Philippians 2 (NRSVue)
1 If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
Here are some questions for discussion:
1. When Ernest oversleeps, the director doesn’t ask what Ernest could have done differently — he asks who his roommate was. Why does the director hold Devin accountable for Ernest’s absence? How does this scene illustrate Paul’s command in Philippians 2:4 to look beyond “your own personal interests”?
2. In what ways does shared identity create shared responsibility? Where in the church have we reduced accountability to “that’s their problem”?
3. In Drumline, the band’s motto is “One band, one sound.” If Paul says, “united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2), how is that similar to “One band, one sound”? In the movie, unity is not about individual talent but synchronized commitment. How does that mirror Paul’s vision for the church? What happens to the “sound” when one member prioritizes himself? Conversely, what happens when one member is left behind?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Why does Paul tether his joy to their unity (Philippians 2:2)? Does this suggest that joy is incomplete when the body is fractured? In light of 1 Corinthians 12’s teaching on diverse gifts within one body, what does “being of the same mind” actually mean? Can unity exist without uniformity?
2. Paul says, “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose (Philippians 2:2).” What does “being of the same mind” mean? Is Paul calling for agreement on opinions — or alignment in posture? How can believers maintain “the same love” when personalities and convictions differ? What might “one purpose” look like in a modern faith community?
3. “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).” Paul says “not merely” — Looking inward, what does that tell us about self-care versus self-centeredness? How can we discern when we are protecting healthy boundaries versus avoiding sacrificial love? Contrastingly, looking out, How does Phil 2:4 challenge hyper-individualism shaped by Western Christianity? What does it mean to actively look out for the interests of those whose suffering is not your own?
4. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5).” What does it mean to “have the attitude” of Christ — imitation or participation? If we are called to “have the attitude” of Christ, is humility something we manufacture, or does it flow from identity in Him?
For further contemplation, consider these prompts:
1. Compare Philippians 2:2 — “Being of the same mind… united in spirit…” — with John 17:21 — “That they may all be one… so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” If unity is evangelistic — “so that the world may believe” — what does fractured witness communicate to that same world? How do we pursue “one mind” without demanding cultural sameness?
2. Read Philippians 2:1–5. What do these verses reveal about how seriously God takes relational unity? Which phrase in this passage confronts you most personally?