Lesson 5: Philippians 3 (“Moving Toward the Goal”)

This week-end the ladies of our Leadership Council had a time of fellowship as we attended the IMAX tour of Jerusalem. I heard that some of our CBS ladies went to Israel recently. We hope they may share some photos in an opening.

Thinking of a vacation? How about Rio de Janeiro?  Rio de Janeiro host the 2016 Olympic Games, depicts beautiful landscape and sandy beaches makes it the jewel of Brazil. As the largest Art Deco statue in the world, Christ the Redeemer beckons visitors to Corcovado Mountain. Rio’s Carnival parties are extravaganzas of feasting, music, dance, and costumed revelry.

However, this photo from March 8 may discourage you. The 15,000 street cleaners there staged a strike to coincide with the start of Carnival festivities last Friday. An eight-day strike has left tons of rubbish on the streets of the Brazilian city. Workers complained they were "being treated like rubbish" and even threatened to cause further disruptions during the football World Cup finals, due to start on 12 June. The local culture of littering had made the situation worse. Even Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, was caught on video throwing rubbish. Mayor Paes said he did not remember the event, but asked the authorities to fine him to serve as an example. Last year, his government announced a "zero tolerance" policy towards street littering.

In our memory verse Paul counts the things he lost as rubbish. Let’s look at those things in our life that we have counted lost for Christ.

Press on toward the goal.

Lesson 5: Philippians 3 (“Moving Toward the Goal”)

·  Warning

·  No Confidence in the flesh

·  Press Toward the Goal

“Rejoice in the Lord.”  Again Paul begins this chapter with serving the Lord with Joy. Then quickly adds a warning to the church against false teachers.

²Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers,

look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

Now ladies the use of the word “dogs” in verse 2 is not our cuddly companions that we treat like children. Does anyone know “Biscuit”? He is the face of Lineberger Vet, has his bed in the reception area and is free to roam the lobby greeting guests. Bicuit has his own blog giving information on pet care. He has birthday parties with a doggie cake and dresses up at Halloween. I know some of you ladies are dog lovers and do not think this behavior strange.

But the slur Paul is using refers to wild dogs that roamed the city, scavengers. Our most vivid illustration would be the prophecy of Elijah upon King Ahab of Israel.1 Kings “You’ve made the Lord very angry by sinning and causing the Israelites to sin.²³ And as for Jezebel, dogs will eat her body there in Jezreel.²⁴ Dogs will also eat the bodies of your relatives who die in town, and vultures will eat the bodies of those who die in the country.”}

Paul was referring to false prophets, false preachers infecting the church with a perversion of the gospel.

Isaiah 56:11 The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.

Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

·        No Confidence in the flesh

³For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh--- in the previous verse he warns against

“those who mutilate the flesh” referring to forcing Gentile Christians  like Timothy to obey the Jewish ordinance of circumcision.

In the fall our study of Deuteronomy depicted another type of circumcision.

Deutronomy10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. 

But in Ch. 3 vv.5-6 Paul acknowledges that he above all others has bragging rights to family, culture, religious and educational achievements.

·  circumcised on the eighth day,

·  people of Israel, “Abraham is our father”

·  tribe of Benjamin, as was King Saul, (and Judah were the only pure bloodlines)

·  a Hebrew of Hebrews; language only spoken by scholars

·  as to the law, a Pharisee; separated ones

·  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;

·  as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Warren Wiersbe writes, “Like most ’religious’ people today, Paul had enough morality to keep him out of trouble, but not enough righteousness to get him into heaven! It was not bad things that kept Paul away from Jesus—it was good things! He had to lose his ‘religion’ to find salvation.”17 His miraculous conversion on the Damascus Road lead to “his eyes being opened” to the futility of trying to achieve righteousness in our own strength.

In verse 7 and 8 Paul uses banker vocabulary in the terms of gains and losses.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

Is your confidence in your heritage, your abilities, your achievements, or even your level of dedication to your beliefs—or is it in Christ’s atonement for you?

Press on toward the goal.

·        What is your goal?

·        How are you trying to attain your goal?

·        Have your goals changed?

“Once upon a time” (sounds like a fairy tale) My goal was to be a wife and mother and a teacher by profession.  “My religion” was working to be good enough for God.

My pride in all the positions I held and my level of dedication to the church, my fervor, and passion for justice and fairness was not a bad thing in itself, but as Jesus said to Martha. Mary has chosen the better thing. Luke 10:42 NIV My pride and achievements in the church and the educational field became a wedge in my marriage.

      I still have pockets of perfection: Some things I am really good at to the point of perfection and other area….not so much. Sometimes it is not that the good things are sinful it is we should choose the Better way. Being busy for the Lord can be just as distracting as worldly pleasures.

·  Moving Toward the Goal

Now like Paul I am press toward the goal that Christ Jesus has prepared for me. As a deer longs for water, I long for an intimate relationship with Jesus. To be in his presence , to sense the peace and acceptance only he can bring. The only righteousness I can ever claim is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God. I fully trust in my Father whose promises are true and whose timing is perfect.

¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

¹³    Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

¹⁴    I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Press on toward the goal.

Let me tell you of an illustration from a Patsy Clairmont. I cannot do it justice, but maybe you have read Chapter 2 of her book God can Use Cracked Pots.

It was a feel good and happy morning, when she got all dressed up and for once her hair was perfect. Patsy looked in the mirror and stated, “Lookin’ Good!” Going shopping in her small town she had to park 2 blocks from her favorite store. But it was such a beautiful she did not mind. Patsy talked of bouncing down the street and everyone was smiling and waving. As she went to the back of the store she caught herself in the reflection in a refrigerator door and looked with pride at her color coded outfit. Then in horror she exclaimed, “What is that on my foot?”

Patsy remembered that when she undressed the night before she had taken off her slacks and pantyhose in one swoop. Today as she dressed the pantyhose were pushed down and decided to immerge on her bounce down the street with local friends smiling back at her.  Standing in the store she was so embarrassed that she thought she would die.  Later she cried to the LORD from her humiliation and said “LORD you say to make beauty from ashes, what can you do with pantyhose?” The LORD spoke to her and reminded her of the other things she dragged through her life far worse, such as guilt, anger, fear and shame. These emotions were far less attractive to the LORD than a pair of pantyhose. “These things are the ones that rob you of the joy of living. These things keep you from fully knowing who I am. These things that you have been dragging around for years keep you from being that light that I desire in your life to have an influence. You keep displaying all these qualities that are so unattractive.”

Ladies tonight can I ask you… “What is it that you have been dragging around with you for all these years?” Are you ready to lay it down and choose the prize God has waiting for you?

Pressing on toward the goal for the prize

 I was regretting the past

            And fearing the future . . .

            Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

            “MY NAME IS I AM.”

He paused.

            I waited.

He continued,

            “When you live in the past,

            with its mistakes and regrets,

            It is hard.  I am not there.

            My name is not I was.

            When you live in the future,

            With its problems and fears,

            It is hard. I am not there.

            My name is not I will be.

            When you live in this moment,

            It is not hard.  I am here.

            My name is I AM.”     - Helen Mallicoat

Let us continue to press on toward the goal trusting in God for the moment.

If you’re a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven.

 You are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.

²⁰   But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,²¹who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Can you imagine? The paintings of heaven are done by Ron Dicianni from a book he collaborated on with Randy Alcorn “Tell me About Heaven.” You will be familiar with many other works if you can to Google him.

How can we keep our focus on God and hope of Heaven?
“The snow covered the ground, and three young boys were playing in it. A man said to them, ‘Would you like to try to race, with the promise of a prize for the winner?’

The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different. ‘I will go to the other side of the field,’ he said, ‘and when I give you the signal, you will start to run.

The one whose footsteps are the straightest in the snow will be the winner.’ As the race commenced, the first boy began looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing; but the third boy just ran on with his eyes fixed on the man on the other side of the field. The third boy was the winner, for his footsteps were straight in the snow. He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.”

If, by the Spirit, like Paul, we fix our eyes on “the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus,” we won’t wander off course. What are you looking at?

Will you choose to Press on toward the goal of knowing Christ and His resurrection?

Lesson 4 Philippians 2:12-30

Don’t you love to hear a child laugh? Most cannot keep from chuckling themselves. In moments of nostalgia I go through photos of my son and daughter when they were young, and of course my precious grandsons. I smile just looking at them exhibit JOY and unbridled happiness.

As Christians in this self-centered and pleasure-seeking world we must present something that others long for: meaning and purpose for their lives. If we are going to entice the world to desire the joy and peace that we possess, then we need display that full life, that contentment to others.

Friday, I received an email asking if I could volunteer at the Dairy Bar at Billy Graham Library to serve a group from Operation Christmas Child.  When I arrived I learned that we were serving regional managers from across the United States. These were not paid executives. The Samaritan’s Purse Connect Conference brought together 300 volunteers who coordinate the massive, international ministry that has distributed more than 100 million shoeboxes to children in 130 countries since 1993. The volunteers work so hard, they deserved a “thank you,” a time for them to come connect and be blessed,”

The volunteers arrived to a breakfast buffet at the Dairy Bar. We met teams from as far west as Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and Texas and as far north as NY and Michigan. All through the day they arrived for orientation many had never been to the Billy Graham Library and Executive Offices in Charlotte. What a pleasure to see this group intermingle and socialize with fellow volunteers from across the country. They were animated and excited to reunite with old friends and participate in training for God’s work.  The smiles, the laughter, the camaraderie made me want to be a part.

It took Ashvin Dhyriam 22 hours to travel from the southeast coast of India to Charlotte, N.C. He made the 9,000-mile journey to take part in the gathering of volunteers. Ashvin toured the Billy Graham Library with Charles Owori, OCC’s national coordinator for Uganda. Charles (second from left) and Ashvin (third from left) BTW they are listening to Bessie the Cow.

Both men, like most of the OCC volunteers around the world, have full-time jobs. Charles is a legislator in Uganda’s National Assembly; Ashvin works for two Christian television stations dedicated to reach India for Christ.

“That’s my JOY,” Charles said. “The happiness that [the children] exhibit, it’s life-changing. And sometimes kids get exactly what they pray for.”

Blessed to be a Blessing- Joy and abundant life was exhibited by this group’s passionate service to others.

Let us pray.

The second half of Philippians Chapter two is titled Workers in the Kingdom. (This photograph shows the church at Philippi.)

Lesson 4 Philippians 2:12-30 Workers in the Kingdom

•         Exhortation to Unity

•         Two Special Servants

Just as the writer of the Gospel of Mark was known for the word immediately, Paul can be counted on to use the word “therefore.” Strong’s concordance tells us the Greek word “οὖν” (oon) is used 526 times in the NT and is translated as "therefore." It is used in drawing a conclusion and in connecting sentences together logically: meaning  then, accordingly, consequently, these things being so.

Paul uses “therefore” to transition from last week’s lesson of Jesus as the Perfect Model to practical instructions on Christian living.

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The phrase “work out” come from the Greek word “katergazomai” (kat-er-god'-zo-my) means --- to perform, accomplish, achieve.

This is not an instruction to perform works to earn your salvation.
The work that Paul is alluding to is similar to working in a field to produce crops, or working in a mine to extract ore. God supplies the energy and the desire to do His will; we must be obedient to bring it to completion. We are to work out was God has planted in us. Let the fruit grow and show. You are blessed to be a blessing.

·        God gives; we receive.

·        God creates; we cultivate.

·        God initiates; we respond.

Paul and other writers of the epistles knew that immature Christians left unchecked would revert to a lazy lifestyle, easily swayed by false teachers and tempted by the influence of the world. 

Therefore they urge their readers to “exhort” each other daily to live up to the standard that was given to them through the life of Christ. Paul continues by giving his readers an exhortation to unity.

 ¹⁴   Do all things without grumbling or questioning, ¹⁵  that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish

Those who live in the world complain and grumble about things that cannot be changed. I agree with this quote by Katrina Mayer .

“If you look for something to criticize you will find it.

If you look for something to compliment you will find that, too. Your Choice.

As a school teacher I would write inspirational quotes on the board. One of my favorites:  Begin each day with a clean slate:  misery is optional! Some people choose to be miserable!

From the Acts of the Apostle, we learn that Christians were scattered throughout the region after of the persecution of Stephen. As great number of gentiles believed and turned to the Lord, Barnabas was sent to Antioch. “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” And a great many believers were added to the Lord.

He was blessed to be a blessing to others.

Acts 11:23“(Barnabas) came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,” Paul and Barnabas worked together for a while. But even the godliest of men can have a disagreement. Because of a difference of opinion Barnabas toured with John Mark (author of Gospel of Mark.) and Timothy continued on Missionary trips with Paul.

Romans 8:28 God used this to double His missionary efforts.

 What can we say about Timothy?

•   No one like him, no one else was willing to go

•   Genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Philippians

•   Seeks interests of Jesus Christ not his own

•   Proven his worth

•   As a son with a father, came with Paul as a young man

•   Served with Paul in the gospel

Timothy was blessed to be a blessing  but Paul unselfishly let him go to Philippi to bless the church and continue the LORD’s work.

This Persian Proverb seems appropriate in this situation. "It is better to be in chains with friends, than to be in a garden with strangers." 

Both Timothy and Epaphroditus exemplify the picture of faithful Christians, the kind of Christian modeled by Jesus Christ himself.

Walter Winchell “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."

Epaphroditus was a messenger the church at Philippi and ended up staying longer than expected. He nearly died in service to Christ.. As Paul remarks, v.26 “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.”

Not concerned about himself but putting the feelings of others ahead of his own.

Paul called him my brother and fellow soldier in the first for Christ.

Epaphroditus was fellow worker and ministered to Paul.

Paul encourages the church v. 29 “to receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor,”

As I read these verses at the end of the second chapter in Philippians, my mind went to my relationships and many friendships in the community of God. 
Bernard Meltzer says, “A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

Do you have friends like that? I certainly do. Are you blessed to be a blessing to others?

Christ is the head of the church and each of us has a purpose in the body.

1 Corinthians 12:  ¹⁸, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.   ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Item 14 in your lesson this week was for personal thought. “Are there people you could build up by genuinely thanking them for being themselves?” I took this to heart and want to share our ST with you. Early this year Mary Alice introduced each Servant Team member, but now I want to thank each one for the distinct person that they are.

Our Servant Team is built of many parts, different personalities with different functions in the body. As a whole our Servant’s Team possesses many gifts of the Spirit.   As Teaching Director I am responsible and accountable to National for the integrity of our class. I am the teacher and an exhorter. I uphold the banner of excellence in all areas of our class.

Mary Alice is our Associate Teaching Director. Raised in a Christian home and many years of teaching school has made her an excellent choice for her position. An ATD must be flexible and willing to step in at a moment notice when the TD must be  absent. She can’t panic if I call her one night with a stomach virus. Mary Alice is competent and ready to serve. She also does our leadership development each week and follows up with the Core Leaders.

Debbie Horvath as our Coordinator is exact and precise in her organization of the registrations and input of data into the National system. Her expertise in ordering and bookkeeping makes her essential on our team. She handles the money. (Anyone trying to give me money outside of this building, payment for books etc. will meet with uplifted hands. I recognize my weakness to keep up with money and remember where I “put things” like my car keys.) Debbie is the keeper of the keys. She opens the building and locks up maintaining the security of the church and the preservation of its condition. In addition, Debbie has her own team of leaders who oversee the kitchen, the greeters and the secretaries. Sandra Pearson assists her as our CBS treasurer.

Diane is our Prayer Chairman and keeps us in the presence of God. Her spiritual connection to our Father reminds us to take everything before throne of God; our prayer requests from you ladies, our supplications as well as our praise and adoration of the LORD. Every leader’s council is prefaced with prayer. Diane is fervently praying for our team, our leaders, and our class. She operates the prayer chain for our Core.

Jean Falls is our Senior Leader, a substitute, and a support person for our core leaders. She is a constant provider of mercy and grace to my harried soul. Jean provides transportation and encouragement for so many. She keeps no record of wrong and does not easily offend. Her sweet, sweet spirit blesses others. She exemplifies this quote: "A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself."

Thank you team for your support and encouragement. We are blessed to be a blessing.  “Will you choose to be a blessing to someone today?”

TODAY is a blessing from Almighty God.
Today will never come again.
Be a friend.
Be an inspiration.
Encourage someone.
Be a Blessing to others.
Take time to care.
Let the words you speak brings healing.

Let us pray

•         For happy moments, we praise you God. In difficult moments, we seek you LORD. During painful moments, we will trust you Father God. At every moment and in every situation, we will Thank You Jesus. Amen

Lesson 3 Philipians 2

How many of you owned a pin or t-shirt or bumper sticker with the logo WWJD?  

Charles Sheldon developed a sermon story that he read as a weekly series from the pulpit of Central Congregational Church in Topeka, Kansas in1896. The book, In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do, became a classic of Christian Literature, is available free as an eBook. The main character Reverend Henry Maxwell asks for "volunteers from the First Church who will pledge themselves, earnestly and honestly for an entire year, not to do anything without first asking the question, 'What would Jesus do?'"

A copy of In His Steps sat on the shelf of Janie Tinklenberg, youth leader at Calvary Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. It is a book you get down occasionally to read again and again. It has been reprinted and updated, a 30 million copies distributed.

To inspire her youth to make a difference in the world she contacted a local manufacturer to produce 300 woven bracelets with the letters WWJD? an acronym for "What would Jesus do?"

"The bracelets had a two-fold purpose," she says. "First, I wanted the young people to be reminded, every time they looked at the bracelet, of the commitment [to Christ] they made. Second, the bracelet could be a tool for witnessing to friends."

Others more enterprising than Tinklenberg spotted the trend, made their own and took the marketing to the national level. By the time she attempted to register her trademark it was too late. Like Charles Sheldon who likewise did not copyright his book, neither made a profit. However money was not the reason for the project, it was a statement of faith by the wearer and a visual symbol for evangelism.

Paul Harvey mentioned the bracelets on his syndicated radio broadcast every day for a week during the spring of 1997. 15 million bracelets have been sold to date.
Such a small thing can have such an impact for Christ. Other less known than WWJD

FROG-Fully Relying on God

PUSH-Pray Until Something Happens

ASAP-Always Say a Prayer

How do you know what Jesus would do if you don’t know what Jesus did?

Evangelism is not what we tell people, unless what we tell is totally consistent with who we are. It is who we are that is going to make the difference. If we do not truly enjoy our faith, nobody is going to catch the fire of enjoyment from us. If our lives are not totally centered on Christ, we will not be Christ-bearers for others, no matter how pious our words. Madeleine L'Engle  Christian Reader (May/June 1998,p. 50)

Thank you ladies of CBS for not only attending our Bible Study but also studying the Holy Bible to find out exactly what Jesus did and why He is the perfect example for us to imitate.

PRAYER         Ladies, open your Bibles please to Philippians.

Christ: The Supreme Model Philippians 2:1-11

•      Unity in the Church

•      The Attitude of Christ Jesus

Verse 27 in Chapter 1 stated.

 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Paul challenged the church to unify and individuals to cease pursuing their personal agenda and become One Body, the body of Christ.  False teachers from envy and rivalry referenced in Ch. 1: 15-17, and disagreeing members are mentioned by name in Chapter 4. True spiritual unity is a matter of the heart.

In Chapter 2 Paul is asking for the church to unite in love. To be an example of Christ likeness we need to work toward unity and love, not division and rivalry.

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

CBS is an international organization established almost 40 years ago (1975). Community Bible Study includes the word “unity.”  All classes around the globe adhering to the same standards and mission: Making disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ in our communities through caring, in-depth Bible study, available to all.

²      complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Kionania the Greek word we studied last week had a base one meaning common. More than just fellowship it is partnership in a common call. For the good of the whole, others before yourself.

³      Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts.  It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.  ~William Temple

Giving money is the easy way to help others. But sometimes we have to inconvenience ourselves and be uncomfortable to be Christ-like. I was never more proud of my daughter than when she volunteered to spend the night on a concrete floor at the winter overflow shelter. It was definitely out of her comfort zone. Those of you that have travelled to other countries on mission trips know what I mean.

⁴      Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Andrew Murray.Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is for me to have no trouble; never to be fretted or vexed or irritated or sore or disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me and when I am blamed or despised.

Warren Wiersbe p. 62 Be Joyful “The secret of JOY in spite of circumstances is the single mind and the secret of JOY in spite of people is the Submissive mind.”

Years ago I went to Bible Study after Bible Study; Beth Moore, Henry Blackaby, Divorce Care. I was searching for JOY, for peace in my life after divorce. Finally during a study, the Mind of Christ, I finally let go of the bitterness of divorce. Submission was not my favorite word.  Paul was not my favorite author. The Spirit of God worked himself deep into my soul and taught me was submission was all about. Our memory work was the next seven verses in Philippians.

The Attitude of Christ Jesus

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

“He left the comforts of heaven, knowing his destiny was the lonely hill of Golgatha, to lay down His life for me. That is LOVE.”

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 the fashion of a man,

I don’t know if you have read or studied much about heaven. After the death of my Mother and subsequently my two aunts, it became my goal to help the elderly relinquish their fear of death and discover the joy of crossing over to the other side. Randy Alcorn’s book was my anchor. But I read over a dozen books on the subject. Alcorn uses scripture from the Bible for his assumptions.

If you can imagine the Garden of Eden from Genesis, a perfect world created especially for Adam and Eve when God could come down and walk in the evening. Heaven has got to be so much more! The dwelling place of God the Father, Jesus His Son and the heavenly hosts-how much more glorious and more wonderful it must be. Yet Jesus gave that up to become an embryo with a young Jewish virgin. That is the height of submission.

 He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.

And being in the form of a man, he was spit upon, beaten, tortured, and suffered death on the cross….for me….for you. In the past when I displayed an image of Jesus on the cross, I chose less shocking photos: ones with shadows, smaller so you could not see the raw, broken flesh of suffering, but tonight I wanted you to SEE his pain, to cringe at the sight of Him. His suffering was real. We need to know and remember what He did so we might live. I hope tonight is Jesus is not your LORD, that you will come to the altar seeking His salvation. Yet as Christians we know that He rose from the grave and lives on high at the right hand of the Father.

⁹ Therefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name,

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

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

Ladies will you now stand and give him honor and praise.

Mosque Dome of the Rock, Buddhists, Atheist

...For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility."
- Benjamin Franklin

Will you choose to do what Jesus did-to humbly put others before yourself?