Going Tribal
Philippians

Message by Dave Carlsen
May 21, 2006

INTRO:

As disciples, it is important to know our location. Being awake helps too.

Last week our identity was shown from the book of Ephesians

Selected Awakened Informed Nurtured Transformed Strengthened

SAINTS

*This week we discover where we are to live!

w/ both, it is not enough to KNOW…

IQ THEN I do… Get this (Kurt’s message)

Theme I want to focus on this a.m. is What is the church’s relationship to the world to be?

As Jesus related to His temporary address; so should we in ours.

JESUS knew WHO he was and that His place here was only a ‘temp job’ (didn’t get too comfy)

Do I know WHO I am?;

Phil. 3: 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Do I understand my time and place? My job here on earth/ my vocation/ my purpose….my calling?

Phil. 1:1 “bond-servants of Christ Jesus”

Phil. 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Phil. 3: 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Phil. 2:12 work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Temporary Address: planet earth.

YES! Confident. (certain of having the ability, judgement and resources needed to succeed)

No Fear! No Doubt!

Where does all of this confidence come from? Knowledge AND Experience! (IQ then I do…)

1 John 5:4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

What does this mean as I GO TRIBAL?

Remember WHO you are.
27 Govern your lives according to the standards and goals of the gospel, not on societal requirements of being a good Philippian or Cupertinan, San Jose-an etc…

Remember WHAT success is.
-1:12 “my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.”

-3:7 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

To Belong to God (I.D.-WHO) doesn’t just secure you the enjoyment of that priviledged position, it brings with it responsiblility. (Success-WHAT)

You and I are chosen as a part of the mission that God is on.

YES! Engaged! Salt out of the shaker just tastes better!

NO to retreat. NO to ignore.

Emple of Jesus…chapter 2

It wasn’t enough for Jesus to move in next door…He engaged…He “Went Tribal”

set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave (7)
had a regular job in a regular town
he walked with people and had their children sit on his lap
he went to his neighbors parties, festivals, events
he did more than dwell among us…He became ONE OF US.

THAT is the essence, the example of Going Tribal.

a humbling, inconvenient process …to put on flesh (limits, hurts, hang ups, frustrations)
motivated by love for the dying!
Not looking out for His own interest, but for the interest of others (2:4)

Example of Paul…

RESULT: greater progress of the gospel (SUCCESS)

-far more courage for others

These bonds aren’t formed well in safety but form quickly in war; they are forged in ENGAGEMENT!

Q: If you moved out of your neighborhood, would your neighbors notice and throw you a party or just your church? Going Tribal is dwelling WITH people not just next to them.

YES! Deliberate! Take a walk instead of just a stand (for the Gospel)

Paul was a focused invididual.

Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The God who moved into the ‘hood. (John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Incarnational living

Taking a position of friendly infiltration rather than mass army approaching. (two differing stances for war)

*Perhaps the problem with much of our testimony isn’t content OR conviction but simply a matter of LOCATION!

We aren’t simply called to STAND OUT or UP but to STAND WITH.

This takes intentionality…We are to Work out our salvation…in the midst of the world we live in…

GOING TRIBAL?: form a plan; doesn’t have to be rocket science, many of the greatest missionary movements started with someone simply caring enough to GO… (missionary biographies)

INTENT on one Purpose (2:2)

Then when our friends or co-workers (BIBLICAL Neighbors) has a question about “those Christians” he can come to the one he knows personally and the gospel can be on full, living 3-D display. That is dangerous Christianity.

So How Are We Related?