Joy Full: A Journey Through Philippians The Joy of Unity Tyler Stricklan August 10th, 2025 I pray not just for them but for anyone who would believe because of them…. Father may the same love you have loved me with be in them and may I be in them. Unity doesn't come from agreement, it comes from surrender. Roman citizens had legal protections: No torture without trial and being found guilty. Right to appeal to Caesar Protection from degrading punishment like flogging and beatings Journey to Rome Arrest in Jerusalem from the Temple (Acts 21) Imprisonment for 2 years Caesarea (Acts 23–26) The voyage and shipwreck (Acts 27) Arrival in Rome (Acts 28) Philippians 2:1-4 1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Unity is curated in Humility. You don’t get unity by looking at each other. You get it by looking at the cross. Philippians 2:5-6 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Humility is forged in Imitation We don’t learn humility by looking in the mirror. We learn it by washing each other's feet. Philippians 2:7-8 7 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, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. Philippians 2:9-11 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Imitation leads us to Joy. The path to joy doesn’t climb a ladder, it carries a cross. Unity doesn't come from agreement, it comes from surrender. Next Step Posture: Surrender what is keeping you from Jesus Action: Write it down, pray over it, burn the paper Follow up: Invite three people to church every week over the next three months.