– 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.  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”

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 !!!!

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 like minded” (v 2)  Having the same love, soul-mates, of one mind

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.

??? 2. Living Involved  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) Old friends Hobby Work Friends church fun ???

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)

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.