A Daily "I" Exam

Matthew Mckay

The Best News Ever • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Transcript

Opening:

Story

An older man approached a young stranger in the post office and asked, "Sir, would you address this postcard and write a short note for me? I have such a difficult time writing these days."

The younger man gladly did so, and when he was finished, he asked the older gentleman, "Now, is there anything else I can do for you?"

The older man looks at the card for a few moments and said, "Yes, at the end could you add, 'Please excuse the sloppy handwriting'?"

Recap/Intro

Patient Activity (vv. 1-2)

Our society glorifies self-focus.

Three in five study participants said the purpose of life is enjoyment and fulfillment.

Even 50 percent of Christians say life is about enjoyment and self-satisfaction.1 Paul outlined the first cure for our I problem in Romans 15:1-2.

Paul used the Greek word bastazo, which means "to pick up and carry a burden." Endure

Mature Christians pick up those who are weaker, showing them love (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 and Philippians 2:3-4). Some say love is blind, but it should be open-eyed, knowing the faults, sins, and scruples of others, yet still loving them and seeing the best.

Christian liberty has three parameters (see 1 Corinthians 10:23): Is it helpful?Is it addictive?Is it loving?

Personal Conformity (v. 3)

The second cure is conformity to Christ.

Jesus' life was marked by selfless love as He sought to please the Father. Jesus spent His entire life serving others.

He was born in the lower class so anyone could come to Him and relate to Him

He washed the feet of His disciples at the last supper, though He was suffering

He focused on the needs of others while on the cross (see Luke 23:34, 43 and John 19:26)

We must conform ourselves not to the culture but to Christ (see Philippians 2:5). We are never more like Satan than when we are selfish, and never more like Jesus than when we serve others.

Purposeful Study (v. 4)

"Whatever things were written before were written for our learning" (v. 4)

. Paul quoted Psalm 69 in verse 3, spring-boarding to a principle he later spoke about in 2 Timothy 3:16: Scripture was written to guide us in godly living.

The early church was devoted to the "apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42), which included principles taken from the Old Testament, and later, the New Testament.

If we don't know what the Bible says, we'll be prone to believe anything.

Study reprograms us from self-focus to being focused on God and others

daily doses of Scripture help us see clearly

studying the Word re-focuses our vision, helping us to prioritize God's desires, rather than what society deems important.

We study the Bible that we "might have hope" (v. 4).

When we study God's love, patience, and work in our lives, it gives us hope and reminds us of Jeremiah 29:11.

Practical Harmony (vv. 5-6)

Paul concluded with a prayer, showing us the final cure: harmony.

There are many things Christians don't agree on, but we must agree on the essential components of the faith (as outlined in the early statements of faith, known as the creeds).

In this passage, Paul stated that He is the "God of patience," or steadfast endurance (v. 5).

We need to stick to Christ and His people until we get to heaven, and the characterizing factor of both relationships is love (see Mark 30-31).

As Jesus prayed for harmony in John 17:20-23, ("that they may be one even as We are one")

we should pray to be "like-minded toward one another…[that we] may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 5-6).

Closing:

Story

Prayer

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