Exalted Lowliness (2025-07-20, Greg Lanier, Philippians 2:5-11)

Sermon on the "Christ-poem" in Phil 2:5-11 by Pastor Greg Lanier

Application questions:

• Reflect on the hypothesis that this passage may be a kind of early Christian confession that pre-dates Paul’s letter to Philippians?  
• What does that possibility reveal about the state of theology in the very early Church? 
• How does verse 6 teach the “preexistence” of the Son of God? Why does that matter theologically? 
• How do verses 6b-8 reach the humiliation of Jesus in the flesh? How did the Son “empty himself”? What does "subtraction by addition” mean? 
• What is “hypostatic union” and how does it show up in this passage? 
• If Christ was already perfectly divine, what does it mean that he was “exalted” in verses 9-11?  
• How does Paul apply these glorious truths to a situation of conflict? How can you apply it to similar situations in your own life? 
• Reflect on the main idea: "Big thoughts about God impact even our littlest problems.” What are some situations in your own life where deep theology can help? 

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