2:3 - consider others better than you -

Emma asked for some practical expressions of this -

- allow someone to be first
- keep your promises, even when they are not easy to keep
- look for ways to give of yourself and your resources
- conciously appreciate others, write notes, express thanks

2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others
when we just look out for our own interests its like scratching an itch. We discovered that when you scratch an itch
- it doesn't cure the itch, you are even more itchy
- you will eventually hurt yourself
- you are completely preoccupied with scratching
- you don't have the ability to do anything else
That is the life of the one who chooses self-gratification, the are gratified as long as they are scratching...

Peter discovered talked about vs 5-8 about characteristics of Jesus

2:7 -Jesus made himself of no reputation. Are we trying to make a name for ourselves? Why? Jesus was called a frequenter of the wine because those are the people that he hung out with, not because he was one of those people. Can we put our reputation out there and take big risks for God?

2:10 - 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
Jeremy pointed out in heaven, earth and under the earth - meaning that angels, demons, people in Heaven and people who are in hell will call Jesus Lord.

- we can do it now of our own choice, or we can do it later when we will be overwhelmed by our own sinful nature and recognize the holiness of God, when it is too late.

2:14 - Sue suggested that we need to do everything without complaining
Complaining is:
Contagious - misery loves company
Contentious - it hurts relationships
Costly - people don't want to be around complainers

From my notes - kinda ran out of time
2:17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Abraham Bininger. Born in Switzerland in the 17 hundreds he and his parents left their homeland and bordered a ship for America. During the journey both his father and mother died and were buried at sea. While just a boy he found himself in a strange land were he knew absolutely no one. However he never let his misfortunes hold him back. As a young man he professed Christ as his saviour. After hearing of the great misery and poverty among the blacks on the St. Thomas he sought to travel there to preach the gospel.Upon his arrival he discovered the it was against the law for any person but a slave to preach to the slaves. It was the policy of the plantation owners to keep the blacks in ignorance and superstition. Shortly after this the governor received a letter from the Bininger. In the letter Bininger pleaded with the governor to allow himself to be made a slave for the rest for his life. Bininger promised that he would serve as a slave faithfully, providing he could give his leisure tine to preaching to his fellow slaves.

I was struck by the commitment to choose a lesser life for someone else to be able to understand the power of the gospel. We are all asking to be a slave to something - what are you willing be a slave to?