Re-Release: The Most Important Thing to Believe About Jesus

Today we're revisiting an episode from SHINE, our walk through the book of Philippians. And there's a reason we're bringing this one back: we've just launched a new Bible reading plan on the Bible App based on the SHINE series. So if today's teaching is helpful to you and you'd like to go deeper, you can now walk through the whole series one day at a time in the Bible App.

What if there were a law of the spiritual world as dependable as gravity?

In Philippians 2, Jesus doesn't grasp for power. He lets go. He becomes a servant. He humbles himself all the way to the cross.

Then everything reverses.

God exalts him.

John Ortberg explores what this reveals about the deepest pattern of reality: the way up is down, greatness comes through service, and self-giving love is always worth it.

So when love gets costly, when you're tempted to self-promote, or when failure and guilt overwhelm you, remember the strategy:

Double down on the cross.

And remember the phrase:

Jesus Christ is Lord.

This is how we shine.

#JohnOrtberg #Philippians2 #Jesus #SpiritualFormation #TheCross #Christianity

Music in this episode: 
Starry Dream - Uptempo by A. Blomqvist MB01OKHAB5EAUXF

00:00 What’s Most Important to Believe About Jesus?
00:22 The Oldest Words About Jesus
00:54 The Great Christ Hymn
01:35 Every Knee Will Bow
02:18 Jesus Goes Down, God Lifts Him Up
02:44 What Goes Down Must Come Up
03:07 The Hinge of Human History
03:28 A Law of God’s Kingdom
03:52 God Exalts Those Who Humble Themselves
04:14 Love Is Always Worth It
04:38 What Does It Mean to Double Down?
04:56 Jesus Doubles Down on the Cross
05:18 Double Down When You Feel Like a Failure
05:39 Stop Chasing Money and Reputation
06:23 The Most Important Phrase You Can Say
06:45 Jesus Christ Is Lord
07:19 Caesar vs. a Crucified Rabbi
07:49 Peter, Paul, Mary…and Nero 😂
08:16 Power Always Fades
08:49 A Calendar Built Around Jesus
09:18 The Wheel of Fortune
09:34 Nero, Napoleon & Stalin
10:07 Every Date Points Back to Jesus
10:31 The Spiritual Law of the Cross
10:55 What Lies at the Heart of Reality
11:17 Stop Trying to Promote Yourself
11:45 Become a Servant in the Next Moment
11:59 Jesus Christ Is Lord
12:08 That’s How We Shine