Grow Guide | May 29, 2022

Life in His Name

Philippians 2:1-13  

Connecting Questions 

• Have you ever met a truly humble person? What were they like? 

• How does true humility fit into the power structures of our society? Is it a trait that we value in leaders or is it a liability? 

Context 

We continue our series Life in His Name this week by looking at another passage from the Apostle Paul’s personal letter to his friends at the church in Philippi. This letter is a thank you note to the church for the financial and emotional support the church had sent to Paul while he was in prison. Paul was suffering, but so were the people in Philippi. They were being threatened with imprisonment because they proclaimed that Jesus is Lord and resisted the corrupt power structures, offering equality and justice for all people. It seems like the pressure was tempting some people to cave in, give up, or turn on each other. Paul is writing to encourage them in their struggles. 

Look at the Book 

• Read Philippians 2:1-4. 

  • Verse 1 offers the basis for Paul’s argument. What are the things he lists? 

  • What is Paul asking the Philippians to do? 

  • Typically, in a letter, if Paul is asking people to do something it is in response to a report that he heard that, perhaps, they were not doing it. Imagine what a group might be like that lived opposite to Paul’s words in this passage. 

• Read Philippians 2:5-11.  

  • Note: Your Bible might display this passage differently than the paragraphs before and after it. That is because most scholars believe that Paul is quoting a hymn that was sung about Jesus in many of the early Jesus groups. 

  • Paul says, “let the same mind be in you.” How would you describe the “mind of Christ” from this hymn in your own words? 

  • Who exalted Jesus? Why was Jesus exalted? Let the subtlety and paradox soak in. (Hint: if Jesus’ ultimate goal was to be exalted, would he truly have been humble when he went to the cross? What is actually being exalted here?) 

• Read Philippians 2:12-13.  

  • What do you think Paul means by “work out your own salvation?” 

  • Who is doing the work? Soak in this paradox as well. 

Taking it Home 

• Let’s be honest. This is a thick, deep, and possibly perplexing chunk of theology. Take a deep breath. Paul is basically saying, “Be humble and get along with each other.” Why? Because this is what will save you. Think about it. If you are constantly bickering and jockeying for position out of selfish ambition, your organization will self-destruct. Now magnify that to the whole planet. We are in need of salvation from our own self-destructive patterns. Amen? 

• Take a moment to reflect on areas in your own life where there is conflict. How much of it is based upon pride? How much of it might be remedied through humility? What steps might you be able to take this week to “work out your own salvation” and “take on the mind of Christ?”