1
Rethinking Membership
Philippians 2:5-11
TBC Together #3
May 7, 2017
Introduction: On January 20, 1961, the U.S.’s newly elected president, John F. Kennedy, left the
nation with arguably its most famous phrase from an inaugural address over the course of its
then 185-year history. “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for
your country.” A phrase that even someone such as myself, being born 26 years after the fact,
has heard referenced countless times throughout my lifetime. But, if I’m being honest, that is
the only portion of JFK’s inaugural address I could recite to you. In fact, prior to this week I
couldn’t even recall hearing or reading the speech in its entirety. Yet, after doing so I must
admit that I was blown away by the way our 35th president weaved the importance of sacrifice
throughout his speech.
Here are a few of my personal favorite phrases that speak to the need for sacrifice from the
address.
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any
burden, meet any hardship, support any friend… to assure the survival and the success of
liberty.”
“Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which
divide us.”
“Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah – to ‘undo the
heavy burdens – and to let the oppressed go free.’”
“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high
standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure
reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking
His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
So, what is the work of God? Well to learn about the work of God let’s go to the Word of God.
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11 (Christian Standard Bible)
Prayer
If you have read chapter three of Thom Rainer’s book, which he designates as the, I will not let
my church be about me chapter, you may remember the final request the author asks of his
readers in light of Philippians 2:5-11 – “Explain how the attitude of Christ in each verse
becomes a pattern for us as church members.”
2
Let’s do just that starting with v. 5 and 6. The apostle Paul writes these words, “Adopt the same
attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with
God as something to be exploited.” Or as it says in the ESV, “something to be grasped.” So,
when we read that Jesus existed in the form of God we conclude that not only was Jesus fully
God, but that He existed before his incarnation – Jesus’ life didn’t start that day 2,000 years ago
when Mary gave birth to Him in the stable, no. King Jesus was and is and is to come! Yet, He
willingly chose to surrender His heavenly title to take on the lowly existence of man.
Scripture does not indicate that there was a time when Jesus was not equal with God
throughout his time on earth, yet it does indicate that Jesus had no intention of clinging, or as
we read in the CSB version, no intention of exploiting His exalted status. But rather as it states
in v. 7 and 8, “…he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of
humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the
point of death – even death on a cross.”
Even throughout His bitter betrayal, brutal beating, and excruciating execution Jesus did not
exploit His true title as God, but rather He sacrificed everything for you – everything for me –
including His preferences.
As Christ followers who are called to adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus I can only
assume that each one of us is setting our preferences to the side for the greater good of the
church. I mean, as Christians that have the same attitude as Christ it’s a good thing that none of
us are guilty of complaining about the song selections on Sunday morning, or the instruments
that are used (or not used) on Sunday morning, or whether our time of corporate worship lasts
too long. As a people that has adopted the same attitude of Jesus it’s a good thing that we
don’t get offended when that person wears that to church or when someone else sits in our
seat. Or when a prayer lasts too long. And it’s a true blessing that we, who have adopted the
same attitude of Christ, do not ever get agitated when it’s five minutes to kick-off and the
pastor is just starting his second point.
Finally, as a people that has adopted the same attitude of Christ Jesus, it is wonderful to see
how when one of us wants to see something take place at the church that person takes the
initiative to make it happen rather than expecting someone else to do it and then getting upset
when falls dead in the water. I realize that I’m laying the sarcasm on heavy this morning and
some of you may be getting offended, but my question for you is why are you getting
offended? Is it because there have been times where you guilty of doing some of the very
things that I listed off? This morning I stand before you as your community pastor and admit
that at one time or another I have been guilty of each and every one of these wrongs. We don’t
always have the attitude of Christ. Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death – even to death on a cross.” And us? Our tendency is to jump ship on the whole being
obedient thing when we begin to experience mild discomfort let alone remain steadfast to the
point of death.
3
I love you all. I truly mean that – I hope you know that. And from the conversations I’ve had
with many of you I know that you truly want to adopt the same attitude as Christ Jesus, but it
doesn’t come as easily as one may hope that it would. Now, I am making some generalizations,
as I realize that certain aspects of Christ’s attitude may come easier than others for us to live
out, but not one of us is immune to the giant obstacle of surrendering our preferences for the
church.
1) What is keeping me from assuming the form of a servant?
Is it the false belief that given our tenure at TBC or our past service record to the church that
it’s high time someone else start serving us? Perhaps we’ve been at other churches where we
have ‘connected’ more with their style of worship and when we don’t get that same experience
at our church we draw inwardly towards our own bitter thoughts rather than into the presence
of Christ. And these are only a few examples. If you would, please take a little time right now to
ponder this question and then jot it down on your bulletin.
The attitude of Christ was so fixed on carrying out the Father’s will that He submitted Himself to
the most excruciating and degrading human deaths, which was reserved specifically for slaves
and the worst of criminals.
This past Wednesday our Life Group sat outside mine and Sarah’s home on our patio furniture
and had a great conversation about the past, present, and future identity we hope to be a part
of at TBC. As we reminisced about the TBC of our younger years a few us mentioned missing
the close-knit community that was often so prevalent, specifically at the old building. One
member mentioned hardly being able to get through a single Sunday without someone offering
to take them out for lunch. Another mentioned the outreach to college students that resulted
in an entire section of TBC’s sanctuary being filled with 18-22 year olds. One person remembers
how the generation before them took up the mantle on spiritual leadership within the church
and now that that respective generation is transitioning into a different role the spiritual
leadership that once was strong has begun to decline. Yet, the statement that really hit me that
evening was when one of our members commented how we (a group in their 20s and 30s) are
now at the age where it is our time to take up the spiritual leadership reigns, but have no idea
how to go about doing that.
I’m going to level with you – in order for TBC to adopt the same attitude of Christ so that we
can live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission to the fullest measure it is
essential that our seasoned Christians come alongside and mentor those younger in the faith.
Those of you that have exercised spiritual leadership at any point in the past you are needed to
equip the next generation of leaders to Gospel-oriented ministry.
We need look no further for a template on how to mentor other believers than by looking at
the ministry of Jesus Himself. Contrary to some’s belief, Jesus’ recruitment of His disciples was
not a quick process. Some scholars believe that Jesus may have taken as long as eighteen
4
months to teach, train, and invest Himself into His disciples. His approach to ministry was that
when we do this we’re not going to cut corners that leaves spiritual leaders ill-equipped. No,
Jesus invested in His disciples in such a manner that they would have been prepared for the
long haul of a lifetime of ministry. This too must be the approach we at TBC take in equipping
the next generation so that they can be well-equipped for the long haul of a lifetime of ministry.
By Jesus’ obedience to the point of death on the cross we read in v. 9 that “God highly exalted
him and gave him the name that is above every name”. Due to His obedience, the Father
literally raised Jesus to a higher place than He had ever been before. This is not to say that
during His lifetime Jesus was not God, but that He had not been clearly recognized as God by
humanity until after His resurrection.
As God before, during, and after His ministry on earth Jesus was entitled to put the kibosh on
the whole being born to a virgin and dying a criminal’s death on the cross thing, but the beauty
lies with the fact that did it anyway. We, on the other hand, do not have that luxury. We’re not
entitled like our Savior – we are to adopt the attitude of Christ Jesus – a self-less, life giving,
preference denying attitude. Although adopting an attitude of Christ means that we will be last
as we place others before us, our joy in doing so will be made complete.
2) How is the discontentment in my personal life feeding the entitlement I believe I have at
church?
A few months ago Pastor Randy preached on the topic of time and how we leave little to no
margin in our lives for investing ourselves further in God’s mission and into community with
others. The result of leaving no margin for these critical areas in our life is that on the rare
occasion when we do have spare time we feel entitled to use it a way that doesn’t require
having to self-sacrifice those few precious moments.
Perhaps for some of us this morning the loss of a relationship, our health, a job, or another
humiliating experience has left us depleted and irritated with God, which produces a particular
type of entitlement that gives us an out when it comes to surrendering our preferences at the
cross. Now, if this is the place where you find yourself today let these words from Hebrews
12:3-4 be a challenge and an encouragement to you! “For consider him who endured such
hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. In struggling
against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Are you tired?
Weary? Broken? Then come to the Father and rest and in doing so allow the Spirit to replenish
your heart and mind so that you can once again gird up the loins of your faith and adopt the
attitude of Christ Jesus even through pain and adversity.
We read that the Father exalted the Son “so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in
heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The expression of “in heaven and on earth and under the
earth” refers not only to all of the human race, but also angelic and demonic beings. The point
5
being made is that all will be forced upon Christ’s return to acknowledge Him as Lord, even if
they have not known Him as Lord and received salvation.
Every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord on that day when he visibly returns to earth and is
re-united with His bride the church.
3) Through what service to my church can I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?
No matter how you answered this question I believe the first step in this process must be an
examination of our hearts ending with the realization of our ultimate need for a Savior to
cleanse us of the times we actively choose not to adopt the same attitude of Christ.
Our confession of Jesus Christ, in thought, in attitude, and finally in practice, ought to echo the
life of the Son of God who “emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the
likeness of humanity.” The Christ who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of
death – even to death on a cross.”
When we adopt the same attitude as that of Jesus the bride of Christ will be glorified through
the sacrifice of needing to have our preferences met.
This can be realized if we first ask not what our church can do for us, but what we can do for
the Kingdom.
Amen.