Scripture

Philipians 2:3-16

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Questions:

• What stood out to you about this message?
• In what area of your life do you find the gravitational pull towards self centeredness to be the strongest? Can you think of a recent example?
• Read Philippians 2:3-16. Paul instructs us to have “the same mindset as Christ Jesus” in our relationships. Discuss what this mindset looks like and the example Jesus sets.
• Paul says we will "shine...like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life." Why do you think Paul said this?
• Where do you have an opportunity to “not look to your own interests, but look to the interests of others” this week?

Songs

• This is Amazing Grace