Daily Lesson for Monday 19th of January 2026

Think more about Paul’s emphasis on unity in Philippians 2:2, saying essentially the same thing in four different ways. Note also his focus on the mind, thoughts, and feelings. While the religious leaders tended to emphasize outward behavior, Jesus focused on our thoughts and feelings. For instance, the rich young ruler claimed to have always kept the law. Yet, by telling him to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Him, Jesus tested his attachment to worldly things. He also said it’s what comes from the heart (or mind) that defiles a person: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19, NKJV), and “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34, NKJV).

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Paul’s words provide a picture of humility: lowliness of mind, esteeming others better than ourselves, looking out for the interests of others and not merely our own. Easier said than done, right? But these are principles important to keep in mind in all our interactions. Often in conversation there is the tendency to concentrate on our reply to whatever is being said, rather than focused on listening in order to understand what the other person is saying and trying to see the issue from their point of view. Often strife arises from simple misunderstandings that could be avoided simply by active listening. We may not agree, but listening and seeking to understand the other person’s viewpoint is the first step for fostering healthy com­munication and trust.

Paul speaks of the unity “[produced by] the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3, AMPC), which creates “the peace that joins us together” (Ephesians 4:3, EXB). If there is strife in the church, the Holy Spirit can calm the waters and bring us into unity, creating harmony. In the same chapter, Paul speaks of “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:13, NKJV). The two are related. Having the same faith, the same understanding of Scripture that springs from knowing Christ and His teachings, is vital for unity to prevail among us.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-04-the-source-of-unity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-04-the-source-of-unity

The great lesson we learn from dear Paul this quarter is that we are to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus! – Hymn 618. This is a beautiful theme hymn that gives us a great reminder of what we need in our world, which is falling apart these days.

The Sabbath afternoon introduction to this week’s study time encourages us “how we can grow to be more like Him” as does
Hymn 245 – More About Jesus. 

With all the Disunity in Philippi (Sunday) we are taught about 
Love Divine – Hymn 191 and 
God’s Free Mercy Streameth – Hymn 110.

Monday gives us more clues as The Source of Unity, with Paul providing a picture of humility for us, as is sung in 
Hymn 406 – Love Consecrates The Humblest Act. 

The Holy Spirit is a large source of so many things to help us with unity: 
Holy Spirit, Light Divine – Hymn 268 and we can ask for more help from the Holy Spirit in 
Hymn 269 – Come, Holy Spirit.

The greatest example to follow in all we are learning this week comes for our Lord Jesus: 
Hymn 577 – In The Heart Of Jesus all because He “died on the cross in order to be our Redeemer”: 
Hymn 402 – By Christ Redeemed.

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/4-unity-through-humility-singing-with-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=4-unity-through-humility-singing-with-inspiration

Key Thought: The origin of disunity stemmed from the pride and thirst for position and power. Unity through humility is a strength.
January 24, 2026

1. Have a volunteer read Philippians 2:3,4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What practical steps does Paul urge to have unity in the church?
3. Personal Application: What kind of death to self would lead us to esteem others better than ourselves? How different would our relationships be if we all lived like that? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What challenges to unity does the church in your area face? Would a willingness to be humble and not do anything through selfishness, ambition, or conceit help the issues? How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Philippians 2:5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?
3. Personal Application: Why is it important to keep our minds focused on pure and virtuous things in our Christian walk? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What are the ways that you have experienced the reality of God’s love?.” How would you respond to your relative?

3. Have a volunteer read Philippians 2:5-8.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What are the implications of these words?
3. Personal Application: How should we respond to what Christ has done for us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why is it wrong to think that our works can add to what Christ has already done for us? What do our good works mean then?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Romans 9:3, Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:15.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What characterised Jesus condensation and His taking of human nature?
3. Personal Application: How should focusing on what Jesus did for us at the cross make us more humble and submissive to God? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/4-unity-through-humility-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=4-unity-through-humility-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 18th of January 2026

It must have been a tremendous disappointment for Paul to see the church that he established and loved so much racked with rivalry and consumed with contention. He uses very strong language to describe the problems. “Selfish ambition” translates a word (Greek, eritheia), used earlier in Philippians 1:17 (ESV) to refer to Paul’s self-interested rivals in Rome who were bent on promoting themselves rather than advancing the cause of Christ.

Image © Jim Howard at Goodsalt.com

“Selfish ambition” is among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20, NKJV), and as James indicates, “where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:16, NKJV). The Greek word for “conceit” is used only here in the New Testament, but appears in extrabiblical literature in the sense of arrogance, hollow pride, and having an inflated sense of oneself. Paul uses a closely related word in admonishing the Galatians: “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:26, NKJV).

Note the remedies Paul lists for these problems:

1. Consolation in Christ. Paul will proceed to use Christ’s own example as a powerful motivation.

2. Comfort of love. Jesus reveals divine love and commands us to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

3. Fellowship of the Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit creates a close Christian relationship like the one that pervaded the early church (Acts 2:42; compare 2 Corinthians 13:14).

4. Affection (or compassion). We see this divine quality frequently manifested in the life of Christ (see Matthew 9:36, Matthew 20:34, and Mark 1:41) and described in the parables of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:33) and the prodigal son (Luke 15:20).

5. Mercy. This quality, exemplified by Jesus, is to be seen also in the lives of His followers (Luke 6:36).

6. Being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. What a picture! It is difficult to imagine how Paul could emphasize the importance of unity more strongly. As Paul will point out, the mind we are to have “was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-04-disunity-in-philippi/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-04-disunity-in-philippi

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 17th of January 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Philippians 2:1-11, Jeremiah 17:9, Philippians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 8:2, Romans 8:3, Hebrews 2:14-18.

Memory Text:

“Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2, NKJV).

Unity is strength. But knowing what is true is not the same as doing it. We all fail sometimes, despite our best efforts at unity. But that’s not the same as deliberately undermining unity. No wonder, then, that as Paul continues writing to the Philippians, he wants them to be “of one accord, of one mind.”

Paul bases the necessity of unity on the teaching and example of Jesus. It’s a theme that we find throughout the New Testament and especially in the epistles. The origin of disunity in the universe stemmed from the pride and thirst for position and power of a single angel in heaven, a sentiment that spread quickly, even within a perfect environment (see Isaiah 14:12-14). It then gained a foothold in Eden through a similar discontent with the rules God had put in place and the desire for rising to a higher sphere than that which God had designed (Genesis 3:1-6).

This week we’ll look at the biblical basis for unity in the church, focusing especially on the amazing condescension of Jesus, the lessons we can gain from beholding Him, and how we can grow to be more like Him.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 24.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-04-unity-through-humility/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-04-unity-through-humility