The Unity Equation
Unity and joy are the result of putting the needs of others before our own.
Philippians(1) (Part of the Special(2) series)
by Stuart Johns(37) on April 21, 2024 (Sunday Morning(44))
Confession(6), Joy(2), Selfishness(1), Unity(1)
JOY IN CHRIST
The Unity Equation
(Philippians 2:1-4)
INTRODUCTION
I have a couple of equations and formulas that I want to show you. Can you guess what they are?
ax2 + bx + c = 0 (Quadratic equation)
x =
a2 + b2 = c2 (The Pythagorean Theorem)
E = mc2 (Einstein’s theory of special relativity)
Paul shares an important equation/formula with us today in Philippians 2:1-4. He continues to share about unity in the Philippian church, but this formula is universal and applies to us today too.
We will be learning what the unity equation means.
BODY
ME
Guardianship
Around ten years ago Judy and I took in two sisters (Mya and Lilly)
We were their legal guardians for about two years
We were excited to have them living with us
God works in wonderful ways to prepare us for what He wants us to do
We had been thinking about foster care and/or adoption for several years, so it wasn’t a new concept for us
I had just completed a seminary class on the Prophets
One of the major themes of many of the Prophets is God’s concern that the Israelites do not mistreat or take advantage of the poor, the widows, and the orphans/fatherless
They were challenged to take care of the poor, the widows, and the orphans/fatherless
God was internalizing that truth while I was taking the class, so when Judy approached me about this opportunity I did not hesitate to answer, “Yes.”
For our family this is what it looked like practically to live out putting the needs of others above our own (Levi gave up his room for Mya & Lilly)
WE
Mothers
You know what it’s like to put the needs of your children above your own
You do it from the time they’re born
Teachers
You know what it’s like to put the needs of your students above your own
You sacrifice bathroom breaks, lunch breaks, recess breaks and many other breaks to invest in the lives of your students
Those with the gift of compassion or service
If you have these gifts you are thinking about the needs of others above your own needs – it’s a natural part of who you are and what you do
Some people with these gifts can take it to the extreme and neglect themselves in the process, which isn’t healthy
While these are all great examples of putting the needs of others before our own, Paul directs his words to those within the Philippian church. While there wasn’t a specific situation of disunity within the church, Paul wanted to make sure they understood this important concept. Other churches Paul had founded were struggling with disunity. What we can learn from Paul’s instructions to the Philippians is that . . .
BIG IDEA – Unity and joy are the result of putting the needs of others before our own.
Let’s pray!
GOD (Philippians 2:1- 4)
Referring back
In the 1984 version of the NIV translation, they have omitted the word that begins this sentence
It should begin with the word “Therefore”
Paul wants the Philippian believers and us to look back to vv. 29-30 of chapter 1 (read those verses)
They had been experiencing suffering just like he had
Because they had been experiencing suffering Paul reminds them of some important truths concerning being united with Christ
If, then statement (vv. 1-2)
The “if” statements in English can have us thinking that Paul is questioning whether these things are true, but it can also be translated “since”
That has a more positive sound to it – it helps us to see that these are truths that we experience as followers of Jesus Christ
Perhaps the Philippians had forgotten these truths and needed to be reminded – we need to be reminded today also
I like how the NLT translates the “if” statements
They are formed into questions that can and should be answered with a “Yes!”
(Take the sermon notes sheet out of your bulletin this morning so you can write some answers down to these questions)
Is there any encouragement from being united with Christ?
How are you encouraged today because of your personal relationship with Christ?
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve reflected on this
Are you encouraged when you think about eternal life?
Are you encouraged today because you’ve seen Jesus transform a family member’s life?
What about your relationship with Jesus encourages you today?
Take time to write down some thoughts
Is there any comfort from his love?
How have you been comforted by the love of God?
How have you been comforted by the love of God expressed through a family member or fellow believer?
2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
Is there any fellowship together in the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity that indwells every believer at conversion
As followers of Jesus Christ there is a fellowship we experience, even if we’ve never met before, as a result of the Holy Spirit living within us
When I was serving with Every Generation Ministries in California I had the opportunity to attend the National Directors conference in Romania
From the first time meeting the national directors, I experienced fellowship with them, because of the Holy Spirit
One of the things that the President of EGM did was have each of the national directors pray in their native tongue/language, which was so amazing to hear and experience
How have you experienced this incredible fellowship of the Spirit?
Take time to write down your experience(s)
Is your heart tender and compassionate?
Tenderness is talking about the inner source of your emotions – the seat of your emotions
Compassion is referring to your feelings, emotions reaching out toward others
How are your inner and outer emotions?
Are they centered on Jesus Christ?
Have you experienced the mercies of God in your life and if so, how?
Paul wants the Philippians and us to act on the relationships we have with one another because of what the Lord has done for us [Thielman, 97]
“Then” statement
Make my joy complete – it means to make complete in every particular; to render perfect
Paul then gives some guidelines concerning how to make his joy complete
Being like-minded
It means to be of the same mind; to agree together; to cherish the same views; be harmonious
It’s having the same way of thinking
It’s agreeing wholeheartedly with each other
It’s agreeing on the essentials of the faith
It is agreeing on who Jesus is and what He came to earth to do
Last week I mentioned that Judy and I grew up in the United Brethren church
We have been members of other churches, because there weren’t any United Brethren churches were we lived (Southern Baptist, Wesleyan, Calvary Chapel)
What we found is that those churches believed the same things that United Brethren’s do about the essentials of the faith
There will always be disagreements on the non-essentials within a body of believers
Unfortunately, most church splits are the result of disagreements on non-essential issues
It’s not the idea of uniformity (identical life-styles or personalities), because that happens through outside pressure from others
It’s unity based on common values and love, which goes beyond just the intellect
Having the same love
Paul is reflecting back on God’s love for His people that he expressed in v. 1
We should have the same kind of love for each other as God has for us
This can be a challenge as I’m sure it was for the Philippian believers
Euodia (yoo-od-ee’ah/you-ah-dee’-ah) and Syntyche (soon-too’-khay) were probably not having the same love for each other (Philippians 4:2)
Any time we disagree with someone at church it makes it difficult to have the same love for each other
It’s very easy to get our focus off of Christ and on the negative situation at hand
We are definitely not like-minded at that point – we may try to find fault with everything they are saying and doing
We definitely don’t have the same love for the other person as God has for them and for us
We definitely don’t have the same spirit or purpose
“Love begins when someone else’s needs are more important than my own.” [Fee quoting an unknown source, 185]
Being one in spirit and purpose
Spirit means “of one mind; of one accord”
The Greek word for “purpose” is the same one for “like-minded” at the beginning of v. 2
It means “to be of the same mind; to agree together; to cherish the same views; be harmonious”
Paul moves now from the essence of unity to the expression of unity
Unity expressed (vv. 3-4)
Don’t focus inward (v. 3a)
Don’t be selfish
This is difficult, especially in our culture
We are told repeatedly that we can have anything we want – we can have it our way
The court system has enabled us to believe that if we don’t get what we want we can appeal to them and they will “make it right”
The root of all sin is selfishness – wanting our own way
This attitude has crept into the church as Thom Rainer pointed out in his book, I Am A Church Member
He shared the story of the country club that came to his town when he was a boy and how membership there meant perks, privileges, and others serving him
He shared how church members have taken this same attitude and applied it to the church
They pay their dues through tithes and offerings and the church should serve them and do everything their way
He says this understanding of church membership is unbiblical
“For them, membership is about receiving instead of giving, being served instead of serving, rights instead of responsibilities, and entitlements instead of sacrifices.” [Rainer, 11]
Here’s the crazy thing – those who have this kind of attitude, many times don’t even recognize that they are the offenders
The driveway at the CEF World Headquarters has a speed limit
A building wide memo went out one day about individuals who were exceeding that speed limit
The funny thing was that the person who sent the memo was one of the offenders (I don’t know if they realized it or not)
Most offenders don’t even realize it
Perhaps you’re one of those offenders in the church today, but you probably don’t realize it
Here’s an easy way to determine if you fall into that category
Are the things that make you upset about what’s going on at Jerusalem Chapel non-essentials to faith in Jesus Christ?
If they are non-essential to faith in Jesus Christ then most likely they are personal preferences and you are focusing on your needs instead of the needs of others
#1 – My Next Step Today Is To: Confess my selfishness to God and seek unity in the church.
Don’t try to impress others
When we try to impress others, it takes attention away from the Lord
He’s the One who should be receiving the praise and glory and not us
He’s the One we should be directing people’s attention to and not towards ourselves
“The true obstacle to unity is not the presence of legitimate differences of opinion but self-centeredness. Shifting attention away from ourselves becomes the challenge.” [Silva, 87]
Focus outward (vv.3b-4)
Humility is the key
“The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself; he simply does not think of himself at all!” [Wiersbe quoting Andrew Murray, he thinks, 73]
“Humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it.” [Wiersbe, 73]
I’m sure there are those within this body that are shining examples of humility as it pertains to thinking of the needs of others before their own
Here’s the crazy thing – these individuals would never think of themselves that way, but many others do
We recognize your selflessness and sacrifice (thank you)
We see your outward focused attitude in helping others
We applaud your desire for unity in the body of Christ
Think of others needs first
Consider others better than yourself is not thinking negatively about ourselves
Rather, it’s the attitude that others needs and concerns “surpass” my own
Do you want to cure your own “selfish ambition and vain conceit” and any “grumbling and bickering?”
Here’s the key – unity and joy come when we put the needs of others before our own
Notice that Paul doesn’t say to forget about your interests/needs altogether
He knows we won’t have any problems remembering our own needs
That shouldn’t be our only focus or our primary focus within the church
89% of church attenders surveyed said that the primary purpose of their congregation is to serve their needs and the needs of their family [Kaiser, Winning on Purpose, 26]
That doesn’t accomplish very well the Great Commission of making disciples
There is a balance between taking care of our needs and meeting the needs of others
“The need of outsiders to be reached must be raised noticeably higher than the need of the members to be equipped for reaching them . . . The mission of Christ to the world comes first, and supporting the mission team comes second but not far behind.” [Kaiser, 27]
YOU
Solving the equation
The equation is not difficult (Unity Equation)
Paul has outlined it beautifully for us
For unity and joy to be experienced by Jerusalem Chapel, we must put the needs of others before our own
Important question to ask yourself
How can I live out the unity equation in my life?
What are some needs of others in the congregation?
If you don’t know, ask!
There are plenty of needs
What are some needs of others in our community?
#2 – My Next Step Today Is To: Focus on the needs of others within our church and community so we can experience and model unity and joy.
WE
Think about this
If we all start focusing on the needs of others before our own needs, then my guess is that everyone’s needs are going to be met
We won’t have to think about our own needs, because someone else has been thinking about them and putting them before their own
What a great principle that can have a huge impact on our church and community
CONCLUSION
“There cannot be true unity if there is inner antipathy.” [Motyer, 105]
Leading through Covid-19
When the leadership at Idaville Church decided to close during Covid-19, we received a twelve-page letter from a couple in the church expressing their disappointment in the leadership and their lack of faith.
When the leadership decided to open back up with masks being optional, one church member shared with our Assistant Pastor that they did not agree with me and would not be returning to church until masks were required. They also shared with him that they believed that I did not love people, because we were not requiring masks.
One morning I was praying and asking the Lord how to lead through the extremes (faith and fear). He asked me what my favorite passage was in the New Testament. I told Him it was Philippians 2:1-11. He told me to read it again. Verse two stood out to me, do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. A couple of days later in my devotional time in the morning, I read these words from James 3:13-18, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
The Lord’s answer to leading through the extremes was the unity equation
