9th June 2025

9th June 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Philippians 2:5-11 focus v5)


Message (Alan Burke) 


Here in Northern Ireland, we have our own sense of humour that apparently is like no where else in the world. Only here can you ask a child if they’re having the craic and you don’t get dirty looks or arrested, or ask someone if they want a poke and not get a slap. We even have a public art sculptures called the balls of the falls, doesn’t matter what it is officially called, if I said take the turnoff at Rise and the second exit at the round about most normal people wouldn’t have a clue. We like the banter and on top of that there is the sarcasm that those across the pond don’t really understand.


Our wit is dark and dry and if we’re not willing to laugh at ourselves then we make ourselves a target, people will make sure that we don’t get a big head, even if someone has done a great job we don’t like people thinking more of themselves than they ought. You know what I mean, we make sure nobody gets above their station. We keep them humble, don’t we!? Things are different from the workplace to the bowling club, from the mart to school, but I’m sure we have all come across that kind of humour. We have also seen when it has gone too far, when someone has been humiliated by others, they have been made to feel ashamed, foolish, their dignity and pride has been given a right kicking. Now I hope that you aren’t like that, for it is sinful, we should be the opposite of the culture around us, we should love one another, desiring to build up not tear down but that is for another time.


The reason why I start with that is today we look to the Humility of Christ but it is also known as the humiliation of Christ. It wasn’t that Jesus was made to feel ashamed, foolish, his dignity and pride had been given a right kicking, rather it was that he was reduced to a lower position, he humbled himself for us. Paul had just taken the church through how there should be unity in the church, that they should do nothing our of selfish ambition of vain conceit, instead looking to the interests of others and now he tells us that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Paul is taking the focus of ourselves and wants us to think on Christ and that as our attention moves from ourselves on to Christ and what he has done for us then it should impact how we live. 


In our union with Christ, which leads to a union with one another, leading us to live humbly and we live this way because of what has been done for us through the Saviour who showed such humility, he humbled himself for us. If we truly are in Christ, if we are the children of God by faith, if we belong to his family, it naturally follows that we will bear familial characteristics, just as with wee Jonny, we say aww, he’s got his da’s eyes, or his ma’s nose, the same should be said about the believer, if we bear not likeness to our saviour then questions have to be asked. There are many who have a great zeal, they know the right stuff, they believe it to be true, but their humility is lacking. So Paul says think on Christ, think on him for humility isn’t easy, in fact is darn right difficult, because it’s so contrary to how this world works, it’s not how our schools teach, it's not how life works, but it’s what the church needs. We are not only to have humility to see others more significant than ourselves, but to look to the interests of others not our own (4). So Paul tells us to think on Christ. We might have a sense of humour that is like no where else in the world but in the church we need to think on Christ, the wonder of what he has done for us and that should impact everything we do and say, our entire being needs to be orientated rightly by what he has done. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
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