Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 8
The teaching claims God treats humble believers “the exact same way he treated the Son of Man” in Philippians 2—humbling leads to exaltation; what does that suggest about God’s character and incentives, and how do you guard against humbling yourself as a strategy to be exalted?
Another way to ask: If God lifts up people who humble themselves like He lifted up Jesus in Philippians 2, what does that show about what God is like? How do you keep from using humility just to get rewarded later?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
It suggests God is consistent and just: He opposes pride, but He loves to lift up the one who truly goes low, the way He exalted Christ after the cross. The transcript doesn’t directly explain motives, but it implies the guardrail is to humble yourself as submission to God (not self-promotion), trusting exaltation is “at the proper time.”
- He reads Philippians 2: Jesus “humbled himself…obedient to death…Therefore God exalted him.”
- He says, “when man humbles himself, God treats us the exact same way he treated the Son of Man.”
- He stacks promises: “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” and repeatedly, “he will exalt you.”
- He includes timing: “exalt you at the proper time” and “in due time.”
- He frames humility as submission/resistance: “To humble yourself is to submit to God…To submit to God is to resist the devil.”