Philippians 2:1-13.  Good lesson, listing each verse (NIV) with short explanation

Jesus (v 1-2)  Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one spirit and of one mind.

Synopsis:  Do things as He did, no motivation except to assist and teach.

Servant (v3-7)  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Synopsis:   Be a servant to others, you are not better than anyone, but equal. As an equal, your first step is to serve them. By serving, you are showing them that God is the only righteous.

Something to consider:

• Do you define what the interest of others means?
• How do you help others that are self-interested?

Completely In (v8)  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!

Synopsis:  When you are completely in, death will not stop you.

Jesus Holy (v9-11)  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Synopsis:  Jesus was so Holy, committed to serving and pure of sin (innocent) that there is no other great than He.  All of us have to realize that god is first and He wants us to be as Jesus, a servant that does it only to serve bur not for any outside motivation.

Quite Time (v12-13)  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvations with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Synopsis:  As you sit alone in quiet time, focus on where you are with God.  Is He leading your life or are you leading your life or are you allowing others to lead your life?  You need to allow (Open yourself up) God to speak to you and take you where He wants you to go.