Mind of Christ - Philippians 2:1-5

August 23, 2026

The Mind of Christ #

Philippians 2:1-5

Introduction

We started a little mini series on the mind. We have talked about our mind being stayed on God (Isa 26:3). We have considered what things we are to think about in Phil 4:8. Last week we saw 4 types of minds in the Bible, 1. The Condemned mind 2. The Carnal mind 3. The corrupt mind 4. The Converted mind.

This evening, we are going to examine the Mind of Christ that the Bible tells us as believers we should have.

I. Likeminded (Phil 2:2) #

  • God is not instructing us to think exactly alike, but rather have a unified mind about us.

A. Different thoughts #

  • In debating Bible related topics for years, I have often been amazed at two peoples ability to wrestle a topic, and come to the same conclusion from different directions.
  • It is much like climbing a mountain… there is only one peak of truth with which to arrive, but the paths are varying with different degrees of difficulty.
  • I know good men who agree that the King James Bible is the Word of God. They arrive to the same conclusion, by different arguments, and paths.
  • Any married couple will understand this, John Gray wrote a book entitled: “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” – thought and communication differ greatly!

B. One goal at the church #

  • Same passion, love, or desire
  • Our church goals must always align… and they are not ours to set, or establish!

Matthew 28:19–20 —19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

i. Evangelize the Sinner (19a) #

ii. Educate the Saved (20) #

  • This would include baptism, discipleship classes, church services, church activities (we open the Bible), Doctrine… we have fundamentals that will not change, the doctrine

iii. Exalt the Saviour! #

1 Corinthians 10:31 — Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

  • If God is exalted… man will not be! If every man is always pointing to God… God will be exalted, and man will not.

II. Lowliness of mind (Phil 2:3) #

  • Motive for why we do what we do, is important in God’s eyes!!!

A. No Strife #

  • Strife – altercation, violent contention, fight, battle

i. Difference between competition & contention #

    • Competition can be healthy, friendly competition pushes us to do more

    • Contentious competition is not healthy!

      • When you do something just to prove to someone else… wrong motive!
      • There are churches which exist out of spite, just to prove that the other people were wrong… these churches don’t do well. – The motive is contentious, strife.

ii. Rivalries are born out of this #

  • It may start friendly, lose friendliness, and become contentious

  • We joke a lot about Ohio State and Michigan… to me it is a friendly rivalry… not serious.

    • To some, they take it too serious, and it is contentious.

B. No Vainglory #

  • Excessive vanity, arrogance, pride, excited by one’s own performances!

i. The star player on a team #

  • Anchor Baptist Church has no room for a star player! – No I in team, or ABC
  • “Strife pulls the other person down; vainglory puts oneself up.”

ii. Children in the wilderness (Num 16:3 #

Numbers 16:3 —3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

  • God put Moses in charge, the people wanted to remove him, and elevate themselves!

C. Think well of others #

  • Humility is not under-evaluating our self, it is a concern for the advancement of others!

III. Lord’s Mind (Phil 2:5-8) #

  • There is no greater example that Jesus Christ himself.

A. Jesus is God! (Phil 2:6) #

i. IF anyone had reason to exalt themself… it was Jesus #

  • It would not have been vain, it would not have been false, or fake; but TRUTH!

ii. Jesus had all power! #

Matthew 28:18 — And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

iii. Jesus didn’t elevate himself as God #

  • Jesus did declare that he was God (truth), but didn’t elevate himself as God!

B. Jesus became man (Phil 2:7) #

i. Jesus came humbly #

  • Born in a manger, not a palace!
  • Lived simply, not as a royalty he truly was
  • Walked among the common man!

ii. Jesus is the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS #

  • Yet he lived as a servant!

    • Jesus himself said this:

Mark 10:45 — For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

C. Jesus gave his life for others (Phil 2:8) #

i. The ultimate in self sacrifice! #

  • You can find no greater example than this!
  • This is why “God is Love” because he himself sinless, all powerful God, gave the ultimate sacrifice, and died in our place!
  • It was not thinking less of himself, but how he could advance mankind! – lowliness exemplified!
Tags: Mind Unity Humility