Philippians 2:1-11

This is our Sunday teaching from Youth Pastor, Lara Sokunbi. Recorded live at our service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 13th July, 2025. Below you can find the full talk audio, and a summary article.

Want to lead a Connect Group session on this teaching? The notes are here!

The Joy on the Other Side of Humility
Philippians 2 | Sunday Teaching Summary

This week in our series on Philippians, we explored the mindset of Jesus—and the joy that follows when we live with humility.

We began with a question: Have you ever thought about how you think? Mindsets shape our relationships, our ambitions, and how we see ourselves and others. Paul, writing to a church united with Christ, urges them—and us—to take on a radical new mindset: the mindset of Jesus.

In Philippians 2, Paul calls believers to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,” but instead to “value others above yourselves.” It’s a powerful and countercultural invitation: not to diminish ourselves, but to see ourselves and others through Jesus’ eyes, rather than our own.

What gets in the way? Sometimes it’s selfish ambition—the drive to achieve, succeed, or be seen a certain way. Other times it’s pride - thinking too highly of ourselves, or refusing to admit when we’re wrong. But both of these distort the joy of kingdom life.

True humility, Paul says, is found in the example of Jesus: though he was in very nature God, he made himself nothing, took on the role of a servant, and endured the cross. And yet—it was for the joy set before him that Jesus endured it all.

Humility may feel costly, but there is joy on the other side. Whether it’s forgiving someone who’s hurt us, serving a friend quietly behind the scenes, or letting go of the need to be seen - when we put others first, we walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

We heard stories from everyday life—like Catherine, a midwife in our church who stepped in during a difficult labour, or a personal moment of conviction when praying for someone hard to love. These weren’t grand gestures, but they revealed the kingdom of God through quiet, humble obedience.

In a world that says, “Look after yourself first,” Jesus invites us to something better. Humility is not weakness—it’s the doorway to deep joy, renewed relationships, and the life of the kingdom.

So this week, let’s ask: What might it look like for me to put on the mindset of Christ?