Joy of Unity

Hook – Grabbing Attention

Good morning everyone, my name is Jay Bishop, and I’m one of the pastors here at Church on the Trail. Let’s pray real fast.

There’s a reason joy feels so rare—because humility is so uncommon. (SLIDE 2)

A couple of weeks ago, Ed and I did a podcast—you may have heard it, LOL. We talked about the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is fleeting—based on time or circumstances. But joy? Joy is timeless. It’s deeper. And what we said was that God cares more about your joy than your momentary happiness.

But joy is rare because humility is rare.

In our everyday lives, we settle for temporary happiness because the real ingredient of joy—humility—goes to war with our ego and pride.

Last Sunday, someone asked me if “Jay” was short for something. And it hit me—most people don’t actually know my real name.

My full name is Jekiel. Like “Kyle” with a “Juh” in front—spelled J-E-K-I-E-L. Most people say Jekeil, or Jek-yell.

And then there’s my middle name—alright, watch my family’s eyes because they can’t believe I’m about to say this! My middle name is Ahmed. (That’s how I say it, in the most American way possible.)

Growing up, I got the full treatment—Jekiel Ahmed Bishop. And boy, people had fun with that.

I already grew up poor. Then you throw a name like Jekiel Ahmed on top? You can imagine. Kids would hear it once, twist it, mash it up, and run wild with it.

Even now, my kids still laugh about it.

But I’ll never forget—around 8th or 9th grade, my buddy Phil DeBoard just casually said, “Hey Jay, can I get a ride home from practice?” And that was it. “Jay” stuck.

So why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know—I’m one of you.

I want you to see this is open. Jekiel, Jay, Ahmed, Achmed—it doesn’t matter. I’m me.

And you? Open yourself to humble yourself.

I’m sharing something that was embarrassing and even painful—not to make you laugh, but to show you what humility looks like.

I had to let go of what people thought. I had to release the anger. The ego. The pride that made me want to hide.

And even right now—as I stand here sharing this—I feel that chain of pride breaking a little more.

That’s what humility does. It doesn’t make you smaller—it makes space for you to grow.

It’s like a big slice of humble pie—bitter going down, but it fills you with something sweeter: joy.

Because joy lives where humility thrives. (fill in the blank) (SLIDE 3)

Now We live in a world that rewards pride, competition, and comparison. You’re told to build your brand, speak your truth, chase your dream. But Paul, once a distinguished Pharisee now writes from a prison cell and says joy doesn’t come from building yourself up—it comes from laying yourself down. To Serve Others.

So what if the key to joy isn’t in thinking more of yourself, but thinking of yourself less?

Book – Introducing the Passage (SLIDE 4,5,6)

We’re in Philippians 2:1-11 Paul is writing to a church he loves, encouraging them to stay united in Christ even in a divided world. He builds a bridge between joy and humility and shows us how Jesus’ life and actions embodied Humility ( Philippians 2:1–11 aloud in full.)

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. Joy Begins in Unity (vv.1–2) (SLIDE 7)

Paul opens with four “if” statements that are rhetorical.

if there is any encouragement in Christ,

if any comfort from love,

if any participation in the Spirit,

if any affection and sympathy,

He’s saying, “Since you do have encouragement in Christ… since you do have comfort from love… since you do share in the Spirit…”—then your lives should reflect it.

Paul’s joy is tied to their unity, Paul’s joy comes from the unity of the church in Philippi, His joy comes from serving other people, Paul a prisoner, low man on the todeum pole at this point, is receiving joy by the church in philippi uniting, gathering, and loving on each other. His brothers and sisters in Christ- being Christlike. People who don’t even know Paul are responsible for the joy in Paul’s heart by how they live their lives. Thats powerful.

Jesus prayed in John 17:21 “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Unity is one of the strongest witnesses to the gospel (fill ion the blank). (SLIDE 8)

But unity doesn’t mean sameness. It means shared direction, shared purpose, and shared love.

Illustration: Think of a football team, one team, different positons, one goal - different responsibilites i order to reach the same purpose.

Think of A symphony. Different instruments, same song. Harmony, not uniformity.

2. Joy Grows Through Humility (vv.3–4)

Paul now turns inward. He addresses the personal posture that creates unity: humility.

He calls out two enemies of joy:

Selfish ambition: The hustle culture mindset. (SLIDE 9)

Conceit: Confidence intertwined with praise and a need for recognition.

Confidence on steroids,

Confidence so high it breeds ego and pride.

Hey do you know how to fix this thing?

yes, I can fix that no problem.

versus

Man you know I can fix that, Didn’t you see me fix the other one, did you like the way i dd that.

The Former - is serving others and the reward is Joy.

The Latter - Is self seeking, praise seeking, recognition seeking, the service is tied to the payment of recognition.

Pouring into others to serve them and to better their lives is what we’re called to do.

Many of you know I love talking about Leadership. I can talk leadership with you until your fast asleep and when you wake up I’ll still be talking to you LOL. I posed a scenerio a long time ago, how many people know or know of someone else who is extremely talented at their jobs. but aren’t so quick to teach someone else, or even if their are they give false information, or not complete information, in way to keep the up and comer away from their fame, they do this because they the talented one seeks all recgoniotion and fears if they teach what they know then then there will be no need for that person and what they bring to the table anymore, they feel the younger one will advance in front of them. So they hoard all the knowledge in an attempt to keep themselves relenvant, and needed. What they are missing is what Paul is telling us.

Count others more significant than yourselves.

When you do this, in the example i gave you, if that senior person was to pour into the younger what they would find is they would be cemented into recognition because they would reach a mentor state, they would recieve even more praise then what they thought they were getting by doing it the selfish way.

Now thats not a license to falsy pour into people. Don’t go there becasue your true color will show and the person would see through you and exactyly what your seeking will be the exact opposite. But when you genuinely serve others you receive joy like no other.

Paul isn’t saying ignore your own needs. He says don’t only look to yourself—look to others too.

But how we get through the tunnel is by others. Serve others from your heart and your joy will overflowing.

3. Jesus Is the Blueprint for Humility (vv.5–8)

Now Paul lifts our eyes to the ultimate example: Jesus. (SLIDE 10)

Jesus, who was in the form of God, did not cling to His divine rights. Instead, He “emptied Himself.”

Let’s be clear: He didn’t stop being God. He set aside the privileges of heaven to walk in our shoes.

This phrase "emptied Himself" has puzzled and inspired theologians for centuries. It doesn’t mean Jesus gave up His divine nature—He didn’t cease to be God. It means He voluntarily laid aside certain divine privileges. He gave up His status, not His substance.

You might say, Well how do we know he emptied himself

Well, we know God is omniscient—all-knowing. He’s omnipotent—all-powerful. He’s omnipresent—present everywhere.

And yet in Mark 13 “ Jesus says, “Not even the Son knows the day or the hour—only the Father.”

So if He’s God, why doesn’t He know?

Because in becoming fully man, Jesus voluntarily laid aside the access to certain divine privileges.

Not because He stopped being God, but because He chose to walk among us as one of us. That’s what Philippians 2 means when it says: He emptied Himself.

Well jay you just said - He gave up certain devine privilages but scripture says emptied. I’ll say this- Has your vehicles gas needle been on empty but you were still riding? It reads empty but you still had some in there.

Now the oppositie side of the coin-

Now someone might ask, “Jay, if Jesus gave up those divine privileges—was He still God while walking the earth?”

And the answer is absolutely, yes.

He didn’t empty Himself of His divinity—He emptied Himself of the status and privileges that came with being God.

How do we know? Because while He walked as a man, He still did what only God can do.

He raised the dead. (John 11 – Lazarus, come forth!) He forgave sins. (Mark 2 – “Your sins are forgiven.”) He received worship. (Matthew 14:33 – “Truly you are the Son of God.”)

And Colossians 2:9 puts it plain:

“In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”

Not a portion. Not a piece. The fullness.

So yes—Jesus 100% man 100% God.

His earthly experiences of hunger, fatigue, sorrow, temptation—tell us human participant.

Why? Because only by becoming fully human could He fully represent us. And only by remaining fully God could He fully redeem us.

And here’s where it ties back to us:

Jesus humbled Himself—not to save us individually, but to unite us collectively. He didn’t come to save Jay indivually, he came to save save me, and you and you and you and you, so we are together. united. collectively.

His humility is the blueprint for how we treat each other in the Body of Christ.

When we walk in that same mindset—laying down pride, letting go of ego, serving each other—thats where we find joy in unity.

That’s why Paul says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Unity is only possible when humility is present. And joy is only possible when unity is protected.

4. God Honors the Humble (vv.9–11) “Therefore”—because of Jesus’ humility—God exalted Him.

This is one of the most important "therefores" in Scripture. It signals the divine response to Christ’s self-emptying: God lifts the humble. Because Jesus went low, the Father raised Him high. Because He took the form of a servant, He was given the highest name.

Paul tells us that God gave Him the name above every name. Not just a name people respect—but the name by which every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess: Jesus Christ is Lord.

Let that land for a second: every president, every celebrity, every skeptic, every angel, and every demon—will acknowledge the supremacy of Jesus. Some in joy, others in judgment—but all in truth.

James 4:10 echoes this: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (SLIDE 11)

God’s kingdom flips the world’s script. Down is up. Servanthood is greatness. Weakness is strength.

And here’s where unity and joy come back into play: When we follow this same pattern—when we choose humility in our relationships, our churches, and our families—we don’t just get honor, we get harmony.

Unity isn’t built on everyone having the same opinion. Unity is built when people choose the same posture: humility. Pride divides. Humility binds.

That’s why the joy of unity is so rare—because it’s so costly. It means laying down your ego. Apologizing first. Choosing service over recognition. Celebrating others when no one celebrates you.

And remember what I said earlier—about the senior leader who hoards knowledge, who fears being replaced by someone younger and hungrier? That person believes they’ll lose significance if they give too much away.

But what they’re missing is this: In the kingdom of God, you don’t lose your place by lifting others—you find it.

If that senior leader would humble themselves and pour into the next generation, they wouldn't become obsolete—they’d become essential. They wouldn’t be overlooked—they’d be honored. They wouldn’t be forgotten—they’d be remembered as the reason someone else succeeded.

Because in God’s eyes, greatness isn’t measured by how many people serve you, but by how many you serve.

And when you lead with humility, God doesn’t just bless your leadership—He multiplies it. And the byproduct? Joy. Not just your joy—but the joy of a unified team, a healthy church, a connected family. That’s the power of humility—it doesn’t just raise individuals, it knits hearts together.

Joy isn’t the result of everyone getting their way. Joy is the result of everyone bowing to His way.

When Jesus is lifted high, we’re drawn closer to Him—and closer to one another. That’s why Paul says, “Let this mind be in you.” Because a Christlike mind creates a Christlike community.

So don’t just read this and admire Jesus. Live this and reflect Him.

Let’s be a church where humility isn’t just talked about—it’s visible. Let’s make room for each other. Let’s protect unity with grace. Let’s choose joy by choosing to go low.

Because the way up is down. The way to greatness is surrender. And the way to joy-filled unity is through the humility of Christ.

Joy Hacks

Start your day asking, “Who can I lift up today?” Catch yourself when you feel the need for credit, validation, or control. Lay it down. Celebrate someone else’s win. Make humility your daily habit—online, at work, in your home.

Jesus didn’t just die for you. He lived as your model. Let’s not just admire His humility—let’s adopt it.

Church on the Trail, let’s live the joy of unity in a world divided by pride. Let’s go low, so Jesus can be lifted high.

Joy Hack #1: Flip the Mirror Instead of asking, “What do I need today?” ask, “Who can I serve today?” Joy doesn’t start with accumulation—it starts with attention. Attention toward others. It shifts your eyes off your needs and onto someone else's healing. That shift is what unlocks joy. Jesus flipped the mirror every day He walked the earth. So should we. And here’s the kicker: the more we reflect Christ by reflecting attention outward, the more the light of joy shines inward.

Joy Hack #2: Downshift Daily Joy doesn’t come from climbing higher. It comes from going lower. Downshift your heart daily. Choose the lower seat at the table. Let someone else have the last word. Don’t just try to win arguments—try to win people with humility. Don’t rush to be seen—pause to serve. The people who know the most joy aren’t always the ones with platforms. Often, it’s the ones scrubbing floors, opening doors, or sitting in hospital rooms praying quietly beside a friend.

Downshifting isn't about self-deprecation. It's about strategic surrender—releasing the need to be the hero so you can point to the true Hero, Jesus. Think of it this way: the deeper you dig in humility, the stronger the foundation becomes for joy to rise.

Joy Hack #3: Follow the Footsteps Joy lives where Jesus leads. And Jesus leads downward. He leads to the manger, to the leper, to the sinner, to the cross. If you want more joy, follow Him where He goes. Serve where it’s messy. Love where it’s risky. Speak truth where it’s unpopular. The footsteps of Jesus are not paved in gold—they’re worn into the dirt. And it’s in that dirt, in that humility, that joy takes root and blooms.

Jesus didn’t just touch the untouchables—He embraced them. He didn’t shout from afar—He came close. If we follow those footsteps, we’ll find ourselves face-to-face with the very people Jesus wants to reach. And in reaching them, we’ll find a joy the world can’t offer.

Closing Gospel Call

So, Church, here’s the question—will you walk like Him? Will you let go of the pride, the image, the ego—and take the path of joy? Let’s be people of unity, by being people of humility. Let’s hack the joy of heaven into a world running on self. And may the world know we belong to Jesus—not just by our beliefs—but by our posture. The joy of unity is yours… if you’ll go low enough to reach it.

And maybe today, as you’ve been listening, you realize you’ve been trying to build your own version of joy—but it’s come up short. You’ve chased happiness, but it doesn’t last. You’ve sought approval, but it fades. You’ve climbed, competed, compared—but still feel empty.

Friend, there’s a reason nothing else satisfies. Joy isn’t found in a place or a promotion. Joy is found in a Person. And His name is Jesus.

This Jesus—the One who humbled Himself, who emptied Himself, who took on flesh and walked into our mess—didn’t just come to show you humility. He came to save you.

You see, every one of us has sinned. We’ve all fallen short. And because of that sin, we were separated from God. But God didn’t wait for us to climb our way back. He sent Jesus down. Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live. He died the death we deserved. And then He rose, defeating sin, shame, and death forever.

Why? So that anyone—no matter their past, no matter their name—can be made new through Him.

That’s not religion. That’s relationship.

And it starts with humility. Saying, “I can’t save myself. I need a Savior.”

If that’s you today—whether you’ve never made that decision, or you’ve drifted far and want to come back—I want to invite you to surrender. To say yes to the One who went low to lift you up.

We’re not just talking about joy for today—we’re talking about eternal joy.

So let’s pray. And as we do, if God is tugging on your heart, don’t resist. Bow your heart to the One who bowed His life for you.

Let’s pray together.