Like-minded Community

Church Family Series:

Like-minded Community

Pr Lo Yi Ping

12 March 2017

Enrollment Service 

Phillipians 2:1-11

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippi was a cosmopolitan city. The Philippian church consists of people of diverse backgrounds and walks of life. The church was facing some strife and disunity. In order for the church community to be united Paul exhorted them to be likeminded, have the same love and to be one in spirit and purpose. How can we be likeminded in the midst of diversity? 

United by the Same Faith

To be likeminded we must have the mind of Christ to see things as he would see them and to respond as he would respond. We show the same love to others that the Lord has shown us. We are one in spirit and purpose to work together in harmony toward a common goal.

Empowered by the same spirit

By our own strength we can do nothing. When empowered by the Holy Spirit we can do all things that is in line with God's will. Even though we are given different gifts it is given by the same Spirit to edify the body of Christ.

Humbled by the same attitude of Christ Jesus

To be likeminded we must follow the humility of Jesus who was willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Jesus we should have a servant's attitude serving out of love for God and others. We can choose our attitude in life, expecting to be served or look for opportunity to serve others. 

Conclusion: When our Church and Connect Groups are like-minded and determined we can change history.

Questions

1) Share how God used someone who is different from yourself (can be a CG member) to help you grow in your walk as a disciple?

2) 1 Cor.12 mentioned different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. What are the gift(s) you received and how are you using it to edify the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Message Version :-
4-11 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.

3) Share one incident where you glorified God by having the same attitude of Christ Jesus?