Following Christ’s Example: Humility, Obedience, and Service

Paul sets the tone in Philippians 2 by assuming the church already lives inside Christ’s encouragement, comfort, and fellowship, then pressing that grace into one mind and one purpose. The text calls the church to refuse selfishness and empty conceit, and to “think of others as better,” not as false modesty but as concrete, daily preference. The Christ hymn then shows why. Jesus has always existed. John says the Word was with God and was God. Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem. He was, He is, He is to come. The hymn says He did not cling to equality with God but emptied Himself, took on the form of a servant, and was found in human form.

The picture lands like this. A king steps off the throne, sets down the crown, puts on beggar’s clothes, then walks among common people with full royal authority still inside Him. Jesus put on human skin, faced every temptation, and did not sin. Because He overcame in the same clothes humans wear, He knows how to help a believer overcome. He died “as us,” so the believer can stand before the Father “as Him.” He preferred others above Himself before the command was ever written.

The mind of Christ, Paul says, belongs inside the church. That mind travels far for love, risks inconvenience, and gives up the front of the line. Discipleship is not just forgiven and going to heaven. That is step one and the last step. There are a bazillion steps in between. The kingdom is yes and. Lay hands on the sick and live low. Raise the dead and outdo one another in honor. Knowledge matters, but the call is to be doers who put skin on the Word for people right in front of them.

Verses 3 to 5 get painfully practical. Selfish ambition jockeys for position. Empty conceit is hollow boasting. Humility thinks modestly and recognizes the real contribution in someone else. Isolation stunts growth. God gives grace to the humble. The text then pulses with a phrase the Spirit keeps underlining. Jesus was a man under authority. He did only what He saw the Father doing, taught only what the Father gave, and even submitted to human authorities in His arrest and trial. Obedience was deliberate love. Because He went low, the Father exalted Him, so that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That future day calls the church to live now with an eternal view, to reject going rogue, to welcome godly accountability, and to forgive even abused authority so the heart stays free to obey.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus is eternal and incarnate Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem. The Word was with God and was God, then took on real flesh without losing deity. That union lets Him face human temptation and show a clean path through it. His cross work counts because His humanity was full and His deity unbroken. [56:36]
• 2. The mind of Christ goes low His mindset refuses jockeying, empty bragging, and spotlight hunger. Humility is not self-hate, it is clear-eyed confidence that chooses to prefer another. That choice creates space for grace to flow and for real unity to grow roots. God looks to the one who goes low. [65:27]
• 3. Discipleship is yes and obedience Forgiveness and heaven bookend the journey, but discipleship fills the road. Power gifts matter, and so does letting someone else go first in the food line. The church puts skin on the Word by doing both, without editing out the inconvenient and. [61:39]
• 4. Authority embraced releases real authority Jesus lived under the Father and even yielded to flawed earthly authorities. That posture did not shrink His call. It crowned it. Guardrails and accountability protect hearts, churches, and witness, while going rogue breeds pride and harm. [75:42]
• 5. Eternity reframes the moment The hope set before Him carried Jesus through the cross. Living only in the moment bends the soul inward, but an eternal view opens eyes to who needs love right now. Every knee will bow, so a believer can bow first and gladly today. [74:09]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [48:40] - Series: The person of Jesus
• [51:20] - Turning to Philippians 2
• [52:47] - Christ hymn as invitation
• [55:04] - Jesus has always existed
• [56:36] - King takes off royal robes
• [57:41] - Tempted yet without sin
• [59:42] - Have the mind of Christ
• [61:39] - Yes and humility with power
• [65:27] - Do nothing from selfishness
• [68:26] - Community over isolation
• [71:52] - Jesus under authority
• [74:09] - Hope set before Him
• [80:24] - Every knee will bow
• [86:32] - Forgiving abusive authority

Bible Reading
Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)
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.

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Observation questions

1. According to Philippians 2:3-4, what specific attitudes and actions does Paul instruct believers to avoid, and what should they prioritize instead?
2. How does the passage describe Jesus’ choice to take on human form, and what contrasts does it highlight between His divine nature and His earthly mission? [56:36]
3. What ultimate outcome does the passage say resulted from Jesus’ obedience (vv. 9-11), and how does this connect to the call for unity in the church?

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Interpretation questions

1. Why does Paul link unity in the church (vv. 1-2) directly to the example of Jesus’ humility (vv. 5-8)? How might selfish ambition disrupt this unity?
2. The sermon describes discipleship as “yes and” obedience—combining spiritual power with daily humility. How does this balance challenge common misconceptions about what it means to follow Jesus? [01:01:39]
3. What does it mean that Jesus “emptied himself” (v. 7) while still retaining His divine authority? How does this shape our understanding of true humility?

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Application questions

1. In what situations this week have you noticed yourself “jockeying for position” or seeking recognition? What practical step could you take to intentionally prioritize someone else’s needs in a similar situation? [01:06:01]
2. The passage calls believers to “look to the interests of others” (v. 4). Who in your life (family, workplace, church) often goes overlooked? How could you tangibly honor or serve them in the next 48 hours?
3. The sermon warns against isolation and emphasizes accountability. Are there areas of your life where you resist godly authority or community? What guardrails could you put in place to grow in humility? [01:15:42]
4. Jesus’ obedience included submitting to flawed human authorities. Is there someone in a position of leadership (even imperfect) whom you need to forgive or honor this week? What would that look like? [01:26:32]
5. How might living with an “eternal view” (focusing on Jesus’ ultimate exaltation) change the way you respond to a current frustration or temptation?