Grow in Fellowship (#2 in Epiphany Series)

January 19, 2025
Grow in Fellowship (#2 in Epiphany Series)

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2: 1- 5 

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

Message:  Grow in Fellowship (Epiphany series #2)

Epiphany to ignite growth

The meaning of the word Epiphany is:  “sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something” and “an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking”

For me epiphany is something of a realization - putting the peaces together or seeing a bigger picture 

Epiphany completes the circle of Christmas celebrations with a lightbulb moment

It’s a “yes” to the whole Christmas experience

But the challenge is to let this “yes” transfer into something meaningful…

That is the idea of this sermon series - to let the “yes” for Christmas ignite growth - spiritual growth 

This series will reflect on three areas of spiritual growth - worship, fellowship, service

I want to invite you to grow in this new year… let us grow together!

Christ-minded as a response

Paul is encouraging the Philippians to think about their connection to Jesus… through if-statements

If you find encouragement from being united with Christ…

If you are comforted by his love…

If you are generous because the Spirit moved you…

And if you are tender and compassionate…

Take your faith to a deeper level and grow to become Christ-minded

That is to live in the same love of Christ and to be one in Spirit and mind

Today, we are encouraged to respond when we think about our connection to Jesus

If you have an appreciation for what Jesus has done in your life… respond… grow… strive to be like Jesus in the way you live your life

Paul encourages us to resist selfish ambition or vain conceit in our lives - for it destroys relationships 

The relationship mindset of Jesus 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

Because Jesus was all for relationships

Just think about his relationship with Peter - Peter got to walk on water before his faith let him down…

But Jesus believed in him!  

Think about John 21 where Jesus restores the relationship with Peter by helping him through his guilt

Jesus is the son of God 

And God is a relationship God - God initiates a relationship with creation

God wants to be in a relationship with me and you!

God’s Son, Jesus shows us God’s relationship heart

Jesus touches lives, because Jesus loves people - deeply

Remember his Father sent Him to this world out of love - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” (John 3: 16)

Jesus looks at everyone He encounters with eyes of love

Fellowship - to look with the eyes of Jesus

Today, as we think about how we can grow in our fellowship with each other, Paul gives us the key:  have the same mindset as Jesus

Be like Jesus

And look at each other with the eyes of Jesus…

Look with compassion - like when Jesus was moved by the suffering of people

Look with care - like when Jesus gave thousands who were hungry, something to eat

Look with warmth - like the many times Jesus sat down to have a meal with his friends

Look to help - like when Jesus was set on healing people

Look to forgive - like Jesus forgave those who crucified Him

Look to accept - like when Jesus had meals with sinners and outcasts

Look across boundaries - like when Jesus touched lepers and spoke to a Samaritan woman

Look to build lasting relationships - like Jesus had with his disciples

We all look to someone to model our behaviour on, whether consciously or on subconsciously 

Why don’t we choose to look to Jesus?

Let us choose to be Christ-minded

Let us choose to look at each other with the eyes of Jesus

Let us grow in our fellowship


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