Philippians 2:1-11 Study guide Unity Through Humility
Community Group Study Guide — Unity Through Humility
Philippians 2:1-11
Study Information:
Many of us would agree that the church should be the place of greatest unity, hospitality and love in the entire world. However, if that is the case, then why do Christians fight? If you have not experienced that, then consider yourself fortunate! But you hear tales of churches that are in rivalry with each other, others that split over insignificant issues and factions that pop up within otherwise healthy and loving churches.
If you think about the impact of the gospel and our common salvation by God’s grace alone and that we are united to Christ by faith then the implication is that we should indeed show others grace, love and mercy even when they do not deserve it. Yet, the background context to Paul’s letter to the Philippians highlights a theme of unity because they have demonstrated it in their love for Paul but also there seems to be some major conflict happening within the church that threatens their unity. Paul applied this theme of unity to two women in Philippians 4, but certainly there was also a bigger conflict happening (Philippians 4:2).
Have you had a rivalry with another Christian? Have you experienced disunity, not because of a theological conviction, but because of selfish ambition, a lack of love, differing political convictions or some other dividing line? How does one turn from that posture and pursue Christ like love? Paul rooted this change of heart in our common experience of God’s grace and the example of Jesus Christ. We can turn from pride and turn towards Christ like unity through cultivating the virtue of humility.
A Shared Experience of God’s Grace
Philippians 2:1-4
Paul’s foundation for Christian unity was God’s ministry of grace to us. Philippians 2:1 pointed to each person of the trinity as a means of receiving various aspects of God’s grace. They were reminded of the encouragement they had in Jesus Christ, the fellowship they shared in the Spirit and the comfort that came from God’s overwhelming love. This kind of appeal reminds us of God’s perfect fellowship as one God, three persons. There is no division or rivalry in God and when we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ we are brought into this heavenly fellowship. In Christ we have encouragement, comfort, fellowship, affection and sympathy. These attributes come from our shared experience in Christ’s saving grace and should be characteristic of our relationships within the church.
Christian unity is not thinking the same or being the same, that would be uniformity. Rather, the scripture teaches us that our varied differences are used by God to highlight the beauty of the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). Paul appealed to the Philippians to have the same mind, same love, to be of full accord and of one mind. This appeal is for a new attitude that is found and made possible in Christ (Philippians 2:5). That means this kind of unity and love can only be possible through the transforming power of Jesus and the example we have in Christ. The transforming power of Jesus flows into specific actions, for example, Philippians 2:3 tells us to renounce selfish ambition as we pursue humility. Paul previously referenced selfish ambition when he talked about those who considered him a rival and were preaching the gospel out of selfish ambition (Philippians 1:1). Paul was happy that the gospel was preached, but Philippians 2:3 was his subtle call out that their attitude was not Christlike.
Humility is the vehicle towards a greater unity and love for other brothers and sisters in Christ. We can be confused about what humility means, but Philippians 2:3-4 gives us a great definition and example. Humility is not thinking that others are BETTER than yourself, humility is counting their interests as more significant meaning that we look to their needs and what is best for them, even at the expense of our needs. Spiritually immature people think about their needs before the needs of others. Spiritually mature followers of Christ look to serve and love other Christians. We cannot meet everyone’s needs, but we can extend sympathy and affection and consider how God calls us to help (Philippians 2:1). As we serve others and as we extend sympathy and love we grow in humility and as we grow in humility we put off selfish ambition and conceit and consider others which leads us to serve them, extend sympathy and grow in love. It could be that your first step towards unity is to stop and think about the needs of others and how God can use you to serve and sympathize with them.
The Humility of Jesus
Philippians 2:5-11
Paul pointed to the example of Jesus for the power and the motivation to walk in humble unity. Our passage forms kind of a literary sandwich that starts with the power of Jesus and ends with the power of Jesus and in the middle we have the example of his selfless, sacrificial love as our motivation and power for pursuing unity through humility. Paul started with Jesus being in the form of God but not counting equality with God as a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:5-6). This brings us back to the rivalry and selfish ambition conversation with the idea of “grasping.” Being in the “form” of God pointed to Jesus’s divine nature and power; he is the one by whom and for whom all things were created and held together. Of any human being to ever walk the earth, Jesus alone was worthy of worship and glory. He is greater than any human king to ever live. Yet how did Jesus use that power and glory? Look at Philippians 2:7, Jesus took on another form, the form of a servant. This repetition of the word “form” was intentional to highlight that rather than wielding his power with selfish ambition, Jesus took on the form of a servant and wielded his power with sacrificial love.
Jesus’s whole life demonstrated humility and Paul helped us understand that with a picture of a downward path of love demonstrated in the life of Jesus. Notice all the examples of humility. God the son left his place in heaven. God the son took on a human nature, and not just any human body but the form of a servant. Jesus humbled himself to the point of death and not just any death, he died a humiliating death on the cross. All this was for us and for our salvation. Paul wanted the Philippians and us to know that humility is rooted in service and self giving love and we need only to look to Jesus to see that.
Paul concluded his example of Jesus by reminding us again of his power and exaltation. Because of this selflessness love and sacrificial death, Jesus was highly exalted with the name above all names and he did this so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord. Bowing is a recognition of Christ’s worth meaning that his power and glory will be apparent to all and reach the ends of the earth.
Think about the effect that this kind of message would have on a church struggling with unity. Paul called them to a different manner of living. He then pointed to Christ, who out of all people, had the greatest right to demand service and his way but instead demonstrated humility and sacrificial love. Finally, Paul’s conclusion is that every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Christ is Lord. That means that the fighting Philippians would each one day bow down together in the presence of God. That should cause us to consider, are our petty squabbles, rivalries, selfish ambitions and demands to be served rather than to serve really worth it? Instead, for Christ, we should be of the same mind, same love and consider the needs of others more significant than our own. Are there any individuals you need to make peace with? Is Christ calling you to love others by serving them? Today would be a great day to look to Jesus and ask for his power to live as we are called (Philippians 1:27).
At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.
How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week?
Discussion Questions:
Read Philippians 2:1-11
Look at Philippians 2:1, how does this passage help us understand the grace we experience in Christ Jesus?
How does Paul define humility for us in this passage? Can a church have unity without humility?
Describe the “downward path” of humility of God the Son from heaven to the cross. What are some reasons Paul wanted the Philippians and us to know this aspect of Christ’s life and ministry in this passage?
What challenges do you personally face when it comes to unity and humility? Paul described some like selfish ambition, conceit and considering your interests more highly than others. What step can you take this week to pursue unity and humility in the body of Christ?
