The Mindset of Christ: Embracing Kenosis and Service

Devotional

Day 1: The Mindset of Christ—Self-Emptying Love

To follow Jesus is to embrace a radically different way of living, one that is shaped not by the pursuit of status or power, but by the willingness to lay down our own interests for the sake of others. The heart of the Christian life is found in adopting the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who, though he was in very nature God, did not cling to his divine privileges but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. This self-emptying, or kenosis, is not just a theological concept but a practical invitation: in every relationship, every interaction, and every moment of influence, we are called to use whatever power or privilege we have to lift others up, not ourselves. True greatness is found not in being served, but in serving, and in loving to be unknown and considered nothing, just as Christ did. [02:06]

Philippians 2:1-8 (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.

Reflection: Where in your life today can you choose to lay down your own interests or status to help someone else flourish, even if it means going unnoticed or unappreciated?

Day 2: Redefining Power—Using Influence for Others’ Good

The world teaches us to grasp for power, to use our influence to get ahead, and to measure success by how high we can climb. But Jesus subverts this narrative entirely. Though he possessed all authority, he refused to exploit his position for personal gain. Instead, he poured himself out for others, showing that true power is found in service and sacrifice. Every day, we are faced with choices about how we use the power entrusted to us—whether it’s our words, our resources, our positions, or our talents. The call is to never use these to make others feel smaller or to advance ourselves at their expense, but to steward them so that others might thrive. [23:02]

Mark 10:42-45 (ESV)
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection: What is one area of influence or power you hold—big or small—where you can intentionally use it today to lift someone else up rather than yourself?

Day 3: The Cross—Not Just the Way to Life, But the Way to Live

It is easy to see the cross as simply the means of our salvation, the way to eternal life. But the cross is also the pattern for our daily living. Jesus’ journey to the cross was marked by humility, obedience, and self-sacrificial love, and he invites us to follow him in this way. In every relationship and circumstance, the question is not just “What would Jesus do?” but “How can I go to the cross for the other person?” When both sides in a relationship choose the way of the cross—laying down pride, rights, and the need to be right—healing and flourishing become possible. The cross is not just our entry point into God’s family; it is the daily path we walk as residents of heaven on earth. [11:17]

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Reflection: Is there a relationship or situation where you have been holding onto your own rights or pride? What would it look like to “take up your cross” in that specific context today?

Day 4: Radical Redefinition of Success—Flourishing of Others

Success in the kingdom of God is not measured by personal achievement, recognition, or accumulation, but by the flourishing of those around us. The life of Jesus, and the stories of faithful followers like William Borden, challenge us to ask not, “Did I get ahead?” but, “Did others live a little better because I was there?” This is a radical redefinition of winning and losing, one that places service, encouragement, and the well-being of others at the center. At the end of our days, the true measure will not be our status or possessions, but whether we used what we had so that others could rise. [30:06]

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Reflection: Who is one person or group in your life whose flourishing you can intentionally seek today, even if it costs you time, comfort, or recognition?

Day 5: No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets—A Life on the Altar

To live a life of kenosis is to hold nothing back from God, to refuse to turn back when things get hard, and to look back at the end with no regrets. The story of William Borden, who wrote “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.” in the back of his Bible, is a powerful reminder that a life fully surrendered to Christ is a life of purpose, courage, and joy. This is not a call to grand gestures, but to daily faithfulness—placing our lives, our status, and our stuff on the altar before God, trusting that in losing our lives for his sake, we find true life. [39:00]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to hold nothing back—to say “no reserves, no retreats, no regrets”—and how can you take a concrete step of surrender today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the radical, self-emptying love of Jesus as described in Philippians 2—a passage that stands at the very heart of Christian understanding of God and what it means to follow Him. The call is not simply to admire Jesus’ humility and sacrifice, but to allow His example to shape every aspect of our lives, relationships, and ambitions. Jesus, though fully God, did not cling to His divine status or exploit His power for personal gain. Instead, He “emptied Himself,” taking the form of a servant—even a slave—and became obedient to death on a cross. This is the ultimate reversal of the world’s values, where power is so often used to elevate oneself at the expense of others.

The story of Thomas à Kempis, who wrote “Love to be unknown and considered nothing,” and the life of William Borden, who lived by the words “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets,” both serve as living echoes of Christ’s kenosis—His self-giving love. These examples challenge the relentless pursuit of status, recognition, and self-advancement that pervades our culture, especially in an age of social media and personal branding. Instead, the invitation is to place our status, our power, and our very selves on the altar, not for our own glory, but so that others might flourish.

This way of living is not abstract theology; it is intensely practical. It shapes how we treat the waitress at a restaurant, how we respond to being wronged, how we celebrate others’ successes, and how we use whatever power or privilege we possess. The cross is not just the way to life—it is the way to live. True greatness is not found in amassing power, but in laying it down for the sake of others. The promise is that every act of self-sacrificial love plants a seed for new creation, echoing the resurrection itself.

The challenge is to examine our lives: Are we using our influence to lift others up, or to build our own platforms? When we look back, will we be able to say that others flourished because of the way we held what was entrusted to us? The invitation is to follow Jesus all the way to the cross, redefining success not by what we gain, but by how we serve and love.

Key Takeaways

1. Kenosis: The Way of Self-Emptying Love Kenosis is the act of pouring oneself out for the sake of others, refusing to exploit power or status for personal gain. This is the very heart of God revealed in Jesus, who, though fully God, became a servant and embraced the lowest place. True spiritual maturity is measured not by how much we accumulate or achieve, but by how much we are willing to give away for the flourishing of others. [22:40]
2. Redefining Success: Service Over Status The world equates greatness with power, recognition, and upward mobility, but Jesus radically redefines success as service. The question is not how high we can climb, but whether others are lifted up because of our presence. This challenges us to lay down our ambitions and measure our lives by the impact we have on those around us, especially the least and the overlooked. [30:06]
3. The Cross: Not Just the Way to Life, But the Way to Live The cross is not only the means of our salvation, but the pattern for our daily living. Following Jesus means embracing a life of self-sacrifice, humility, and costly love in every relationship and circumstance. When we forget the cross, our relationships fracture; when we remember it, reconciliation and new creation become possible. [11:17]
4. Power Used for Others’ Flourishing Every form of power—be it social, physical, intellectual, or positional—is a trust from God, meant to be used for the benefit of others. The temptation to use power to make ourselves bigger is ancient and persistent, but the way of Christ is to use whatever we have so that others might thrive. This is the seed of resurrection life in the world. [33:10]
5. Living with No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets A life fully surrendered to Christ is marked by holding nothing back, refusing to turn away from costly obedience, and living in such a way that, at the end, there are no regrets. This is only possible if we are convinced that Christ’s self-emptying love is the truest reality at the center of the universe. [39:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Series Introduction: Anchors and Altars
[01:15] - The Philippians 2 Hymn: Christ’s Example
[05:04] - The Story of Thomas à Kempis
[07:08] - The Wisdom of Being Unknown
[08:25] - Philippi: Rome in Miniature
[09:44] - The Mindset of Christ in Relationships
[12:08] - Three Greek Words: Isotheo, Harpagmos, Kenosis
[15:14] - What Jesus Emptied Himself Into
[17:22] - Caesar, Power, and Upward Mobility
[18:46] - The Ancient Temptation to Grasp
[19:26] - Spider-Man, Power, and Responsibility
[22:40] - Kenosis: The Opposite of Exploitation
[24:20] - The Shame and Power of the Cross
[27:03] - Jesus Redefines Exaltation
[28:31] - Remembering the Cross in Relationships
[30:06] - Redefining Success: Service, Not Status
[35:20] - The Story of William Borden
[39:00] - No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets
[41:19] - Responding to the Call of Kenosis
[42:02] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

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

According to Philippians 2:6-8, what did Jesus do with his divine status and power? What specific actions did he take?
In the sermon, what does the word “kenosis” mean, and how is it described as the opposite of “exploiting power for personal gain”? [[22:40]]
What examples from the sermon were given to illustrate the world’s way of using power versus Jesus’ way? [[19:43]]
How does Paul connect the example of Jesus’ humility to the way we treat others in our everyday relationships? [[09:44]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul use the example of Jesus’ self-emptying (kenosis) as the model for Christian relationships, rather than just a theological statement about who Jesus is? [[10:31]]
The sermon says, “The cross is not just the way to life—it is the way to live.” What does this mean for how Christians are called to approach daily life and relationships? [[11:17]]
How does the story of Thomas à Kempis (“Love to be unknown and considered nothing”) challenge the cultural pursuit of recognition and status? [[07:08]]
The sermon asks, “Are we using our influence to lift others up, or to build our own platforms?” What are some subtle ways Christians might use their power or status for themselves, even in church settings? [[29:28]]

Application Questions

Think about a specific area of your life (work, family, church, social media). Where are you most tempted to “grasp” for recognition, status, or influence? What would it look like to practice kenosis—self-emptying love—in that area this week? [[19:43]]
The sermon describes kenosis as “choosing to withdraw your will to allow other people to flourish.” Can you name a recent situation where you had the opportunity to let someone else succeed or be recognized, even if it cost you something? How did you respond? [[23:02]]
When was the last time you used your power (position, knowledge, resources, connections) to help someone else thrive? What is one practical way you could do this in the coming days? [[33:10]]
The story of William Borden was summarized by the words: “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.” Is there something you are holding back from God or others? What would it look like to surrender it? [[39:00]]
The sermon challenges us to “redefine success” as service, not status. How do you currently measure success in your life? What would need to change for you to measure it by the flourishing of others? [[30:06]]
The cross is described as the pattern for daily living, not just a symbol of salvation. Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation or a fresh start? What step could you take this week to move toward humility and healing? [[28:31]]
The sermon mentions practical examples like how we treat a waitress, respond to being wronged, or celebrate others’ successes. Which of these everyday moments is most challenging for you, and how could you invite Jesus to shape your response? [[23:02]]

Sermon Clips

Jesus never asks us to offer him anything that he hasn't already offered to us. We follow in his footsteps. He isn't a God who stands far away and asks us to do something that he never would. In all of the things and everything we're going to look at today, we're going to find that it's Jesus' example that becomes our example. [00:00:47] (20 seconds) #FollowingJesusExample

In our stream of the church, we are saved. We are so quick to proclaim the cross as the way to life, salvation. And it absolutely is that. But we can be way slower to remember that the cross is also the way to live. It isn't just the way to life. It is the way to live. It isn't just how you get into heaven. It's how you live as a resident of heaven here on earth. [00:10:59] (27 seconds) #CrossIsTheWayToLive

It's treating every single person, regardless of how important they appear in the eyes of the world, with the utmost dignity and importance because you are convinced that they are made in the image of God. And it is choosing to place your status on the altar because that is what Jesus did. He put his status on the altar that you might flourish. And he calls you to do the exact same thing. [00:23:05] (28 seconds) #ServeLikeJesus

At its heart, Kenosis is this. It is never, ever, ever using your power. And power comes in all sorts of forms. Physical, organizational. Your looks give you power. Your humor gives you power. Your charisma gives you power. Your position of trust gives you power. Your education gives you power. Your social class gives you power. Never, ever using that power to make someone feel smaller that you might get ahead. But choosing to use all that power entrusted to you by God that other people might flourish instead. [00:32:37] (41 seconds) #SelfSacrificialLoveCreates

Because at the heart of the Christian faith is this audacious promise that just as Jesus, died and was resurrected, he laid down his life in self-sacrificial love, that became the seed for new creation to burst forth. In the same way, every time me and you lay down our lives in self-sacrificial love, it plants a seed for new creation to spring forth. And it's the only way that it happens. [00:33:22] (38 seconds) #LayDownToRise

I know, I find it way easier to be Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane who wants to fight his way with a sword towards resurrection power. But it doesn't come that way. It comes through the way that we laid down our lives for one another. Choosing to champion them. [00:33:59] (23 seconds) #NoReservesNoRetreatsNoRegrets

``But just before he dies, he writes two final words in the back of his Bible. No regrets. His life becomes an example for millions. And at his funeral, one of his professors from Princeton comes. And he stands on the stage before the coffin of this man with six simple words written in the back of his Bible. No reserves. No retreats. No regrets. And the only thing he can think to say is this. Apart from faith in Christ, there is nothing or no explanation of such a life. [00:38:28] (49 seconds)

Where might the Lord be coming and asking for you to radically redefine success, not based on how big your social media following is, how big your kitchen island is, how fast your car is, but radically redefined that when you look back at the end of your days, can you say, all of these people flourished a little bit more because of the way that I held the power that was entrusted to me. [00:40:19] (30 seconds)

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