A Guide to Correct Loss: Philippians 3:1-11

Pass out note cards. Students are to write one known thing about the person on the right of them and give to the person on the left of them to read.

Philippians 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. (Break 1)
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (Break 2)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
(Break 3)

Break 1

When you think of dogs, what comes to mind? Well, Jews used to refer to Gentiles as dogs. Dogs were scavengers much like with think of raccoons, coyotes and other non-domesticated animals that run in packs and eat whatever they may find and make messes. These “dogs” were filthy and unclean unlike our dogs of today that are dressed even some with accessories. Paul is referring to Jews as dogs, not the gentiles. This is a complete switch.

When you think of evildoers, what comes to mind? I think of Megamind or the Green Goblin.

What do you think “mutilate the flesh” means? This actually refers to circumcision. To give a little context, Circumcision by definition is the act of removing foreskin. Most male children have this done today.

Benefits of physical circumcision:
1 Some older men can develop cancer - about 1 in 1000 - fairly rare, but tragic if you or your son are in that small statistic. Infant circumcision gives almost 100% protection, and young adult circumcision also gives a large degree of protection.

2 Cancer of the cervix in women is due to the Human Papilloma Virus. It thrives under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during intercourse. An article in the British Medical Journal in April 2002 suggested that at least 20% of cancer of the cervix would be avoided if all men were circumcised. Surely that alone makes it worth doing?

3 Protection against HIV and AIDS. Another British Medical Journal article in May 2000 suggested that circumcised men are 8 times less likely to contract the HIV virus. (It is very important here to say that the risk is still far too high - this applies also to preventing cancer of the cervix in women who have several partners.)

A BBC television program in November 2000 showed two Ugandan tribes across the valley from one another. One practiced circumcision and had very little AIDS, whereas, it was common in the other tribe, who then also started circumcising. This program showed how the infection thrived in the lining of the foreskin, making it much easier to pass on.

4 As with HIV, so some protection exists against other sexually transmitted infections. Accordingly, if a condom splits or comes off, there is some protection for the couple. However, the only safe sex is to stick to one partner or abstain.

So, why tell you these things when you are students? Let me give you a biblical understanding. In our lives we have pride in which we hide other sins. These sins may not be visible immediately, they may not even be recognized as sin or we have not thoroughly cleansed ourselves. The truth is; we cannot purify ourselves. God is the one who purifies and removes the sin from our lives. God spiritually circumcises our old nature from our new self. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

So let’s get to the understanding of correct loss. Why would Paul be so adamant against physical circumcision that the Judaizers were pushing for? Anything added to Sola Gracia, Sola Fida, Sola Christus (Grace alone, Faith Alone, Christ alone) is incorrect. These Jews were saying and making people physically identify as Jews before claiming Christ.

How does this apply to students in 2011?

There is nothing, NOTHING needed prior to Christ’s calling of you. There is no other means needed for salvation other than faith in and repentance to Christ Jesus and the grace he bestows. Anyone who says different is a type of Judaizer.

Break 2

Now, we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit… John 4:23-24
Why say this, and use this reference. The conversation between Christ and the woman at the well was heavily saturated in the traditions and the physical.

Instead of concentrating on the physical, “rejoice in the Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.”
What are you rejoicing in? What accomplishments do you have that “define” you? Are you defined only by your athletic, musical or drama accomplishments? Who are you known as?

Student on the left then reads the card aloud. 2^nd step of the beginning activity.

Let’s read verses 4-6. Do you think Paul had a right to boast?

Do you think you have a right to boast about what was on that paper?

Break 3

Now, all these things we have spoken from the note cards, I want you to wad them up and throw them at me (from your seats). 3^rd step of the beginning activity.

Why wad them up and throw them away?

Let’s read verses 7-11

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Can you say that about what was on these papers?

Can you release and let go; can you lose your old self?

Can you say, “Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…”

Paul even went one step forward to say he counts all his gains as rubbish. That means they like feces, excrement and bodily waste. His gains, his education, his prior life before Christ!

Why do we look back as though our past life is a long lost friend whom we desire to meet again someday? Why!?

“and be found in him.” Here we reference 2 Cor. 5:17.

Verse nine confirms “Sola Fida and Sola Christus.”

Verse 10 points to three things Paul desires and we should as well:

1. Know Christ

2. Know his Power

3. Know his sufferings

The good news is that those who suffer with and for Christ will attain the resurrection from the dead.

We must lose all to gain all. We must die to become alive. We must accept to be accepted.

A Guide to Correct Service: Philippians 2:12-18

Philippians 2: 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, (Break 1) work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
(Break 2)

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, (Break 3) among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life,
(Break 4) so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. (Break 5)

17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. (Break 6)

Break 1

Therefore…this is a conjunction that means in consequence of that; as a result.

My Beloved, who is this? Deacons and elders and saints in Philippi.

Does this next line seem familiar? Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. This thought is copied from Philippians 1:27.

Break 2

Let’s note the therefore again but this time with the comma’s. (Write out ch.2:9-11,12 and accentuate the punctuation.) Our understanding of “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” is because you must do it understanding that one day, whether saved or not, you will bow before Jesus as Lord and you will confess that Jesus is Lord, maybe not as Lord of your life but that Jesus is Lord of All.

Paul then writes that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” So our work, if directed to please Christ, is the work of Christ because we without Christ cannot work out our salvation alone.

God’s good pleasure is not something that naturally we desire. We desire self. We desire our good pleasure but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the work of God wills and does the will of God.

Break 3

How should we do all things? Without complaining and disputing.

Why should we not complain and dispute? So that you and I may become blameless and harmless, children of God.

What is the benefit of becoming blameless and harmless? We have no fault before a crooked and perverse generation.

Break 4

What will come from this lifestyle? You and I will shine like lights in the world. (Shine like the Stars)

What will be in the faces of other students as your shining like stars? It will be the fact that you hold to the word of Life, the Gospel.

Break 5

What are the benefits to leaders/people who have poured into you and I?
1. They can rejoice;
Why can those people/leaders rejoice?
2. Because mine and your lives shine like stars and it reveals those people/leaders have not run or labored in vain.

Break 6

“Yes,…,I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Now, this is regardless of situation or circumstance that Paul reveals his admiration of those at Philippi.

Now, let’s look inside the commas, “If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith.” Paul gives a powerful illustration. Have you ever had someone just use you? Have you ever had someone show no appreciation of what you have done?

Have you ever used Jesus? Have you used Farmstead Baptist? Have you used your Sunday School teachers, pastor or even me? Let me say this…you live the life of a follower of Christ, I will be glad and rejoice with you all because we are all called to serve. I know ministers use the phrase, “I was called to the ministry” but that is incorrect; ministers are set apart for bi-vocational or vocational ministry. Everyone is called to serve.

I am pouring my life into this ministry, this church and you guys. I rejoice if you are walking with Christ and I should do so no matter how you treat me, although if you treat me bad then you might want to check your service.

You, just as me, should be pouring out your life in service to God and rejoice and be glad alongside me. Let’s rejoice together, let’s serve together and let’s expand the Kingdom of God together!

A Guide to Correct Humility: Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. (Break 1)

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Break 2)

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Break 3)

Break 1 – Humility of Mind Modeled (Intellectual humility to someone else)

· Notice that Paul has used the word “Let” 4 times in the last 8 verses.

o Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1:27

o Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or deceit. 2:3

o Let each of you look out not only to his own interests. 2:4

o Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. 2:5

· The point being is that you must surrender humbly to God and his desires for your life.

· Now Christ is being defined to reveal the mind we should have:

o He was in the form of God – Form means the true and exact nature of something, possessing all the characteristics and qualities of something.

o Did not consider his “heavenly existence or divine life-style” as something to be “selfishly” maintained.

o No Reputation is revealing how he was to come. As the Omnipresent and Omnipotent King he obviously would have come in glory and splendor and pomp but Christ came in “to serve not to be served.” Christ came in humbly being born in a manger, surrounded not by golden walls and spotless floors but by thatch walls and hay-strewn flooring.

Break 2 – Humility of Body Modeled (Physical humility to someone else)

· Christ’s Bodily humility is defined:

o He was in the form of a bondservant – bond-unites servant – one that is hired to perform household duties for another

o He came in the likeness of men – being like, picture; copy. This means he was to participate on the level of life like you and I. He was not outside the struggles and temptations of life or the growth and maturity of mankind’s life.

o He found himself in the appearance of man – It wasn’t just an internal likeness but an external likeness. When Jesus looked into a mirror, he appeared as a man of Jewish descent. He was of dark-complexion, had physical features like that of a middle-eastern man.

o So incarnation means God who as spirit, takes upon himself a physical body so that he has fingers and toes and he blows his nose and goes to the bathroom. And not to be disrespectful to Jesus, but he takes on a human body. And what he’s saying here is that in becoming a man, Jesus is the most humble man who has ever lived, because Jesus is God – become a man. Creator entered into creation. Timeless eternal enters into time. Omni present, everywhere, enters into a place. Seated on a throne chooses to be born in a barn. Surrounded by angels in glory comes to be disrespected, mocked and abused by sinners. Living in heaven comes to live in poverty on the earth, and to suffer is the man of sorrows. And what he is saying is that in that, Jesus is the most humble person who has or will ever live. - Mark Driscoll

· So because of his mental and physical form Jesus did these things:

o He humbled himself

o Became Obedient (even to death, death on the cross)

o Now in saying this, we are not saying that Jesus ceased to be God when he became a man. Rather what he said here is that he set aside his rights and he set aside the use of his divine attributes. Doesn’t mean he didn’t possess them. He didn’t access them continually. While on the earth, Jesus was still God. He was worshiped as God. He declared himself to be God, and he forgave sin, which only God can do. So Jesus, while on the earth, was God. But God does not grow and change, and so Jesus set aside his divine attribute of immutability so that he could grow from a little baby, to a boy, to a man. God is omniscient. He’s all knowing. Jesus set aside that attribute so that he would learn to read and write as we do. That Jesus Christ humbly lived a fully human life while still being God, still having the right to be worshiped as God, still having the attributes of God, but humbled himself choosing instead to live with us, like us, without the sin. This doesn’t mean that Jesus lost anything when he became a human being. - Mark Driscoll

o Augustine, the church father, says that he maintained his divinity as God and he added to it humanity, or he became a human being. - Mark Driscoll

o Romans 5:8, says it this way – “God demonstrates his love for us in this while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God left glory and came humbly. God left his throne and was born in a barn. God left being worshiped by angels continually to be disrespected by stiff-necked, stubborn, unrepentant, self-righteous, proud people, like me, continually. And how did I – how did we respond to God? We murdered him. That’s how proud we are. Not only that, Jesus, who is God, allowed me, allowed us, to murder him. That’s how humble he is. And in dying, he is so humble that he died for me that I might have salvation and love and reconciliation with God who made me. - Mark Driscoll

Break 3 – Exaltation of Christ Modeled (Not self and by someone else)

Here is another conjunction – Therefore –

This is what God did for Christ where we just were looking at what Christ did for us.

What did God do for Christ because of his humility? What will God do for our humility?

· He exalted him – We are Co-heirs with Christ

· Gave him a name above every name -

o What happens with this name?

§ Every knee will bow – Whose knees?

· Those in heaven

· Those on earth

· Those under the earth

§ Every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord – Whose Tongue?

· Those in heaven

· Those on earth

· Those under the earth

o Why will these things happen at the name of Jesus?

§ To bring glory to God the Father!

A Guide to Correct Unity: Philippians 2:1-4

Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Break 1)

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem (Verbally Encourage) others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Break 2)

Break 1

Now, there is a conjunction at the beginning of this section so we must look back and see what it says.

Read Philippians 1:27-30.

So because of this, we move into this thought.

“If there is any consolation in Christ…” v.1

Consolation = an act of comfort or cheer

Does Christ show any comfort or cheer? Have you ever experienced Jesus’ comfort and cheer?

How does that feel? Explain.

Comfort = relief from distress – “If love has relieved your distress…”

Fellowship = state of association or state of being a pair – “If your partnership with the Spirit means anything…”

Affection = fond feeling

Mercy = kindness, power to forgive – “If any fond feeling or kindness or power to forgive…”

Let me read out of the Message Bible: Philippians 2:1-4

The knot that holds the two – FULFILL MY JOY! V.2

How do we fulfill a minister’s joy?

1. Be like-minded

2. Have the same love

3. Be in like-agreement and like-intention

What do these three things reveal about a body of believers? They are united.

Break 2

Beyond fulfilling a minister’s joy, how do we fulfill God’s Joy in Us?

1. Motivated in Unity v.3a

a. Reference Colossians 3:15,17

2. Speak for Unity v.3b

a. Reference 1 Timothy 1:3-7

3. Move in Unity v.4

a. Reference Hebrews 10:23-25

b. Read it again this time from the Message!
So what should we be united in doing?

i. Encouraging love

ii. Helping out

iii. Not avoiding worship

iv. Spurring one another on