Having the Same Mindset as Christ
Pastor Tan Thai · Aug 31, 2014
This sermon, based on Philippians 2:5-11 and 3:8-11, calls believers not merely to know about Christ but to cultivate an intimate relationship with Him so as to share His very mindset. Christian faith is inseparably tied to Christ Himself, and that mindset is expressed through loyalty, humility, and self-sacrifice.
The sermon opens with the story of Indian missionary Sundar Singh, who, when challenged by a Hindu professor to name something Christianity offers that Hinduism does not, simply answered: 'I found Jesus Christ.' This anecdote establishes the central thesis: Christian faith is not tied to a philosophical system or set of doctrines, but to the person of Christ Himself — the One who declared Himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and who said that seeing Him is seeing the Father (John 14:9).
The pastor exegetes Philippians 2:5-11, where Paul commands believers to 'have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.' The Vietnamese term 'tâm tình' (mindset/heart-attitude) is explored as something deeper than mere outward attitude, which can change with circumstances and be concealed. True 'tâm tình' is the deepest part of a person's soul, shaped over years of experience and knowledge. To share Christ's mindset, believers must know Him intimately — not merely through books or through a pastor, but through personal investment in Scripture reading, prayer, and listening to God's voice.
The sermon stresses that Christ is not a distant or mysterious deity, but one who is near and with whom every believer can have a personal relationship. Paul's testimony in Philippians 3:8-11 — counting all things as rubbish in order to know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings — is presented as the model. A Chinese classical story about the deep friendship between Bao Shuya and Guan Zhong illustrates that only intimacy enables one to truly understand another's heart, and that God knows each of His children even more deeply than Bao Shuya knew Guan Zhong.
The sermon concludes by identifying three core characteristics of Christ's mindset as outlined in Philippians 2:6-8: (1) Faithfulness — He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; (2) Humility — He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in human likeness; (3) Self-sacrifice — He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this mindset, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name (Philippians 2:9-11).
The practical application challenges believers to intentionally invest time and effort in an intimate relationship with Christ, because when they truly share His mindset, His commands will no longer feel burdensome but will come naturally and lightly. This is the very meaning of His promise in Matthew 11:28-30: 'My yoke is easy and my burden is light.'