1. When Does It Begin To Look A lot Like Christmas?
Philippians 2:3-11

2. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which as also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

3. The Disposition of Man “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit…”
“Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment”. 1:15-17

4. So, What’s The Solution?
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Humility-lowly
Opposite of pride-puffed up
Humility is not self depreciation (false pride).
Humility is not being a passive doormat.

5. The Humility of God
“That God is more powerful than all of us wasn’t surprising to discover. That God in His infinite wisdom knows more than all of us, again, is a no-brainer. But the realization that God, in all of His power and knowledge and wonder, is more humble than any of us is virtually beyond comprehension. The humility of God is perhaps one of His most overlooked and underappreciated virtues.” “Uprising of the Soul” ~R. E. McManus

6. Humility Is A Nobel Virtue
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men.”

7. The Humility of Jesus Christ
He used His power and resources not to impress others…but to transform them.
Glorify God the Father
Help and heal others
Did not try to impress the skeptics
Does power and authority corrupt?
No, power and authority reveal!

8. Humility Brings Courage
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Humility….obedience….courage
Puffed up…convenience…fear
Courage is not the absence of fear….it is the absence of self!

9. Humility Brings Courage
“Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to always be ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”
~Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

10. Humility Leads To Honor
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The greatest response to honor is not found in our celebration
But in our imitation!