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SESSION 5 STICK WITH HUMILITY

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When have you wanted to be first in line? QUESTION

#1

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#BSFLhumility

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THE POINT

Humbly place the needs of others before your own.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE I get amused when I see news stories about people who camp out overnight to purchase the latest phone, tablet, or other gadget. On the other hand, I’m saddened when I see the reports of people pushing, shoving, and even exchanging blows to be the first in the store for Black Friday sales over Thanksgiving weekend. The difference between the two situations is selfishness. Having a desire for something isn’t necessarily wrong. But when I push and shove to get it at the expense of others, I’ve placed myself first—and I’ve likely damaged my relationships. In the Book of Philippians, we learn of a better way. Paul contended that we are called to be first in line for one thing: looking out for the needs of others. And when we do that—when we put the needs of others even before our own needs—we get the great benefit of strong relationships.

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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Philippians 2:1-5,13-15 (HCSB) 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any

consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the

same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility

consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own

interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

13 For it is God who is working in you, enabling you

both to desire and to work out His good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children

of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.

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THE POINT

Humbly place the needs of others before your own.

What circumstances in life tempt you to ignore the instructions in these verses?

QUESTION

#2

Philippians 2:1-4 Sharing isn’t something that comes naturally to us. Two toddlers can be content to let a ball rest in the corner, but as soon as one wants to play with it, the other claims it. Even for adults, relationships often grow into a mess because those involved behave like self-centered, me-focused toddlers. It’s mine! Paul challenged the church at Philippi to strive for a new level of maturity in relationships. He encouraged believers to “fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal” (v. 2). In other words, live in harmony! Unity among Christians pleases God (see Ps.  133:1), just as a well-rehearsed song becomes “music to our ears.” If your church is like most, the members will not agree on every line item in the annual budget—but you can still agree to stay together, work together, pray together, and serve together. You can choose to push your differences aside and interact with one another with “affection and mercy.” Paul’s emphasis on unity and oneness with Christ feels warm and inviting, but in verses 3-4 he spelled out the challenges of living that way. He stated this truth both in negative and positive terms. Negatively, he instructed us to “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit” and to avoid looking out only for our own interests. On the positive side, Paul instructed everyone to practice humility, “consider others as more important than” yourself, and “look out … for the interests of others.” Paul wasn’t suggesting that you ignore your own needs or stifle your own interests. It’s good to tend to your dreams and responsibilities—just don’t do it to the exclusion of others or at their expense. Work to meet the needs of others in addition to your own.

How do we balance our responsibility to ourselves and to others?

QUESTION

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#3

Philippians 2:5 Paul challenged believers to learn what humility looks like by remembering Jesus. Christ provided a perfect sacrifice for our sins, and He offers a perfect model for navigating our way through personal relationships. “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.” In the movie Groundhog Day, weatherman Phil Connors gets caught up in a time warp on the worst day of his life. After begrudgingly travelling to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities, Phil can’t wait to finish the ridiculous story and leave. But when he wakes up the next morning, he’s stuck in February 2 again and forced to relive the day’s events. Day after day. Fortunately, Phil’s experiences create a seismic shift in his attitude. He chooses to seize the day and shower the townspeople with his affection. He befriends and helps everyone in the town. Everything in his world changes as he changes. Phil learns the value of serving others and, consequently, he positively impacts his relationships. Jesus is a far greater example than some fictional character in a movie. In fact, He is the quintessential example. Verses 6-11 show us how Jesus perfectly demonstrated humility and provided us the ultimate service: He died for us to bring us to God. Jesus is completely God, but He humbly emptied Himself of the glory and privileges that are rightfully His. When people are full of themselves, they leave no room for others. Their opinions are the cleverest and their experiences are the richest. Jesus’ example calls us to empty our egos and put others first. This is the essence of submission. Don’t buy into the lie that greatness comes only when an evergrowing number of people know your name. Kill this attitude before it kills your connection with others.

How have you seen relationships strengthened through acts of humility?

QUESTION

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#4

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THE POINT

Humbly place the needs of others before your own.

Philippians 2:13-15 “Do everything without grumbling and arguing”? Is that even possible? Yes, it is. Jesus lived that way, and He expects us to follow His example. By the power of His Spirit, we can live without grumbling and arguing—or griping and raging. But doing so means we must make the choice to remove all whining from our world. Jonathan Edwards was a pastor who had a prolific writing career. He became world famous for his role in the First Great Awakening in the 1700s. After 23 years of serving his church, however, his flock fired him. While being badgered and backstabbed, the people of the town paid close attention to his demeanor. As they observed his actions and attitudes, one man said: “I never saw the least symptoms of displeasure in his countenance the whole week, but he appeared like a man of God, whose happiness was out of the reach of his enemies.”1 Edwards found what Paul had found: a joy that soars above the ups-and-downs of life. Like an airplane that flies above the turbulence, we can fly above our stormy circumstances. Our joy can be placed beyond the reach of our enemies. Paul was showing us how to “shine like stars in the world.” The world is brimming over with whiners, haters, critics, and cynics. Let’s be the breath of fresh air our culture is so desperately longing for. How? By being convinced that God is up to something great in our lives! I’m not talking about blind optimism, but rather living in the reality of what God is doing. “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose” (v. 13). When you start taking Paul’s words seriously, your relationships will be affected. People will discover that you’ve stumbled upon a treasure they desperately long to find: inner peace and fixed joy.

How can our group serve as a safe place for honest conversation in light of these verses?

QUESTION

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#5

LIVE IT OUT What steps will you take to practice humility and place the needs of others before your own? Consider these suggestions: A small step. Intentionally park in the worst space in the church parking lot next Sunday. Or, come early and set up the room for your next small-group meeting. A medium step. Volunteer with your church’s homeless ministry and treat those you serve with respect. A large step. Talk with your church staff and commit to helping a family or individual with large financial needs—and do it anonymously. As followers of Jesus Christ and representatives of His kingdom, we should be waiting in line all night to help others. We should be sacrificing our own needs in order to meet the needs of those around us. That’s what it means to stick with humility.

My g roup's prayer requests

1. Marsden, George M., Jonathan Edwards: A Life (New Haven: Yale University, 2003), 361. © 2014 LifeWay

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