1 Timothy 1:12-20
Verses 12-17 these verses hold the central truths that Timothy and the church are to hold and teach over the false teachers.
Paul here uses himself as an example of what Jesus has done in regards to salvation in his life then moves on from personal application to general…”this is what Jesus can do in your life”
His purpose here is to inspire Timothy with the power of what Jesus can do in a persons life.
Vrs 12 Thanks in response to what God has done in his life as far as salvation and appointing him to service.
Verse 13 “I was shown mercy” Paul acted in ignorance and actually thought he was doing God a favor. Maybe some of you were like that or are like that you just don’t know what Jesus really did for you.
Verse 14 “grace overflowed” (undeserved favor) with faith and love through Christ. We only have faith because God gave it to us and love because God gave it to us.
Verses 15 Jesus saves sinners GOSPEL
Verse 16 Paul is a part of the bigger picture.
That is why a testimony isn’t a laundry list of sins to glorify your past life. then giving Jesus 10 seconds at the end. “I am here to tell you something…its not about me its about Jesus”
We do not boast about continual sin 1 Cor 5
go on a rant on how it is not us who change ourselves it is Jesus
You may even want to say Jesus saved me because He had work for me to do. Phil 1:6 “began” “complete”
Jesus also shows us that He can save anyone no matter the degree of sin.
Verse 17 The right response to evaluating our salvation should be praise of Jesus
What about your story? The great thing about sharing it with people is they can’t argue with it. (no you didn’t feel that way)
Verses 18 Timothy’s call to special service assisting Paul and the general service of Gospel ministry is in view here. In 1 Tim 4 we will talk more about this issue but for now we are going to focus in on the fact that Timothy was called to ministry and Paul now calls it “warfare”
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Verses 19 Active not passive, the Christian life is a life of actively responding to the Word God has done in your life.
It is God’s work and He hold you and you cannot lose it.
Vrs 20
“Handed over to Satan” Put out of the fellowship Church discipline.
Restorative (for the person) (always looking to bring back and restore, not punish or make to pay for.
Protective (for the fellowship)-churches holiness, stop the spread of sin. If the sin is not dealt with it spreads “a little leaven”
Responsive (for His Glory)HE is right, people normally judge Jesus by His people
He did not save you so you can make a mess “shipwreck”
How to shipwreck your faith
-Let your past hold you back
-Desire control of everything, “I am doing the work” “everything should be run through me” (pride goes before the fall)
-Criticize or have a problem with everyone and everything. Watch out for these people they start sentences with “I love so and so but…” This comes especially after “so and so” did something great and is receiving praise for. Also these people are always whispering and always have drama or a problem that need to handled ASAP and required your undivided attention. (Jesus said to Peter. “get behind me Satan”)
-Don’t pray (Talk more about prayer next week)
-Don’t serve (what can the church do for me not what can I do for the church)
-Don’t get into the Word ( I know a Pastor who said he does not get his people deep into the Word because the people he preaches to have not mastered what they already know, that’s bad preaching)
-Don’t get into Community Groups (we have the groups so you can apply Scripture together)
-Let false teaching influence you (Talk about Hymenaeus 2 Tim 2:17-19 swerved from the truth and was teaching the resurrection of the dead already happened, bad doctrine. and Alexander 2 Tim 4:4 “did me great harm)
-Be unrepentant…you are not wrong in fact you are never wrong (Email from LS I have been wrong for 3 years)
-Don’t give praise and thanks to God (complain about what is wrong)
You know what I have bee thankful to the Lord for in regards to our church and in specific what he has done through this 5pm service…
-People coming to know Jesus
-People getting baptized
-People becoming members
-People giving finances to the Lord (up to a little over 1/3 of what the church takes in)
-People willing to serve
-People growing in their faith.
Three practical ideas
1. Alone spend time thanking God for what He done
2. With others
3. As a Church- So we give thanks and praise to Jesus and we ask Him to keep working that way. We are going to give thanks and praise Jesus.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
"Entrusted" Truth or Consequence
Vrs 3 Paul was urging Timothy to stay there because there were issues that needed to be taken care of.
The teaching going on needs to stay in line with the Bible not heterodoxy (false doctrine) It was vastly different back then…if someone had a teaching their forum was local gathering places, the society was void of all the media and technology that we have. So they would use public gatherings and also try to convince others to follow their teachings obviously church meetings would be a great venue if you had a teaching.
Vrs 4 The teaching is not described but we know that it was void of truth
The Result(or consequence) = aimlessness and promote speculations.
The goal of teaching is not to cause confusion or argument but to spur people onto love.
Sometimes people will do this in a Bible study or community group…bring up topics to argue.
Vrs 5 The result or the aim of our faith as contrary to placing faith in things that do not produce or will leave us speculating.
Biblical teaching Seeks to form followers of Jesus who love God and love others. Mark 12:28-31
The aim of
-Orthodoxy (right teaching)
-Orthopraxy (right living) is love
We receive love from God and as a Christian it is rooted in the Holy Spirit. “Issues from” Pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith
Christian tolerance is based in verse 5 how we treat the unbeliever and the false teacher.
-Its it loving to stand by silent when people are believing something that is detrimental to their eternal life?
(FIF my evil plan to save the world)
-Is our heart really pure if we don’t have a genuine concern for what people put their trust in?
-Can my conscience be clear knowing that there are people around me that I have not prayed for, helped meet their needs or spoken to for the sake of the Gospel?
-How sincere can our faith be if we think there is more then one way to God then through Christ, and we allow false teaching to cloud the air?
Many people think that Christians are judgmental and close minded and I am not saying that there are not judgmental and close minded Christians but the aim of following Christ is to spread His love to others. Because it is the love you received. (He loved us first)
Vrs 6 when we stray from this truth it confuses us and gets us off focus.
(Hetrodoxy) False Teaching leads to tolerance in an unhealthy way. Because it says anything goes and everything is ok.
When people are teaching or communicating false teachings it is all about them, what they figured out, what they want to promote or how they themselves want to be promoted and their standard is themselves and what they think is right. And God is saying “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”
But the Christian life is different its all about promoting Jesus. Not our own agenda, not ourselves.
Why? Because it is about life and having a purpose and doing something bigger because it is not you its Jesus.
What is the motivation here?
Vrs 7-“desiring” the idea carried here is wanting to be something more then God has called you to be or wanting to puff yourself up and lack humility. “They make confident assertions”
For the Christian…
If you spend too much time wanting to be something you are not… you are ignoring what you are supposed to be.
How do you keep your focus?
-realize where you are. (where you are is dictated by God Acts 17)
-realize what you need to do while you are there.
-realize God’s timing
Where is false teaching coming from in our generation?
This is the problem in our society… The media elevates and indoctrinates people with their beliefs and are not necessarily qualified to do so.
You must understand whatever an artist, author or actor believe they will inadvertently or overtly promote through their artistic outlets.
How do we know this? Because Christians do the same thing for the cause of Christ. CS LEWIS, JRR TOLKEN, Bands Switchfoot.
Every book you read, Show you watch, movie, song, it is all preaching or teaching you something.
What is the Christian response…should we be scared of culture and the information highway we live in? NO
-Immoral-stay away if possible, if not possible opportunity to expose why it is immoral.
-Appears neutral at first glance- test against the Word and then use it as springboard for conversation as a teaching opportunity for yourself and those around you.
-Neutral- use it for God’s glory
Verses 8-10 The teachers of Paul and Timothy’s day wanted to use the law and teach it for their own benefit. and they did not even realize the purpose of it. Like people in our day want to teach and talk about purpose and philosophy of life and they don’t even know what it is.
So what then is the purpose of the law? The simple answer is to expose sin and what Paul does here is laundry list some examples of the Dec-a-logue (10 Commandments)
The Law prepares the sinner for a Savior by crushing them under the weight of their sin. GOSPEL
But then it brings this whole passage together because the call of and the “aim” as verse 5 states is love and when we evaluate the 10 commandments we see the first 4 have to do with loving God and the last 6 have to do with loving others. Mark 12 So the Christian lives by the law.
Vrs 11 So right teaching is GOSPEL centered, that is why we can call this church.
The Bottom line…
For the unbeliever…If you don’t trust the Truth (Jesus) the Consequence is too much for you to bear, cause it is paying for your own sin.
For the believer…You have been “entrusted” with the Truth and if you don’t use it and promote it you will also suffer the consequences of an unfruitful life.
The teaching going on needs to stay in line with the Bible not heterodoxy (false doctrine) It was vastly different back then…if someone had a teaching their forum was local gathering places, the society was void of all the media and technology that we have. So they would use public gatherings and also try to convince others to follow their teachings obviously church meetings would be a great venue if you had a teaching.
Vrs 4 The teaching is not described but we know that it was void of truth
The Result(or consequence) = aimlessness and promote speculations.
The goal of teaching is not to cause confusion or argument but to spur people onto love.
Sometimes people will do this in a Bible study or community group…bring up topics to argue.
Vrs 5 The result or the aim of our faith as contrary to placing faith in things that do not produce or will leave us speculating.
Biblical teaching Seeks to form followers of Jesus who love God and love others. Mark 12:28-31
The aim of
-Orthodoxy (right teaching)
-Orthopraxy (right living) is love
We receive love from God and as a Christian it is rooted in the Holy Spirit. “Issues from” Pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith
Christian tolerance is based in verse 5 how we treat the unbeliever and the false teacher.
-Its it loving to stand by silent when people are believing something that is detrimental to their eternal life?
(FIF my evil plan to save the world)
-Is our heart really pure if we don’t have a genuine concern for what people put their trust in?
-Can my conscience be clear knowing that there are people around me that I have not prayed for, helped meet their needs or spoken to for the sake of the Gospel?
-How sincere can our faith be if we think there is more then one way to God then through Christ, and we allow false teaching to cloud the air?
Many people think that Christians are judgmental and close minded and I am not saying that there are not judgmental and close minded Christians but the aim of following Christ is to spread His love to others. Because it is the love you received. (He loved us first)
Vrs 6 when we stray from this truth it confuses us and gets us off focus.
(Hetrodoxy) False Teaching leads to tolerance in an unhealthy way. Because it says anything goes and everything is ok.
When people are teaching or communicating false teachings it is all about them, what they figured out, what they want to promote or how they themselves want to be promoted and their standard is themselves and what they think is right. And God is saying “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”
But the Christian life is different its all about promoting Jesus. Not our own agenda, not ourselves.
Why? Because it is about life and having a purpose and doing something bigger because it is not you its Jesus.
What is the motivation here?
Vrs 7-“desiring” the idea carried here is wanting to be something more then God has called you to be or wanting to puff yourself up and lack humility. “They make confident assertions”
For the Christian…
If you spend too much time wanting to be something you are not… you are ignoring what you are supposed to be.
How do you keep your focus?
-realize where you are. (where you are is dictated by God Acts 17)
-realize what you need to do while you are there.
-realize God’s timing
Where is false teaching coming from in our generation?
This is the problem in our society… The media elevates and indoctrinates people with their beliefs and are not necessarily qualified to do so.
You must understand whatever an artist, author or actor believe they will inadvertently or overtly promote through their artistic outlets.
How do we know this? Because Christians do the same thing for the cause of Christ. CS LEWIS, JRR TOLKEN, Bands Switchfoot.
Every book you read, Show you watch, movie, song, it is all preaching or teaching you something.
What is the Christian response…should we be scared of culture and the information highway we live in? NO
-Immoral-stay away if possible, if not possible opportunity to expose why it is immoral.
-Appears neutral at first glance- test against the Word and then use it as springboard for conversation as a teaching opportunity for yourself and those around you.
-Neutral- use it for God’s glory
Verses 8-10 The teachers of Paul and Timothy’s day wanted to use the law and teach it for their own benefit. and they did not even realize the purpose of it. Like people in our day want to teach and talk about purpose and philosophy of life and they don’t even know what it is.
So what then is the purpose of the law? The simple answer is to expose sin and what Paul does here is laundry list some examples of the Dec-a-logue (10 Commandments)
The Law prepares the sinner for a Savior by crushing them under the weight of their sin. GOSPEL
But then it brings this whole passage together because the call of and the “aim” as verse 5 states is love and when we evaluate the 10 commandments we see the first 4 have to do with loving God and the last 6 have to do with loving others. Mark 12 So the Christian lives by the law.
Vrs 11 So right teaching is GOSPEL centered, that is why we can call this church.
The Bottom line…
For the unbeliever…If you don’t trust the Truth (Jesus) the Consequence is too much for you to bear, cause it is paying for your own sin.
For the believer…You have been “entrusted” with the Truth and if you don’t use it and promote it you will also suffer the consequences of an unfruitful life.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
"Entrusted" Multiplicity
1 Tim 1:1-2
Intro material Written by Paul in roughly 65AD between Paul’s imprisonments to Timothy who was in Ephesus (ef-a-sus)
Timothy was not actually one of the pastors of a church but was Paul's liaison who implemented Paul's instructions to the churches. This letter is in the category of “Pastoral Epistles”
We understand something very important about Paul and Timothy’s relationship…Paul’s intent was to multiply his life into Timothy
This is a biblical way of living from the beginning
-Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply”
-Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples”
-Concept of fruit “Reap what you sow”
Matthew 10:24-26 not above those who are above you. This is a sobering thought. Remember what Whitefield said during the great awakening when asked why the churches are dead…”because they have dead men preaching”
Some peoples response to this is….
This is why I do not want anyone under me, I can’t live up to the standard I think I should live up to.
But know this…You are multiplying whether you want to or not. Others are watching and learning from you, your habits will be picked up by those who are close to you.
So if we are influencing others we should ask ourselves some questions…
-Who am I building into?
-What do I believe? (Orthodoxy, right teaching)
-What is my life like? (Orthopraxy, right action)
-What do I not want to multiply?
-What do I want to multiply?
These questions get people thinking about their faith, parents with young children coming to church because they want to be able to pass something down.
So much of what we will see in this letter is what Paul wants to pass to Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul
Facts about Paul
-single…the gift no one wants
-a word to the single people enjoy the freedom of not having family responsibilities, serve the Lord in ways that you wont be able to later in life if the Lord brings you spouse and children.
-a word to the married people, take your responsibility and enjoy the fruit of it.
Enjoy the stage of life that God has placed you in. (Proverbs tells us a fool looks back at the former days)
-A former enemy of Jesus and His followers
-A victim of harsh persecution
-A discouraged pastor
-A Faithful servant
-Realized his call to the body “I planted”
Notice verse 1 is Paul’s identity is in Jesus and the call of Jesus. Where do you find your identity?
Paul could have said…a single guy, a former blasphemer, hard working servant, a guy who faced many troubles.
For you it may be a…fill in the blank.
But what Paul does here is state his position as it relates to Jesus…so what are you?
(List)-forgiven, adopted, bought with His blood, a child of God, a co-heir with Christ, a citizen of heaven, sealed with the Spirit till the day of redemption, born again, saved, passed from death to life, more then a conqueror, strong when you are weak, loved, chosen and redeemed
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to know your identity.
Vrs 2a
Facts about Timothy
-A man in his early to mid 30’s
-Most likely converted under Paul’s ministry Acts 16:1-3, 1 Cor 4:15-17 “True child in faith”
-In regards to his upbringing he had a Mom Eunice and Grandma Lois that were believers and taught him the truths of the faith. But his Father was Greek. 2 tim 1:13-14, 2:2 , 3:14
-Faithful worker and consistent helper to Paul and one of his most trustworthy associates
-Good reputation
-His personality was timid and in need of encouragement. (a boy needs his dad)
You have to do what is right regardless of the fact that people will oppose it. If it is right its right.
Most Christians take the path of least resistance, they will not stand against wrong or stand for what is right. And it is more pathetic when it is leaders who will not stand up for what is right.
They see a Jesus who is weak and a door mat and they don’t see Jesus as a strong and standing up for righteousness.
The Good Shepard sometimes had to use the other end of His staff to protect the flock. (David the Shepard boy with a bear and a lion, he did not try to calm them down and reason with them, some false teachers and people with evil intent cannot and will not be reasoned with)
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to find someone who is teachable. Timothy was that for Paul
Vrs 2b Here is what we should multiply.
Grace- God’s ongoing forgiveness and enabling.
Mercy- God’s sympathy and concern
Peace- God’s tranquility and stability.
Which are all encompassed in the GOSPEL
Intro material Written by Paul in roughly 65AD between Paul’s imprisonments to Timothy who was in Ephesus (ef-a-sus)
Timothy was not actually one of the pastors of a church but was Paul's liaison who implemented Paul's instructions to the churches. This letter is in the category of “Pastoral Epistles”
We understand something very important about Paul and Timothy’s relationship…Paul’s intent was to multiply his life into Timothy
This is a biblical way of living from the beginning
-Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply”
-Matthew 28:19 “Go and make disciples”
-Concept of fruit “Reap what you sow”
Matthew 10:24-26 not above those who are above you. This is a sobering thought. Remember what Whitefield said during the great awakening when asked why the churches are dead…”because they have dead men preaching”
Some peoples response to this is….
This is why I do not want anyone under me, I can’t live up to the standard I think I should live up to.
But know this…You are multiplying whether you want to or not. Others are watching and learning from you, your habits will be picked up by those who are close to you.
So if we are influencing others we should ask ourselves some questions…
-Who am I building into?
-What do I believe? (Orthodoxy, right teaching)
-What is my life like? (Orthopraxy, right action)
-What do I not want to multiply?
-What do I want to multiply?
These questions get people thinking about their faith, parents with young children coming to church because they want to be able to pass something down.
So much of what we will see in this letter is what Paul wants to pass to Timothy.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul
Facts about Paul
-single…the gift no one wants
-a word to the single people enjoy the freedom of not having family responsibilities, serve the Lord in ways that you wont be able to later in life if the Lord brings you spouse and children.
-a word to the married people, take your responsibility and enjoy the fruit of it.
Enjoy the stage of life that God has placed you in. (Proverbs tells us a fool looks back at the former days)
-A former enemy of Jesus and His followers
-A victim of harsh persecution
-A discouraged pastor
-A Faithful servant
-Realized his call to the body “I planted”
Notice verse 1 is Paul’s identity is in Jesus and the call of Jesus. Where do you find your identity?
Paul could have said…a single guy, a former blasphemer, hard working servant, a guy who faced many troubles.
For you it may be a…fill in the blank.
But what Paul does here is state his position as it relates to Jesus…so what are you?
(List)-forgiven, adopted, bought with His blood, a child of God, a co-heir with Christ, a citizen of heaven, sealed with the Spirit till the day of redemption, born again, saved, passed from death to life, more then a conqueror, strong when you are weak, loved, chosen and redeemed
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to know your identity.
Vrs 2a
Facts about Timothy
-A man in his early to mid 30’s
-Most likely converted under Paul’s ministry Acts 16:1-3, 1 Cor 4:15-17 “True child in faith”
-In regards to his upbringing he had a Mom Eunice and Grandma Lois that were believers and taught him the truths of the faith. But his Father was Greek. 2 tim 1:13-14, 2:2 , 3:14
-Faithful worker and consistent helper to Paul and one of his most trustworthy associates
-Good reputation
-His personality was timid and in need of encouragement. (a boy needs his dad)
You have to do what is right regardless of the fact that people will oppose it. If it is right its right.
Most Christians take the path of least resistance, they will not stand against wrong or stand for what is right. And it is more pathetic when it is leaders who will not stand up for what is right.
They see a Jesus who is weak and a door mat and they don’t see Jesus as a strong and standing up for righteousness.
The Good Shepard sometimes had to use the other end of His staff to protect the flock. (David the Shepard boy with a bear and a lion, he did not try to calm them down and reason with them, some false teachers and people with evil intent cannot and will not be reasoned with)
In order to multiply yourself for the cause of Christ you have to find someone who is teachable. Timothy was that for Paul
Vrs 2b Here is what we should multiply.
Grace- God’s ongoing forgiveness and enabling.
Mercy- God’s sympathy and concern
Peace- God’s tranquility and stability.
Which are all encompassed in the GOSPEL
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Difficulties Week 7
Selfishness
Question for Community Groups
1. In what areas do you struggle with being selfish?
2. In what areas have you been taught to be selfless, by who and in what situation?
3. What deeper issues do you deal with?
4. What are some consequences of selfishness have you seen in your life?
5. What application points do you need to put into practice?
Greatest thought is self preservation, no one has to teach you to meet your own needs you just do.
1. Examples of Selfishness-
-Luke 10:29-32 priest and Levite, (Time) Luke 12 (Money Stuff)
-Gen 4:9 Cain (I am not concerned about him) (Lack of Concern)
-1 Tim 5:6 this passage helps us to realize that although people may seem to have a full life because they have so much…they are actually living a life of death. (Emotions)
Things we are selfish with...stuff, money, time and emotions(this one is difficult because we tend to manipulate others with our emotions to get our emotional needs met.
Dr. Robert Anthony “The one who loves the least controls the relationship”
2. The deeper issues-
Romans 2:8 maybe an unbeliever,
Greed (selfishness) is the logical result of the belief that there is no life after death. We grab what we can while we can however we can and then hold on to it hard. Sir Fred Catherwood
2 Tim 3:2 sign of the times. we will increasingly see that this will only get worse, they will love self, worship self and only care about themselves. Think about this…technology has only made us more selfish, because we want things right away and can’t wait. It makes us selfish.
(when is the last time you saw an advertisement that appealed to the fact that you can benefit others?) The slogans appeal to you
James 3:14-16 tapping into the wrong wisdom, from the world rather then God. Christians fall prey to this all the time. The big lie going today is that it is all about you. Whatever you would like to do, however you would like to live, if you are sincere in your beliefs whatever they are it is fine. It also affects Christian theology that some are teaching that your pleasure and happiness is God’s ultimate concern
This philosophy is called Hedonism is a school which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
3. Consequences of Selfishness
Matt 23:25 woe, exclamation of grief, (you are on the wrong path and it will leave you wanting) this is what Jesus says
They were Hedonists
James 5:1-6 things will eventually fall apart
In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided an insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing. Speaking about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, "The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS (format), shared its secret with a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced."
This drastically undercut Sony's market share. The first year, Sony lost 40 percent of the market, and by 1987 it controlled only 10 percent. So now Sony has jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continues to make Beta-format VCRs [interestingly a higher quality technology] Sony's switch to VHS, according to TIME, will likely send Beta machines to "the consumer-electronics graveyard." Even in a cut-throat business, sharing has its rewards.
-Damages the Body The work of the “body” cannot and will not be done if people only think of themselves. 1 Cor. 12:25-26
-Wastes our Time and Focus Luke 12:16-21 Tear down and build new, life may be demanded…when we are selfish with our possessions it is pointless, due to the fact that You do not last on this earth.
When we are selfish it hinders us being able to speak the truth to others. Because we are always thinking of ourselves.
Blaise Pascal “Those who do not hate their own selfishness and regard themselves as more important then the rest of the world are blind and the truth lies elsewhere”
GOSPEL
4. The ideal-The biblical call is selflessness,
-Be #2 Phil 2:3-8 Put others first as Christ put you first.
This is a choice because no one has to teach you to think about yourself but living a selfless life is Jesus’ desire for each one of us.
- We must decrease- John the Baptist John 3:29-30
“The selfishness must be discovered and understood before it can be removed. It is powerless to remove itself, neither will it pass away of itself. Darkness ceases only when light is introduced; so ignorance can only be dispersed by Knowledge; selfishness by Love.” James Allen
When we start to love Jesus more then we love ourselves we will live a less self centered life and more of a Christ centered and others benefiting life at that point we decrease.
-Focus on Jesus- Ps 119:36 “testimonies” what the Lord has done. When we focus in on Jesus and who He is and that what He has done we begin to realize that He is the one who should get the glory and focus and those blessing should flow out and we should benefit others. We then understand we have nothing to be selfish about because it is all from Him and belongs to Him
Question for Community Groups
1. In what areas do you struggle with being selfish?
2. In what areas have you been taught to be selfless, by who and in what situation?
3. What deeper issues do you deal with?
4. What are some consequences of selfishness have you seen in your life?
5. What application points do you need to put into practice?
Greatest thought is self preservation, no one has to teach you to meet your own needs you just do.
1. Examples of Selfishness-
-Luke 10:29-32 priest and Levite, (Time) Luke 12 (Money Stuff)
-Gen 4:9 Cain (I am not concerned about him) (Lack of Concern)
-1 Tim 5:6 this passage helps us to realize that although people may seem to have a full life because they have so much…they are actually living a life of death. (Emotions)
Things we are selfish with...stuff, money, time and emotions(this one is difficult because we tend to manipulate others with our emotions to get our emotional needs met.
Dr. Robert Anthony “The one who loves the least controls the relationship”
2. The deeper issues-
Romans 2:8 maybe an unbeliever,
Greed (selfishness) is the logical result of the belief that there is no life after death. We grab what we can while we can however we can and then hold on to it hard. Sir Fred Catherwood
2 Tim 3:2 sign of the times. we will increasingly see that this will only get worse, they will love self, worship self and only care about themselves. Think about this…technology has only made us more selfish, because we want things right away and can’t wait. It makes us selfish.
(when is the last time you saw an advertisement that appealed to the fact that you can benefit others?) The slogans appeal to you
James 3:14-16 tapping into the wrong wisdom, from the world rather then God. Christians fall prey to this all the time. The big lie going today is that it is all about you. Whatever you would like to do, however you would like to live, if you are sincere in your beliefs whatever they are it is fine. It also affects Christian theology that some are teaching that your pleasure and happiness is God’s ultimate concern
This philosophy is called Hedonism is a school which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
3. Consequences of Selfishness
Matt 23:25 woe, exclamation of grief, (you are on the wrong path and it will leave you wanting) this is what Jesus says
They were Hedonists
James 5:1-6 things will eventually fall apart
In its January 25, l988 issue, TIME provided an insight on selfishness and its corollary, sharing. Speaking about the introduction of the videocassette recorder, the article said, "The company had made a crucial mistake. While at first Sony kept its Beta technology mostly to itself, JVC, the Japanese inventor of the VHS (format), shared its secret with a raft of other firms. As a result, the market was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the VHS machines being produced."
This drastically undercut Sony's market share. The first year, Sony lost 40 percent of the market, and by 1987 it controlled only 10 percent. So now Sony has jumped on the VHS bandwagon. While it still continues to make Beta-format VCRs [interestingly a higher quality technology] Sony's switch to VHS, according to TIME, will likely send Beta machines to "the consumer-electronics graveyard." Even in a cut-throat business, sharing has its rewards.
-Damages the Body The work of the “body” cannot and will not be done if people only think of themselves. 1 Cor. 12:25-26
-Wastes our Time and Focus Luke 12:16-21 Tear down and build new, life may be demanded…when we are selfish with our possessions it is pointless, due to the fact that You do not last on this earth.
When we are selfish it hinders us being able to speak the truth to others. Because we are always thinking of ourselves.
Blaise Pascal “Those who do not hate their own selfishness and regard themselves as more important then the rest of the world are blind and the truth lies elsewhere”
GOSPEL
4. The ideal-The biblical call is selflessness,
-Be #2 Phil 2:3-8 Put others first as Christ put you first.
This is a choice because no one has to teach you to think about yourself but living a selfless life is Jesus’ desire for each one of us.
- We must decrease- John the Baptist John 3:29-30
“The selfishness must be discovered and understood before it can be removed. It is powerless to remove itself, neither will it pass away of itself. Darkness ceases only when light is introduced; so ignorance can only be dispersed by Knowledge; selfishness by Love.” James Allen
When we start to love Jesus more then we love ourselves we will live a less self centered life and more of a Christ centered and others benefiting life at that point we decrease.
-Focus on Jesus- Ps 119:36 “testimonies” what the Lord has done. When we focus in on Jesus and who He is and that what He has done we begin to realize that He is the one who should get the glory and focus and those blessing should flow out and we should benefit others. We then understand we have nothing to be selfish about because it is all from Him and belongs to Him
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