Attitudes That Promote Unity

On the eve of the cross, Jesus prayed that his followers would be united as he and the Father are united — a unity meant to let the world know God’s sending and love. That prayer becomes the measuring stick for Christian community: a church that loves, commits, and works together will stand out as a distinct, life-giving alternative to the usual strife of the world. The example of the Philippian congregation shows how fragile that witness can be. A local conflict between Euodia and Syntyche spread through the church and reached Paul hundreds of miles away; the dispute threatened both relationships and the church’s public testimony, so corrective teaching on attitudes became necessary.

Paul instructs the community to replace old, selfish patterns with Christlike thinking. Thoughts shape outlooks, and outlooks shape actions; therefore the root work must occur in how people regard others. The central model is Jesus: though fully divine, Jesus relinquished privileges, took the form of a servant, and humbly obeyed to the point of death. Christians are called to emulate that trajectory by being willing to set aside rights and privileges for others’ benefit, prioritizing service over status, and cultivating humility that is not humiliation but a deliberate forgetting of self for others’ good.

Practical examples include giving time, finances, influence, and speech to the flourishing of others rather than self-promotion. Servanthood functions as an antidote to church power struggles and pecking orders; humility—understood as thinking of oneself less and listening more—creates space for reconciliation and authentic community. The paradox in Scripture becomes central: Jesus’ relinquishment led not to ruin but to exaltation. Likewise, a community that practices mutual surrender and service will display God’s wisdom, draw outsiders, and receive God’s sustaining blessing.

The call concludes with a challenge to make the church a visible beacon in a polarized world: adopt Jesus’ attitude, do everything without grumbling, and let such unity and humility shine as stars holding out the word of life. God’s power can produce this transformation, but it requires willing hearts that choose the hard work of humility and service.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Unity demonstrates God’s sending [57:13] Unity serves as the church’s public proof that Jesus was sent by the Father. When a community truly aligns in love and purpose, outsiders perceive a different way of life—one marked by mutual commitment rather than competition. Such visible unity functions evangelistically; it validates the gospel’s claim by embodying the Father’s love in relational reality. [57:13]
• 2. Relinquish rights for others’ good [01:09:13] Relinquishing rights imitates Christ’s voluntary restraint of divine privilege and power. This posture does not erase personal needs but reorders them so others’ flourishing gains weight alongside self-care. Practically, it looks like yielding time, money, influence, and preferences to prevent harm or to encourage growth in fellow believers. [69:13]
• 3. Make serving others a priority [01:21:17] Service interrupts pecking orders and redirects church life from status to stewardship. Prioritizing practical acts of help—especially toward those who cannot reciprocate—builds credibility and trust more than speeches or programs. Over time, habitual service reshapes identity so that the community is known for giving rather than jockeying for place. [81:17]
• 4. Humility means thinking of others [01:27:21] True humility refuses self-erasing humiliation and instead practices healthy self-forgetfulness: listening, restraint, and inward surrender to God’s will. Slow speech and careful listening honor others’ dignity and expose fewer opportunities for rivalry. A humble community creates conditions where reconciliation can flourish and the church’s witness remains intact. [87:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [55:01] - Expectations of Church Unity
• [55:22] - Public Reaction to Church Conflict
• [56:22] - Jesus’ Prayer for Unity
• [61:09] - Philippi: Euodia and Syntyche Conflict
• [64:44] - Foundation: Christlike Attitudes
• [69:13] - Relinquishing Rights and Privileges
• [81:17] - Servanthood as Church Practice
• [87:21] - Cultivating Humility Daily
• [95:25] - Exaltation Follows Humble Obedience
• [98:49] - Closing Call and Prayer

Bible reading: 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.

Observation questions

1. According to Philippians 2:3-4, what specific attitudes and actions are we to avoid, and what are we to do instead?
2. What are the key steps in Jesus' humble descent as described in Philippians 2:6-8?
3. What was the ultimate result of Jesus' humility and obedience, as stated in verse 9?
4. What was Jesus' stated purpose for praying for the unity of his followers? [57:13]

Interpretation questions

1. Why do you think a conflict between just two people, like Euodia and Syntyche, could threaten the entire church's witness to its surrounding community? [01:03:23]
2. The passage says Jesus "emptied himself" and took the form of a servant. What does it mean that this was a voluntary act, and how does that change the way we view his humility?
3. How does the promise of exaltation following humility, which Jesus experienced, provide a different perspective on what it means to "win" or "advance" in life? [01:35:25]
4. In a culture that often values asserting one's rights, how does the call to relinquish rights for the benefit of others challenge our natural instincts? [01:09:13]

Application questions

1. Relinquishing rights imitates Christ’s voluntary restraint. [01:09:13] What is a personal right or privilege you feel God might be asking you to yield this week for the benefit of someone else in your family, workplace, or church?
2. Servanthood interrupts pecking orders. [01:23:38] Where in your life do you most often notice a "pecking order" mentality? What is one practical act of service you could do to intentionally counter that mindset?
3. True humility refuses self-erasing humiliation and instead practices healthy self-forgetfulness. [01:28:48] What does "thinking about yourself less" look like for you in your daily conversations? How could you practice listening more to understand others this week?
4. Unity serves as the church’s public proof. [57:13] Is there a relationship in your life that needs mending for the sake of the church's unity and witness? What is one step you can take toward reconciliation?
5. Prioritizing practical acts of help—especially toward those who cannot reciprocate—builds credibility. [01:31:02] Who is someone in your community who cannot pay you back, and what is a simple way you can serve them?
6. Being slow to speak is one way to consider others better than ourselves. [01:33:46] When you are in a disagreement or a frustrating conversation, what is one way you can intentionally slow down your speech to create space for humility and understanding?