Introduction: Read Philippians 2:1-8
Begin by emphasizing verse 8
Paul grapples with teaching an attitude that should be the standard or the MO of the church.
What is Culture? Culture is a complex system of behavior, values, beliefs, traditions and artifacts, which is transmitted through generations.
The church as well has a culture and we are not talking about race or ethnicity…
So what should the culture of the church ought to be? Humility “esteeming one another above yourselves…”
What would happen if that would be the culture that defines us as the true church of the living God?
What is Humility? a. Preferring others above yourself b. Who can I serve today? c. You can be humble without having low-self esteem (It is a fact that most people with low self-esteem try to hide it with arrogance pompous behavior, snobbish attitude to simply cover up their insecurities and vulnerabilities) d. You have to be strong to be humble… it is not your exterior behavior that defines you… you have to be secure to be humble… which means you do not go around pouting that no one gives attention to you….
Last week God spoke to us that if we are going to go after Him we must take up our “cross” (broom)…. In other words, He expects us to be slaves unto Him. That is what we are: Slaves of the Most High God and as such we ought to develop a culture of humility within the strength of the Spirit of God “who causes us to wil and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phil. 2:13
The problem is that we do not understand or we are reluctant to see the picture given to us by God Himself how the night before He was to be betrayed he stood up and girded his waist with a towel and then he stooped to wash smelly, dusty, calloused rough feet…. A ritual reserved only for the slave Phil. 2:9-11 READ
No wonder Paul would say to Timothy: 2 Timothy 1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather,