Philippians 2: 5-16 - Jazz Brewis
On Sunday evening at our 5.30pm service, Jazz Brewis shared a message based on Philippians 2:5-16 with our young adults. Below you’ll find a video and audio version of her sermon and a summary article with questions for reflection and small group discussion.
Living in Christ's Humility: A Reflection on Philippians 2
On Sunday evening, Jazz Brewis, Children’s and Family Pastor at One Church Blackburn, delivered an engaging sermon exploring the humility, sacrifice, and exaltation of Christ as described in Philippians 2. With a conversational tone and relatable illustrations, Jazz unpacked one of the most profound theological truths: that Jesus is fully God and fully human. This reality shapes how Christians live, worship, and relate to one another.
The Struggles of Group Projects
Jazz opened with a relatable story about group projects, recalling her frustration during university when she often ended up doing most of the work while others contributed minimally. This example set the stage for the key message: while human group projects are often frustratingly uneven, Jesus willingly took on the "group assignment" of salvation, doing all the work so that believers could reap the benefits of grace, love, and freedom.
This sacrifice, Jazz explained, should inspire believers to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ, shaped by humility and service to others.
Christ's Humility and Humanity
Drawing from Philippians 2:5–8, Jazz described the radical humility of Jesus, who, though fully God, became fully human. She emphasised that Jesus never ceased to be divine during His time on Earth. Instead, He willingly gave up His divine privileges to live as a servant and experience the full spectrum of human life.
Fully Human: Jazz highlighted how Scripture shows Jesus experiencing hunger (Mark 11), exhaustion (John 4), thirst (John 19), and even temptation (Matthew 4). He also felt emotions like anger, friendship, betrayal, grief, and joy.
Fully God: Even as He lived a human life, Jesus remained fully God, embodying both divinity and humanity in perfect harmony.
This dual nature is crucial for understanding who Jesus is. Jazz explained that Jesus’ humanity makes Him relatable—He knows what it’s like to live as we do. His divinity, however, reveals His power to save and restore humanity.
The Misunderstanding of “Emptying Himself”
Jazz addressed a common misunderstanding of Philippians 2:7, where Paul writes that Jesus “emptied himself.” This doesn’t mean Jesus gave up His divinity while on Earth. Instead, it means He willingly set aside His divine privileges to live a life of humility and obedience, even to the point of death on the cross.
By doing so, Jesus demonstrated what it truly means to be divine: sacrificial love and humility.
Christ's Exaltation
In Philippians 2:9–11, Paul shifts focus to Jesus’ exaltation. Jazz explained that God elevated Jesus in two significant ways:
Exaltation to the Highest Place: Through His resurrection, ascension, and glorification, Jesus is raised to the highest status. His humility and obedience on Earth are followed by His rightful place of honour at the Father’s side.
The Name Above All Names: God gave Jesus the name “Lord,” signifying His divine authority. Jazz connected this title to “Yahweh,” the name of God in the Old Testament, showing how Jesus and Yahweh are one.
This exaltation underscores that Jesus is not only worthy of worship but also the ultimate authority over all creation.
Our Response
The final section of the sermon, based on Philippians 2:12–16, focused on how believers should respond to Christ’s humility and exaltation. Jazz highlighted three key responses:
Work Out Your Salvation: Jazz clarified that Paul isn’t suggesting believers earn their salvation—this is a gift from God. Instead, working out salvation means living it out intentionally, growing closer to Christ, and allowing His Spirit to transform us.
Be in Christian Community: Jazz emphasised the importance of surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who encourage, support, and sharpen our faith. Whether through church, small groups, or mentoring relationships, Christian community helps us grow in Christlikeness.
Serve Others: Just as Jesus humbled Himself to serve humanity, believers are called to serve their local and global communities with love and humility.
Living in the Light of Christ
Jazz closed with an invitation to reflect on the significance of Christ’s humility and exaltation, especially as we enter the Advent season. She encouraged listeners to:
Spend time in God’s presence.
Deepen their understanding of who Jesus is.
Allow His love and sacrifice to shape their lives.
Jesus, she reminded the congregation, emptied Himself and lived a fully human life to demonstrate His love for us. He died a sacrificial death and was exalted to the highest place, where He reigns as Lord over all.
As believers, we are called to live in light of this truth, reflecting Christ’s humility in our attitudes and actions.
Discussion and Reflection Questions
Jazz’s sermon provides a rich foundation for small group discussions or personal reflection. Here are seven questions to consider:
What does it mean to you that Jesus is fully God and fully human? How does this impact your understanding of who He is?
Philippians 2:7 describes Jesus “emptying Himself.” What does this teach us about humility and sacrificial love?
How can recognising Jesus’ humanity help you relate to Him more personally?
In what ways do you see Christ’s humility reflected (or missing) in your own life?
Jazz emphasised the importance of Christian community. How has being part of a faith community helped you grow in your relationship with God?
What are some practical ways you can serve others with humility this week, both in your local community and beyond?
As Advent begins, how can you intentionally draw closer to Jesus and reflect His love during this season?
Conclusion
Jazz’s sermon on Philippians 2 was a powerful reminder of Christ’s humility, sacrifice, and exaltation. By taking on human form and dying on the cross, Jesus demonstrated the depth of His love for humanity.
As believers, we are invited to respond by living in humility, pursuing community, and serving others. In this Advent season, may we reflect on the incredible gift of Jesus and seek to live lives that honour Him as our exalted Lord.