Thinking Like Jesus
For those of you who are new or visiting and don’t know me, my name is Josh—I’m one of the members of this church, and I serve as one of the pastors here as well. And today, I get to serve you by starting a two-part sermon series from Philippians 2. Every summer, we take a few weeks (usually in the back end of August) to focus on specific topics or themes that would be helpful for us as we continue to pursue life together as a church.
And a few months ago, one of our pastors suggested that we do a series on serving one another. Then another one suggested focusing on loving one another. Then, we all looked at each other and quickly realized, “why don’t we hit two birds with one stone?!”
So for the next two weeks, we will be looking at the book of Philippians (and there will be a lot more application points than usual, so feel free to take notes). Specifically, we will look at chp. 2 and doing verses 1-6 today, And next week, we will look at verses 7-11, which Josh will preach for us—the other Josh (L, which stands for lighter skin tone, to give you a helpful distinction).
And the reason why we broke up the text this way is because there are actually two big ideas in this passage. While this text exhorts Christians to serve others like Jesus served them, it doesn’t start with the acts of service. Instead, this chapter starts by calling for a certain way of thinking that drives the doing.
Thinking, then Doing
If you look at verse 2, the apostle Paul says “complete my joy by being of the same mind.” Then, in verse 5, he says: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” He commands a way of Thinking Like Jesus (which is what I titled this sermon). In fact, this was Paul’s train of thought leading up to chapter 2.
In 1:27, Paul tells the Philippians to stand firm in one spirit and one mind as they strive side by side together for the faith of the gospel. He’s talking about having a unified mindset in the faith and thinking in line with their togetherness in the gospel that is able to overcome any hardship or opposition (1:28-30), like Paul was doing from his prison cell while writing this letter.
In other words, Paul is telling Christians here to have a Christian mindset. But where does this start? By first finding our common ground in Christ. Look at chapter 2 starting with verses 1 and 2, which is an “if-then” statement:
I. Finding Our Common Ground in Christ (2:1-2)
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ… comfort from love… participation in the Spirit… affection and sympathy, [then] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (2:1).
So here, Paul states the obvious and asks rhetorical questions to make them think and evaluate! Are you Christians? Do you find any encouragement or comfort or love from being in Christ? Is the Spirit of God in your hearts that stirs you towards affection and sympathy towards others?
If there’s any of that in you, then be of the same mind. Have the same love you’ve received from Christ with each other, since his Spirit is in each one of you. Be in full accord and one mind. Paul basically says the same thing in four different ways. If you experienced these realities vertically, then it only makes sense to experience these horizontally with one another.
But Paul isn’t assuming that this is happening yet. He tells the Philippians to “complete my joy” by doing this. As in, don’t let me lack any of this or miss out on fullness of joy because nothing else would me happier than to see you loving one another in Christ. Make my imprisonment worth it by being of one mind.
But what does being of the same mind look like? This phrase is repeated in chapter 4 when Paul entreats two Christian women in Philippi who are in conflict with each other to “agree in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2). This is what was likely happening with Christians in Philippi. They were in tension over their disagreements. A bunch of them weren’t on the same page.
In the NASB, “agree" is also translated as “live in harmony with one another.” Think of a choir singing a harmony line together—different people singing different notes, yet together to make a more beautiful sound than what they could produce individually apart from one another. So Paul, back in chp. 2, is calling for a like-mindedness that unites them through their disagreements or differences!
But why is Paul emphasizing like-mindedness? Well, think of who he’s talking to. People. You might think, “well duh, Josh, he’s not talking to animals.” But think about it: He’s talking to a whole room of people—with different looks, tastes, backgrounds, opinions, personalities, preferences, you name it. I mean, didn’t I just describe this whole room this morning?
And Paul tells Christians, in Philippi and here today, that being of the same mind (like-mindedness in the Lord) and having the same love (having Christ as our common ground) brings us together through our differences. Here is what we have in common with one another.
Better yet,
He
is
who
we
have in common with one another. Different people who would not otherwise spend time or share life with one another are brought together into fellowship because of Christ. These people are called Christians! Christ is the core of our identity. If that’s not you today, I hope you’re appealed by the vision of this kind of relationship.
a) Navigating Our Differences
But if that’s you today, there are many lessons for us to learn here in light of our relationships with one another. First, let’s think about what this has to say to us in regard to all of our differences. Because by default, even in a room this size, we tend to gravitate towards people who we have the most in common with (whether you share the same interests or hobbies or sense of humour, or maybe you’re in the same age range or season of life, single, married, parents, grandparents, etc).
Now, I’m encouraged because many of you in this room (who are able to do this) intentionally think about switching seats each Sunday to connect with other people and avoid sitting in the same spot each time. And I want to commend that mindset. But we all know that it’s easy to default backwards when we’re not on guard (maybe you’ll see that when you line up for the potluck today).
And that’s not necessarily bad! We can enjoy being with people who are like us. I really love spending time with people who I have lots in common with! Don’t we all have those people who we can just put our feet up with, or laugh out loud with, and even when you accidentally let out a fart you’re not scared of being judged (like I fear some of you are probably doing right now—I meant the judging part). Our families and close, comfort friends are a gift from the Lord.
But think about it: don’t we have the most conflict and tension with our family members? Don’t our close friends get on our nerves faster than “other” people?
Why is that? Because your blood ties with your family members only bind you in harmony until your blood boils against each other. And your close friends are only close when you’re doing the same things that you like doing together, but butt heads once your different agendas start clashing with each other. And in some cases (which I know a number of you here have unfortunately experienced), didn’t some of these best friends ironically become your worst enemies?
Why? Because all relationships that do not have Christ as their foundation do not last (not even blood, because those part at death)! But if the risen Christ is your common ground with people, then these relationships last beyond death. This is why, in chapter 4 when Paul tells the two women to settle their differences and disagreements in the Lord, Paul’s motivation was the fact that “their names are [written] in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3).
This tells us that disagreements between Christians on matters outside of gospel fundamentals can (and should) be resolved through our eternal fellowship in Christ. One of my concerns today (and I’ve noticed this with both young and old) is how Christians have tended to handle disagreements with one another with little to no concern or regard for preserving unity (like we can just throw it away).
On one end, some lack tactfulness when offering their differing opinions. Some Christians feel very comfortable (often too much) in expressing their disagreements with people’s opinions (and usually these are the kinds of people who are very happy to blurt out opinions of their own).
And if this is where you tend to land, the question for you is this: though there are times when it is fitting to offer your thoughts, could there also be times to consider if it’s worth holding yourself back from expressing disagreement—simply for the sake of preserving Christian fellowship and unity? “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (Prov. 18:2).
On the other end, there’s a lack of emotional maturity and stability in responding to any sort of disagreement. For some, any differing opinion or disagreement is instantly met with defensiveness. As in, “they disagreed with me so they must dislike me.”
What can so easily sap Christian` love and unity is when affection is replaced by assumption, and when sympathy is replaced by suspicion. Sound familiar? Then from there, any joke or comment from that person now rubs us the wrong way. We receive each word with utter suspicion and thus interpret it in the worst possible way, which quickly harbours quiet resentment in our hearts towards that brother or sister.
If this is you, could it be that you feel such defensiveness when people offer any disagreement because you hold your opinions on trivial matters as facts, and that you feel the need to be right? And could it be that this instinct on your end is a factor in the brewing of distrust or division within those relationships? All of these emotional responses I’ve described usually leads to fractured relationships.
Yet, the good news is that many broken relationships from years of disagreement can be resurrected when Christ is re-established as their foundation (and by the grace of God, I have experienced—and am currently enjoying—a number of resolved conflicts and re-established relationships in Christ with many of you in this room, and some of you who are probably watching or listening to this online. It is literally a taste of the new creation, and for that I am eternally grateful).
And most times, it only takes one question to do this: Who are we to each other? Let’s agree on that. So, Christians today, we need to let our differences with one another bring us together in love and perfect harmony (Col. 3:14) instead of letting them drift us apart, as we strive to be of the same mind and have the same love by finding our common ground in Christ.
But what does this look like? In verses 3-5, Paul lays out some do’s and don’ts in order to help us be united in Christ. The way to overcome our differences and achieve the like-mindedness in vv. 1-2 is by having a selfless mindset in Christ.
II. Having a Selfless Mindset in Christ (2:3-6)
“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” (2:3-5a).
Again, the apostle Paul here is not focused on the act of doing. He’s still focused on his main point from verses 1-2, which is calling Christians to re-think their mindsets—because they’re naturally selfish and conceited! But Paul is also not just referring to generic “selfish” desires here. He’s getting at something more specific that threatens Christian unity.
a) Not Thinking of One-Upping Others (2:3a)
In the original language, the phrase “selfish ambition” has to do with the idea of “rivalry,” which focuses on the selfishly competitive instinct in our hearts and minds to one-up others. Paul already used this phrase in chapter 1 to refer to other Christian teachers who were proclaiming the gospel with selfishly competitive agendas. To what end? Conceit (or literally, “empty glory”).
We would solve a lot of problems if we didn’t think about putting ourselves up by putting others down. But this is hard because we’re competitive in our very nature! You don’t have to be a sports-minded person to struggle with selfish competitiveness—you just have to be human. This is why, over the past few years, I’ve been very hesitant with over-emphasizing a focus on winning with people who are involved in environments where competition is at an all-time high (yes, I’m talking about sports and board games).
For instance, I’m starting to realize that my boys love sports (which I’m thankful to have that in common with them), but by default they will do everything from selfish competitiveness in pursuit of empty glory. So I will need to teach them not just how to win well, but also how to lose well. I need to teach them how to compete—not just with their hands and feet, but all the more with their hearts and minds. As one Christian coach I knew always helpfully reminded his team, “we’re not just here to win games, but also to win souls.”
Just a quick word for those of us who are generally “competitive” in nature (like yours truly): Yes, there is something inherently good about our instinct to win any competition we come across. And while the Bible does allow for some healthy competitiveness, the Bible also spends a lot more time condemning what usually comes from competitiveness (like our proneness towards selfish ambition).
Even when we’re not doing things to one-up others outwardly, this passage calls us to check our hearts and minds that so easily and instinctively do these things inwardly. Let me give you some abstract examples—fill in the blanks for yourself.
Think about the last time someone you know who received a public compliment on something they did, even though you also did the same thing but didn’t get acknowledged for it (especially if it’s something you regularly do, like your job or just something that you feel you’re generally capable or competent at). Where does your heart and mind go? Do you think, “Man, I’m so happy for that person who just got publicly complimented and rewarded instead of myself.”
Or, in reverse, maybe it was you (or your child, if you’re a parent) who received the acknowledgement. Does your mind instantly give glory to God, or does it enjoy a few seconds of empty glory? Or maybe it enjoys looking down on others who you maybe have selfish competitions with in your heart?
Here’s another one. Think of the last time that someone else accomplished something that you were struggling to accomplish yourself. Does your mind think, “Wow. I’m so glad that person accomplished that before me and did it way better than I ever could. Good for them.” Or does your mind tend to think of every other thing you feel that you’re better at than that person, simply to make yourself feel secure or superior in some way? Real thoughts by real people in real time.
And Paul tells us “don’t do this.” Don’t think of one-upping others for self-glory. But what are we supposed to do when these selfishly competitive thoughts invade our minds? In the second half of verse 3 and onwards, Paul tells us the solution to this problem. He tells us to count others more significant than yourselves in humility. That is, thinking of others above ourselves.
b) Thinking of Others Above Ourselves (2:3b)
Now, it’s important that Paul doesn’t say “count yourself as less,” as in having a low opinion of yourself (“that person is way better than me at everything I do because I just flat-out suck”). That is just another form of selfish competitiveness that’s had to surrender to insecurity as opposed to the gospel.
Self-denial and self-sacrifice (what Paul is calling for) is not the same as self-deprecation or self-hate, and the Bible is clear on loving your neighbour as yourself and husbands loving their wives as he loves himself because no one hates their own bodies (Eph. 5:28-29).
Instead, Paul tells us to think of others above ourselves. This is the positive and proactive weapon against our human mindset that naturally likes to one-up others. Remember those comical responses I was talking about earlier, which were comical because they were so unnatural? That’s exactly how Paul wants us to think, and he’s not trying to be funny.
When we feel like someone does something better than us, we can say “wow, that person is gifted way more than me and does what I can do better. Lord, thank you that this person is on the same team as I am. Would you help them to keep excelling for your glory.” And even if you do not believe it in that moment, rebuke your own flesh and make it comply until your heart and mind follows suit.
Don’t be that kid in the classroom who gets mad at someone else for saying the answer louder than you did. A few years ago, I realized that this childish disposition still stuck with me as an adult when someone who I had mentored from a young age finally started connecting the dots when they went to Bible college (and I won’t say which college).
And I remember saying to someone with a resentful attitude, “Of course this person hears it from someone else and they respond. Meanwhile, I’ve been saying the same thing to this person for years.” And the older man I told this to essentially preached Phil. 2:4 to my heart by saying, “Shouldn’t you be happy that God finally opened this person’s heart? And shouldn’t you be cheering on that Bible college staff that spoke in a louder volume than you ever did?”
Since that conversation (until today), I’ve been humbled by Phil. 2:4 (not to say that I’m perfect at it, I’m not). But I’ve found myself more surprised when God actually lets me enjoy the fruit of my labours. And in fact, it’s actually freeing when I encounter people who can do things better than I could in general. There’s just no pressure, because it’s not about me!
Humility has actually helped me to rejoice with those who rejoice (one of the hardest commands in Scripture due to our selfishly competitive hearts), because I don’t feel like I have to be better than anyone else—unlike the athlete who steps onto the court/field with the pressure to be better than everyone else, which is an illustration for prideful humans in general.
Count others more significant than yourselves in humility. But not only that. Not just thinking of others (as people) above yourselves, but also thinking of their interests first before you think of your own.
c) Thinking of Others’ Interests First (2:4)
That order of priority is important. If others are more significant than ourselves, then we are to look to their interests first. Think of that word “look.” You have to be on the “lookout” for it. It’s not visibly obvious at first glance. So, as Christians, our first instinct with others should not be statements, but questions (even this right here can save a lot of relationships and preserve Christian unity).
It is not to say, “I don’t know about you, but here’s what I think.” Or “not sure what you want, but here’s what I want. This would be my preference, in case you wanted to know.”
Much like verse 3, this disposition of putting your interests first is poison to Christian fellowship and unity. You’re never gonna find Christ as your common ground with others if all you ever look for is whoever shares your common interests with you.
According to Paul, Christians should not be leading off with their own preferences in any given situation (even if someone asks you first). In those moments, try asking a question along these lines instead: “How was your day? What would you prefer?” I know what I want, but I’m curious to know what you want first.”
After you’ve asked this kind of question, after you’ve counted the other person and their interests more significant than yourself, then, and only then, can you state what your preference is (if it’s even necessary).
And conversations is just one area where this is applicable. Sometimes, you don’t even have to ask people or say a single word—you can just show them that you’re after their interests. Sometimes it just means showing up if you know someone needs help, or even just to talk with.
Sometimes, it means thinking ahead of people’s needs. Think of the potluck today—younger kids in the room: Are you going to be thinking about those who are behind you in line as you serve yourself up your favourite food and dessert?
We’ve had this conversation a number of times in specific aspects of our music ministries here, for example (and I bring this up because this is one of the easiest ministries to do with your own interests in mind. You can love music and love playing your favourite instrument in front of people without loving people).
So one of the things we’ve brought up in the past is, “If you aren’t willing to serve kids in the nursery or seniors at care homes or do anything you don’t necessarily enjoy for the sake of loving others, then you can’t be a part of our music teams. We don’t need people up here who only serve themselves and their interests.”
This applies to all our areas of ministry here, church. And I don’t mean just formal ministry roles on Sundays, but organic ministry (like choosing who to spend your time with and choosing what to do for other people during the week). So this applies to all of life in general—but Paul says have this mind among yourselves. Have this selfless mindset among Christians. This is how you do life together.
And at its root is denying yourself of your selfish competitiveness and self-focused interests. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. That’s a tall order, folks. In fact, I struggled this week as I prepared this, because I thought of all the times this last month and maybe even this week that I did something from selfish ambition or conceit to put myself over others (even the little things).
Now, I was also comforted because I thought of a time and a season in my life apart from Christ when I did everything from selfish ambition or conceit. And by the grace of God, that is in the distant past (and I know many of you here can relate to that).
But I just want to pause and let the gravity of these words sink in—Phil. 2:3 is a command from the Lord Jesus himself. It says to do nothing. Not one thing from selfish ambition or conceit. And to do anything (whether big or small) from selfish ambition or conceit is disobedience.
If you’re hearing this today and you don’t believe in Jesus, or are maybe struggling with deciding whether or not to trust and obey his words, my question for you is this: Aren’t you tired of the pressure of making a name for yourself? Because this is everyone’s default way of living (I was there, along with many of us in this room). But this is a heavy weight that you’ll carry, both in life and death.
Even for Christians, doing nothing for selfish ambition is ambitiously difficult to do. It might not be a stretch to say that this is impossible to do. Yet, we know what makes this command that is seemingly impossible to obey—possible. We CAN have a selfless mindset because we are in Christ! Thinking Like Jesus is possible because Jesus made it possible for us to do and have.
d) Thinking Like Jesus (2:5-6)
“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” (2:5-6).
Paul says, “have it!” As in, Christ has given it to you, so it’s yours! You don’t just have to know the mind of Christ, you can have the mind of Christ. You can think like Jesus, because you’re in Jesus. What is true of him is now true of you. Why?
Because though he was in the form of God (John 17) and could do whatever pleased him (Ps. 115:3), and would’ve been right and just were he to act on his independence, Jesus thought, “No. I will not hold on to this status as leverage and I will not seek my own interests.” In fact, Jesus’ interests were focused on humbly condescending to us because he had zero selfish ambition or conceit.
The accusation that Satan tried to make of God in Genesis 3 in making God to look like some obsessively self-driven character who is overprotective of his status is proven dead wrong by Paul’s insight on the mind of Christ here, which was set on not using his equality with the Godhead as a way to exploit for his own advantage. Christ Jesus fulfilled Philippians 2 perfectly.
And Jesus wasn’t interested in proving things to people in the way they expected. Whether to Satan in the garden or in the desert, or even to himself, He wanted to please His Father first and wait for His father to bring him glory (2:9-11), even if that meant being misunderstood in the meantime. In fact, Jesus chose 30+ years of being misunderstood by coming down to us on earth. Jesus surrendered people getting him, and he let go of clearing his reputation.
And to do otherwise was inappropriate in his mind. We are literally tapping into the mind of Christ, brothers and sisters—and we would do well to adopt this mindset of Christ among ourselves (and I mean ourselves as a church together).
Having This Mindset Among Ourselves
So Christians of Emmanuel, let me ask you this morning: What are you trying to prove (both to others and yourself)?
Do you want to be seen or known a certain way that maybe you’re not getting approval or affirmation in right now?
Do you want to be the smart guy in the room who everyone looks up to for wisdom?
Do you feel the pressure of being the ideal wife, or mom with kids who behave well and say all the right things?
Do you want to be known as the “holy” and “mature” person so much that you work hard to avoid a bad reputation at all costs?
Are there pieces of your identity that you’re holding on to because you think that’s what makes you who you are?
What is it that you need to let go of for the sake of our unity, in the same way that Jesus didn’t count his significant status to be worth holding on to?
One of my favourite things about being a part of this church is our high view of Scripture and how we submit to God’s Word as the final authority in all matters of life and godliness. And as you hear this today, many not you are already thinking and evaluating what you need to do or not do or let go of. And that’s important.
But I wonder, especially in a church culture like ours, if we have been prone to over-thinking some of these things for the sake of “being biblical” and “getting it right.”
Now, I’m not saying for one second that we need to stop thinking about things. But what I’m drawing attention to is the possibility that we’ve over-intellectualized everything—including the emotional outworking of our Christian relationships. Have we institutionalized our love for one another at our church events and gatherings?
Because the kind of like-minded thinking that Paul encourages here is one that is intrinsically connected to feeling the same love for each other (v.1). And not a shallow kind of love that our culture teaches today (that says, “I love how I feel when I feel like I love you”). But neither is it a cold-blooded, intellectual, “this love makes logical sense to me” kind of thinking.
Even this week, I told Emily, “I love you.” (Aww.) And then I proceeded to go down each sub-point to explain what those words meant so that she knows that my love for her was rooted in Scripture and that I’ve really thought about that statement well. Love starts with a mindset, yes—but it also comes from the heart!
And a beating heart.
One that pumps out, not only blood, but also affection.
Even the great thinker and theologian named Paul could also say these words to his brothers and sisters: “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace… For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (1:7-8).
Have we lost sight of this kind of affection with one another? Not just loving one another, but enjoying one another? As in, “I love you, but I also like you and I just want to be around you—so let’s just spend time together.”
I’m a big-picture, “I need to understand the why” kind of guy. And last year, I even remember asking someone who was planning an event, “Why should we play that game?” And that person said, “To have fun, Josh.” And I’m like, “wow I thought I knew how to have fun…”
Do we feel nervous about loosening up around each other? Do we feel awkward showing emotion around each other? Are we scared that we might get judged for laughing our bellies off? Maybe because we think that to be holy means to be stoic? Someone jokingly told me when they saw me on TV this month, “Why do you get so crazy when you’re cheering at rider games? Pastors aren’t supposed to do that…” (to which I responded, show me chapter and verse.)
Of course, there are appropriate times and contexts, but could this kind of nervous thinking and fear of being labeled as “less holy” actually be coming from a “holier than thou” mindset, which really just breeds from selfish ambition that seeks to protect a certain self-image and counts our own significance as something to be grasped? Church, we need to be careful that we don’t become holier than Jesus or the Bible.
As I thought about these things this week, one area (among many) this year where I’ve been thankful to experience what Paul is saying here has been through our weekly Men’s Group, which is myself with two other brothers who I’ve never actually spent a lot of time with prior to being paired up together. We had a structure that helped guide our conversations, and the goal was to share our struggles with one another towards pursuing holiness.
But through the journey, we also started sharing our lives with each other, telling each other stories and jokes that leave us with winded stomachs. And this was all over video call! (I can’t wait to finally meet in person with you, Stephen and Devin—I love you brothers, and I feel so much of what Paul says here with you.
And I can say the same for those of you who aren’t able to be here and are listening online, in the same way I can say the same to many of you in this room. As in, I will say it to many of you in this room, when we hold up our common ground with one another in Christ through the bread and the cup.
Because God really meant what he said in Romans 5:8. He really really felt affection for us—when he demonstrated his own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ did not count equality with the Father a thing to be grasped and died for us.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [then] let’s have this mind among