Whose Mind Is It Anyway? – September 13, 2026
Psalm 119:97-105, Philippians 2:1-11
September 13, 2026
Yes, the sermon title this morning is a play on the title of the old TV program “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” Have you seen that? I love that show! It’s all improv. And the things they come up with on the spot are hilarious!
So with that in mind, what I’m asking us to think today is, “Whose Mind Is It Anway?” Because we’re thinking today about Paul’s statement to the Philippians – and to us, of course. We’ve actually been doing this backwards lately. Kari did chapter 4, and then last week we did chapter 3. And today, Paul begins chapter 2, by saying, “If there is any encouragement in Christ… complete my joy by being of one mind.” And then he leads us to this this statement – this exhortation – for us to “have this mind, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” That’s what we’re thinking about today. What is it like to have the mind of Christ?
I wanted to highlight this on this day that we start Sunday School. And I saw a quote this week that I think goes along with that. And the quote was this. “You can’t learn without thinking.” Do you agree with that? “You can’t learn without thinking.” Well, the reason I like that is that learning is more than just a matter of just filling our heads with knowledge. Learning is thinking about that knowledge. It’s processing the facts and concepts that we know, and forming an understanding. That’s what makes your mind, your mind! Isn’t that true? Otherwise, your mind is just a repository of useful facts. (or sometimes useless facts.) Right?
So, Paul is challenging us today to think about having the mind which is in Christ Jesus. And that’s quite a challenge, isn’t it! Because we people have a tendency to want to think the way we think. I don’t know about you, but nothing gets to me more than when someone tells me how I ought to think. When that happens, I hear myself saying, “Hey, this is my mind here!” “Don’t tell me what I should think!” But, on the other hand, we humans also tend to want everybody else think the way we do! I had a friend years ago who used to say, “Everybody is entitled to my opinion.”
Isn’t that true of all of us? We have that tendency, don’t we! And then, when it comes to our faith, we tend to think the same thing. We think that, of course, Jesus thinks like us! And we’re tempted to put our opinions and our beliefs into our faith that way. And that is so opposite to what Paul is saying here.
As you know, I’m very concerned about the polarization in this country. The divide between the right and the left seems to be growing wider all the time. And the worst part is that the ability of people to have respect for those who differ with them, is going away! And frankly, I cringe to think what it’s going to be like as November approaches!
Well, sometimes that polarization creeps into the Church. Over the years, I’ve actually heard people say that, of course, Jesus would have been on their side! And worse than that, they’ve used their faith to justify their position, while denigrating those on the other side. I’ve also actually heard people say, and I quote, “You can’t possibly be a real Christian if you vote a certain way.” And I’ve heard that from both sides! And by the way, when I first heard that, it was 50 years ago! And it’s still around today.
That has always bothered me. And frankly, I think it should bother everyone! (And everyone is entitled to my opinion, right?) But then, sometimes I hear someone say, “I have a friend who is polar opposite of me, but we love each other.” And I think, “That’s the way it should be!” In fact, if that’s the case with you, if you have such a friend, I hope you say that a lot!
That’s one of the reasons I love being Presbyterian! There’s something I’ve quoted a lot over the years. And it’s two of the historic principles of the Presbyterian Church. One – “God alone is Lord of the conscience.” And two, “People of good conscience can differ!” I believe we, as Presbyterians, have a task in this world. It’s our job to show the world that, though we might differ with somebody, we can recognize that they still have a good conscience!
Do you get that? Are you able to say that about someone you differ with? That’s not easy, is it? It’s much easier to just say “I’m right, they’re wrong. There’s no debate.” (And I’ve heard those words before, too! “There’s no debate.” “Oh yes there is! In fact, there’s a debate about whether there’s a debate!) Again, I always feel so good when somebody tells me, “I have this friend, and we think differently, but we remain good friends!” People need to hear that in this world!
Ok, that’s about as political as I’ll get up here. And I pray to God that you see it is not one-sided! Because I feel Paul’s challenge in this. I feel the call to strive to “have the same mind that is in Christ Jesus.” And I hope you do too! Because, I have noticed, over the years, that some people have become remarkably good at assuming that Jesus thinks the way we think. But Paul turns that completely around! He says, “Don’t put your mind into Jesus. Put Jesus’ mind into you!”
And make no mistake! Sometimes what Jesus calls us to do, and to be – and to think – is challenging! Because it changes us! It changes our thinking, and it changes our hearts! Because remember, Paul’s statement doesn’t end with “Have the mind which is yours in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to describe the mind of Christ Jesus. He said, “Have the mind which is in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to hold on to, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” And more than that, “Being found in human form, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death – even death on a cross.”
You want to know “the mind which is in Christ Jesus?” That’s it! That’s what’s at the heart of this! Love, caring, and self-sacrifice! One person I read put it this way. “The mind of the world asks, ‘What do I believe?’ ‘What do I want?’ and ‘What side am I on?’ But the mind of Christ asks, ‘How can I serve?’ ‘What does the other person need?’ and ‘What am I willing to give up, in order to follow the one who emptied himself, taking the form of a servant?'”
That’s the “same mind” Paul is calling his people to have. And notice, that doesn’t mean agreement. It doesn’t mean conformity. It means having the same heart. It means being willing to look beyond ourselves. It means seeking to have the mind which is in Christ Jesus, which is all about humility and service.
Maybe that’s the real challenge of Christian learning. We come to Sunday School – mainly when we’re young. But we continue learning throughout our lives. Don’t forget that! We learn the scriptures. We learn about the faith. And we think about what we’ve learned. And, if we’re really learning, it changes us! Because you can’t learn without thinking. And you can’t really think about Christ Jesus without being challenged to be more like Christ Jesus!
So, “Let the same mind be among you that was in Christ Jesus.” And know, that that’s a lifelong journey! None of us has arrived. None of us has it all figured out. That’s why, we keep on learning. We keep on thinking. We keep on growing.
So as we think about the beginning of a new Sunday School year, I challenge you to keep asking the question again. “Whose Mind Is It Anway?” Is it simply your mind, filled with your opinions, your assumptions, and your “certainties?” Or are you allowing the mind of Christ shape the way you think, to change the way you see other people, and to guide the way you live?
As you go this morning, hear in your minds the words of Paul still imploring you to “Let the same mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus!” After all, “Whose Mind Is It Anway?”
Prayer
Eternal God, it is a difficult thing for us to set aside our way of thinking so we can seek to have the mind of Christ Jesus. Help us to have the strength and the inspiration we need to do that. Help us see others and the world the way you do. Help us to be the light of your Grace to those around us. Help us to be instruments of your peace. For we pray in your name, Amen.