Living with the Mind of Christ

Text: Philippians 2:1–13 Theme: True Christian unity and humility come when we take on the mind of Christ. Aim: To call believers to unity, humility, and obedience by following Christ’s supreme example.

Introduction

Church family, Paul is writing from prison, but instead of being discouraged, he’s encouraging the Philippians to stand together in love, humility, and obedience to Christ.

He says if you’ve received any comfort from Christ, any love from the Spirit, any fellowship with the saints—then live in unity and humility.

I want to preach from this subject today: “Living with the Mind of Christ.” And I want to lift up three points from Philippians 2:1–13:

The Call to Unity (vv. 1–4)

The Example of Christ (vv. 5–11)

The Power to Obey (vv. 12–13)

Point 1: The Call to Unity (vv. 1–4)

Paul begins, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

He’s saying: if Christ has done anything for you—then let it show by how you treat one another.

Illustration: Have you ever watched a choir sing when they’re not together? One sings too fast, another too slow—it sounds like noise. But when they’re on one accord, when everybody follows the same director, the sound is beautiful. That’s how the church ought to be—united in Christ.

Application: Young folks, that means no cliques at school or church—treat everyone with love. Grown folks, that means no jealousy, backbiting, or selfish ambition. Instead of asking, “What do I get out of it?” we ought to ask, “How can I bless somebody else?”

Call and Response:

Preacher: “What do we need, church?”

Congregation: “One mind!”

Preacher: “What do we need?”

Congregation: “One love!”

Paul is calling the church to be united in spirit and in purpose.

Point 2: The Example of Christ (vv. 5–11)

Paul then says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Here’s the heart of the passage: If you want to know what humility looks like, look at Jesus.

Though He was equal with God, He didn’t cling to His rights. He emptied Himself, took on the form of a servant, and humbled Himself to the point of death—even death on a cross.

Illustration: Picture the CEO of a major company—millions in the bank—who takes off his suit, puts on an apron, and serves in the cafeteria washing dishes. That’s just a tiny glimpse of what Christ did for us. The King of Glory became a servant!

Because of His humility, God highly exalted Him, giving Him the name above every name—so that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord!

Call and Response:

Preacher: “Whose mind do we need?”

Congregation: “The mind of Christ!”

Preacher: “What name is above every name?”

Congregation: “Jesus!”

Preacher: “Every knee shall…”

Congregation: “Bow!”

Point 3: The Power to Obey (vv. 12–13)

Paul closes this section by telling believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Now don’t get it twisted—he’s not saying work for your salvation. No, salvation is a gift. What he’s saying is, work it out—live it out daily with reverence and humility.

And here’s the good news: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

That means we don’t walk this road in our own strength—God is working in us, giving us both the desire and the power to live right!

Illustration: Think of a power tool—it doesn’t work until it’s plugged in. Once connected to the power source, it can do things you could never do by hand. That’s us with God—plugged into His Spirit, He gives us power to live this life.

Call and Response:

Preacher: “Who’s working in us?”

Congregation: “God is!”

Preacher: “Who gives us the power?”

Congregation: “God does!”

Celebratory Close

So, church, Paul reminds us—

We are called to unity.

We are given Christ as our example.

We are empowered by God to obey.

And when we live with the mind of Christ, the world will see something different in us.

Because one Friday, Christ humbled Himself all the way to the cross. They mocked Him, they beat Him, they nailed Him in His hands and His feet. But He stayed humble—He stayed obedient—even unto death.

But early Sunday morning—can I get a witness?—God highly exalted Him! He raised Him up with all power in His hands!

And one day, every knee shall bow. One day, every tongue will confess. From the White House to the schoolhouse, from the courthouse to your house—everybody’s going to have to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

Say yes! Say yes! Say yes to the mind of Christ!

Hallelujah! Amen.