ADULT SS LESSON: https://ssnet.org/lessons/26a/less04.html
Creative Starting Prayer:
- The Setup: Name countries in conflict mentioned (Vietnam, China, Russia, USA, or within nations, communities, families, etc.).
- The Action: Ask members from different countries to stand up and share one “prayer for humility” for their specific nation or region.
- The Point: To realize that the “Mind of Christ” is the only thing that can bridge borders.
NOTE: In the below, teachers should summarize some main points for each day of the lesson or ask group members what insights God has given through them for that day or something like that to cover the main Bible principles. But the below is some background, some good discussion questions and a couple activities.
Part 1: Historical Context – The “Colony” of Pride
PHILIPPIANS SETTING
Before diving into the verses, set the stage for your class:
The Setting: Paul is writing from a prison cell to the people of Philippi often called “Little Rome.”. Philippi was a “Roman Colony.” This meant the citizens were intensely proud; they dressed like Romans, spoke Latin, and were obsessed with the “Cursus Honorum” (the race for honors). In their world, your value was based on your status, your rank, and how many people were “below” you. To be “humble” in Philippi was considered a character flaw or a sign of being a slave.
The Conflict: Because the Philippians were raised in a culture of “climbing the ladder,” that same spirit of competition had entered the church. Two leaders (Euodia and Syntyche) were at odds, and the church was fracturing.
Paul’s Radical Solution: Paul writes this letter from a prison cell to tell them: “You are citizens of a different Kingdom. In Rome, you climb up. In Christ, we ‘climb’ down” to reach the oppressed and bring godly unity.
READ MEMORY VERSE (together): Phil. 2:2
Part 2: Global Perspectives & Insights
QUESTION: What are areas that different cultures need to find better unity? Have they followed biblical ideas to improve unity? What are biblical ideas that can help improve unity that you have experienced or seen?
Here are themes gathered from Sabbath School discussions across various divisions:
- African Perspective (Hope Channel Africa): Focuses on “Ubuntu” (I am because we are). Humility is seen as the glue that prevents tribalism from destroying church unity. Insight: Unity isn’t just “not fighting”; it is active communal responsibility. (Link: SID Media)
- South American Perspective (Novo Tempo): Focuses on “Missionary Humility.” To reach the favelas or the elite, the church must lose its “institutional pride” and serve like Christ. Insight: A proud church cannot reach a broken world. (Link: Novo Tempo)
- Asian Perspective (Hope Channel Philippines/South Asia): Focuses on “Face” and Honor. In many Asian cultures, “losing face” is the worst fate. Philippians 2 is revolutionary here because Jesus voluntarily lost “face” for us. Insight: True humility is being willing to lose your reputation for the sake of the Gospel. (Link: Hope Channel Philippines)
- Middle Eastern/Arabic Perspective (Hope Channel Middle East): Focuses on “Peace in Conflict.” In regions of war, humility is the only way to bridge the gap between groups that have been enemies for generations. Insight: You cannot have peace without the “Mind of Christ.” (Link: Hope Channel ME)
- European Perspective (Hope Channel UK/Europe): Focuses on “Unity in Diversity.” With secularism rising, European Adventists emphasize that our only “identity” must be Christ, or we will be swallowed by political polarizations. (Link: HopeTV UK)
Part 3: The Daily Teaching Plan
Sunday: The Problem of “Selfish Ambition”
Focus: The root of global and personal conflict.
- Global Issue: Looking at the conflicts between nations (like the Russia-China-US dynamics), how much of “national security” is actually “national pride”? Is it possible for a nation to be “humble”?
- Personal/Spiritual: Paul warns against “Vainglory.” When have you felt the “need to be right” or “need to be first” actually damage a relationship with a family member or fellow church member?
- International Reflection: In your home country, what is the “status symbol” people fight for, and how does that spirit creep into the local church?
Insights from leading SS teachers:
**The Ox (Ken Hart):** Conflict is rarely about the “topic” and usually about the “ego.” Paul isn’t asking for a truce; he’s asking for a “heart transplant.”
> * **Luccas Rodor:** Unity is a *supernatural* byproduct. You cannot “legislate” unity or force it through church policy; it only happens when individuals surrender their “right to be first.”
> * **ABSG:** The “if” in verse 1 (“If there is any consolation…”) isn’t a doubt; it’s an assertion. Since we *know* Christ’s love, we are now *obligated* to show it.
Monday: The Great Descent (The Kenosis)
Focus: Jesus emptying Himself (from Ken Hart/The Ox). (Phil. 2:5-8)
- Global Issue: We see greed crushing people into poverty. If the world’s leaders adopted the “Mind of Christ” (emptying themselves of privilege), how would the global economy change? How should a Christian’s spending habits change in a world of poverty?
- (Global Issue):** How does the “emptying” of Christ challenge the “America First” or “China First” mentalities that dominate modern geopolitics?
- Global issue):** In our world, we see increasing religious-political control (Catholic influence/global leaders), we see a push for “Unity through Power.” How does Jesus’ “Unity through Weakness” (the Cross) expose the danger of top-down religious control? How does the “Mind of Christ” differ from the “Mind of the World” regarding how to influence people? (Force vs. Love).
- (Personal):** “Kenosis” means “emptying.” What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to “empty” yourself of to follow Jesus? (A title? A political opinion? A family inheritance?)
- Personal/Spiritual: Ken Hart points out that Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” What “right” or “privilege” are you currently “grasping” onto that God might be asking you to let go of?
- Jesus-Centered: Can you share a time when you felt Jesus “emptying” your heart of pride? What did that feel like?
- Theology: Why was it necessary for Jesus to become a “servant” and not just a “good human”?
Insights from leading SS teachers:
**The Ox:** Jesus didn’t just “act” like a servant; He *became* one. This is “ontological” humility. He didn’t lose His divinity, but He laid aside His *prerogatives*.
> * **Luccas Rodor:** The world says “Ascend!” Jesus says “Descend!” True greatness is measured by how far down you are willing to go to reach someone else.
> * **HopeSS:** The “ladder” of Christ starts in the highest heaven and ends at the lowest form of death (the Cross). If your religion is taking you “up” the social ladder, you’re on the wrong ladder.
Tuesday: The Mind of Christ (Phil. 2:3,5)
Focus: Thinking differently about power.
- In your culture (Asia, Africa, Europe, etc.), is “face” (reputation) a big deal? How does Jesus’ willingness to “lose face” help you navigate your own culture’s expectations?
- (Global):** Internal conflicts between Democrats and Republicans are breaking nations, friends and sometimes even families apart. If Jesus were standing between two people arguing about politics, what would He be holding? He likely wouldn’t be holding a political flyer; He’d be holding a towel and a basin. How can we “wash the feet” of someone they disagree with politically.
If you “had the mind of Christ” while sitting at Thanksgiving dinner with a political rival, how can a “humble” Christian be a “light” in such a toxic political environment? What would your first sentence to them be? - Personal/Spiritual: How can we have “the same mind” in a class with so many different cultures and political opinions? What is the one thing we all must agree on?
- Jesus-Centered: (Global Issue):** In the context of global wars, can a person have the “mind of Christ” and still harbor hatred for “the enemy”? Share a spiritual experience where the Holy Spirit changed your “mind” about an enemy or someone you disagreed with.
- Application: What is one practical way you can “think of others as better than yourself” this coming week at work?
Insights from leading SS teachers:
**ABSG:** The “Mind” of Christ isn’t just a set of ideas; it’s a *posture*. It is the intentional choice to treat others based on their value to God rather than their value to us.
> * **Ken Hart:** We often try to change our *actions* without changing our *mindset*. Paul says the mindset must come first.
> * **Luccas Rodor:** Humility is not a lack of self-esteem; it is a lack of *self-preoccupation*. The humble person isn’t thinking they are “bad”; they just aren’t thinking about themselves at all.
Wednesday: Lights in a Dark World (Phil. 2:14-15)**
Focus: The result of humility is a witness (from Luccas Rodor).
- Personal/Spiritual: Paul says to do all things “without complaining or arguing.” But Bible prophets frequently condemned injustices by govt./religious leaders and the Bible says to speak out against injustice and expose evil (Prov. 29:7, Eph. 5:11) and Paul argued/debated many times in his evangelistic work such as at Athens (Acts 17)? How do we know which to do at which times?
- Jesus-Centered: How does Jesus’ peace during His trial (the “Lamb silent before the shearers” (Isaiah 53:7)) give you the strength to handle unfair criticism at work or in the church? Have you ever had a “spiritual experience” where staying silent or being humble actually won someone over to Jesus more than an argument would have?
- International Reflection: In your home country, what is the “darkness” that Christians are most tempted to join in on, rather than being a light against? How is a Christian’s “light” seen differently in your culture compared to the West?
Insights from leading SS teachers:
**HopeSS:** “Complaining” (murmuring) is the language of the wilderness. “Gratitude” is the language of the Promised Land. You cannot be a light if you are a grumbler.
> * **Luccas Rodor:** The “crooked and perverse generation” isn’t just “out there”; it’s the spirit of selfishness that tries to live “in here” (the church).
> * **Teacher Comments:** Our witness isn’t what we say; it’s how we treat those who can do nothing for us.
Thursday: The Reward of Humility (Phil. 2:9-11)*
Focus: God does the exalting.
- (Personal):** Many of us seek “validation” from our bosses, our parents, or social media. How would your life change if you truly believed that *only* God’s “well done” mattered?
- (Jesus-Centered):** Can you share a time when you felt “exalted” by God (given peace, a sense of belonging, or a blessing) after you chose to be humble in a difficult situation?
- Global Issue: Many people believe that to survive in this world, you have to be aggressive and “look out for #1.” Does the Bible’s promise that “God will exalt the humble” actually work in the “real world”?
- (Global Issue):** When the “Cold War” escalates or systems of control tighten, how does the Sovereignty of Jesus (Verse 11) protect us from living in fear?
- Personal/Spiritual: When have you stepped back and let someone else take the credit, only to find that God blessed you in a deeper way?
- Jesus-Centered: Because Jesus humbled Himself, God gave Him the name above every name. How does knowing Jesus is King give you the security to be a servant?
- Final Call: What is one area of your life where you are trying to “exalt yourself,” and how can you hand that over to Jesus today?
Insights from leading SS teachers:
Creative & Interactive Activities
Activity 3: “Emptying the Cup” (Object Lesson)
- The Setup: A cup filled to the brim with water (representing our pride/opinions).
- The Action: Try to pour “the Mind of Christ” (clean water) into it. It overflows and makes a mess.
- The Lesson: You cannot receive the “Mind of Christ” until you first “empty” your own cup. Ask everyone to spend 30 seconds in silence “emptying” their heart of one specific prideful thought before the closing prayer.