The Mind of Christ – 7 Part Study on Philippians 2

Men’s Bible Study Series: Philippians 2 – The Mind of Christ

A 7-part series for men focused on humility, unity, obedience, and Christlike service in the home, church, workplace, and brotherhood.

Part 1: The Call to Unity Through Humility (Philippians 2:1–4)

Scripture:
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 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.”

Exposition:
Paul roots his appeal in the shared blessings of the gospel. The “if” clauses are rhetorical—these realities are true for every true believer. Because we have encouragement in Christ, comfort from His love, fellowship in the Spirit, and tender mercy, we must pursue unity. Selfish ambition / rivalry (eritheia) and empty conceit / empty honor or pride (kenodoxia) destroy fellowship. The antidote is lowliness of mind that deliberately esteems others as more significant. This is not self-hatred; it is self-forgetfulness that looks out for the interests of brothers, wives, children, and coworkers. For men, this confronts the competitive drive to dominate and replaces it with servant leadership.

Theological Quote:

Martin Luther: “If Christ, who was true God by nature, has humbled himself to become servant of all, how much more should such action befit us who are of no worth, and are by nature children of sin, death and the devil!”

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less” Inspired by CS Lewis Mere Christianity

CS Lewis - Mere Christianity (Book 3, Chapter 8, “The Great Sin”):

“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”

• “It is better to forget about yourself altogether.”
• “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”

Lewis’s point is that true humility is a kind of self-forgetfulness rather than a self-deprecating focus on how low or unworthy one is.

Discussion for Men:
Where does selfish ambition show up in your leadership at home or work? How can counting others more significant change your interactions with your wife or fellow believers this week?

Part 2: The Humiliation of Christ – The Supreme Example (Philippians 2:5–8)

Scripture:
“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, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Exposition:
The “mind of Christ” is not merely an attitude we invent; it is the mindset we already possess in union with Him and must put into practice. Christ existed in the morphē (essential nature) of God and possessed equality with God, yet He did not clutch it as a prize. He emptied Himself—not of deity, but of the independent exercise of divine privileges—by taking the form of a slave and becoming truly human. His humility reached its lowest point in obedient death on a cross, the most shameful execution. This is the pattern for every man: downward mobility in service rather than upward grasping for status.

Theological Quote:
Voddie Baucham: “The mind of Christ is the mind that did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped... So when you get upset because people didn’t respect you enough, remember that’s not coming from the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is not just humble but humiliated.”

Discussion for Men:
In what areas of life are you still “grasping” for recognition or control? How does Christ’s self-emptying confront your view of leadership and authority?

Part 3: The Exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:9–11)

Scripture:
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Exposition:
The “therefore” is crucial: exaltation follows humiliation. Because of Christ’s obedient self-emptying, the Father has highly exalted Him (hyperypsoō—super-exalted) and given Him the name above every name—Lord (Kyrios). Universal submission is inevitable: every knee will bow and every tongue confess His lordship. This is both cosmic and personal. For men, the path to true honor is the path of the cross. We do not exalt ourselves; God exalts the humble in due time. Living under the lordship of Jesus means our ambitions, families, and work are submitted to Him for the Father’s glory.

Theological Quote:
John MacArthur: “Christ humbled Himself and was wonderfully exalted by the Father... The source of Christ’s exaltation was God. Whatever Christ was given came from God... It was because of Christ’s humiliation that God exalted Him—the two are inseparable.”

Discussion for Men:
How does knowing that God exalts the humble free you from self-promotion? Where do you need to confess Jesus as Lord more fully in your daily decisions?

Part 4: Working Out Your Salvation (Philippians 2:12–13)

Scripture:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Exposition:
“Therefore” links back to the example of Christ. Salvation is already possessed; we do not work for it but out the implications of it—bringing it to full expression in obedience and holiness. This is done with reverent fear and trembling because of the seriousness of the calling and the presence of a holy God. The paradox is resolved in verse 13: we work because God is already at work in us, producing both the desire and the ability. Sanctification is synergistic “working together” (God and man cooperate) in experience but monergistic “one working” (God alone does the work) in ultimate power. Men are called to active, disciplined pursuit of godliness, never passive.

What “work out your own salvation” means

This is not about earning or achieving salvation. Paul writes to people who are already believers (“my beloved,” “as you have always obeyed”). Salvation here refers to the ongoing, present aspect of what God has already given—sanctification, or living out and bringing to full expression the salvation already received.

The Greek verb katergazomai means to work something through to completion or fruition, to bring it to its intended result. Think of it as cultivating or putting into practice what is already yours, not acquiring something new. It involves active obedience, pursuing Christlikeness, humility (the immediate context of Philippians 2:1–11), unity in the church, and living in a way that reflects the gospel.

Again, verse 13 immediately clarifies the balance: we work because God is the one working in us—giving both the desire (“to will”) and the power (“to work”) for His good pleasure. Human effort and divine enablement operate together.

What “fear and trembling” means

It does not mean cowering terror that you might lose your salvation or fail to reach heaven if you are truly in Christ. That would contradict Paul’s broader teaching on assurance, peace, and confidence in God’s finished work (and the fact that God Himself guarantees the completion of what He began—see Philippians 1:6).

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Instead, “fear and trembling” is a biblical idiom for deep reverence, awe, humility, and seriousness before a holy God. It appears elsewhere for respectful, earnest attitudes (e.g., how people received Titus, or Paul’s own approach to ministry).

In short: live out the salvation you already have with reverent awe and humble seriousness, relying on the God who both desires and empowers that very work.

Theological Quote:
Charles Spurgeon: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure... God works in us; therefore we must work out, because God works in.”

Discussion for Men:
What does “fear and trembling” look like in your pursuit of holiness as a husband or father? Where do you need to rely more deliberately on God’s work within you?

Part 5: Shine as Lights Without Grumbling (Philippians 2:14–16)

Scripture:
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

Exposition:
Grumbling and disputing destroy the witness of the church. Instead, believers are to live as pure children of God in a dark, perverse culture, shining like stars by holding firmly to the gospel. Our lives and our confession of the word of life are inseparable. Paul’s pastoral heart is revealed: he wants the fruit of their lives to prove his ministry was not wasted. For men, this means refusing the cultural norm of complaint and criticism, especially at home and in the workplace, and instead modeling quiet, steadfast faithfulness that points others to Christ.

Theological Quote:
John MacArthur: “A grumbling, complaining Christian will not have a positive effect on others. For obvious reasons, unbelievers are not attracted to that kind of life... The quality of a believer’s life... is the platform of his testimony.”

Discussion for Men:
Where does grumbling most easily creep into your speech (home, work, church)? How can holding fast the word of life transform your influence on those around you?

Part 6: Joy in Being Poured Out (Philippians 2:17–18)

Scripture:
“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

Exposition:
Paul views his potential martyrdom as a drink offering poured out on the Philippians’ sacrificial service of faith. Rather than self-pity, he experiences deep joy and calls them to share it. The Christian life is costly; men are called to expend themselves for the faith of others—wives, children, the church—without resentment. Joy is not the absence of sacrifice but the fruit of it when done for Christ. This section bridges the theological teaching to living examples.

Theological Quote:
Paul Washer (on the cost of true discipleship and ongoing sanctification): True salvation produces a life that walks the narrow way; if God is not doing a work of sanctification, no true work of salvation ever began. We are to pursue holiness because He who began the good work will finish it—and that pursuit involves real cost and real joy.

Discussion for Men:
In what ways is God calling you to be “poured out” for the spiritual good of others? How can you cultivate joy in sacrificial service rather than resentment?

Part 7: Living Examples – Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:19–30)

Scripture:
(Focus on vv. 19–22, 25–30) Paul plans to send Timothy, who is genuinely concerned for their welfare and has proven character like a son with a father in the gospel. He also sends Epaphroditus, their messenger and minister to Paul’s need, who risked his life for the work of Christ and nearly died.

Exposition:
Doctrine becomes visible in lives. Timothy models selfless concern—he seeks the things of Christ Jesus rather than his own interests. Epaphroditus models sacrificial service to the point of risking his life. Paul commands the church to honor such men. These are living illustrations of the mind of Christ: lowliness, others-focused care, and costly obedience. Men need flesh-and-blood examples of gospel humility more than abstract ideals. Honor and imitate those who quietly serve without seeking the spotlight.

Theological Quote:
John MacArthur (summarizing the models): The chapter closes by presenting model spiritual servants—men who embodied the very humility and selflessness Paul has been teaching. Their lives prove that the mind of Christ is not theoretical but practical and reproducible in ordinary believers.

Discussion for Men:
Who are the “Timothys” and “Epaphrodituses” in your life that you should honor? How can you grow into that kind of proven, others-centered character yourself?

Series Challenge for Men:
Memorize Philippians 2:5–11. Each week, identify one concrete way to practice the mind of Christ in your home, workplace, and church. The downward path of humility is the upward path of true manhood under the lordship of Jesus.