證道經文：腓立比書 2:1-28
2026 年 9月27日 (應節儀文21甲)
地點：台灣白河路德會榮恩堂
講員：Rev. Dr. Carl Fickenscher II 費康詩牧師/博士
中譯: Rev. Dr. Michael Paul 白霈德牧師
WHO ARE YOU LOOKING OUT FOR?
Text: Philippians 2:1-18 (NASB)
By nature, all of us are competitive. We like to win when we play cards. When we go to the ballgame, we like our team to win. We work very hard in school, put in long hours of study, in order to get better scores on our college entrance tests than other students and can get into the university and the program of our choice. We’re competitive. We want to win at cards even though that means the other people around the table have to lose. We want our baseball team to win even though that makes the other team and their fans disappointed. We want to get into the best university even though that means another student doesn’t. And if we do get in–or win–we celebrate, probably without thinking about those who lost or didn’t get into the school. We easily remember what we want…and easily forget about others.
So then in our text this morning from Philippians, St. Paul comes along with hard words: (3-4)
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
St. Paul challenges us to ask ourselves,
WHO ARE WE LOOKING OUT FOR?
We know why Paul had to write this, don’t we.
I. By nature, we’re all really looking out for ourselves.
A. We do it in all kinds ways
- It’s not just cards/baseball/getting into university
- It’s way dress (grab attention), talking big about selves (impress people), skimping offerings (keep $$$ selves), insisting do what I want (rather than best spouse/kids)
- It’s even insisting own way church–pastor has follow
I think best, other members follow my lead
B. Looking out for others can take away from own interests
- Everybody can’t get everything everybody wants
- Paul understood personal cost looking out others
a. As young man, “comer”–Pharisee, well-educated, bright future
b. Now (as writes text) in prison
c. Why? Considered sharing Gospel w/ others (their eternal salvation) more important than own personal
interests/comfort/safety
C. But Paul also knew how devastating to church when everyone looking out self
- It’s terrible contradiction to fellowship Christians
when brothers/sisters church (esp. same cong) conflict
a. Natural have disagreements (all have opinions how
things done)
b. But it’s sinfulness makes inflexible consider other
person might be right - That’s matter looking out own interests
a. Pastor has do it my way because I know better he
b. Fellow members have follow my lead because I want tiny bit credit/satisfaction/control–even if think for spread Gospel
Again, Paul: (3-4) “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
That’s tough for us, isn’t it. By nature, we’re always looking out for ourselves.
(II. But Christ was looking out for everyone but Himself.)
Instead, Paul says, (5-8) “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
A. Jesus certainly wasn’t looking out for self, was He!
- Not only did God set aside His heavenly glory/become human, but lowly human (poor/humble/rejected)
- Not only did live as lowly human, but accepted human death (at hands of those who had no power over Him)
- Not only did accept death, but death cross (ugliest, most painful, most humiliating death)
(9-11) “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
B. Our attitude should be like Christ’s…but let’s understand what Christ’s attitude was
- Christ’s attitude wasn’t:
a. That I’ll humble Self/care others just because what
supposed do
b. Wasn’t humble Self/care others because heavenly
Father reward Me/exalt if do
c. Wasn’t humble Self/care others because Father punish
if don’t - Christ’s attitude: look out for us (not Self) because trusted God Father perfect care Him no matter what
- Our attitude should be–and can be!–that: we free care others rather than self because God perfect care
C. See, Jesus didn’t humble/go cross example us follow
- That would actually create new obligation us meet
- That wouldn’t be looking out us
- No, Jesus accepted rejection/humiliation/death so we wouldn’t have do anything
a. Jesus’ humiliation did everything for us
(1) Reconciled to God by taking away our sins
(2) Satisfied God’s every demand upon us/our every obligation
(3) Looked out for others for us since fail do
b. And Jesus’ exaltation (rising grave/ascending back heaven) exalts us–to such perfect/eternal glory we never have look out selves - Can’t gain anything better looking out selves; already have Christ’s everything
III. Because that’s true, we are able to look out for, to care about, others, not merely ourselves. (1-2)
A. “If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”
- Is there encouragement in Christ, consolation in His
love, fellowship of Spirit? - Absolutely
a. We may not get into college/university choice, but Christ chosen us
b. People not notice us (by wear/say), Christ comes us baptism/HC, says “I know you by name; I give Self to you”
c. May not get way church, but in Christ: members glorious spiritual fellowship w/ each dear soul–and w/ Christ–all eternity
B. So, yes, we can
- Celebrate w/ those who did get into university wanted
- Let someone else center attention
- Yield to other members congregation when disagreement
We never need to look out for ourselves, because Christ, by His humble death–death on a cross!–has looked out for us, has made us God’s children again, and has given us beyond anything we could grasp.