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– Finding a Life Worth Living – 4. “Living Involved” (or, Why the Incarnation Matters)

– Finding a Life Worth Living – 4. “Living Involved” (or, Why the Incarnation Matters). Philippians 2: 1–18 (p. 1085). Imitating Christ. Understanding the text: Paul’s point: UNITY / HARMONY Our Point today: INVOLVEMENT / ENGAGEMENT Getting down and dirty.

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– Finding a Life Worth Living – 4. “Living Involved” (or, Why the Incarnation Matters)

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  1. – Finding a Life Worth Living –4. “Living Involved”(or, Why the Incarnation Matters) Philippians 2: 1–18 (p. 1085)

  2. Imitating Christ • Understanding the text: • Paul’s point: UNITY / HARMONY • Our Point today: INVOLVEMENT / ENGAGEMENT • Getting down and dirty. • How do we bring the two together? • Unity is a result of “getting down and dirty” (being involved) • Getting in on God’s Subversive Rescue Strategy • Overcoming the “me-first” mentality by putting others first • Overcoming power games through humility and servanthood • Living “Downside Up”

  3. 1. A New Approach to Life • Paul – church in Philippi must resolve some inner tensions • Restore unity and harmony. • How would we argue the point? • Unity is what Jesus prayed for (John 17:11|) • We must love one another (1 John 4:7-8, 20-21) • Dissentions, discord, factions are of the sinful nature (Gal 5:19ff) • In essence: YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO DO IT !!!!

  4. 1. A New Approach to life ... • Paul’s reasoning (v 1) “if you have . . . ” – “since you have . . . “ • Encouragement from being in Christ • Comfort from his love • Sharing/fellowship in/with the Spirit • Tenderness and compassion • Experiences based on faith in Christ / life in the Spirit. • An appeal to our experience of God – not fulfilling obligations • “Then make my joy complete by being likeminded” (v 2) • Having the same love, soul-mates, of onemind

  5. 1. A New Approach to life ... • Not (v 3): • Selfish ambition - implying rivalry • Vain conceit - pride without any basis • Rather (v 4), in humility: • Value others above yourselves - consider them transcendent (4: 7) • Look not to your own interests, but each to the interests of others • Have the same mindset as Jesus (v 5) • Didn’t violently grasp on to his equality with God • He gave it up, became human and was obedient, even to death on a cross. • Therefore – God exalted him.

  6. 2. Living Involved Old friends ??? Hobby Work Friends church fun ??? • Do not live for yourself – live for God. • Don’t grasp onto the life you want to lead – give it up. • Take on God’s agenda – what he wants for you each day • What does it look like? • Making hard (God-directed) choices about everything we do • Giving up things that don’t fit. (God never has too much for us to do)

  7. 3. Obedience & Empowering • A major dichotomy (v 12-13): • Work out your salvation in fear and trembling FOR – • God works in you will and to work according to his good will • Paul’s own experience (3:7-11)

  8. Conclusion: Engage 100% • Is this a hard life? • “Yes” and “No” • Requires: • Absolute confidence in the goodness of the will of God (Faith!) • A perspective on the value of life in God (Resurrection!) • Complete rejection of the deceptive perspective of the World. • Overcoming the daily temptation of our conditioning.

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