Uncommon Humility
Part 1

Sermon Notes - August 1, 2021
The Greatest Stories Rarely Told- Brian Becker

Sacrificial Generosity
Radical Hospitality
Uncommon Humility

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Acts 10:1-2 (NIV)
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

Acts 10:3 (NIV)
One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Acts 10:4 (NIV)
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

Acts 10:5-6 (NIV)
Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

Acts 10:9-10 (NIV)
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

Acts 10:11-13 (NIV)
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

Acts 10:14-15 (NIV)
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Acts 10:16 (NIV)
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

Acts 10:17-18 (NIV)
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

Acts 10:19-20 (NIV)
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Acts 10:23b (NIV)
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

Humility crosses barriers and clears the way for others to follow.

Acts 10:27-28 (NIV)
While talking with (Cornelius), Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.

Acts 10:28b-29a (NIV)
But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.

Acts 10:34-35 (NIV)
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Acts 10:39-40 (NIV)
“We are witnesses of everything (Jesus) did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

Acts 10:44 (NIV)
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

Acts 10:45-46 (NIV)
The (Jewish) believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Acts 10:46b-47 (NIV)
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”

Acts 10:48 (NIV)
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

“All so like ourselves. For, how we also bundle up whole nations of men and throw them into that same unclean sheet. Whole churches that we know nothing about but their bad names that we have given them, are in our sheet of excommunication also… Every party outside our own party in the political state also. We have no language contemptuous enough wherewith to describe their wicked ways and their self-seeking schemes. They are four-footed beasts and creeping things.”- Alexander Frederick Whyte

James 1:19
Quick to listen; Slow to Speak

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

It’s only in humility that we can surrender to God. It’s only in humility that we can be like Jesus.