Series: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
Choir Sunday #2 – Becoming like Jesus
Readings: Philippians 2:1-13 Preacher: Kevin Kim
This Sunday we continue our series on Philippians with a reflection on Philippians 2:1–13, Becoming Like Jesus. In a world that constantly encourages self-promotion, competition, and individual success, Paul points us toward the self-emptying love of Christ — the way of humility, grace, and community.
On this special Choir Sunday, we will also celebrate the gift of music and singing together. Singing is more than performance; it is a way the church becomes the body of Christ together. As voices blend in harmony, we are reminded that faith is not lived alone, but shared in community.
Through worship, music, and Scripture, we will reflect on what it means to live with the mind of Christ and to become a community shaped not by self-interest, but by love, humility, and mutual care.
Reflection Questions
Exploring the Passage
Paul says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit” (Philippians 2:3).
What do you think “empty glory” or “vain conceit” looks like in today’s world?
Jesus “emptied himself” and took “the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6–7).
What stands out to you most about Jesus’ humility in this passage?
In the sermon, the choir was used as an image of the church.
How does the idea of harmony help you understand Christian community?
Reflecting on Our World
The sermon reflected on the modern pressure to promote ourselves and prove ourselves.
Where do you see this most strongly in today’s culture?
People can be highly connected online, yet still feel lonely.
Why do you think genuine community is difficult today?
The sermon suggested the church is called to be more than “religious consumption.”
What do you think is the difference between attending church and truly belonging to the body of Christ?
Personal and Practical
Where in your life do you find yourself comparing yourself to others or trying to prove yourself?
“Sometimes your voice must become softer so another part can be heard.”
How might this apply to your relationships, workplace, or church life?
As you reflect on Philippians 2 this week,
what might it look like for you to become a little more like Jesus in one specific situation or relationship?
Sermon Text
Today is Choir Sunday.
Today we reflect on Philippians 2 and the call to become like Jesus, and it is beautiful that we do this on Choir Sunday as we celebrate music, singing, the choir, and our worship band together.
Becauեe Chriտtianity haտ alwayտ been a երգing faith.
Long before there were church buildingտ…
Long before microphoneտ…
Long before livetream worտhip…
There were people երգing together.
The people of God have always sung their prayers — even the Psalms were meant to be sung together (Psalm 95:1–2). Jesus and the disciples sang hymns together before going to Gethsemane (Matthew 26:30). Paul and Silas sang in prison (Acts 16:25). And many scholars believe Philippians 2:6–11 itself may have been one of the earliest Christian hymns sung by the early church.
Liտten to the rhythm of it:
“Though he was in the form of God…
he did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself…” (Philippians 2:6–7)
It sounds like worship.
It sounds like poetry.
It sounds like a community, singing the story of Jesus together.
And that matters.
Because music does something information alone cannot do.
Music shapes the heart. Songs stay with us long after words disappear. Someone may forget a sermon, but still remember a hymn sung at a funeral, at Easter, or during a difficult season of life.
And perhaps this is why the church has always sung — because singing forms us together.
When people sing together, something changes.
Breathing harmonises. Rhythm harmonises.
Voices blend. Individuals become part of something larger.
And perhaps that is one of the most powerful images for the church itself.
The choir is not many soloists competing for attention. The choir becomes beautiful precisely because people listen to one another.
Sometimes you sing melody. Sometimes harmony. Sometimes softly.
Sometimes powerfully.
But nobody sings the entire song alone.
And that is exactly Paul’s vision of the church in Philippians 2. Because the church in Philippi was not a perfect church.
There were tensions. Competition.
Self-interest. Comparison. Pride.
And Paul addresses this very directly in verses 1–4.
“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love,
any sharing in the Spirit…
make my joy complete:
be of the same mind,
having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.”
(Philippians 2:1–2)
Paul is not asking them to become identical people. He is speaking about unity shaped by Christlike love.
Then he says:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit.” (Philippians 2:3)
The Greek word for “vain conceit” is kenodoxia — literally “empty glory.”
Empty glory.
People seeking recognition.
People proving themselves.
People needing to appear important.
Honestly, that sounds very modern.
Today we live in what many call the age of self-branding.
We constantly present ourselves.
Promote ourselves. Compare ourselves.
The world tells us:
Be more successful. Be more visible.
Be more influential.
And yet, strangely, the more connected society becomes, the lonelier many people become.
Robert Putnam wrote about this in his famous book Bowling Alone. He noticed that people still participated in activities, but increasingly without community.
The activity remained. The community disappeared. And perhaps the church is not untouched by this.
People can consume worship online alone.
Listen to sermons alone.
Watch Christian content alone.
But Paul’s vision of church is not religious consumption. It is communion.
Paul says elsewhere:
“You are the body of Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 12:27)
A body. Not isolated spiritual individuals.
Not disconnected consumers.
A body. And bodies require connection.
Real connection. Patient connection.
Sacrificial connection.
This is where M. Scott Peck becomes interesting. In The Different Drum, Peck says modern people deeply long for true community, but often cannot reach it because of fear and self-protection.
We want connection… but without vulnerability.
We want belonging… without surrendering ego.
And Peck says true community only begins when people move beyond self-centeredness into what he calls “emptiness.” That word connects deeply with Philippians 2.
Because in verses 5–11, Paul gives us one of the deepest descriptions of Jesus in the New Testament.
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5)
And then Paul describes Christ’s self-emptying. The Greek word for “self-emptying” is kenosis.
“He emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant.”
(Philippians 2:7)
This is one of the great theological movements of Philippians 2.
Christ moves downward.
From glory to servanthood.
From power to humility.
From heaven to the cross.
Paul says Jesus did not cling to equality with God “as something to be exploited” or grasped for his own advantage (Philippians 2:6).
Instead, Christ pours himself out in love.
This is the heart of the gospel.
And we need to be careful here.
Kenosis does not mean self-hatred.
It does not mean pretending we have no worth.
Jesus empties himself precisely because he is secure in the Father’s love.
Kenosis means freedom from self-centeredness.
It is using power for love rather than self-exaltation.
And ultimately this self-emptying leads Jesus to the cross.
“He humbled himself
and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
The cross is the ultimate act of self-giving love. And yet the story does not end there.
Paul says:
“Therefore God also highly exalted him…”
(Philippians 2:9)
Humility comes before exaltation. Self-giving comes before glory.
The kingdom of God works differently from the kingdoms of this world.
The world says: Exalt yourself.
Jesus says: Humble yourself.
The world says: Prove yourself.
Jesus says: Give yourself.
And then Paul says something remarkable:
“Let the same mind be in you…”
(Philippians 2:5)
In other words, this is not merely something to admire about Jesus.
It is something the church is called to embody together.
And this is where Choir Sunday becomes deeply important.
Because choir ministry is not simply about music. It is about learning to listen.
Learning harmony.
Learning awareness of others.
You cannot sing well in a choir while ignoring everybody else.
Sometimes your voice must become softer so another part can be heard.
Sometimes harmony matters more than prominence.
And maybe that is one of the great spiritual lessons hidden inside music ministry.
The church sounds most beautiful when people stop trying to sing only themselves.
A choir is not powerful because everyone sings the same note.
It becomes powerful because different notes are brought together beautifully.
Harmony.
Different voices. Different personalities.
Yet somehow brought together into one song. That is church.
And perhaps this is why singing together matters so deeply.
When the church sings, children hear faith. Older generations pass on memory. The grieving hear comfort. The anxious hear peace. Music becomes ministry.
Choirs and worship teams are not performers entertaining spectators. They are helping the church worship together. Helping the church become the body of Christ together.
And this has always been part of the church’s witness.
The early Christians sang under persecution.
They sang in suffering. They sang in prison.
Why?
Because singing together reminded them they belonged to Christ and to one another.
And maybe that is one of the great gifts of Christian worship: you never sing alone.
Even when your faith feels weak,
someone beside you sings.
Even when your hope feels fragile,
someone beside you sings.
And together, the church carries the song.
So today, on Choir Sunday, we give thanks for every choir member, every musician, every worship leader and every singer.
Because music is not an optional extra for Christian worship. It has been part of the life of the church from the very beginning.
From the Psalms…
to the hymns of the early church…
to today’s worship songs…
The people of God have always sung.
Because the gospel itself is a song worth singing.
A song of grace. A song of humility.
A song of hope. A song of self-giving love.
And may the world hear, through the life of the church, not merely louder voices, but the beautiful harmony of people becoming like Jesus. Amen.