CHRISTLIKE LOVE UNITY AND HUMILITY PHILIPPIANS 2 1

CHRIST-LIKE LOVE, UNITY AND HUMILITY PHILIPPIANS 2: 1 -30

MEMORY VERSE PHILIPPIANS 2: 3 LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY; BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN THEMSELVES.

INTRODUCTION The world today is full of hatred, disunity and pride. These are evident in wars, bloodshed, destruction of lives and property. We see this every day. PHOTO: Vancouer, BC June 15, 2011 Vancouver hockey team displays hatred after losing game to Boston Bruins. The ungodly are too proud and do not like to lose. GOD HATES PRIDE!!

Pride has taken over the affairs of our world. True love as a virtue is strange to many.

GOD WANTS US TO LIVE IN LOVE, UNITY AND BE HUMBLE. • These 3 characteristics are the marks of a true Christian. • By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. • John 13: 35

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRIST-LIKE LOVE • Philippians 2: 1 -4; 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -8; John 3: 16, 15: 13 • 1. Deep feeling of affection and care towards another person. • 2. The central truth and subject of the Bible. • 3. Brought salvation to the whole world. • 4. Jesus showed His love to us by dying on the cross to save us from sin. • 5. Is sacrificial; puts others first rather than self.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRIST-LIKE LOVE • 5. cont’d. Puts others first as can be seen in the following characteristics: • PATIENCE, KINDNESS, UNSELFISHNESS, HATRED FOR EVIL, LOVE FOR THE TRUTH, HONESTY, ENDURING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS • 6. Does not envy others. • 7. Believes ALL things written in the Bible. • 8. Does not fail.

TRUE FRIENDS OF JESUS MUST POSSESS GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD AND HIS PEOPLE. SINNERS MUST ACCEPT THE LOVE OF CHRIST: 1. Accept that you are a sinner. 2. Believe that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was for you. 3. Confess and repent of all your sins. 4. Ask Jesus forgiveness and cleansing through His blood. 5. Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. 6. Let Jesus give you His nature of love.

CHRIST’S CALL FOR BELIEVERS’ UNITY • Philippians 2: 1 -4; 19 -30; Ephesians 4: 1316 • Apostle Paul, Timotheus, Silas and Epaphroditus were united in faith, purpose and love for the service of God. • UNITY = ONENESS, TOGETHERNESS, DOING THINGS IN LOVE AND HAVING RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER

When we surrender our lives to Christ, we become friends of Jesus and members of the body of Christ.

BENEFITS OF BEING UNITED WITH OTHER BELIEVERS • 1. We will grow spiritually. • 2. Our faith will be strengthened. • 3. Satan will stay away from us. • 4. We will be able to stand as a strong army for the Lord.

TO MAINTAIN UNITY IN THE CHURCH, BELIEVERS MUST… • 1. Pray together. • 2. Witness for Christ. • 3. Have regular fellowship. • 4. Read God’s Word together. • 5. Share what we have with each other. • 6. Do things in common. • 7. Encourage each other. • 8. Completely obey God’s Word.

IT IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT WE SHOULD BE UNITED BECAUSE GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST ARE ONE. DO NOT BE AN AGENT OF DIVISION. LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THE UNITY OF THE BRETHREN. GOD WILL BE HAPPY WITH US.

CHRIST-LIKE HUMILITY ENCOURAGED • Philippians 2: 3 -18; 1 Peter 5: 5 -6 • Humility = Christian virtue which makes a child not to think of himself better than others. • It is that special grace developed in the Christian by the Spirit of God when the believer easily acknowledges that all he is and whatever he has belongs to God.

Jesus Christ left all His glory in Heaven and came to earth. He suffered and died for us so that we could live with Him in Heaven forever. Jesus Christ’s life is an example of humility. Let us be humble like Christ.

Reasons why we must be humble include… • 1. We are sinful and deserve to die but Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. • 2. We cannot achieve anything in life without the help of God. • 3. God delights in children who walk humbly. God gives more grace to the humble but brings down the proud. • 4. Humility leads to promotion and success.

QUESTIONS 1. Define love, unity and humility. 2. Mention 3 characteristics of Christ-like love. 3. Give 3 reasons why we must be humble. 4. Believers must maintain unity in the church. Yes / No? 5. How can a sinner possess godly characteristics?

LESSON: JESUS IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE. THOUGHT: I WILL FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS IN LOVE, UNITY AND HUMILITY. .

ACTIVITY: Prayer for the Church. HOMEWORK: Identify 3 areas in which you can show Christ-like love. Go and show a good example in your school and neighbourhood.

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