Embracing Humility: The Power of Submission and Service
Summary
In our journey through the spiritual disciplines, we have arrived at a profound intersection of submission and service. These are not disciplines to be practiced in isolation, but rather in the context of community, where we prepare our hearts in solitude to then engage with others in a spirit of humility and servanthood.
The essence of the Christian life is found not in the pursuit of personal desires or the climb up the ladder of success, but in the lowly places of service and the humility of submission. This is the upside-down reality of the Kingdom of God, where to gain oneself, one must lose oneself; to be exalted, one must be humble; to be rich, one must embrace poverty; to be strong, one must accept weakness.
The call to have the same mind as Christ is a call to a radical transformation of our values and perspectives. Jesus, though divine, did not cling to His status but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant, fully human, to meet us in our condition. This self-emptying is not the way of the world, where leadership often seeks power and dominance. Yet, it is the way of Christ and, therefore, our way as well.
The biblical teaching of submission is not about establishing a social hierarchy but about the spirit with which we view and treat others. It is a discipline that must be approached with caution due to its potential for abuse. However, when practiced correctly, it leads to true freedom, not the freedom to do whatever we want, but the freedom found in power over our passions and desires.
As we consider the practical outworking of these disciplines, we must remember that they are means to an end—the end being a greater freedom in Christ. Our obsession with having things go our way is a bondage from which we must be freed. The disciplines of submission and service are pathways to this freedom, unlocking a deeper ability to love others and experience God's love.
In our community, we have modeled this mutual submission in leadership, rejecting the notion that one must dominate over the other. This mirrors the mutual submission within the Trinity, where each Person of the Godhead submits to the others in a divine dance of humility and love.
Let us, therefore, embrace these disciplines, not as burdens, but as opportunities to experience the joy and freedom that come from living in the way of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The Kingdom of God invites us into an upside-down reality where true greatness is found in humility and service. As we follow Christ's example, we discover that the path to exaltation is through lowering ourselves to lift others up. This paradoxical truth challenges the world's understanding of power and success. [54:29]
- Biblical submission is not about reinforcing social hierarchies but about adopting a posture of humility and love towards others. It is a voluntary act that reflects the character of Christ and fosters unity within the community of believers. When we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, we embody the gospel in our relationships. [41:34]
- True freedom is not the license to fulfill every desire but the liberation from the tyranny of self-centeredness. The spiritual disciplines of submission and service are tools that God uses to free us from the bondage of self and to lead us into a life of joy and peace in Him. [44:12]
- Mutual submission is a reflection of the divine nature of the Trinity. As we practice submitting to one another in love, we mirror the relational harmony of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This mutual deference is foundational to healthy Christian community and leadership. [01:01:34]
- Service is an expression of Christ's love in action. As we look beyond our own interests and consider the needs of others, we participate in the work of Christ in the world. Serving others is not just an act of obedience but a means of grace that shapes us into the likeness of Jesus. [52:41]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Philippians 2:1-11
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves"? ([46:36])
2. How does Paul describe Jesus' attitude and actions in Philippians 2:5-8? What specific words or phrases stand out to you? ([46:56])
3. According to the sermon, what is the relationship between submission and service? ([39:14])
4. How does the mutual submission within the Trinity serve as a model for our relationships? ([01:00:56])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize having the "same mind" and "same love" among believers in Philippians 2:2? How does this relate to the practice of submission and service? ([50:02])
2. What does it mean to "empty oneself" as Jesus did, and how can this concept be applied in our daily lives? ([47:00])
3. How does the sermon explain the concept of true freedom in the context of submission and service? ([44:12])
4. What are the potential dangers of misunderstanding or misapplying the discipline of submission, according to the sermon? ([40:44])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with the idea of submission. How did it affect your relationships and your sense of freedom? ([37:39])
2. In what ways can you practice humility and consider others more significant than yourself in your workplace or family this week? ([46:42])
3. The sermon mentioned that our obsession with having things go our way is a form of bondage. Identify one area in your life where you can let go of this need and practice submission instead. ([44:12])
4. How can you model the mutual submission seen within the Trinity in your interactions with others in your church community? ([01:00:56])
5. Think of a specific person in your life who could benefit from an act of service. What practical steps can you take this week to serve them? ([52:41])
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of solitude in preparing our hearts for submission and service. How can you incorporate moments of solitude into your daily routine to better prepare for serving others? ([55:04])
7. Reflect on the idea that true freedom is found in power over our passions and desires. What is one passion or desire you need to surrender to experience this freedom? ([44:12])
Devotional
Day 1: Greatness in Humility and Service
In the Kingdom of God, the values of the world are turned on their head. True greatness is not found in the accumulation of power or wealth, but in the humble acts of service we perform for one another. This is a radical departure from the societal norms that equate success with personal achievement and status. Instead, the path to exaltation is paradoxically through the act of lowering oneself. By serving others, we lift them up, and in doing so, we are lifted in the eyes of God. This is the model that Jesus set forth—a model where the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. It is a call to live counter-culturally, to find strength in vulnerability, and to redefine what it means to be truly great. [54:29]
"But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." - Philippians 2:7
Reflection: How can you demonstrate servant leadership in your current sphere of influence, and what might be the first step in redefining success according to this upside-down kingdom value?
Day 2: Humility in Mutual Submission
Submission is often misunderstood as a means to enforce hierarchy, yet in the biblical context, it is about adopting a posture of humility and love. It is a voluntary act that reflects the character of Christ, who submitted to the Father's will and served others selflessly. This kind of submission fosters unity and harmony within the community of believers. It is not about losing one's identity or voice but about considering others' needs and perspectives with the respect and love that Christ showed. When believers submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, they live out the gospel in a tangible way, strengthening the bonds of fellowship and reflecting the unity of the body of Christ. [41:34]
"Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." - Ephesians 5:21
Reflection: In what relationships or situations can you practice biblical submission this week, and what might that look like in practical terms?
Day 3: Freedom from Self-Centeredness
True freedom is often misconstrued as the ability to do whatever one desires. However, the spiritual disciplines of submission and service teach that real freedom is liberation from the tyranny of self-centeredness. It is the power to govern one's passions and desires, aligning them with the will of God. This freedom allows believers to love others more deeply and experience God's love more fully. It is not a freedom from responsibility but a freedom for service, for living a life that is rich in joy and peace, rooted in the love of Christ. [44:12]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." - Galatians 5:13
Reflection: What is one area of your life where self-centeredness is limiting your freedom, and how can you begin to overcome it through service?
Day 4: Reflecting the Trinity in Community
The concept of mutual submission within the community is not merely a social strategy but a reflection of the divine nature of the Trinity. Each Person of the Godhead submits to the others in a divine dance of humility and love. As believers practice this mutual submission, they mirror the relational harmony that exists within the Trinity. This mutual deference is not a sign of weakness but a testament to the strength and unity that is foundational to healthy Christian community and leadership. It is a powerful witness to the world of the love and respect that characterizes the relationships within the body of Christ. [01:01:34]
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." - 1 Corinthians 12:12
Reflection: How does the concept of mutual submission challenge your understanding of leadership, and what steps can you take to foster this kind of community in your life?
Day 5: Service as an Expression of Christ's Love
Service is not merely an obligation but an expression of Christ's love in action. When believers serve, they step beyond their own interests to consider the needs of others, participating in the redemptive work of Christ in the world. This service is transformative, shaping the servant into the likeness of Jesus and revealing the heart of God to those being served. It is through these acts of service that believers can truly demonstrate the love of Christ, touching lives and making a tangible difference in the world around them. [52:41]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 4:10
Reflection: What specific need can you meet in your community this week, and how can you serve in a way that reflects Christ's love to those around you?
Quotes
1) "True freedom is found not in doing whatever we want, but rather in discovering power over our passions, over our desires, over our need to be right, over our need to control." [01:10:06] (Download | )
2) "The biblical teaching of submission focuses not on establishing a proper social order, but instead on the spirit with which we view other people, the spirit in which we treat other people." [01:10:06] (Download | )
3) "Our obsession to demand that things go our way, the way we want them to go is one of the greatest bondages in human society today." [01:04:19] (Download | )
4) "If submission is forced on you, that's abuse. That is not biblical submission. That is not what Paul is saying." [01:06:00] (Download | )
5) "There's this true freedom from the bondage of having to be right all the time and having things having to things to go our way." [01:07:46] (Download | )
6) "The greatest fulfillment in life is not seeking our own desires. It's not climbing this ladder of success. But it's found in the lowly. It's found in this humility. It's found in a service to others." [54:29] (Download | )
7) "Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped. He laid it all down." [57:31] (Download | )
8) "Each person of the Trinity submits to the rest of the Trinity. God is not this authoritarian dominant God. Instead, God the Father submits to the Spirit, who submits to the Son." [01:01:34] (Download | )
9) "Jesus was highly exalted not because he wanted to be exalted, but because he humbled himself and he took on the form of a servant." [01:02:37] (Download | )
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