Reflection Questions: Philippians 2:1-11

For the message, “Humility is the Salvation of the World” given by Pastor John Ferguson
at Mercy Hill Church in Bryan/College Station, Texas, on May 6, 2018

These discussion questions are designed primarily to help you apply the message from the Scriptures
by helping you think through application to your personal life, your church life, and your city’s life.
You can use these by yourself for reflection, or with your family or small group for discussion.
To review the sermon, go to MercyHillBCS.org/resources/messages.

INTRODUCTION

Pray. Take a moment to pray asking God to guide you in reflecting upon the Scripture text.

Read the Scripture text: Philippians 2:1-11

A summary of the message: The Apostle Paul writes from prison to an early community of Jesus followers urging them to
unity of heart and mind. He calls them to do nothing from selfish ambition or pride, but in humility to consider others as
more important than themselves. To do this, he knows they need to have the mindset of Jesus, who humbled himself and
became obedient to death, even death on a cross. And because Jesus descended into the depths of humility for us and
for our salvation, God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name.

Key Quotes:

• Donald Miller: “The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: Life is a story about me.”

• Andrew Murray: “Pride ever seeks itself…pride creeps in almost everywhere.”

• CJ Mahoney: “The real issue here is not if pride exists in your heart; it’s where pride exists and how pride is being
expressed in your life.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:15, “…he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their
sake died and was raised.”

• CS Lewis, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

Bottom Line: Jesus is the embodiment of humility, and his humility is the salvation of the world. And his humility is meant
to transform our lives.

Let’s get started…

• What grabs your attention in this text? How are you challenged, convicted, encouraged, or surprised by this text?

QUESTIONS

1. Let’s think about how this text applies to our lives as individuals.

• In light of this passage, how would you answer the question, “What kind of me is God calling me to be?” In other
words, how does this text clarify what God wants to do in my life?

• How would my life look differently if I were to really live out the message of this text to humble myself?
2. Let’s think about how this text applies to us as a community of Jesus’ followers.

• What does this text assume to be true about the community of God’s people?

• What is the cost if we are not transformed by this text? In other words, what is lost if we ignore the message?

3. Let’s think about how this text applies to our city.

• What kind of new life / future in Christ is this text calling our city to experience?

• How would Bryan/College Station look radically different if everybody did what Jesus describes in this passage?

CONCLUSION QUESTION

What is the one thing you want to take away from this study to remember or to make a change in your life?

PRAYER

What are some ways you can turn what you are learning into prayer? List them as bullet points….

• ______________________________________________________________________________________

• ______________________________________________________________________________________

• ______________________________________________________________________________________