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Welcome
Worship
Word
Please read: Philippians 2:1-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Phil 2:5
Some entitle Philippians as ‘The Epistle of Joy’ as the words ‘joy’/‘rejoice’ appear 15 times (e.g. Phil 4:4; 1:4; 1:18-19; 1:25; 2:2) and some say the key to J.O.Y. is putting Jesus first, Others second and Yourselves last.
Well, we are to love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31) so we must also take care of ourselves as well. Paul has already referred to the mind:
Fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 2:2
and the way to do this is:
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
Jesus always had on His mind how He could serve others, for that is why He came:
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45
He was always looking out for others, how He might help them; minister to them; meet their needs; develop them, so that they might flourish in ministry. This is a strong argument against those who say you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian – of course you do! [There is one exception I know of, one Christian who didn’t go to church, the thief on the cross, because shortly after committing his life to Jesus He was with Jesus in paradise]. For how can we put into practice all the “one another’s” otherwise? There are too many to mention here, some 40 or so in the NT alone!
“The primary activity of the church was ‘one-anothering’ one another”
Andy Stanley
So, for example,
- “love one another” (John 13:34 and 15 more times in the NT)
- “pray/lay hands on one another” (Acts 28:9)
- “encourage one another” (Heb. 3:13)
- “be kind to one another” (Eph. 4:32)
- “be devoted to one another” (Romans 12:10)
- “live in harmony with one another” (Rom. 12:16)
- “Build up one another” (1 Thess. 5:11)
- “Honour one another above yourselves” (Rom. 12:10)
- “Accept one another” (Rom. 15:7)
- “Be patient, bearing with one another” (Eph. 4:2)
- “meet up with one another” (Heb. 10:25 – see below)
Jesus’ mindset to serve others must be evident in us individually, and corporately as a church in the various ways mentioned in the Scriptures, Amen.
Quote of the week
“Within your community [church] learn to develop attitudes of selflessness and humility, considering the needs of one another as top priority”
Gordon Fee
Verse of the week
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus’ example, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used selfishly, rather He made Himself nothing and humbled Himself, to die on the cross. Help us to have this same mindset as we serve one another with the love of Christ. By Your Holy Spirit, empower Your Church to be more Christ-like that the world may know that we are Your disciples, by how we love and serve one another, for Your glory in Jesus Christ, Amen!