WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.880 Good morning, everybody. If you have your Bible on you or your Bible app, you may wish to keep it open. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:25.620 We're going to keep referring back to the passage throughout. And this morning I have been tasked with continuing our sermon series on being centered on Christ, focusing today on the mindset of Christ. 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:37.679 A big task when the Bible actually repeatedly tells us that no one can know the mind of God except the spirit of God himself. 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:53.600 God tells Jeremiah, feel that my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:01:12.060 And yet, by the grace of God, we can begin to know God. His mindset, his ways, through his word, through the person of Jesus, God incarnate, through the Holy Spirit as he speaks to us today. 00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:18.480 So much so that Paul, when he's writing to the Philippian church, says, 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:33.240 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort in his love, any common sharing in the spirit, any tenderness or compassion, make my joy complete by being like-minded. 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:36.340 Being of one spirit and mind. 00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:46.640 In other words, when we meet the Lord and we give our lives to him, it should make a difference to the way we live our lives. 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:55.320 We should give ourselves to the spirit's transformation process in us, living for him and like him. 00:01:55.319 --> 00:02:03.219 And so we need to ask ourselves, what does it mean to be like-minded with Christ? 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:07.979 What does it look like on a day-to-day basis? 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:19.419 In the highs and the lows, the stress, the fun, in the resting and the working, the socialising and the retreating, the waking, the rising, the living, the breathing. 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:25.699 In all of that, what does it mean for us to have the mindset of Christ? 00:02:27.739 --> 00:02:34.500 As we read on in the passage in Philippians, we read in the next breath that Paul tells us, 00:02:34.959 --> 00:02:39.759 To do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:47.379 Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, looking to others' interests rather than your own. 00:02:49.419 --> 00:02:54.639 I think this thing of humility is really key here. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:03:04.759 It's an intrinsic part of who the incarnate Jesus, the Son of God, the fully human and fully divine Christ is. 00:03:05.739 --> 00:03:06.459 Humble. 00:03:07.519 --> 00:03:12.819 But we so often conflate humility with self-deprecation. 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:19.719 Putting ourselves down, ignoring our strengths and even our God-given gifts. 00:03:21.519 --> 00:03:26.120 I once heard a really good explanation of humility. 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:28.120 And I'm going to try and demonstrate it. 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:30.379 Adam, would you be able to give me a hand on this? 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:32.959 Sorry, I didn't warn you about this. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:43.700 Can you hold the cup? 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:44.280 Thanks. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:51.060 Okay, I've got some orange squash here, so hopefully everyone will be able to see it. 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:54.760 But we've got this cup here, a glass. 00:03:54.759 --> 00:04:00.759 And if the glass is less than full... 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.060 Adam, do you remember what this is? 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:07.039 If it's less than full, it's false humility? 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:08.359 Yeah, it is. 00:04:08.519 --> 00:04:09.719 It's false humility. 00:04:09.899 --> 00:04:11.359 It's being down on ourselves. 00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:14.659 It's batting away well-intended compliments. 00:04:14.899 --> 00:04:16.319 It's making ourselves small. 00:04:16.599 --> 00:04:19.539 And that's not what God intends for us. 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:24.540 But if I keep on filling it... 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:41.360 If it overflows, it's pride. 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.420 It's puffing ourselves up. 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:45.860 It's thinking of ourselves above others. 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:51.340 It's pushing others down so that we can lift ourselves up. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:53.980 And that's not what God intends for us either. 00:04:56.980 --> 00:05:00.080 But when the cup is perfectly full, 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:04.660 full to the top, not overflowing, not less than full, 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:07.639 it's taking up the space it was made to own. 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:09.520 And that's true humility. 00:05:10.960 --> 00:05:13.980 It's knowing who we are and whose we are. 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:17.980 It's appreciating the space that we were made to own 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:19.800 and that others were made to own. 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:23.040 It's not puffing ourselves up. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:24.600 It's not putting others down. 00:05:25.780 --> 00:05:28.920 It's thinking of ourselves well and thinking of others well. 00:05:29.780 --> 00:05:30.920 Choosing to serve. 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:34.580 Choosing to view others in equality and love. 00:05:35.140 --> 00:05:36.660 And that's real humility. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:37.800 Adam, thank you. 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:44.199 My glamorous assistant, everybody. 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:50.379 So, Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:54.860 in about AD 60, 30 years after Jesus had died. 00:05:55.960 --> 00:05:59.699 And there was so much to praise the Philippian community for. 00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:03.280 Their generosity, their commitment to the gospel 00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:04.920 were two key things. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:09.280 But there was also an infectious lack of humility 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:10.939 at work in the community. 00:06:11.460 --> 00:06:13.080 And Paul was trying to squash it out. 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:17.319 I've just finished reading a book called Lydia 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.360 in which theologian Paula Gooder 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:22.920 creates a well-researched, 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:27.560 creatively licensed story about Lydia, 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:30.200 the purple cloth seller of Acts 16. 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:35.279 Really, really recommend it if you can get a chance to grab it. 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:42.060 But it's a book about how those early church Christians 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:45.039 found it, living the Jesus way, 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:47.980 in a society that was still largely rejecting 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:50.180 Jesus Christ as the Messiah, 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:52.319 as the saviour of the world. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:54.480 And as I read the book, 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:57.120 it became more and more clear to me 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:58.800 that social life in those days 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:00.980 was all about elevating the self. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:07.319 It's, you know how Jesus said, 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:11.560 exalt yourself and God will humble you, 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:14.379 but humble yourself and God will exalt you. 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:16.819 Well, in those days, 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:18.600 they weren't quite so good at that. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:20.959 Lowering themselves, 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:22.639 to lower oneself, 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:26.079 was literally the most un-Roman thing 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.279 that someone could do in this Roman society. 00:07:29.180 --> 00:07:32.399 And amongst those both inside and outside of the church, 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:35.000 culture was all about elevating the self, 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.399 proving your worth, 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:37.659 improving your status, 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:40.079 flaunting everything that you had 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:43.659 to elevate your reputation, 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.899 even at the expense of other people. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:51.979 But Jesus says this isn't the way. 00:07:52.659 --> 00:07:53.879 And Paul knows it too. 00:07:53.979 --> 00:07:55.519 And he's reminding the Christians, 00:07:55.679 --> 00:07:57.199 and he's reminding us today, 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.839 to live differently, 00:07:59.239 --> 00:08:00.719 to live like Christ, 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:02.519 to be Christ-minded. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.399 And how much do we need to hear that word today? 00:08:06.539 --> 00:08:09.519 In a world that is obsessed with self-image, 00:08:10.039 --> 00:08:11.199 climbing the ladder, 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:12.679 being influential, 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:16.120 having the right stories to tell our social groups, 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.060 doing the right hobbies, 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:19.699 having the right car, 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:20.639 the phone, 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:21.519 the clothes, 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:22.240 the holiday, 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:24.079 and goodness knows what else. 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:26.680 I'm not sure we're entirely different 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:28.699 almost 2,000 years later. 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:32.240 And yet we're called to be different. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:36.620 We're called to be marked with Christ-likeness. 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:40.620 As Paul continues, 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.299 we get this beautiful piece of poetry. 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:46.740 In your relationships with one another, 00:08:46.859 --> 00:08:49.299 have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.719 who, being the very nature God, 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:55.500 did not consider equality with God 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.679 to be something used to his own advantage. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.659 Rather, he made himself nothing 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:03.799 by taking on the very nature of a servant, 00:09:04.459 --> 00:09:06.539 being made in human likeness, 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:09.819 and being found in appearance as a man. 00:09:09.820 --> 00:09:12.620 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.640 even death on a cross. 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:18.920 In a society where lowering oneself 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:20.900 was the most unnatural thing to do, 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:24.360 Jesus humbled himself by becoming one of us. 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:26.379 And as he humbled himself 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:29.379 to dying a criminal's death for us, 00:09:29.540 --> 00:09:30.740 he loved us. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:35.000 And I wonder if it's humility 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:37.680 from which the mindset of Christ grows. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:41.899 When we humble ourselves, 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:45.580 we're able to better see other people around us, 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.000 the situations that need our attention, 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:51.080 the people who need a little bit of extra love. 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:56.340 And I think there's a pandemic going on 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:59.720 where we have become so short-sighted, 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:02.060 so focused on ourselves 00:10:02.060 --> 00:10:05.620 that we've lost the ability to see beyond ourselves. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:09.300 We can watch the news and see acts of war, 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.120 violence, sexual exploitation, 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.820 and so many atrocities 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:16.780 led not just by our global leaders, 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:20.439 but individuals as young as school children 00:10:20.439 --> 00:10:23.819 and as prestigious as the royal family. 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:25.639 And we think to ourselves, 00:10:26.100 --> 00:10:27.679 well, at least I don't live there 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.139 or at least my life doesn't look like that. 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:32.279 But there are so many other ways 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:34.159 in which we are short-sighted. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:37.600 When we get consumed by our own lives 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.539 and our business, 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:40.740 that we overlook the needs of our friends 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.699 and our neighbours near and far. 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:46.040 when we take our bad day out 00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:48.000 on a cashier at the supermarket, 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:50.420 when we walk past someone in the street 00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:52.500 who maybe just needed someone 00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:54.040 to smile at them today. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:58.040 And if we look a bit bigger, 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:02.320 we only need to look at the state of our earth. 00:11:03.780 --> 00:11:05.400 We should all know by now 00:11:05.400 --> 00:11:07.720 that those who are affected the least 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:09.080 by the climate crisis, 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:11.879 the climate chaos in our world, 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.080 are those who contribute to it the least. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:17.639 Every decision we make in this country 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:21.500 are making other countries inhabitable. 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:25.939 Our support of unethical branding, 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:28.759 our lazy decisions around consumption 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:30.860 are making communities on the front line 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:34.340 of the climate crisis suffer more. 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:35.940 For example, 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:39.559 our irresponsible use of AI and chat GPT 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:40.899 is using more water 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.519 than the bottled water companies, 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:45.399 the bottled water industry as a whole. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.219 Our fast fashion habits 00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:51.179 and use of single-use plastics consumption 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.779 is filling up landfills 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:56.079 and washing up on shores across the world. 00:11:56.939 --> 00:11:59.439 Underwear from Marks and Spencers 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:03.820 is washing up in beaches in Ghana en masse. 00:12:06.400 --> 00:12:08.960 Plastic pasta packaging from Tesco 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:11.560 is washing up in Turkey and Thailand. 00:12:13.140 --> 00:12:15.560 And it makes us uncomfortable to hear those things 00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:18.540 because probably a lot of us shop at M&S 00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:20.420 or Tesco or other similar brands 00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:22.659 and it's unsettling to be challenged 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:24.419 about things that we're so used to. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.620 I've recently been having conversations 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:30.500 with my mum about how as Christians 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:33.579 should we be maybe just boycotting 00:12:33.579 --> 00:12:35.240 chat GPT altogether 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:38.199 because of its overconsumption 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:39.479 of the world's resources. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.299 So we've been researching, 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.639 we've been finding out 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.419 if generating images through AI, 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:46.779 drawing up risk assessments 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:49.519 and using it to smarten up emails 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.600 as a responsible use of the program 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.279 and how that compares to 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.360 flights to go on holiday 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:58.439 or an hour-long video call 00:12:58.439 --> 00:13:01.019 or Google searching wedding resources. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:04.439 Because we need to allow ourselves 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:05.319 to be challenged. 00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:09.539 This AI stuff is just one example 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:11.139 and maybe it's a bit extreme 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:13.159 but we need to allow ourselves 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:13.759 to be challenged. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:15.879 We need to not get stuck in our ways 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.600 without questioning our methods, 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:19.980 without thinking about the consequences 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:21.700 beyond ourselves, 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:24.759 beyond what we see in front of us. 00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:27.080 Because when we're called 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:28.159 to live like Jesus, 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:32.399 to have the same mindset as Christ, 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:34.860 I believe that we are being called 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.159 to think beyond ourselves 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.100 in the everyday way we live our lives. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.639 And that's as much to do 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:41.360 with the practical part of our lives 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.240 as it is to do with 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.860 the spiritual part of our lives 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:46.379 because we can't separate the two 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.600 when we're called to live like Jesus. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.639 We see this point clearly 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:55.220 in Luke 14 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:57.639 when Jesus goes to the home 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:59.539 of a Pharisee for a Sabbath meal. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.419 These very high profile, 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.980 very elitist social occasions 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.960 were about showing off status 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.860 and worth, 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:10.460 clothing yourself in expensive cloth, 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:12.980 presenting yourself as ceremonially 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.580 and ritually pure 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:17.280 and making everybody else around you 00:14:17.280 --> 00:14:18.980 know that you kept the law. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.980 And so Jesus finds himself here, 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.460 potentially in the host's courtyard 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:26.820 where other less elite, 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.680 less important, 00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:29.019 less holy people 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.800 could listen in to the conversations. 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:34.320 And Jesus sees a man 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.420 with abnormal swelling 00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:37.120 in his body. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.419 And knowing that if you healed this man 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:41.899 then the religious leaders 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.659 would take offense, 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.679 they'd jump down his throat, 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.899 they would plot to kill him 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:46.340 as they so often did. 00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:50.159 Jesus asks them 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.179 whether or not 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:52.779 it's lawful to heal somebody 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.419 on the Sabbath. 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.139 And they stay silent. 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.060 He reaches out, 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.620 he touches the poorly man 00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.500 and he's healed. 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:02.460 And he turns to the others 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:02.899 and says, 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.360 well wouldn't you do the same thing 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.460 if it was your child, 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.899 if it was your ox 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.220 who needed help? 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:14.820 See in this very strange story, 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.700 Jesus habitually, 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:19.560 he shows us what he habitually does. 00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:22.300 He puts his reputation at risk 00:15:22.300 --> 00:15:24.639 in order to tend to those 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.700 who need his help, 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.659 his care, 00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:28.879 his healing. 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.539 Jesus doesn't wait for people 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.539 to approach him, 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.920 he goes out of his way 00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:35.240 to approach them. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:38.340 The Samaritan woman 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.019 at the well, 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:40.240 he didn't have to walk 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.320 through Samaria. 00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:43.039 Every other Jewish person 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.560 would walk around the country. 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:46.820 But Jesus made a point 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:48.139 of going through the town 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.019 where most Jews 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:50.220 would walk the long way around 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.840 to meet her. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.000 All those lepers 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.440 that Jesus healed, 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.060 well, 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.600 they were excommunicated. 00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.320 They had to live 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.440 on the outskirts. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.659 They wouldn't just bump into Jesus 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.680 on their wanderings. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:04.959 Jesus went out of his way 00:16:04.959 --> 00:16:05.699 to meet them. 00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:08.219 The woman who had been bleeding 00:16:08.219 --> 00:16:09.399 for 12 years, 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.779 who touched out 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:12.759 and reached Jesus' cloak 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.219 and was instantly healed. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.299 Jesus might have just brushed it off 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.259 as a job done. 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.620 But he stopped in order 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:21.219 to look her in the eyes, 00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:23.839 to call her daughter, 00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.719 to name her healing 00:16:25.719 --> 00:16:27.179 and give her a sense 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.279 of being seen, 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:29.599 of belonging, 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:31.379 something that she wouldn't 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.240 have had for a really long time. 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.620 All of these things, 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.620 being touched by ill people, 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:40.000 talking to people 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.399 who were living sinful lives, 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.600 talking with women 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.480 full stop, 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.320 it all put Jesus at risk. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.779 And yet Jesus, 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.180 as Paul writes, 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:52.000 being in very nature God, 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:54.019 did not consider equality with God 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.320 something to be used 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.480 to his own advantage. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.879 Rather, 00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.600 he made himself nothing 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.639 by taking on 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.200 the very nature of a servant. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:05.000 Being made in human likeness 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.180 and being found 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.420 in appearance a man, 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.140 he humbled himself to death, 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:11.079 even death on a cross. 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.180 The message version 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:18.120 puts it like this. 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.059 Think of yourselves 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:22.319 the way Christ thought of himself. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.399 He had equal status 00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:25.179 with God, 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.339 but didn't think 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.460 so much of himself 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.439 that he had to cling 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:29.319 to the advantages 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.659 of that status 00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.559 no matter what. 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.319 Not at all. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.519 When the time came, 00:17:34.619 --> 00:17:35.419 he set aside 00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:36.960 the privileges of deity 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:38.039 and took on 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:39.599 the status of a slave, 00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:41.299 became human. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.500 Having become human, 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.500 he stayed human. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.839 It was an incredibly 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.879 humbling process. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.819 He didn't claim 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.819 special privileges. 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:50.639 Instead, 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.180 he lived a selfless, 00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:53.460 obedient life 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.520 and then died 00:17:54.520 --> 00:17:55.300 a selfless, 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.540 obedient death. 00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.160 And the worst kind 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.120 of death at that, 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.940 a crucifixion. 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.620 In coming to earth, 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.040 Jesus lowered himself, 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:09.340 something so counter-cultural 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:10.620 to the place he was born. 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.720 He didn't live 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.300 a holier-than-thou life, 00:18:13.560 --> 00:18:14.160 giving us 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:16.460 an unattainable example. 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.259 Yet, 00:18:17.360 --> 00:18:19.440 in his very true godness, 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.640 he humbled himself 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.600 to very true humanness. 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:24.660 He might not have come 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.880 like everybody thought 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.059 the Messiah was going 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.660 to come, 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.960 on a stallion 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.420 wearing battle armor, 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:33.140 deposing kings 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:34.160 and governors 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.980 who oppressed 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.680 the Israelites. 00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:36.660 Instead, 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.960 he came to earth 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.559 as a baby, 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.180 born in an animal shelter, 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.440 laid in a feeding trough. 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:44.120 He grew up 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:45.519 as a carpenter's son 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.779 and when it was time 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.860 to enter Jerusalem 00:18:47.860 --> 00:18:48.980 to die for us, 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.860 he came humbly, 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.799 riding on a donkey, 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.340 not coming in 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.340 on a red carpet, 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.320 but coming in 00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:55.960 on a carpet 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.940 of palm leaves. 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.160 And then, 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.500 the sinless son of God, 00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:01.380 the perfect one, 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.380 without flaw 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:03.100 or blemish, 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.720 looked beyond himself 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.519 to the rest 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.200 of humanity. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.160 He humbled himself 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:11.720 as far as it is possible 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.960 to humble oneself, 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.160 becoming obedient 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:14.940 to death, 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.660 the worst kind of death, 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.440 a criminal's execution. 00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:20.660 He was killed 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.680 under the charges 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.540 of treason, 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.340 rebellion against God 00:19:24.340 --> 00:19:25.840 and blasphemy, 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.420 claiming to be God, 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.180 thus encompassing 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.620 all of our sin, 00:19:30.800 --> 00:19:31.720 all of our rebellion 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.519 against God, 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.500 all of our trying 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.180 to be God 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:35.420 in our own lives. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:39.500 In the greatest act 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.259 of humility, 00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.779 Jesus died for us 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.440 so that he could 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.960 restore us to himself. 00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:45.940 He took our sin 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:47.160 and our shame 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.539 and our brokenness 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:50.220 and therefore, 00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:52.400 God exalted him 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.759 to the highest place, 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.480 as it says 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.220 in our reading. 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.300 God exalted him 00:19:57.300 --> 00:19:58.380 to the highest place 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.800 and gave him the name 00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:01.380 that is above every name, 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.460 that at the name 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.240 of Jesus, 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:05.359 every knee should bow 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.720 in heaven and earth 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.799 and under the earth 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.819 and every tongue 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.579 confess 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:11.700 that Jesus is Lord 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.740 to the glory 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.299 of God the Father. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.680 We don't have to make 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:21.200 our own reputations. 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:24.180 Jesus tells the Pharisee 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:26.180 that those who exalt themselves 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.819 will be humbled 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.240 and those who humble themselves 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.299 will be exalted. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.779 A good reputation 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:33.399 comes not from a life 00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:35.099 lived for self-affirmation 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:37.319 but for the glory of God. 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:42.339 I've recently been struck 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.240 by the story 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.480 of Mother Teresa 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.839 who was called to work 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.559 with the poor, 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.279 the vulnerable, 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.180 the destitute, 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.519 the drug-addicted people 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.379 of Calcutta. 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.639 She laid down her life 00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:53.579 for the sake of God's 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.700 calling on her life 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:56.899 and when she was given 00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.879 a Nobel Prize 00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:58.859 for her work, 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.220 she said anyone 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.180 who thought her life 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:03.319 was about social work 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.200 or even compassion 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:04.940 had it backwards. 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.559 She simply lived 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.720 her life in prayer 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.620 and everything 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.559 that happened then 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.620 was an accidental response 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:15.420 to her answered prayers. 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.240 She prayed 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.440 and she was open 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.160 to God 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:20.400 using her 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.200 as an answer 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.380 to her own prayers. 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.200 And as she did, 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:25.279 lives were changed. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.440 Never living 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.059 for self-glorification, 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:29.159 the irony is 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:30.099 that Mother Teresa 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:31.139 is a greatly 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:33.879 renowned name today 00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:35.179 because instead 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:35.599 of looking 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.859 to her own need 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:38.440 or even the approval 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.379 of the people 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:39.919 around her, 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.960 she gave her life 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.839 to God. 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:43.059 She acted out 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.839 of response 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:45.039 to her relationship 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.539 with Him, 00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.480 having the mindset 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.359 of Christ, 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.579 not concerned 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.759 with her reputation 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.480 but humbling herself 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.119 in obedience 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:52.779 to Him 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:54.200 when that led her 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.879 to the slums 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.679 of Calcutta 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:57.060 where there was 00:21:57.060 --> 00:21:57.680 a great need 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.259 for someone 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.000 with the heart 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.680 and mind 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.460 of Christ. 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:05.060 Having the mindset 00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:06.060 of Christ 00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:07.900 is so countercultural. 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.960 It's a pivot 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.640 from a me-first 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:12.360 society that we live in. 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:15.299 But when we call ourselves 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.940 the body of Christ, 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.860 that's inseparable 00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.779 from the mindset 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.500 of Christ. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:24.099 If we're to be 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:24.799 His followers, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.500 we need to be 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.680 leaning into Him, 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.900 to His word, 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.019 to His heart 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:32.200 so that we 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.259 can adopt 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.859 the mindset 00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.759 of Christ. 00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.720 Choosing love, 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:38.160 choosing obedience, 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.079 choosing humility. 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.440 And so, 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.220 as we come 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.519 to the end, 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.640 I wonder what it looks 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.940 like for each of us. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.059 What does it look like 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.980 for us to have 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.500 the mindset 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.259 of Christ? 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:54.160 how will we 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.039 look beyond 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.859 ourselves 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:57.440 to the lives 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.220 of our neighbours, 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.839 both near and far? 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.859 How will we 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.619 humble ourselves 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.220 in obedience 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.980 to the one 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.779 who humbled 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.160 Himself 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.859 in obedience 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:07.180 to death? 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:12.180 Jesus promises 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.140 us 00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.940 that those 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.700 who exalt 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.880 themselves 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.779 will be humbled, 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.359 but those 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:17.779 who humble 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.319 themselves 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.420 will be exalted. 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:21.039 He doesn't 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.460 promise 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.000 it will be 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.880 an easy ride, 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:23.940 but He does 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.500 promise that 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.039 when we live 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.539 for Him, 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:27.019 trusting and 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:28.340 submitting to Him, 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.860 choosing to adopt 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.720 His mindset, 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.600 He will do 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.300 the work 00:23:33.300 --> 00:23:34.120 of raising us 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.980 up at the right 00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.480 time, 00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:37.000 to the right place. 00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.860 And isn't that 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:40.279 such a beautiful 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.940 promise? 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.920 Amen. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.039 Amen. 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.480 00:23:43.480 --> 00:24:13.460 Thank you.