Week 2- "Christ As The Standard" (Philippians 2:1-22)

 

Summary

Throughout this exploration of Philippians 2, the focus is on the standard by which we shape our lives and families—both our biological families and our spiritual family, the church. Every person, whether consciously or not, is living toward some ideal, some standard. The challenge is to honestly assess what that standard is, not just in theory but in the reality of our daily responses, expectations, and priorities. Like a farmer setting his gaze on an unmoving object to plant straight rows, the direction of our lives is determined by where our eyes are fixed. If our gaze drifts, so does our path.

Scripture calls us to fix our eyes on Christ, making Him the unchanging standard for our lives. Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians is to live in unity—of mind, love, and purpose—rooted in the gospel. This unity is not just a surface agreement but a deep, shared identity in Christ that transcends differences and compels us to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Consistency in character, regardless of who is watching or what circumstances arise, is a mark of a life transformed by Christ.

Central to this standard is Christlike humility. The call is to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility to count others as more significant than ourselves. This is not about becoming a doormat, but about purposeful, intentional living that seeks the good of others because that is the mind of Christ. Jesus, though fully God, emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and became obedient even to death on a cross. His humility is not weakness but strength under submission to the Father’s will.

Practical questions help us realign our lives: What do our responses reveal about where our eyes are fixed? What do our expectations and priorities say about our true standard and destination? The encouragement is to regularly examine these areas, to ask what God requires, and to look for opportunities to serve and grow in humility. True success in family life—whether at home or in the church—comes from unity and humility patterned after Christ. Fixing our eyes on Him, we plant toward a future marked by His glory, not our own.

Key Takeaways

- The Direction of Your Gaze Determines Your Path
Just as a farmer’s rows follow the direction of his gaze, the trajectory of your life and family is shaped by what you fix your eyes on. If your focus is on Christ, your life will increasingly reflect His character; if your gaze drifts to lesser things, so will your actions and priorities. Regularly assess where your attention is set, as this will ultimately determine the fruit your life bears. [05:27]

- Unity Flows from a Shared Identity in Christ
True unity in families and in the church is not achieved by mere agreement or external conformity, but by rooting our identity in Christ. When we see ourselves and others as one in Him, we are empowered to live with consistency and purpose, regardless of circumstances or who is watching. This unity is both a gift and a calling, requiring us to strive side by side for the faith of the gospel. [11:53]

- Christlike Humility is Intentional, Not Accidental
Humility is not passivity or self-neglect, but a deliberate choice to value others above ourselves because Christ did so first. This mindset requires daily intentionality, especially in close relationships where selfishness can easily take root. True humility is strength under God’s authority, seeking the good of others as an act of obedience and love. [14:26]

- The Standard Must Remain Christ, Not Ourselves or Others
It is tempting to subtly shift our standard from Christ to our own preferences, to other people, or to cultural norms. Like using a copy of a copy, this leads to gradual but significant drift from the original. Continually return to Christ as the pattern and measure for your life, ensuring that your actions, expectations, and priorities align with His example. [26:16]

- Examine Your Responses, Expectations, and Priorities
The way you respond to others, the expectations you hold, and the priorities you set all reveal what standard you are truly living by. Use these as diagnostic tools to discern whether your life is being shaped by Christ or by something else. Regular self-examination, guided by Scripture and prayer, helps realign your life toward the final destination—eternity with Christ. [29:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction: Family Life and Spiritual Family
[01:27] - The Question of Our Ideal Standard
[03:40] - The Farming Analogy: Fixing Our Gaze
[06:23] - Reading Philippians 2:1-11
[08:39] - Exhortation 1: Unity in Christ
[12:53] - Exhortation 2: The Mindset of Christlike Humility
[14:26] - Humility in Marriage, Parenting, and Relationships
[17:21] - Christ as the Example of Humility
[19:16] - Reactions vs. Intentional Living
[20:34] - The Final Destination: Eternity with Christ
[22:30] - Visual Illustration: The Standard and the Pattern
[26:16] - The Danger of Drifting from the Standard
[28:15] - Practical Questions for Realignment
[32:06] - Closing Reflections and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Philippians 2 – Fixing Our Eyes on Christ as the Standard

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### Bible Reading

Philippians 2:1-11

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Philippians 2:1-4, what are some specific ways Paul describes unity among believers?
2. In verses 5-8, what actions did Jesus take to demonstrate humility?
3. The sermon uses the analogy of a farmer fixing his gaze on an unmoving object to plant straight rows. What does this analogy teach us about the direction of our lives? [[05:27]]
4. What does Paul say is the result of Jesus’ humility and obedience in verses 9-11?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul connect unity in the church to having the “same mind” and “same love”? How does this go beyond just agreeing with each other? [[08:58]]
2. The sermon says, “If you claim the name of Christ, your life ought to reflect Christ.” What does it mean for our daily lives to “reflect Christ”? [[11:14]]
3. How is Christlike humility different from being a doormat or letting others take advantage of you? [[16:34]]
4. The sermon warns about “drifting from the standard” by copying others or ourselves instead of Christ. What are some subtle ways this drift can happen in our lives or families? [[26:16]]

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### Application Questions

1. The direction of your gaze determines your path. What are some things (good or bad) that currently capture your attention and shape your daily decisions? How can you intentionally fix your eyes on Christ this week? [[05:27]]
2. Think about your responses to your spouse, children, friends, or coworkers in the past week. What do those responses reveal about where your eyes are fixed? Is there a pattern you want to change? [[29:05]]
3. The sermon challenges us to examine our expectations and priorities. What is one expectation or priority you have for your family (or spiritual family) that might not be aligned with Christ’s example? What would it look like to realign it? [[29:44]]
4. In what area of your life is it hardest to “count others as more significant than yourself”? What is one practical step you can take to practice Christlike humility in that area this week? [[14:26]]
5. The sermon suggests asking, “Where can we be servants today?” Who is one person you can serve this week, and what will you do? [[30:38]]
6. When have you been tempted to use someone else (or your own preferences) as your standard instead of Christ? How did that affect your actions or attitudes? [[26:16]]
7. The final destination for believers is eternity with Christ. How does keeping this in mind change the way you handle conflict, disappointment, or success in your family or church? [[20:34]]

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Close in prayer, asking God to help you fix your eyes on Christ, grow in unity and humility, and live in a way that reflects His character in your family and church.

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as Our Standard
The direction of our lives is determined by where we fix our gaze, and the only unchanging, reliable standard for our character and actions is Jesus Christ himself. Just as a farmer must keep his eyes fixed on a distant, immovable object to plant straight rows, so too must we intentionally set our eyes on Christ if we want our lives to reflect the pattern God desires. When we lose sight of Christ as our standard and begin to measure ourselves by others, by culture, or by our own shifting desires, we inevitably drift from the life God calls us to. Let us continually return to Christ, aligning our hearts and actions with his example, so that the fruit of our lives will bear witness to his transforming power. [05:46]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
"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: In what area of your life have you started to use a different “standard” than Christ—perhaps comparing yourself to others or following your own preferences—and how can you intentionally realign your focus on Jesus today?


Day 2: Unity Rooted in the Gospel
True unity in our families and in the church is not found in uniformity of personality or opinion, but in a shared commitment to the gospel of Christ. When we have been transformed by Christ, we are called to live united in mind and purpose, striving side by side for the faith and reflecting the love and encouragement we have received from him. This unity is not dependent on circumstances or who is watching, but is a consistent outworking of our identity in Christ, showing the world what it means to belong to God’s family. [10:55]

Philippians 2:1-2 (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."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can pursue unity with someone in your family or church this week, especially if you have different perspectives or preferences?


Day 3: Humility that Considers Others
Christlike humility means intentionally counting others as more significant than ourselves, not out of weakness or self-neglect, but out of a deep desire to reflect the heart of Jesus. This humility is not about being a doormat or allowing others to take advantage of us, but about seeking the good of others, serving them in love, and resisting the pull of selfish ambition. In our marriages, parenting, friendships, and church relationships, this mindset transforms our interactions and creates a culture where everyone is valued and cared for as Christ intended. [16:34]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally serve or encourage today by putting their needs ahead of your own, and what specific action can you take?


Day 4: Living with the End in Mind
Our daily responses and priorities reveal whether we are living for temporary satisfaction or with eternity in view. When we react out of frustration, impatience, or self-interest, we show that our eyes are fixed on the moment rather than on the final destination God has prepared for us in Christ. But when we remember that our true home is with Christ forever, we are empowered to respond with patience, grace, and purpose, trusting that eternal success comes through humility and obedience, just as it did for Jesus. [21:50]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you reacted out of frustration or impatience—how might your response have changed if you had remembered your eternal destination in Christ?


Day 5: Resetting Our Priorities and Expectations
The standard for our lives is not one we invent, but one we receive from Christ, and our priorities and expectations must be shaped by his example. When we regularly ask ourselves what God has asked of us, where we can serve, and how we can help others grow in Christlike humility, we realign our lives with his purposes. This week, let us take time to examine our responses, expectations, and priorities, allowing the mindset of Christ to reset our course and lead us into true transformation in our families and spiritual communities. [33:34]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What is one expectation or priority you need to surrender to God this week so that your life and family can be shaped more fully by the standard of Christ?