Harpeth Community Church

Humble Servants

Philippians 2:1-30

 Bob Harrington

Pride says, “What’s in it for me?”

Humility says, “What can I do for you?”

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (vs. 3).

The mindset of the Philippians . . . toward one another  . . . (2:1-2)

1. Adopt a Seemingly Crazy Principle . . . We are to View Others as Better Than Ourselves (2:3)

-In this Roman colony, as well as in Rome itself, an order of gradations prevailed, in which a person was regarded or valued according to his social standing. Peter T. Obrien, The Epistle to the Philippians, p. 181-182,. 

-it is about one’s view of his or her social standing . . . 

-Whoever wants to be first, must be the servant of all (Mark 10:43-44; Matt. 20:27; Luke 22:26-27)

2.  Look out for Others, but We Count Too . . . (2:4)

3. Adopt The Mindset of Jesus. . . . (2:5-11)

- the humilitatsio

-a “servant” meant a “slave” in their culture.  In the world of  the Philippians, this was the lowest that one could stoop socially.

-like Jesus, God will one day exalt you in heaven because you put others first.

4. Adopt The Mindset of the Other Christian Leaders.

Paul, the apostle, shows it to us . . . (2:16-18)

Timothy, the church leader, shows it to us . . . (2:20-21)

Epaphroditus, the everyday Christian, shows it to us . . . . (2:29-30)

Application to My Life . . . .

I will look at everyone I meet in church as socially higher than myself (2:3).

I will actively pretend to be Jesus, in service situations, as a child pretends to be grown-up (2:5-11).

I will consciously embrace hardship and serve others as my act of worship to God (2: 17-18).

Small Group Questions

Start by telling about some of the people you know who have served you, in humility, by loving, helping, and giving to you.  What did they do it?  How was it service to you?

Read Philippians 2:3. What does it mean to “consider others better than yourself?”  What are some examples or applications of this teaching?

Read Philippians 2:5-11.  What is it that Jesus did for us and how does that show that he treated us as “better than himself?” What reward will Jesus get from his heavenly father for doing this?

In what current situations or in what real ways do you want to “pretend to be Jesus” and develop more of a servant attitude toward others?  Explain.

Who do you need to look at as socially higher than yourself so that you can be humble toward them and serve them better?  Explain.

Pray for one another.  Ask: “in what specific situations do we need God’s help so that we can consciously serve a specific person in Jesus’ name as an act of worship?”