Organized Outpour

Al Curley, III

Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

Philippians 2:1–4

Unity

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Infusion of education on D9 organizations in sermon around kingdom unity.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction

From the Smithsonian National Mueum of African American Hostiry and Culture:

Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) emerged during a period that is characterized as a low point in American race relations. These associations were established on the principles of personal excellence, racial uplift, community service, civic action and kinship. Their emergence coincided with significant national developments, including the rise of Jim Crow laws, the popularity of scientific racism, and widespread racial violence and prejudice.

Black students, whether studying at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) or predominantly white institutions, came together to create these organizations, forging familial ties to one another and outreach within the larger Black community. Those kinships and ties endure to this day. BGLOs formed at a time when Greek life at predominantly white institutions excluded Black students.

Today, the nine BGLOs that comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council, known as the Divine Nine, have an impact on community service and civic engagement, through outreach programs that include literacy, professional development and voter registration.

At the onset, whether you stand in favor of or opposing of fraternities and sororities based on charactures painted by movies and stories, this brief exerpt hopefully helps us to look beyond the irresponsiblity and immaturity of some members of some of these and other organizations to see that there is something humanly necessary about the organization and rallying of peoples around a goal for advancing and uplifting the moral tenor of society and culture.

Paul helps us to see that not only is this goal, social, but it is also theological.

Focus: This text is tailored to teach us that unity has its significance in the work of communal love desired and designed by Christ for the world.

Function: We should challenge our social circles to pour out a higher and holier sense of unity for the radical transformation of our world.

Big Idea: Together, in Christ, we can exercise the outpour necessary to nourish the world.

Paul’s use of a series of imperious (authoritative, domineering) “If’s”(v.1)

The word “if” both as a conjunction or a noun adds a condtional and stipulatory tenor to the statement in which is resides. When the word “if” is injected into a statement it opens the realm of possibility. Not only that, but in my expereince with the word “if” it serves two purposes:

Information - “If you add heat to water you change its makeup and it transforms from a liquid to a gas.”

Persuasion - “If you want to be healthy, you need to change you eating habits.”

At first glance of this text, I was sure persuasion was the use of the word “if”. Surely Paul is trying to persuade us to do and be something. But at second and third glance I realized that the “if” was indirectly just as informative as it was persuasive. Not only does it persuade us to do and to be, it also informs us of who did and was.

If there is any encouragement in Christ

if any consolation of love

if any fellowship with the Spirit

if any affection and mercy

The support of this informative and persuasive “if” is found in the subsequent verses (5-11)

Philippians 2:5–11 “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The “if” that presents the possibilities for the believer is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ…The person and work of Jesus Christ should inspire us to join together to become the hands and feet of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

W. E. B. Du Bois (A Phi A, Founded 1906 at Cornell University) “Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year.”

The Visibility of Unity (v. 2)

The content of his exhortation is that they be “like-minded.” The verb used here occurs ten times in Philippians (of twenty-three times in the Pauline corpus). It speaks to the intellect (i.e., a way of thinking), but it goes beyond that. It incorporates the will and emotions into a comprehensive outlook which affects the attitude.

Chic-Fil-A is known for its customer service at whatever location you go to because there is visible unity in their attitude. In the Divine 9 there are levels: Individual - Chapter - Province - National - National Pan-Hellenic Council. In the Body of Christ there are the same: Individual - local congregation - county association - state conventnion - national denomination. We have a responsiblity to ensure unity on all levels so that the world sees and feels a distinction in our attitudes. WHat are the headlines about our churches and denominations?

Maya Angelou (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Founded 1908 at Howard University) “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

How has our unity or disunity made people feel? Have they interpreted their feelings as the hard push of distain and dissappointment from God because thats what we as God’s people have united to give in judgement? Have they interpreted their feelings as the soothing affirmation of their sin practice from God because that’s what we as God’s people have united to give them in “love”?

The visibility of unity adds credibility to our witness by placing at center stage the collaboration between God and man, man and man, and ultimately faith to faith to produce glory to glory through Christ Jesus.

The Humlity of Service (v.3-4)

If those around me are not able to benefit from my walk with God, then I need to grab some different shoes and walk a different path because this walk hasnt truly been with God.

Jesse Jackson (Omega Psi Phi, Founded 1911 at Howard University) “I am not a perfect servant. I am a public servant doing my best against the odds. As I develop and serve, be patient. God is not finished with me yet.” Our service doesnt have to be perfect, but it should be seen, heard, and felt by the public.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.””

When the member of that organization put on those letter and colors they are ambassadors for their organization. What they do and say is not only a reflection of them, but those who weare those letters and colors with them. These letters anc colors are not simply given out as an insignificant gesture of compassion, but rather earned through a process which proves within the individual that what is plastered on their lives will positively reflect that of the values of their organization.

What is plastered on the poster board of your life? What is the story of your life? Is Christ the point of that story?

Close

As a part of one of these esteemed BLGO’s I heard the saying “Everyone has a story.” I didnt know what that meantt in totality until one day, on the way to a funeral at our church my car broke down....a guy named Richie (Kappa Alpha Psi - Southern University) came to help me

While those active and giving to these BLGOs understand that along life’s journey of Greek life everyone has a story, there is another organization; one of Biblical cannonical authors and characters who point to a story of love and redemption. Its not a cultural story, but rather a cosmic story pointing to the cosmic Savior, Jesus Christ...

Verse 1: Alas! And did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?

Verse 2: Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Chorus: At the cross, at the cross Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!

Thats why we need organized outpour, because the world need to know that creature comfots dont provide eternal security

Thats why we need organized outpour, because the world needs to see that Salvation is real and free

Thats why we need organized outpour, because they world need to hear that death is no longer the only option, but the gift of God is etneral life through Christ Jesus!