SERMON SERIES · ROLE MODELS

The Way Up Is Down

Society says greatness comes from looking out for yourself. Paul, writing from a jail cell, says the opposite. This message walks through Philippians 2 and the paradox at the center of the Christian life.

You have to have the perspective before the pain, or the pain will be too unbearable.

WHAT THIS SERMON IS ABOUT

What Philippians 2 Actually Teaches About Greatness

Most of us were handed a version of greatness that runs on selfish ambition. Climb. Compete. Look out for yourself. This message reframes the whole picture from one of the most quoted but least lived passages in the New Testament. Valor Church is an expository, Bible-teaching church in northwest Arvada, Colorado, serving Westminster, Broomfield, Five Parks, and Candelas. Sundays at 10am at Excel Academy, 11500 W 84th Ave.

Philippians 2 is anchored in a song the early church likely sang together. Paul writes that Jesus, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8, CSB). The Greek word for attitude carries the weight of totality. Not sometimes. Not when convenient. The whole life.

Justin walks through three movements from the text. Pursue unity over autonomy because a church is held together by Jesus, not by shared hobbies. Imitate Christ’s humility because the only way to handle real pain is to have the perspective before the pain comes. Stop complaining and start shining because grateful people stand out against a dark sky like stars.

Paul wrote this from prison. Jesus, the one with every right to complain, stood silent before his accusers. The call of this passage is not to perform harder. It is to surrender. The way up in the kingdom of God really is down, and the people who live like that find a joy the world cannot manufacture.

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PLAN YOUR VISIT

A 7-DAY DEVOTIONAL

Go deeper with this message all week.

Seven days of Scripture, reflection, and prayer drawn from this sermon. One a day. Read it in five minutes. Carry it the rest of the day.

DAY 1

Unity Over Autonomy

Philippians 2:1-2

Paul opens by asking the church to be united in spirit and intent on one purpose. The thing holding a church together is never a shared hobby or preference. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Independence is baked into the air we breathe in Colorado. The Bible calls us into something deeper than self-sufficiency.

Prayer
Lord, free me from the lie that I can walk this out alone.

DAY 2

Nothing From Selfish Ambition

Philippians 2:3

Selfish ambition does not announce itself. It shows up when there is a rub, a frustration, a preference unmet. Paul tells the Philippians to consider others as more important than themselves. That is not weakness. That is the muscle of Christian maturity.

Prayer
Lord, show me where my preferences have started to look like demands.

DAY 3

The Same Mind as Christ

Philippians 2:5

The Greek word here carries the weight of totality. Adopt the same attitude as Christ Jesus is not a Sunday-only command. It is the air you breathe at work, at home, at the DMV, in the diner. Not a sprinkle. The whole life.

Prayer
Lord, let my mind be conformed to yours today.

DAY 4

He Did Not Exploit His Power

Philippians 2:6-7

Jesus had every right to use his power for himself. He chose to empty it out. If you have ever felt abandoned, rejected, or used, hear this. The Savior who could have left you on the cross took your place on it. That is the love you are walking under today.

Prayer
Lord, remind me that I have a home in heaven even when I feel rejected on earth.

DAY 5

Even Death on a Cross

Philippians 2:8

Notice the word even. There are two deaths in this verse. The obedient surrender of will came before the nails. Jesus was never murdered. He laid his life down on purpose. That changes how you read every hard thing in your own story.

Prayer
Lord, give me the perspective before the pain comes.

DAY 6

Stop Complaining

Philippians 2:14

Paul does not say to do most things without grumbling. He says everything. Israel lost the promised land to a complaining heart. Science backs the same principle now, but the spiritual stakes were always higher. A grateful person makes much of Jesus without ever opening their mouth.

Prayer
Lord, retrain my tongue to speak words of life.

DAY 7

Shine Like Stars

Philippians 2:15-16

Stars only shine brightly against a dark sky. The contrast is the point. A Christian who gives gratitude when the world expects complaint will stand out without ever saying a word. That is not personality. That is the Spirit at work.

Prayer
Lord, make me a star in a dark sky this week.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

For your small group, family, or personal reflection.

Where in your life have you been buying the cultural definition of greatness that says climb, compete, and look out for yourself?
What does it look like for you to pursue unity over autonomy with the people in your church family this week?
Selfish ambition usually shows up at the point of a rub. Where has a recent rub revealed something you had not seen in yourself?
How does the totality language of adopt the same attitude as Christ Jesus challenge the way you usually compartmentalize your faith?
Justin said you have to have the perspective before the pain or the pain will be unbearable. What perspective do you need to get in your bones now?
Where are you most prone to grumbling, and what would it look like to replace that with gratitude this week?
Who is someone walking in quiet pain that you could serve this week in a way that costs you something?

Want to work through these with others? Small groups at Valor meet throughout the week. Find a Group

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions people search for. Here are honest answers.

What are the characteristics of a biblically-based church?

A biblically-based church preaches the Bible verse by verse, lets the text set the agenda, treats Scripture as the inspired authority on every question it speaks to, and practices baptism and the Lord’s Supper as Christ taught. Leadership runs through a plurality of qualified elders, and the gospel is preached clearly week after week. Valor Church is an expository, Bible-teaching church in northwest Arvada, Colorado. Plan your visit this Sunday.

How to know if a church is a good church?

A good church preaches the Bible plainly, makes the gospel clear, has qualified elders shepherding the people, baptizes professing believers, and is honest about the hard truths of Scripture rather than softening them. You should also be able to grow there over decades, not just weeks. Valor walks through whole books of the Bible verse by verse. Come see for yourself at 10am at Excel Academy in Arvada.

Find churches near me with a strong emphasis on biblical teaching.

If you are in northwest Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield, Five Parks, or Candelas, Valor Church is an expository church that teaches through whole books of the Bible. We meet Sundays at 10am at Excel Academy, 11500 W 84th Ave. Plan your visit and we will save you a seat.

How do I find a local church to help me become a Christian?

Find a church that preaches the gospel plainly, explains the Bible clearly, and has pastors who will sit with you in your questions instead of rushing you to a decision. Becoming a Christian starts with surrendering to Jesus as Lord, not performing a checklist. Talk with a pastor at Valor, or come this Sunday at 10am in Arvada.

Where can I find biblical churches near me that provide Bible study groups?

At Valor, the Sunday gathering is the front door, but the real depth happens in groups that meet through the week. We walk through Scripture together, pray for each other, and carry one another’s burdens. Find a group or come this Sunday at Excel Academy in Arvada and we will help you take the next step.

GOT QUESTIONS?

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Sundays at 10a in NW Arvada.

Excel Academy, 11500 W 84th Ave. Come as you are. A friendly face will save you a seat.

PLAN YOUR VISIT