The Mindset of Humility
September 14, 2025
Preached by Ron Smith
Scripture Reading
Philippians 2:1-11
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
There are massively important theological truths for the Christian faith in this passage. This is a go to passage to prove the deity of Christ. It is a passage to go to that clearly shows how Jesus is fully God and fully man.
And yet, would you be surprised if I told you that those theological truths are not the main point of what Paul is saying here? They may be the most important, but they are not the main point. We would be benefited if we had two sermons on this passage – one on verses 1-4 that focus on our relationships with one another and one on verses 5-11 that focuses on who Jesus is. But I am happy that we are going to consider all of these verses together. It allows us to consider this passage as Paul intended. To look at the majesty of Jesus and have our relationships with one another radically altered. Jesus transforms the way we treat one another.
Pray
If the deity of Christ or even the work of Christ are not the main points of what Paul is saying here, what is? Well, we find the answer in verse 5.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus
More literally, ‘think this among yourselves.’ There is a mindset that Paul wants us to have together as believers. What we will see is that this mindset is a way of approaching life that causes us to be in unity with one another. To live in harmony with one another.
Of course you know, unity is not easy. We are prone to selfishness. To value our own interests at the expense of others. We are told that we must look out for ourselves in this world because no one else will. We are told to not let anyone stand in the way of our dreams and ambitions. We are shown that the way to handle people who disagree with us is through rage and anger – to do everything in our power to silence them.
But the mindset that Paul is calling us to have cuts the root of this selfish way of living that prevents us from having meaningful relationships.
I have attempted to summarize this passage in one sentence that I want to use as a guide as we consider the truths that emerge. Strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility because this is the mindset of Jesus, and yet, remember that you can’t have it apart from Jesus. So, what we will do is break that sentence into three sections as you see on the screen: 1) Strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility; 2) Because this is the mindset of Jesus; 3) And yet, remember that you can’t have it apart from Jesus.
Strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility (1-4)
Let’s start in verse 2:
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Paul, as the one who the Lord used to plant this church, wanted his joy to overflow because his labor among them was producing fruit. It would make him happy if the church lived in unity. And there are 4 things that he says in this verse that work together to show that unity.
The first and last ones are virtually the same: be of the same mind, of one mind. Sandwiched in between he exhorts them to have the same love and to be in full accord (or united in spirit). Taking all four together, the unity that Paul is calling them to includes the mind, the emotions, and reaches down into their very soul.
Fundamentally there needs to be a common mindset. A framework of seeing and interpreting life as a Christian that they all share. There needs to be right thinking that leads to right action as a church.
Now we know from experience that being unified does not mean we all have to have the same opinions or even think the same thoughts. As if we are mere cookie cutters of one another. We are unified when we commit to the same overarching mission, and we willingly work through our differences in order to accomplish that shared mission.
Paul goes on to give a little more detail of what having the same mindset looks like. And fair warning, it starts getting a little uncomfortable. Look at verses 3 and 4.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
If the church wants to be unified, it is going to require humility. Selfishness will not get us there. Trying to make people bow to our wonderful ideas and flawless points of views will not produce unity. Using people to get what you want or to raise your status among others, will not lead to unity. Walking through life thinking that others owe you something will not produce unity. That’s entitlement. Entitlement is the opposite of humility. It’s selfishness.
Instead, we are to, “Count others more significant than yourselves.” That might make you raise your eyebrows. Doesn’t it go against everything we are taught today? Just to be clear Paul is not saying that we need to think that whatever we can do, others can do better. Or that we as Christians should endorse some type of self-deprecation. Like I need to put myself down and put others up.
We have no problem thinking that we are significant or important. But do we see the importance of others? We need to count others more significant than ourselves by showing that they are worthy of our time. Worthy to be served. Worthy for us to make sacrifices, so that they can be honored.
And to put an explanation point of everything, Paul adds that we need to look out for the interests of others not just our own. It’s easy for me to focus on the things that effect my life directly. My interests could be the things I find joy in. Or the things that I am good at doing. My hobbies. Or my interests could also be my problems: my financial struggles, problems at work, problems in the home, my health issues, and on and on. It is easy to get so focused on these personal interests.
But what about the interests of others? Do I value what others value? Do I recognize the good in others? Am I concerned with the problems that others facing?
Paul is wanting the Philippians to strive after unity. This unity is going to come when they all adopt the same mindset of humility. Humility does not look after my self-interests alone. It does not seek selfish gain. Rather it lifts others up, it serves others, it looks out for the interests of others. Imbedded in humility is recognition that I am flawed myself. I cannot expect others to be something I am not. I am a sinner in need of grace. I need for others to help me in my weakness. I am no better than you.
When we adopt the mindset of humility, the church flourishes and joy abounds. Unity is a breeding ground of joy as we enjoy the living Jesus together. Doesn’t it feel good when we are unified? Isn’t it beautiful when our diversity is woven together to make a tapestry that displays the beauty of Christ?
So, how are we doing? Are we as a church unified in our mindset of humility?
The events of this past week culminating in the death of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, should give us pause before answering that question. Charlie was shot giving a speech in Utah. He was unashamedly conservative and Christian and traveled the country engaging in debates at various universities. But someone who was not in agreement with Charlie’s views decided to take their disagreement to the utter extreme by ending his life. It’s the total opposite of what we are talking about here. But this extreme selfish behavior has been on full display this past year. The assassination attempts on president Trump, the firebombing of Governor Shapiro’s residence right here in Harrisburg, the shootings of the Minnesota lawmakers, the shooting at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention headquarters that left an officer dead.
All these horrible acts are the extreme forms of disagreement, of disunity.
Why do I bring all of this up? For one, let’s not be blind that we live in a culture that is increasingly more intolerant to those who are different than us. Even if most people will not go to these drastic extremes, people are more on edge, and quick to respond to others out of anger and hatred. Let’s be on our guard and not let that way of thinking enter this church.
But a second reason I bring this up, I think is more important. When we are surrounded by such extreme reactions, it is too easy to excuse our own behavior because we conclude that, “I am not like that.” Or, “I’m not perfect, but I’m not going to kill someone.” Or the perennial favorite: “I have my faults, but I’m not Hitler.”
When the people who stoop to the lowest levels of depravation to resolve their conflicts with others are our standard, we will never see the selfishness in our own hearts, we will never see how we consider ourselves more important than others, we will never see how we only look out for our own interests. When people like that are the standard, the bar is really, really low. It doesn’t take much to be better than Hitler.
The result is that we minimize our own sin. Church, the heart of God is grieved by our disunity. It is grieved when we think we are too important to serve others. It is grieved when we don’t have the shared mindset we should have as a people transformed by Jesus. Please be aware that unity is a fragile thing. We need to intentionally work hard at preserving it.
We need to strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility. Recognize our own shortcomings and put others above ourselves. The reality is that we have someone else we should be looking to as the standard. Paul in the following verses shows us how Jesus is our example to follow. He is a really really high standard. Strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility // because this is the mindset of Jesus.
Because this is the mindset of Jesus (5-11)
Now, let’s back up just for a second. I pointed out verse 5 at the beginning. Paul says, Have this mind among yourselves. What is ‘this’ mind? It is everything we have seen so far: a mindset of humility. From here on, Paul sets this command on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.
Verses 6-11 are essentially a succinct summary of the story of Jesus. We see his pre-existence, his incarnation, his death, and his resurrection and ascension.
His pre-existence is seen in verse 6:
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.
Jesus is the true and exact nature of God. He is equal to God. He is God. But he didn’t think that the privileges that were afforded to him as being God were something to be grasped, or, held on tightly. He didn’t use his divinity to his advantage at the expense of others.
And then continuing in verse 7,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Here we find the miracle of the incarnation of Christ. Jesus put on flesh and became man. The phrase, “he emptied himself,” has produced a lot of confusion through the years. But the context makes it clear that it simply means that he humbled himself. It does not mean that he ceased being God or that he laid aside some of his divine attributes. Rather he chose to not use the privileges he has as God. Instead, he became a servant. The King of the Universe, came to the earth to serve.
We have heard the gospel so much that perhaps this part of the story doesn’t shock us that much. When is the last time a President or a King or Queen has voluntarily decided to lay aside their rights and privileges to go live with us little people – and not for a photo op. Jesus coming to the earth he created as a servant, is as if the President rejected his secret service detail, gave up the White House, and came to live in an apartment in downtown Harrisburg. And even that doesn’t do it justice. This was the mindset of Jesus. The one who was in the form of God took the form of a servant. This is the example we are to follow.
And Paul keeps going talking about the death Jesus. Verse 8:
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The humility goes all the way to the point of death. The cross was the most humiliating way to die at the time. And he didn’t deserve any of it. Take this to heart. Again, the context of all of this is Paul calling us to strive for unity by adopting a mindset of humility because this is the mindset of Jesus.
One of the obstacles to our unity is that we stop short on our humility. We don’t want to be a “doormat” for people. That’s true. We don’t want to allow people to abuse us. There is nothing wrong with having boundaries. Or saying “no” to things. The problem is that we have a far too generous definition of what a doormat is. Being a doormat is anything that makes me feel uncomfortable or that doesn’t allow me to get what I want. But think about that phrase, “don’t be a doormat,” and then reread verse 8.
Jesus was no doormat. He often withdrew alone to pray; he stood up to the pharisees; he challenged the status quo; he pressed people to give up everything to follow him. He was no doormat. And yet, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Sometimes we need to be willing to make decisions that will lead to our humiliation.
Jesus is the standard of what striving for unity looks like. Let us adopt a mindset of humility like he had.
And then we see Jesus’ exaltation and ascension in verses 9-11.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Where does all of this humility get Jesus? It gets him exalted. It gets him a name that is above every name. And one day everyone will bow to him. Everyone who thought this way of humility was silly, will bow and confess that he is Lord. His humility is victory. It feels like defeat at some points along the way, but ultimately it leads to victory.
Strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility // because this is the mindset of Jesus // and yet, remember that you can’t have it apart from Jesus.
And yet, remember that you can’t have it apart from Jesus.
In some ways we should feel a tension. On the one side we need to strive for unity, by taking on a mindset of humility. That means not doing things from selfishness. Counting others better than ourselves. Looking out for the interests of others, not just our own.
And on the other side, we need to look to Jesus because he perfectly had the mindset of humility. And as we read through Paul’s description, we realize that our attempts to adopt this mindset are feeble, weak, insufficient. We don’t measure up to Christ. If all the bad people of the world who have ever lived are the standard, we can do it. Easy. But when Jesus is our standard, we are woefully inadequate.
Go back to verse 1.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
I simply want to point out the words “in Christ” and “in the Spirit.” These words indicate a relationship. We have been united to Christ. Because of this, we can achieve unity. We can have a mindset of humility because it is ours in Christ. He is not only our example, but in him we find all the resources we need. He doesn’t just set an example and then leave us to our own devices to get the job done. He furnishes us with everything we need.
It is only in Christ that it is possible. Are you in Christ? Have you entered into a relationship with the Savior of the world? Have you humbled yourself, bowing your knee before him and confessing that he is Lord?
Christian, are you depending on Jesus to give you what you need to be humble? Are you allowing him to define what humility looks like? Are you submitted to his transformation process as he equips you with the mindset that he has?
When we are truly humble, we can enjoy the fruit of unity and the joy it brings.
Strive after unity by adopting the mindset of humility // because this is the mindset of Jesus // and yet, remember that you can’t have it apart from Jesus.
Sermon Discussion Questions:
What would your response in the comments be to the following Facebook post? “Always remember to make yourself and your needs a priority. If you don’t, nobody else will either. You teach people how to treat you.”[1]
In your experience what makes unity hard to achieve? What are the obstacles? Think about work relationships, family, friends, neighbors…
Do you think the way our culture responds to disagreements is seeping into the church? If so, how? How can we protect ourselves as a church?
Why is it important that our unity as a church (verses 1-4) rests on the foundation of Jesus Christ (verses 5-11)?
How can you, in a practical way, count others more significant than yourself and look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others?
[1] https://www.facebook.com/annataylormusicangel/posts/always-remember-to-make-yourself-and-your-needs-a-priority-if-you-dont-nobody-el/839154419453750/