The Mind of Christ: Humble to the Cross Philippians 2 5 to 8 • Marty Beamer • Bethel Baptist Sunday Worship • Dec 26 2021

Paul moves from the call to unity (Phil 2:1–4) to the pattern that makes it possible: the very mind of Christ. Jesus, truly God, did not clutch His rights but “emptied Himself”—not by losing deity, but by taking the form of a servant, adding true humanity, embracing lowliness, and obeying to the point of death—even death on a cross. This message unpacks the downward steps of the Servant-King and calls the church to embody that same cruciform mindset in our life together.

Key points

• Command: “Have this mind among yourselves” — unity flows from a shared Christlike mindset (v.5).
• Christ’s status: eternally in the form of God; equality with God is His by right (v.6).
• Kenosis clarified: “emptied Himself” = self-giving by addition (servant-form, true humanity), not subtraction of deity (v.7).
• Incarnation & service: He became like us to serve us (v.7; cf. Mark 10:45).
• Obedience: the path went all the way to the cross—costly, willing submission for our salvation (v.8).
• Imitation: the way up for the church is down—humility, relinquishing rights, serving others for gospel advancement.

Primary text

Philippians 2:5–8

Cross-references

Isa 53; Mark 10:42–45; John 1:14; 2 Cor 8:9; Heb 12:2; John 13:1–17; Col 1:15–20

For reflection

• Where am I clinging to “rights” Christ is calling me to lay down for others?
• What would “taking the form of a servant” look like in my home, workplace, and church this week?
• How does Christ’s obedience unto death reshape my approach to conflict and unity?