Pastor Evan Rose -- Church -- 11/17/2025

Rooted in Humilty and Honor

Learning the Way of Christ Together

Unity does not begin with agreements.
It begins with attitudes.

Before believers can walk together in love, before a church can serve side by side, before Christians can reflect the beauty of the gospel to a watching world, Scripture calls us to start somewhere far deeper—in the posture of the heart.

In Philippians 2, Paul opens the curtain on the kind of mindset that makes real unity possible. And it’s not strategy. It’s not preference alignment. It’s not shared personality or background.

It’s humility.

Gospel partnership—whether between friends, ministries, teams, or within an entire church—is impossible without gospel humility. And Paul teaches that the source and model of that humility is Jesus Himself.

The Call to Humility

Paul writes:

“Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”
— Philippians 2:2

Unity is impossible without humility. Pride divides. Humility unites.

Paul continues:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”
— Philippians 2:3–4

This confronts every instinct we have to protect ourselves, elevate our opinions, or defend our preferences. Paul’s vision is radically others-focused, rooted in the character of Christ.

And then he gives the ultimate example.

Jesus: The Model of Humility

“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus…”
— Philippians 2:5

Jesus—God in the flesh—emptied Himself, took on the form of a servant, and humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross.

He surrendered His rights.
He laid down His status.
He chose obedience over comfort.
He chose sacrifice over self-preservation.

This is the shape of Christian humility.

And it is the foundation for Christian unity.

Honor: The Culture of a Gospel-Shaped Community

Romans 12 paints the same picture in practical detail:

“Let love be without hypocrisy… Outdo one another in showing honor… Live in harmony with one another… If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
— Romans 12:9–10, 16, 18

Honor is what humility looks like in action.

In a world quick to criticize, compare, and compete, the church is meant to be a counter-culture where believers:

• lift one another up

• give credit freely

• speak words that build, not break

• celebrate the grace at work in others

• gladly let others shine

This kind of community does not happen accidentally. It grows where humility is planted.

Peace: A Shared Responsibility

Paul says,

“As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
— Romans 12:18

Peace is not passive.
It is pursued.
It requires patience, forgiveness, gentleness, and intentionality.

Unity cannot survive without believers who actively seek peace—who refuse to assume the worst, who listen carefully, who apologize quickly, who choose grace over irritation.

Humility protects unity.
Honor strengthens unity.
Peace preserves unity.

And all of it flows from Jesus.

Unity takes humility.
Humility takes intention.
Intention takes the Spirit.

May we walk in the humility of Christ that leads to the unity of Christ, for the glory of Christ.