If you were asked, “What kind of mentality do you have?” how would you answer? A mentality is the characteristic attitude or way of thinking that shapes how a person views life (Oxford Languages). The late Kobe Bryant was famously known for his “Mamba Mentality”—a mindset marked by focus, discipline, and relentless work ethic. Today we might describe ourselves as having a positive or negative mentality, a growth or scarcity mentality, an abundance mindset—or something else entirely.

The mentality we carry deeply influences how we interpret circumstances and respond to what life throws our way.

As we examine the life of Paul in the book of Acts, we see someone who clearly lived with a Kingdom mentality. His primary focus was to please Christ and expand God’s Kingdom. Paul was driven to share the gospel with as many people as possible in the time God had given him. This Kingdom mindset led him to Macedonia in the first place—he answered the call. It led him to minister to Lydia, cast a demon out of a young fortune teller, and share Jesus with a jailer and his entire household instead of escaping to freedom. Paul was passionate about the Kingdom—and we should be too.

Jesus Himself makes this priority unmistakably clear in the Sermon on the Mount: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
He doesn’t say to seek first comfort, success, or even church activity. He calls us to something far greater—a Kingdom agenda where Jesus Christ rules and reigns over every aspect of life.

Paul didn’t just live this mentality; he discipled others to embrace it as well. One such example is Epaphroditus, who eventually became part of the Philippian church plant. (One of my personal favorites—I even named my first son Epaph after him!) Epaphroditus found community in the church that met in Lydia’s home. Later, he became the church’s first short-term missionary, delivering the Philippians’ gift to Paul while he was imprisoned and faithfully carrying Paul’s letter back to the church (Philippians 4:18).

Today, may we learn from Jesus’ Kingdom command, Paul’s selfless obedience, and Epaphroditus’ missional faithfulness. The more we grow to know God, the more our mentality shifts from me first to Kingdom first. And though the Philippian church no longer exists, the Kingdom of God is still alive—active, advancing, and taking ground.