The Practical Means to Church Unity (Philippians 2:1-4)
This sermon delves into the essential pathways for cultivating unity within the Christian community. It examines practical principles for how believers can move past self-interest toward a Christ-like concern for others.
This sermon unpacks how to achieve unity in the church, emphasizing that it flows from humility and a self-sacrificing focus on the interests of others rather than selfish ambition or conceit.
Overview
The sermon begins by reviewing the motives and marks of spiritual unity from Philippians 2:1-2. Motives include the immense work of Christ and the Holy Spirit, along with the joy of the pastor. The marks of unity are being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, being united in Spirit, and intent on one purpose: God's glory.
The core of this message focuses on the "how"—the practical means of achieving unity found in Philippians 2:3-4. The preacher outlines five inter-related principles, three negative exclusions and two positive inclusions, for fostering unity within the church body.
These principles involve actively eliminating selfishness, which manifests as factionalism and self-seeking ambition, and rooting out empty conceit or personal vanity. Instead, believers are called to cultivate humility of mind, regarding others as more important than themselves, recognizing their own personal sinfulness.
Furthermore, unity requires moving beyond solely focusing on one's own personal interests. The sermon urges listeners to passionately involve themselves in the causes and concerns of others, mirroring the self-sacrificing attitude demonstrated by Christ Jesus, who serves as the ultimate model for living out these high standards.
Key points
- Unity is motivated by the goodness of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and by the joy of the spiritual shepherd.
- The marks of unity include being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, being united in Spirit, and having one purpose: glorifying God.
- The practical means to unity involve eliminating selfishness, defined as self-seeking ambition and factionalism.
- Another means is to eliminate empty conceit, which is a state of mind seeking personal glory and self-promotion.
- Crucially, unity is fostered through humility of mind, regarding others as more important than oneself.
- Unity also requires believers to not merely look out for their own interests but also for the interests of others.
- Christ Jesus is presented as the perfect model for living out these principles of humility and selflessness.
In John MacArthur's words
“Unity is born out of humility.”
“Every man who knows his own heart and every woman who knows her own heart knows what is there. And you have enough information to give yourself a low estimate of what you really are.”
“Problems of discord and problems of division and faction end when we hold others as more worthy of respect and honor and a right to be heard and followed than we do ourselves.”
Outline
- I. Review: Motives for Unity (Philippians 2:1-2)
- A. Goodness of Christ and the Holy Spirit
- B. Completing the Pastor's Joy
- II. Review: Marks of Unity (Philippians 2:2)
- A. Being of the Same Mind
- B. Maintaining the Same Love
- C. United in Spirit
- D. Intent on One Purpose
- III. The Means to Unity: How It Practically Comes About (Philippians 2:3-4)
- A. Exclude: Do Nothing From Selfishness (Egotism, Selfish Ambition)
- 1. Manifests as strife, rivalry, factionalism (Galatians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
- 2. Destroys unity by focusing on personal agendas
- B. Exclude: Do Nothing From Empty Conceit (Vain Glory, Personal Vanity)
- 1. Seeks personal glory and self-promotion
- 2. Stems from an erroneous opinion of oneself
- C. Include: With Humility of Mind Regard One Another as More Important Than Oneself
- 1. A New Testament virtue, previously a term of derision
- 2. Practical application: knowing your own heart's sin (1 Timothy 1:15)
- D. Exclude: Do Not Merely Look Out for Your Own Personal Interests
- 1. Challenges societal self-focus
- 2. Legitimate personal interests should not be the sole aim
- E. Include: But Also for the Interests of Others
- 1. Encompasses their enterprises, needs, tasks, and goals
- 2. Requires passionate involvement in others' causes
- IV. The Model for Unity: Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5-8)
- A. He lived out these principles perfectly
- B. He emptied Himself and humbled Himself to death on a cross for others' sake
Scripture references
- Philippians 2:1-4
- Philippians 2:5-8
- Galatians 5:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 3
- 1 Timothy 1:15
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Insights
Unity arises when personal ambition gives way to shared purpose.
Knowing your own heart reveals the deepest need for grace.
True humility sees the worth of others above our own.
Questions & answers
What is the main theme of this sermon?
The sermon's main theme is the practical means by which spiritual unity can be achieved and maintained within the church, based on the principles outlined in Philippians 2:3-4. It explains how to move from understanding unity to actively living it out.
What does the sermon identify as 'selfishness' (erithion)?
The sermon defines 'selfishness' as selfish ambition, self-seeking, and a 'party spirit' that leads to strife, rivalry, and factionalism. It describes it as an 'ugly self-promotion' that can disrupt a complex church body.
How does the sermon suggest one can 'regard others as more important than himself'?
The sermon suggests this can be done by acknowledging one's own heart. Since one knows the sinfulness of their own heart more intimately than anyone else's, they have enough personal information to consider themselves the 'chief' sinner and thus view others as superior.
What is 'empty conceit' (kenodoxia) according to the sermon?
'Empty conceit' refers to a state of mind that seeks personal glory, self-promotion, and arises from an erroneous or deluded opinion of oneself. It is personal vanity that leads one to fight to prove oneself supreme.
How does Christ serve as a model for these principles?
Christ is the perfect model because He did nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. He humbly regarded others as more important than Himself, emptying Himself of divine prerogatives and becoming obedient to death on a cross for the sake of others, demonstrating a complete focus on their interests.
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