Philippians 2:1-4

the equal yoking of believers

together by faith in Christ Jesus

for thankful service

of Believers

Equal yoking

By Faith in Christ

For thankful service

“Christians are to share a

common life and contribute

to each other’s well-being as

living members of Christ’s

body.” -- James Montgomery Boice

• Silences the critics and opponents

– Respond to opposition with kindness and

exemplary behavior

– Stand firmly together with your brothers,

through thick and thin

– Move together with a unified worldview to

accomplish God’s agenda

• Showcases the value and power of the

gospel

– Draw encouragement from being “in

Christ” and walk beside Him

– Treat wounds of disappointment with love

– Partner together to grow Spiritual fruit

– Make compassion a core value and let it

“ooze” out of your pores

• Strengthens each member to make

greater advances

– Agree with each other whole-heartedly, as

if you were one person

– Choose to love the same things

– Live in harmony as “bosom friends”

– Move in synch with purpose towards the

common goal

• Subjects each member to the good of

the group

– Quit jockeying with others for position

– Feed true humility by starving yourself

– Adopt a “No one left behind” mentality

The community is the most effective

when we practice…

Cultivating Community*Adapted from a similar list found in

Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s, Life Together

1. Control your tongue, refusing to speak uncharitably about a brother

2. Cultivate humility by remembering our own sinfulness and recognizing God’s grace

3. Listen long and patiently so that you understand your brother’s need

Cultivating Community

4. Refuse to consider your

time and position so

valuable that you cannot be

interrupted by a brother in

need

5. Bear the burdens of your

brothers, by preserving their

freedom and by forgiving

their abuse of that freedom

*Adapted from a similar list found in

Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s, Life

Together

Cultivating Community

6. Declare God’s Word to your

brother when they need to

hear it

7. Understand that Christian

leadership is characterized

by service and does not call

attention to the servant

*Adapted from a similar list found in

Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s, Life

Together