Embracing Humility: Valuing Others Above Ourselves
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of humility and the importance of considering others as more significant than ourselves, as illustrated in Philippians 2. We began by reflecting on a personal story of a neighbor who, despite her grief, chose to reach out and start a Bible study, demonstrating the power of looking beyond oneself even in times of personal pain. This act of selflessness is a vivid example of the humility that God calls us to embody. It's easy to become self-absorbed, especially when facing difficulties, but true healing and growth come from serving others and focusing outwardly.
We delved into the biblical definition of humility, which is not about self-deprecation but about valuing others above ourselves. This is a challenging call, especially when our natural inclination is to focus on our own needs and struggles. Yet, the example of Jesus Christ, who, despite being in the form of God, did not cling to His divine privileges but humbled Himself for our sake, serves as the ultimate model for us to follow.
We also examined the awe-inspiring vision of Jesus in Isaiah 6, where He is depicted as a majestic figure on a throne, surrounded by angels who cover themselves in reverence. This powerful imagery reminds us of the grandeur and holiness of Christ, urging us to approach Him with the respect and reverence He deserves. Our casual attitudes towards Jesus can often lead to a lack of respect in our prayers, worship, and daily lives. Therefore, we are called to renew our reverence for Him, recognizing His divine authority and majesty.
In closing, we were challenged to physically express our humility and reverence by bowing before God, acknowledging His greatness and our dependence on Him. This act of worship is a reminder that our services are not about entertainment but about offering our praise and adoration to the Almighty.
Key Takeaways:
- True humility involves valuing others above ourselves, even in times of personal struggle. This outward focus is essential for healing and growth, as demonstrated by the neighbor who started a Bible study amidst her grief. [06:22]
- Humility is not about self-deprecation but about considering others more significant than ourselves, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself despite His divine nature. [07:58]
- The vision of Jesus in Isaiah 6 challenges us to renew our reverence for Him, recognizing His majesty and holiness. This perspective should transform our prayers, worship, and daily interactions. [14:53]
- Our casual attitudes towards Jesus can lead to disrespect in our spiritual practices. We are called to approach Him with the respect and awe He deserves, acknowledging His divine authority. [16:13]
- Worship is an act of humility and reverence, not entertainment. We are encouraged to physically express our submission to God, recognizing His greatness and our dependence on Him. [21:00]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[04:25] - Starting a Bible Study
[05:24] - Grieving and Serving Others
[06:22] - The Example of Humility
[07:11] - Philippians 2: Considering Others
[08:12] - Misconceptions of Humility
[09:48] - Self-Focus vs. Humility
[10:34] - The Picture of Jesus
[11:39] - Jesus' Humility and Divinity
[12:45] - Jesus' Equality with God
[13:29] - Isaiah's Vision of Jesus
[14:53] - The Glory of Jesus
[16:13] - Reverence for Jesus
[18:27] - The Majesty of Jesus
[21:00] - Bowing in Reverence
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Humility and Reverence
Bible Reading:
- Philippians 2:1-8
- Isaiah 6:1-5
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Observation Questions:
1. In Philippians 2, what specific actions does Paul encourage believers to take to demonstrate humility? [07:11]
2. How does the personal story of the neighbor starting a Bible study amidst her grief illustrate the concept of humility discussed in the sermon? [06:22]
3. What is the significance of the imagery of Jesus in Isaiah 6, and how does it relate to our understanding of His majesty and holiness? [14:53]
4. How does the sermon describe the common misconceptions about humility, and what is the biblical definition provided? [08:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the example of Jesus in Philippians 2 challenge our natural inclinations to focus on our own needs and struggles? [07:58]
2. What does the vision of Jesus in Isaiah 6 teach us about the appropriate attitude we should have in our prayers and worship? [16:13]
3. In what ways can our casual attitudes towards Jesus lead to a lack of respect in our spiritual practices, according to the sermon? [19:09]
4. How does the act of physically bowing before God serve as a reminder of our dependence on Him and His greatness? [21:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were focused on your own struggles. How might shifting your focus to serving others have changed your experience? [06:46]
2. Consider the biblical definition of humility as valuing others above yourself. What is one practical way you can apply this in your daily interactions this week? [07:58]
3. How can you renew your reverence for Jesus in your personal prayer life, ensuring that it reflects His majesty and holiness? [16:13]
4. Identify an area in your spiritual practices where you might have become too casual. What steps can you take to restore a sense of awe and respect? [19:09]
5. The sermon challenges us to physically express our humility before God. How comfortable are you with this practice, and what might it look like for you to incorporate it into your worship? [21:00]
6. Think of someone in your life who might benefit from your support or encouragement. How can you prioritize their needs above your own this week? [07:11]
7. Reflect on the vision of Jesus in Isaiah 6. How does this image influence your understanding of who Jesus is and how you relate to Him in your daily life? [14:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Humility in Action
True humility involves valuing others above ourselves, even in times of personal struggle. This outward focus is essential for healing and growth, as demonstrated by the neighbor who started a Bible study amidst her grief. In a world that often encourages self-preservation and self-focus, the act of considering others more significant than ourselves can be transformative. It challenges us to step outside of our comfort zones and prioritize the needs of those around us, even when we are facing our own difficulties. This kind of humility is not about diminishing our own worth but about recognizing the inherent value in others and choosing to serve them. [06:22]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you reach out to them today and offer support, even if you are facing your own challenges?
Day 2: The Example of Christ
Humility is not about self-deprecation but about considering others more significant than ourselves, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself despite His divine nature. Jesus, being in the form of God, chose not to cling to His divine privileges but instead took on the form of a servant for the sake of humanity. This profound act of humility serves as the ultimate model for us to follow. It challenges us to let go of our own privileges and status in order to serve others selflessly. By following Christ's example, we learn that true greatness is found in humility and service. [07:58]
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one privilege or status you hold that you can set aside to serve someone else this week? How can you embody the humility of Christ in your daily interactions?
Day 3: Renewing Reverence
The vision of Jesus in Isaiah 6 challenges us to renew our reverence for Him, recognizing His majesty and holiness. This perspective should transform our prayers, worship, and daily interactions. In Isaiah's vision, Jesus is depicted as a majestic figure on a throne, surrounded by angels who cover themselves in reverence. This powerful imagery reminds us of the grandeur and holiness of Christ, urging us to approach Him with the respect and reverence He deserves. Our casual attitudes towards Jesus can often lead to a lack of respect in our spiritual practices. [14:53]
"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew." (Isaiah 6:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current attitude towards Jesus in your prayers and worship. How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe for His majesty and holiness today?
Day 4: Respecting Divine Authority
Our casual attitudes towards Jesus can lead to disrespect in our spiritual practices. We are called to approach Him with the respect and awe He deserves, acknowledging His divine authority. Recognizing Jesus' divine authority means understanding the weight of His words and commands in our lives. It requires us to submit to His will and align our actions with His teachings. This respect is not just about outward expressions but about an inward posture of the heart that honors His sovereignty. [16:13]
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed casual attitudes to creep into your spiritual practices? What steps can you take to restore a sense of respect and awe for Jesus' authority in your life?
Day 5: Worship as Submission
Worship is an act of humility and reverence, not entertainment. We are encouraged to physically express our submission to God, recognizing His greatness and our dependence on Him. Worship is not about what we can get out of it but about what we can offer to God. It is a time to bow before Him, acknowledging His greatness and our need for Him. This act of worship is a reminder that our services are not about entertainment but about offering our praise and adoration to the Almighty. [21:00]
"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand." (Psalm 95:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make your worship more about submission and reverence rather than entertainment? What physical expressions of worship can you incorporate to acknowledge God's greatness and your dependence on Him?
Quotes
I just love that here's someone who lost her child and yet during this time of grieving is going out and helping other people and she's taking her mind off of herself and and and even stretching herself to this point where she's going you know I'm just going to grab some different people in my neighborhood and start a Bible study. [00:06:04]
But I just love the example that Jen sets for us because man when life is difficult for us it's so easy to start looking Inward and just say it's all about me all about me all about me and yet even in that grieving we almost if anyone would have an excuse to to look inward we say well you know it's okay just just think about yourself. [00:06:44]
That's not the way we heal that's not the way God intended for us to heal man the more inward we get it's it's it's the more more uh more depressed we'll get and just watching her and seeing her life as she's going out and ministering to other people amidst her pain it's it's exactly what we're talking about this morning. [00:07:11]
It was such a beautiful pictures of beautiful picture of Philippians 2 where it says that what we're supposed to do as followers of Jesus Christ is to consider other people as more important than us it it says in Philippians 2 verse 1 it says if if there's any encouragement in Christ. [00:07:30]
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves Let each of you look not only to his own interest but also to the interest of others s it's this picture of humility that a lot of times we have a a a weird view of humility. [00:07:46]
We think it to be humble means that you put yourself down or you speak real quietly or you don't talk a whole lot the Bible says no humility is when you can consider other people as more important than you and you actually stop just looking at yourself but thinking about the needs of others. [00:08:06]
This passage is about the humility of Jesus Christ who even though he was God and he could have just sat there in heaven and done his thing and let all the Angels worship him instead he actually thought about us his creation these human beings and this whole picture of him humbling himself to be with us and to love us and to die for our sins. [00:11:34]
And it's like wow if God Almighty could do that then shouldn't we have that same attitude see verse 5 says have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. [00:12:00]
Isaiah gets to see the glory of God but everyone reading the Old Testament would have been thinking God the father but here he's explaining Jesus as being the one on this throne and in Isaiah 6 there's this very powerful picture of Jesus and a lot of times we don't think of Jesus being this way but here John 12 says Isaiah Saw His glory. [00:14:34]
Isaiah says I saw him he goes and he was sitting on a throne okay picture that he goes but not just a little Throne not a little chair I mean this Throne that was high in exalted and he says in fact he was so big that his robe literally filled up the whole Temple okay picture a being sitting on a throne so massive that the robe fills the entire Temple. [00:16:16]
There were these high angels that above him were these seraphim these these high angels and it says that each had six wings and with two they covered their faces with two they covered their feet and with two they flew see the whole idea of these angels is they got two Wings covering their faces two covering their feet they were covered from head to toe. [00:16:54]
I think one of the things the church needs more than anything is a new reverence and awe of God and I'm going to challenge you during this time of meditation on God that may some of you just drop to your knees and bow before God and literally maybe just turn around face your chair and just picture God in heaven and out of a sign of respect just be willing to bow to someone who's bigger than you. [00:21:28]
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