Selfless Living Philippians 2:1-11

Mother Teresa, Billy Graham & Mr. Rogers

Mike Zimmer

Unity, Humility and a Christ-Like Attitude   Paul’s appeal to be like-minded (vs. 1-2) Paul’s appeal to selfless living (vs. 3-4) Paul’s appeal to embrace the attitude of Christ (vs. 5-8) Paul’s appeal to worship Christ (vs. 9-11)

DISCUSSION GUIDE 1. Paul notes four incentives for Christian unity. What are they? (Philippians 2:1) Paul’s four incentives for Christian unity are the facts that: There is encouragement in being united in Christ. There is comfort from his love for us. There is fellowship in the Spirit. There is tenderness and compassion.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 2. What would make Paul’s joy complete? (Philippians 2:2) Paul’s joy would be made complete if the Christians in Philippi were like-minded and if they were one in spirit and purpose.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 3. What can happen when a group of people are one in attitude and purpose?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 4. For the sake of Christian unity, what petty squabbles with other believers do you need to put to rest today?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 5. According to Paul, what should not motivate our actions? What should motivate our actions? (Philippians 2:3) Paul says that our actions should not be motivated out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Instead, we should be humble and consider others better than ourselves.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 6. What are some actions that you have observed in others that indicate that they are motivated by selfish ambition and vain conceit? Are you guilty of any of these kinds of actions?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 7. What should be our attitude concerning our own interests? What should be our attitude concerning the interests of others? (Philippians 2:4) Paul says that we should carefully examine our own interests as well as the interests of others.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 8. What do you think this means? Give some examples.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 9. What attitude does Paul call for the church to have? (Philippians 2:5) Paul calls for the church to have the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 10. What is the difference between a “good attitude” and an attitude that is “the same as that of Christ Jesus?”

DISCUSSION GUIDE 11. How did Jesus limit himself? (Philippians 2:6-8) Jesus was in his very nature God but he chose to make himself nothing and become a human and a servant.

DISCUSSION GUIDE 12. How does Christ’s example of humility challenge our selfish ambition and vain conceit?

DISCUSSION GUIDE 13. What is the result of Christ’s example of humility? (Philippians 2:9-11) As a result of Jesus humbling himself, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name above every name. He is to be worshipped by all the earth.

Henri Nouwen