Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Unity & Humility - Philippians 2:1-4

Bryan Schneider · October 21, 2018

Philippians 2:1-4

sharonrpc.org/sermons/unity-humility

Summary

Philippians 2 calls the church to a substantial unity of love, purpose, and devotion to Christ rather than the superficial peace of a social club.
Christian unity requires peacemaking, mutual love, shared gospel convictions, honest relationships, and care for one another's spiritual good.
The absence of open conflict is not enough if believers avoid truth, repentance, vulnerability, or meaningful responsibility for one another.
Selfish ambition and empty glory fracture communion; humility esteems others and looks to their interests without denying appropriate care for oneself.
Rank, prestige, ethnicity, and personal preference must yield before the equal need of every believer for Christ's blood-bought grace.
This life cannot be produced by moral resolve alone: consolation in Christ, the Father's love, and fellowship in the Holy Spirit are its foundation and power.

Is my idea of church unity merely the absence of conflict, or does it include shared love, truth, repentance, and mutual care?
Which preference, rivalry, or desire for recognition most tempts me toward selfish ambition?
Do I love Christ's people only when I naturally like them?
Where might protecting my reputation keep me from asking for help or confessing sin?
How can correction be offered humbly and according to Scripture rather than as control or self-importance?
Whose interest can I intentionally consider alongside my own this week?
Why does Paul begin with consolation in Christ and fellowship in the Spirit before commanding unity?

Christian unity: The Spirit-created communion of believers who share love for Christ, gospel truth, and concern for one another's good.
Like-minded: A shared gospel-shaped purpose and disposition; it does not require identical personalities, preferences, or judgments on every secondary matter.
Selfish ambition: Self-promoting rivalry that uses church life, doctrine, gifts, or status to advance oneself over others.
Humility: A lowliness of mind that turns from vainglory, receives one's place under Christ, and sincerely attends to another person's good.
Fellowship of the Spirit: The common participation in the Holy Spirit that unites believers to Christ and enables their life together.
False unity: An outward calm maintained by apathy, avoidance, image management, or the suppression of necessary truth and repentance.