFLECT THE MIND OF HUMILITY

15. Pride was a problem in Philippi, because that city was prime and strategic.  Philippi was a mini-Rome;  Philippi was a colony that enjoyed full Roman citizenship, even exemption from taxes;  Philippi had rich reserves of gold and silver; and  Philippi boasted of many hills and fresh fountains. So the Philippians thought they were better than others. III. REFLECT THE MIND OF HUMILITY

16. According to Life magazine, Muhammed Ali, one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of the world, spoke of himself before his 1971 fight with Joe Frazier this way:

17. III. REFLECT THE MIND OF HUMILITY “There seems to be some confusion. We’re gonna clear this confusion up on March 8. We’re gonna decide once and for all who is king! There’s not a man alive who can whup me. (He jabs the air with half a dozen blinding lefts.) I’m so smart. (He taps his head.) I’m so pretty. (He lifts his head high in profile, turning as a bust on a pedestal.) I AM the greatest. I AM the king! I should be on a postage stamp – that’s the only way I could be licked!”

18. III. REFLECT THE MIND OF HUMILITY Ali lost to Frazier in that fight. Let’s not fall into the trap where Ali fell.

19. Paul reminded the Philippians to humbly consider others as more important than themselves, and not to be caught up with selfishness. I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and the taller we grow, the easier we can reach them. Now I find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath another, and the lower we stoop, the more we get. F. B. Meyer III. REFLECT THE MIND OF HUMILITY

20. When grow in humility when we consider others better than ourselves. How? By learning from anybody and everybody, even our enemies. III. REFLECT THE MIND OF HUMILITY

21. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 IV. REPRODUCE A HEART OF CONCERN

22. Our world must not only include our interests, but also those of others. How do we look to the interests of others? 1.We can watch out for their good points and model after them; and 2.We can be sensitive to their needs and help meet those needs (if we can). IV. REPRODUCE A HEART OF CONCERN

23. To find a perfect model, look at Christ’s example – Philippians 2:5-11. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. IV. REPRODUCE A HEART OF CONCERN

24. 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, 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! 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. Philippians 2:5-11

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26. This program will produce a photo of you by using the data you insert, describing your facial features. The results won’t be perfect but pretty close. Here are some samples:

27. build no 159733520p | all rights registered Answer the following questions about your facial features to create your picture.

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36. Hispanic Asian Caucasian African

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38. 0-2 2-13 14-21 21-40 40-60 60+

39. build no 159733520p | all rights registered Your data is being processed. In a few seconds you’ll see the results. We hope that they’ll be as close to the original as possible.

40. build no 159733520p | all rights registered Data analysis complete. Continue to see your picture.

41. build no 159733520p | all rights registered Your physical appearance is not important, what really matters is that He made you in His likeness and that He loves you just as you are!

42. 1.Out of the four ways of working together (i.e., recalling the hand of God’s blessings; retaining the spirit of unity; reflecting the mind of humility; reproducing the heart of concern), which one (in your opinion) do the Philippine evangelical churches need the most? Why? 1.What do you think are the top three areas that need more working together among the Philippine evangelical churches? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS