Introduction: It was about thirty years ago that I started
hearing a new idea about something called “diversity.” Part
of the concept was already clear to me because I received my
undergraduate degree from Andrews University. When I was an
Andrews student, it had the highest percentage of foreign
students of any college in the United States. It was
interesting to learn about the background of other students
and a challenge to understand the accented English of some
of the professors. We had unity in the Christian mission of
the school. The new diversity turns out to be much
different. It does not strive for unity; rather it divides
and each division takes pride that it is different, and
perhaps superior. Unity is never the goal. Our study this
week examines Paul’s vision of unity. Let’s dive into our
study of the Bible and learn more!
I. The Goal of Unity
A. Read Philippians 2:1. Paul has several “if”
statements. Let’s examine them individually. He
writes “if there is any encouragement in Christ.”
Is there encouragement in Christ?
1. If so, what is it? (The most important
encouragement is that we have eternal life
available to us through Christ. Death is
defeated. That is encouraging!)
B. Philippians 2:1 also asks if there is “any comfort
from love?” Is there comfort from love?
1. If so, what is it?
C. Philippians 2:1 also asks if there is “any
participation in the Spirit?”
1. This seems different. Is there participation
in the Spirit in the life of a Christian?
(Read John 16:7. Jesus says it is to their
advantage that He goes, so the Holy Spirit may
come. Certainly, having the Holy Spirit work
in our life is central.)
D. Philippians 2:1 asks if there is “any affection
and sympathy?” It is more difficult to understand
what Paul is asking here. Do you think he is
asking if there is any “affection and sympathy”
among the Philippians? (One commentary suggests
that Paul is asking if the Philippians have any
affection and sympathy for him? The answer must be
that they do.)
E. Read Philippians 2:2. How is the call for having
the same mind, same love, and of one mind
connected to Paul’s joy? (If you look at
Philippians 2:1, Paul seems to be describing the
things that he has been teaching the Philippians
that are essential to their Christian life. He
then says that if you understand what I want for
you it will give me joy.)
1. What does Paul say results from accepting and
practicing what he has been teaching? (The
result is unity: the same mind, love, and
agreement.)
2. What does this teach us about unity? (It
results from learning and understanding the
spiritual points Paul lists in verse 1.)
II. The Destruction of Unity
A. Read Philippians 2:3. Most of what I do has
“ambition” as part of my motivation. What about
you?
1. When we were looking for a new pastor, one
young candidate was filled with ambition to
succeed. We thought he was the one we wanted,
and we were right. Is Paul condemning that?
2. How important is the word “selfish” in the
phrase “selfish ambition?” (While I have
always been ambitious (meaning that I wanted
to succeed), when as a young man, I decided to
become a lawyer my desire was to work for the
church. More than a decade later, when I was
closing in on my goal of becoming a lawyer, I
made an odd marriage proposal. I told the
woman who is now my wife that I would be a
“poor lawyer” because the church would not pay
me very well.)
3. Have you met people in the local church who
want to hold office primarily because they
want the honor?
a. What should be the proper motivation to
hold a position in the church? (People in
the church should be elevated to
positions of authority because others see
that they are qualified and doing the
work well.)
B. Look again at Philippians 2:3. What do you think
it means to count others as being more
significant?
1. Everyone reading this has had teachers in
their life. Were they all the same quality?
Should the best teacher consider the worst
teacher “more significant?” (No. That would be
false.)
2. If we intuitively know that others are not
automatically more significant, what can Paul
mean? (Read Romans 12:10 and Galatians 5:13.
These texts teach us that we should honor,
value, and serve others. In that way others
are “more significant.”)
C. Read Philippians 2:4. Is it good to consider our
own interests? (Yes, Paul does not condemn that.)
1. What does Paul mean when he tells us to look
to the interests of others?
2. When you meet someone and they ask you how
your family is doing, do you just answer? Or
do you also ask how their family is doing? (A
godly man taught me that I should direct the
conversation to the welfare of others.)
3. The title I used for this section is the
“destruction of unity.” How does the current
call for diversity fit our discussion so far?
a. If a pilot or brain surgeon is hired for
any reason other than competence, is that
truly considering the significance of
others?
III. The Mind of Jesus
A. Read Philippians 2:5-7. Do you think Jesus thought
the average sinful person was “more significant”
than He was? (No. The point is that Jesus gave up
the glory of His position to serve the interests
of humans, who are not even comparable to Him.)
B. Read Philippians 2:8. The humility of Jesus
accepted being tortured and shamed. Do you have
that mind? That attitude?
1. At one time I had more interaction with those
coming to the church for help. Almost without
exception they were demanding and ungrateful.
How do you react to people like that? (It made
me unhappy and sorry that I had helped.
Contrast that with the mind of Jesus who gave
up His life for those who were taunting and
torturing Him. The Holy Spirit has work to do
in me.)
2. Most of us are not going to be tortured,
taunted, and killed because we have preferred
the interests of others. But in the current
controversy over diversity we are likely to
run into those who claim “pride” in their
group. How would the mind of Jesus handle
that? (When the diversity is sin, Jesus called
out sin, but He gave up His life for sinners.)
IV. The Reward
A. Read Philippians 2:9-11. What is the goal of
putting others first? To come in second? (The goal
is advancing the gospel of Jesus. That brings
rewards. Jesus, who is an extreme example of
putting others first, ended up with the ultimate
reward of being first.)
1. Will that also happen to you?
B. This past weekend I flew to another state to
present a seminar on religious liberty. The event
was advertised and a man I had not seen or heard
from in decades sent me a note. When I searched my
mind I recalled him from my early days working on
construction. He remembered that my goal was to
become a lawyer, and he congratulated me on
meeting my goal. In my experience the goal of
serving God has resulted in great rewards. Helping
individuals to keep their job and their faith has
brought joy. How do you think it would have worked
out if I became a lawyer in order to be wealthy?
(Many lawyers are unhappy with their work. Having
a job that serves others is the best path to an
enjoyable, rewarding career.)
C. Friend, Hebrews 11 tells us that service to God
does not always work out well on earth. The reward
waits until heaven. Paul’s advice to serve the
interests of others represents the normal outcome.
You are blessed because of your service. If you
sense you have the wrong attitude, will you ask
the Holy Spirit to help you to serve and unify?
V. Next week: Shining as Lights in the Night.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail,
but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this
link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.
