Introduction

Well, good morning. We’re continuing in our series through the book of Philippians. Today we come to chapter 2, verses 1 through 5. Let me read it:

“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.”

This is a remarkable passage, but it’s also incredibly practical. Paul is going to show us what true gospel-shaped community looks like, and how humility—grounded in the person and work of Jesus—creates a unity that the world cannot manufacture.

Now, here’s how I want to approach it. We’ll look at three things:

1. The foundation of gospel unity (vv. 1–2)

2. The shape of gospel humility (vv. 3–4)

3. The mindset of Christ that makes it possible (v. 5)

1. The Foundation of Gospel Unity (vv. 1–2)

Paul begins with a series of “if” statements: if there’s any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy… And he’s not being uncertain here. This is Paul’s way of saying, “Since these things are true of you.”

He’s reminding the Philippians—and us—that unity in the church is not built on common personality, or background, or even shared goals. It’s built on shared experience of Christ.

Now think about that. In New York City, when I pastored, we saw people come together from every imaginable background—ethnic, cultural, economic, political. In the world, those differences usually divide people. But in Christ, Paul says, you already have encouragement, comfort, fellowship, affection. Those are realities given to you by the Spirit.

So unity is not something you and I manufacture. It’s something we recognize and live into. That’s why Paul says, “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord.” He’s saying: act like what you already are.

2. The Shape of Gospel Humility (vv. 3–4)

Now, how do we live this out? Paul says: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Let’s be honest: that’s almost impossible. The natural bent of the human heart is to put ourselves first. And in fact, our culture tells us that’s healthy. “Look out for number one. Protect your interests. Assert yourself.”

But Paul says: gospel humility looks like counting others more significant than yourself. Now—notice carefully—Paul is not saying you have no value. He’s not saying you should think less of yourself in some kind of self-loathing way. No, he’s saying: don’t be obsessed with yourself. True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

Let me give you an illustration. Years ago, C.S. Lewis wrote that if you meet a truly humble person, you won’t walk away thinking, “Wow, what a humble person!” You’ll walk away thinking, “What a refreshing person! They seemed genuinely interested in me. They weren’t self-absorbed.”

That’s what Paul is describing here. A community of people who are freed from the exhausting project of self-assertion, so they can look to the interests of others.

Now, this doesn’t mean neglecting your own needs. Paul says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Notice the balance. You matter. But in Christ, you’re free to no longer make your needs the ultimate thing.

3. The Mindset of Christ (v. 5)

Finally, Paul says: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

That’s the turning point. Because if I stopped here, you might hear this as moralism: “Try harder to be humble, put others first.” But that will crush you.

Paul says: this mindset—this humility—is yours in Christ. In other words, you can only live this way if you are united to Jesus by faith, if His Spirit is working in you.

And where does Paul go next? To the great hymn of Christ in verses 6–11, where he says that Jesus, though He was in very nature God, made Himself nothing, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself to the point of death.

You see what Paul is doing? He’s saying: the gospel is not just the foundation of your salvation—it’s the pattern of your life. Jesus did not cling to His rights, though He had every right. He poured Himself out in love. And if that’s true, then the more you see His humility, the more your heart will be softened into humility.

Think of it this way: only when you know that the Son of God gave Himself for you—that He looked not to His own interests but to yours—only then will you be freed from the need to prove yourself, to protect yourself, to assert yourself. Because you’re secure in Him. And that security creates humility.

Conclusion

So let’s bring this together. Paul shows us:

• The foundation of unity is our shared experience in Christ.

• The shape of humility is counting others more significant than ourselves.

• And the mindset that makes it possible is the humility of Jesus Himself.

If you grasp that, it changes not just how you relate in church, but at work, in your family, in conflict, in every area of life. You no longer have to be obsessed with proving yourself. You’re free to serve, because you’ve already been loved and served by the One who gave Himself for you.

Closing Prayer

Let’s pray.

Father, we thank You for Your Word. We confess how prone we are to selfish ambition and conceit. We confess how easily we make life about ourselves. But we thank You for Jesus—who though He was rich, for our sake became poor, so that in His poverty we might become rich. Give us His mind, His humility, His love. Make us a community that displays the beauty of the gospel, not for our glory but for Yours. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Community Group Discussion Guide – Philippians 2:1–5

Scripture Text

“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.” (Philippians 2:1–5, ESV)

Sermon Summary / Big Idea

True Christian unity flows from our shared experience of Christ’s love and the Spirit’s work in us. That unity is sustained by humility—counting others as more significant than ourselves, not out of guilt or moral effort but out of the security we already have in Jesus. Because Christ humbled Himself for us, His mindset of self-giving love is now ours by grace, freeing us from self-absorption so we can look to the interests of others.

Discussion Questions

Head (understanding God’s Word)

1. What does Paul mean when he lists “encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, participation in the Spirit, affection, and sympathy” (v. 1)?

2. How is gospel unity different from unity based on shared culture, interests, or personality?

3. What is the difference between biblical humility and self-loathing?

Heart (applying to our inner life)
4. Where do you see selfish ambition or conceit showing up in your life?
5. How does knowing that Jesus humbled Himself for you soften your heart toward others?
6. What fears or insecurities make it difficult for you to count others more significant than yourself?

Hands (living it out)
7. What would it look like in your workplace, family, or church to put others’ interests before your own this week?
8. How can our group live out this gospel-shaped humility together?

Prayer Prompts

• Thank God for the encouragement, comfort, and fellowship we already have in Christ.

• Confess ways you’ve lived from selfish ambition or conceit.

• Pray for the Spirit’s help to embrace the humility of Christ in daily life.

• Ask God to make your group a community that displays the beauty of gospel unity to the world.

Icebreaker

• When have you experienced a community that felt truly unified despite differences? What made it so?

Digging into the Text

1. In verses 1–2, Paul lists encouragement, comfort, fellowship, affection, and sympathy. How do these flow out of our union with Christ?

2. How is Paul’s vision of unity different from how our culture usually pursues unity?

3. Verse 3 warns against selfish ambition and conceit. What do those look like in everyday life?

4. What’s the difference between humility and self-loathing? Why is that distinction important?

5. Verse 5 says, “Have this mind… which is yours in Christ Jesus.” What does it mean that humility is already “yours” in Him?

Application

• Where are you currently tempted to put your own interests above others?

• What would it look like, this week, to take one concrete step in counting others more significant than yourself?

• How can your group grow in embodying this kind of gospel-shaped humility and unity?

Prayer

• Pray that you would see more deeply the humility of Christ on your behalf.

• Pray for your group to be marked by genuine affection, sympathy, and unity in Christ.

• Pray for opportunities to show gospel humility in your workplace, family, and neighborhood.