Sunday Recap - Joy: Paul’s letter to The Philippians

November 10th, 2025
by Ps Jonny Kettle

Joy: Paul’s letter to The Philippians - Chapter 2 - Ps Jonny Kettle

Message Overview:

In this message, Jonny focussed Paul’s teachings in Philippian’s Chapter 2. At the end of Chapter 1 Paul has encouraged The Church to stand firm amidst the persecution they are experiencing. In Chapter 2 Paul switches the focus from external persecution to internal relationships, encouraging The Church to guard unity in their internal relationships. The reality is that where people gather there will be conflict, even in The Church. The Church is a place where imperfect people have encountered a perfect God and are on the journey of being changed into Christ likeness. We have to intentionally guard unity because the enemy desires to bring division. Jonny encouraged us to guard unity to prevent the affects which division brings:

- Isolation
- Individualism
- Influence

Paul encourages unity by living in humility and service to one another. Paul uses Jesus’ example of humility and service to spur us on to live a life of humility and service to one another.

The world views greatness when we are being served. Jesus views greatness when we humble ourselves in service to others.

This message can be summarised in this sentence:

Humility and service was the way of Jesus, therefore it is the way of His followers.

Key Scriptures:

Philippians 2:1-8
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Mark 9:35
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Hebrews 12:2
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

YouTube Link for Service:

Sunday Service

Group Reflection Questions:

What do you feel God saying to you?
What can you do about it?
What is an actionable plan you can put in place to help yourself respond to God?
Who can keep you accountable?