Philippians 2:1-11

 

Jesus’ Way of Living
Based on Philippians 2:1-11

Growing up, I had the chance to move around a lot—different states across the U.S. and even some other countries. One of those places was South Korea, where my father was stationed while serving in the Air Force.

I remember visiting a Korean family with my dad to pray for their sick father. The family was very poor, gathered around the man who lay on a cot in the middle of the room. As I sat down next to my dad, I did what I normally did—I crossed my leg, resting my foot on my knee in a casual way. Suddenly, my dad nudged my foot off my knee, signaling that something wasn’t right.

Later, my dad explained that in Korean culture, it’s considered very disrespectful to raise your feet above someone’s head, especially someone who is sick or in a lower position. It was their custom, their way of life. My dad wanted to honor them, just as they honored him by inviting him to pray. He humbled himself out of love and respect for their culture.

This morning, I want to talk about “Jesus’ Way of Living.”

Philippians 2:1-11 (NKJV):
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Last week, Paul encouraged the Philippians to stand strong in Jesus amid external conflicts facing the church. When the church is united and productive in Christ, it’s proof to the enemy and the world of their impending judgment.

Now, Paul builds on that foundation to teach the Philippians how to avoid internal conflicts within the church body.

“For the love of Christ compels us” — 2 Corinthians 5:14

Becoming more like Christ isn’t something we just decide to do—it flows out of responding to Jesus’ love for us. We can only love supernaturally because we have experienced His supernatural love first.

This is the basis of Paul’s plea for the church to be unified, humble, and loving toward one another.

Paul begins with four rhetorical questions:

  • Have you ever received consolation in Christ?

  • Has Jesus’ love ever comforted and encouraged you?

  • Has the Holy Spirit ever empowered your life?

  • Have you experienced Jesus’ mercy and affection?

These gifts are the foundation of the Christian life, and Paul’s personal plea flows from them:

“Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

This plea goes against everything the world teaches about success and achievement. Paul calls the Philippians to unity—a unity that requires putting aside selfish ambition and pride.

As a father, nothing brings me greater joy than coming home to find my kids playing, laughing, and loving each other. It doesn’t matter if the dishes aren’t done or the yard isn’t mowed—love covers a multitude of sins.

Imagine how our Heavenly Father must feel seeing His children united in love and harmony. That’s what Paul calls the church to pursue.

How to Live for Unity

Paul tells us:

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Our world is driven by selfish ambition—chasing after the best spouse, the biggest house, the fastest car, the highest paying job. We tend to judge others by that standard:

  1. I have better things, so I’m better than you.

  2. You have the same things, so you should be in my circle.

  3. You have less or different things, so you’re my enemy.

But this mindset doesn’t work for Christians. Selfishness and conceit are the opposite of Jesus’ way.

Paul doesn’t say we shouldn’t look out for our own interests—he says also look out for the interest of others. We include others in our story, but ultimately, Jesus’ story is the most important. Do we have the heart of Christ?

An everyday example:

When you approach a green light, you expect to go—but suddenly, another car trips the sensor and you have to stop. It might feel frustrating—“How dare you make me stop! I’m on my way to Wendy’s for a Frosty!”

But what if you had a spiritual mindset? What if you cared about where the other driver was headed more than yourself? You might smile or even wave. That’s the Jesus way, fruit of a heart changed by Christ.

Seeing people’s stories

If we truly saw the hurts, pain, and struggles of those around us—even our enemies—our animosity would melt away. The Jesus way is to look into others with compassion, not down on them with judgment.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (v.5)

Paul’s focus is on how we think, not just how we feel. These next verses describe the mind of Jesus—some of the most important theological truths in the New Testament.

Jesus did not stop being God when He became a man. He was fully God and fully man at all times. He didn’t give up His deity, but He did give up His privileges and humbled Himself to serve us.

“Made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant...”

This is the concept of kenosis—Jesus “emptied Himself” not of His divine nature, but of His rights and privileges as God. Like a king taking off his royal robes to work as a merchant, He remained king but chose to serve humbly.

Jesus’ way of living is to look into others and love them deeply. My pastor Chuck Lind once said, “Humility is having all the power, under complete control.” Jesus had all power yet knelt to wash His disciples’ feet, showed mercy to sinners, and compassion to the hurting.

Jesus humbled Himself in countless ways:

  • Born in poverty and obscurity

  • Obedient as a child

  • Practicing a humble trade

  • Waiting 30 years before ministry

  • Choosing humble friends

  • Enduring temptation, hunger, thirst, and fatigue

  • Obedient to the Father even to death on a cross

His humility extended to the agony and shame of the cross—even the Father turned away from Him for the first time in eternity, so that we might be reconciled.

God exalted Jesus

Because of His humility and obedience, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above all names. Jesus didn’t crown Himself—His Father did.

Jesus is not just a prophet or teacher. He is God, and by His name alone we are saved.

One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord. This is not a guarantee of salvation for everyone, but it is a declaration of Jesus’ authority over all.

Paul wasn’t writing to settle a theological debate. He was showing the Philippians Jesus’ way of living to equip them to endure hardship and to live in unity despite struggles, that they will face.

Jesus’ Way of Living shows us:

  • How God’s power is revealed through humble service

  • How to live with an others-centered mindset

  • How patient, humble obedience brings unity to the church

  • How this obedience glorifies God to the world and like it should, shines line on Jesus not us!

Let’s stand and pray that God would give us this mind of Christ—to live Jesus’ way.

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