Sermon:

A New Thing – In the Direction of Jesus

Philippians 2:5–11

The passage we read today is known as the "Christ Hymn," a poem or a song about Christ. It contains a deep confession of Jesus Christ within Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. This passage played a crucial role in forming early Christian and medieval doctrines. In other words, it set the direction for the core question: "How do we confess Jesus?"
As I looked back, I realized I preached on this exact same passage last Palm Sunday. That’s a bit unusual. Normally on Palm Sunday, we focus on Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, or on passages that mark the beginning of his suffering. It’s rare to return to the same text two years in a row, but here we are again in Philippians.
April’s sermon series is titled “A New Thing,” and within that theme, this passage calls us to ask: What kind of life direction are we choosing when we confess Jesus Christ? Also, since this passage is known as the “Christ Hymn,” let’s explore how we are to remember Jesus whom we confess, and how we are to understand Paul’s encouragement to “have one mind.”
As I said earlier, Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem from Bethphage, accompanied by shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and palm branches waving.
The distance between Bethphage and Jerusalem is not very far. If you go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, you’ll walk the same path. On the way down from Bethphage, you pass the Church of the Pater Noster (where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer), the Dominus Flevit Church (where Jesus wept over the city), and then through the Garden of Gethsemane to arrive at Jerusalem.
If you visit, you’ll realize just how short that distance is. There’s a book titled The Pilgrimage of Egeria, a 4th-century account written by a female pilgrim who traveled to the Holy Land. In her letters exchanged with a convent, she describes in vivid detail how people would wave palm branches and run down from Bethphage shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” It helps us understand that Palm Sunday isn’t just a passing celebration but a moment full of meaning.
The first tone of Jesus’ journey toward suffering begins on Palm Sunday—with cheers and celebration. But starting tomorrow, we enter Holy Week—a time of suffering and trial that leads to the cross and resurrection. As we reflect on that timeline, I invite you to consider the experiences of Jesus’ disciples and how Paul and the believers in Philippi, many years later, were walking a similar spiritual journey. What were people expecting? What direction was Jesus actually pointing them to? And where do we stand in relation to that difference?
Paul wrote this letter to express his gratitude for the mission offering the Philippian church had sent. We don’t know whether he specifically asked for it, but the Philippians were never hesitant to support Paul. We can guess that Paul, moved by their dedication, wanted to teach something meaningful in return. It’s likely that he hoped the church would grow more faithfully in Christ through his letter.
Paul begins chapter 2 by talking about unity—“being of the same mind.” And in verse 5, he tells them to “have the mind of Christ.” What does it mean for a church to have one mind? And what does it mean to have the mind of Jesus?
These two questions strike at the heart of what it means to be the church and to live as a Christian. Paul cared deeply about the healthy growth of the church. Through these questions, we can better understand the identity of the church community and how we, individually, are to live as followers of Jesus.
We’re familiar with these questions: What kind of shape should the church take? How should a believer live? But even though they sound familiar, we don’t always encounter them so directly in our everyday lives.
Interestingly, Paul repeats the phrase “Let this mind be in you” five times in Philippians. What’s notable is that he doesn’t use the usual Greek word nous (which means intellect or understanding). Instead, he uses psyche, a word that means soul, life-force, or the very center of one's being. That choice wasn’t random—it suggests a deeper intention behind Paul’s words.
And four out of those five times, the verb phroneo is used—meaning not just to think, but to direct one’s thoughts toward action. It implies a decision, a purposeful mindset tied to behavior.
So when Paul says, “Let this mind be in you,” he’s not telling us to simply adopt a mental idea or attitude. He’s calling us to a concrete lifestyle and direction—something to be lived and practiced.
Scholars believe Paul was influenced by the Greco-Roman concept of phronesis—practical, ethical wisdom. Not just intellectual knowledge, but moral discernment that benefits the community, the kind of wisdom that leads to action and transformation.
Think of it this way: Memorizing traffic laws is one thing, but actually driving from here to San Diego is another matter entirely.
Driving that long road—especially with friends or family—requires a kind of wisdom that helps you navigate all the small decisions and unexpected issues that come up. That’s the kind of wisdom Paul’s talking about when he says, “Let this mind be in you.”
So Paul’s request for “same mind, same love” doesn’t mean uniform opinions. He’s talking about people being moved by the same source—living from the same life force. When we read Philippians, we sometimes misunderstand Paul as demanding strict agreement. But really, he’s inviting us to adopt Jesus’ way of deciding, acting, and living—opening ourselves to the divine life flowing through all creation.
We often speak of humility and faithfulness. But living them out is another story. Knowing something and living it are two very different things.
So when verse 5 says, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” it doesn’t mean we need to think exactly like him. It means we need to adopt his intention, his resolve, and his willingness to respond to God’s call. It’s the same spirit as when Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
With that, the intention behind today’s passage—this "Christ Hymn"—becomes clearer.
Was Paul writing this to explain that Jesus is equal to God? Or to describe him as a servant in human form?
I think Paul had something deeper in mind. As I mentioned, Paul’s greatest concern was that belief in Jesus would result in the practice of Jesus’ way.
It wasn’t about abstract doctrines like “Jesus is God.” Rather, it was about calling us to follow Jesus’ path—to lower ourselves, to obey, even to the point of death. That’s the sacred calling we’re invited to share in.
Paul isn’t trying to guilt us with a “Jesus did it, so you should too!” tone.
Let’s read verses 10 and 11: “At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” That means God has given us the ability to live according to this calling.
On Palm Sunday, the people shouted with joy, believing Jesus was entering Jerusalem as a political king to overturn power structures. But if you look closely, you’ll see something else—their cheers were actually their own desires, hoping Jesus would align with their direction.
Even today, some people try to use Jesus for their own agendas. They want the church to be a political power bloc and meddle in politics and law. They want religious influence to move politicians in their favor.
That’s what we see on the surface. But underneath, there are still those who view faith and church as tools for personal gain—not out of love for God, the gospel, or the kingdom, but driven by their own interpretations that suit them.
This isn’t new. It’s happened throughout church history—during the early church, the medieval church, and even now.
So what must we remember from today’s passage?
That we are to orient our lives in Jesus’ direction and strive to live that way. People are different. We can’t all think and live the same way. I hope members of our church live in their unique colors and personalities. Don’t try to blend in or stay quiet—live your faith according to your personality.
That doesn’t mean doing whatever you want. It means shaping your unique self toward the direction Jesus is pointing.
Recently, I attended the “Called to Wholeness” retreat. I wasn’t officially invited; someone emailed me personally. After some hesitation, I went. It was held at a Jesuit retreat center in Los Altos for three days. The place was breathtaking—100 years old and beautifully maintained.
A century ago, no one paid attention to that land. Now, it’s one of the most valuable pieces of land around. Developers might dream of building homes there, but the retreat center has no intention of selling. It exists solely for spiritual formation.
That’s the kind of value we need. That’s what Paul is calling us to today—to live in Jesus’ direction, to pursue unity even in our differences.
At the retreat, pastors gathered—some ordained 5 years, others 10, even 40. It was a relaxed and deep time. We gathered in small groups, shared stories for over an hour each, asked questions, prayed, and shared communion at the end.
Though our circumstances differed, we all felt the difficulty of ministry. Despite different races and backgrounds, we were comforted by the shared struggle of being a pastor. But I wondered—why is it so hard?
One reason is that churches are no longer growing as they once did. And pastors feel the weight of their limitations.
We jump to conclusions: “The church’s time is over. Hoping for revival now is unrealistic.”
That kind of despair discourages both pastors and congregants.
Last year, I preached on this passage with a surfing metaphor. Surfers wait endlessly in the sea for the right wave. I talked about waiting for the wave that’s coming for our church.
And I still believe that. There is a wave coming to Yeolin Church. Will we ride it or not? “Let this mind be in you” means to grow through training and maturity—to decide and act in the way of Jesus, to open ourselves to the life of God that fills creation. It’s not enough to memorize maps and traffic laws. We must walk together, talk together, and move together in peace—in Jesus’ direction.
Then we’ll truly live into that calling: Called to Wholeness.May we remember that while the world cheers for power, our calling is to dream of God’s kingdom and live toward Jesus’ direction.

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"Sermon Manuscript for Palm Sunday, April 16"

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