BIG IDEA
Humility helps us walk into racial reconciliation by committing to listen, repent, and leverage love.
MESSAGE NOTES:
PHILIPPIANS 2:8 ESV And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
How Jesus changed the world: he humbled himself.
How we change the world: we humble ourselves.
LUKE 10:23 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
3 ways to practice humility:
1. LISTEN
JAMES 1:19-20 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
“Do not centre this narrative around yourself. Whilst it is nice that you can relate and empathise, now is not the time to insert your personal experiences that isn’t about you. This is actually harmful and takes away from the severity of the situation. Leave your ego.”
-Mirielle Harper
2. REPENT
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
3. LEVERAGE LOVE
What does love require of me?
PHILIPPIANS 2:3 NLT Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Isaiah 1:17 NLT Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Matthew 25:37-40 NLT Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Q1: Is humility more important than action right now?
Q2: What is more humbling? God becoming a man or God allowing himself to suffer and die?
Q3: What are ways we can make defending the oppressed not about us?
Q4: Is it tough to tell when you’re being humble and when you’re being prideful?
Q5: Have you ever felt like God pointed out something in you that needed to be addressed?
Q6: What’s the difference between guilt and repentance?
Q7: What are ways you can leverage your love?