Philippians 2

So if we're honest, most of us don't struggle with knowing what's right.

We struggle with putting someone else's needs ahead of our own.

And Philippians 2 reminds us that following Jesus isn't just about what we do in public, but it's about the posture of our hearts.

And so I want you to grab your note-taking device, okay? And I want you to just settle.

And I want you to listen to this with an open heart.

And we're going to dive into Philippians chapter 2 so the first lesson we can take from chapter 2 is be like-minded you know one of the first things that Paul says is to be like-minded now that doesn't mean everyone has to think exactly alike it doesn't mean that we all have the same personality or the same background or the same opinions what it does mean is that we should be united in purpose The older I get, the more I realize that unity is a little expensive because everybody wants unity until they have to sacrifice their preference.

Everybody wants community until they have to extend grace.

Everybody wants relationships until they have to choose understanding over being right.

And Paul reminds believers that our focus should be bigger than ourselves.

And honestly, that's a word for some of us today because we've become so committed to proving our point Excuse me, that we've forgotten the purpose.

So sometimes the question isn't, am I right? The question is, is this helping us stay united? Lesson two, do not or do nothing from selfish ambition.

Paul doesn't say do some things without selfish ambition.

He says do nothing.

OK, nothing from selfish ambition because selfishness isn't always loud.

Sometimes selfishness looks like needing recognition.

Sometimes it looks like keeping score.

OK, because some of us are guilty for that.

Sometimes it looks like only serving when people notice.

Sometimes it looks like asking what's in it for me before we're willing to help.

And Philippians 2 challenged me to examine my motives.

Why am I doing what I'm doing? Am I doing this because God called me to it? Or am I doing it because I want applause? Am I serving because I love people or because I want validation? God isn't just concerned about what we do.

He's concerned about why we do it.

And why we do it is also, I feel like, more important than what we actually do.

And sometimes the greatest spiritual growth happens when nobody is clapping for you.

Lesson three from Philippians chapter two, regard others as more important than yourself.