Christian Community Is Not Self-Centered
Summarized from a Tim Keller Sermon
A Christian community should respect and encourage each other, confront each other’s weaknesses, and bear each other’s burden. But how to have such a community?
First: what should a Christian’s attitude be?
We tend to focus on ourselves and ignore others. But putting our needs, pleasures, and comfort over others’ would lead to debilitating conflicts, breaking down the community.
Focusing on ourselves could be a form of adultery. God hates it. He longs for our undivided love, like a husband jealously longing for the love of his wife (James 4:4-5).
Focusing on ourselves is a sign of arrogance, particularly if we think we are better. We might attack others’ fault and avoid them with contempt. God hates arrogance (James 4:6-7).
A humble person focuses less on himself. Christians should be humble and should center on and submit to God.
Humility is not a sign of weakness. Moses was extremely humble, yet he confronted the powerful Pharaoh and demanded that he gave up his slave labor force unconditionally!
Humble Christians have the courage and peace to face evil because they know God is in charge. They could even defeat the powerful devil (James 4:7). If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:10).
Christians should focus on Christ. Remember what Christ said. If we focus on saving our life, we would lose it, but if we focus on Christ and the gospel, we will save our life (Mark 8:34-35).
Learn from Christ. He gave up His place in heaven for us, and God the Father glorifies Him, making His name above all names. Learn from many parents, sacrificing themselves for their children and giving them life.
Further, the strong should support the weak. Learn to please our neighbors for their good and to build them up (Romans 15:1-2).
With such attitudes, the Christian community is not self-centered. Instead, through Christ, they are in complete unity, with God in their midst. Then the world will know our heavenly Father sent Christ, and has loved this community as He has loved Christ (John 17:20-23).
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon.
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
First: what should a Christian’s attitude be?
We tend to focus on ourselves and ignore others. But putting our needs, pleasures, and comfort over others’ would lead to debilitating conflicts, breaking down the community.
Focusing on ourselves could be a form of adultery. God hates it. He longs for our undivided love, like a husband jealously longing for the love of his wife (James 4:4-5).
Focusing on ourselves is a sign of arrogance, particularly if we think we are better. We might attack others’ fault and avoid them with contempt. God hates arrogance (James 4:6-7).
A humble person focuses less on himself. Christians should be humble and should center on and submit to God.
Humility is not a sign of weakness. Moses was extremely humble, yet he confronted the powerful Pharaoh and demanded that he gave up his slave labor force unconditionally!
Humble Christians have the courage and peace to face evil because they know God is in charge. They could even defeat the powerful devil (James 4:7). If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:10).
Christians should focus on Christ. Remember what Christ said. If we focus on saving our life, we would lose it, but if we focus on Christ and the gospel, we will save our life (Mark 8:34-35).
Learn from Christ. He gave up His place in heaven for us, and God the Father glorifies Him, making His name above all names. Learn from many parents, sacrificing themselves for their children and giving them life.
Further, the strong should support the weak. Learn to please our neighbors for their good and to build them up (Romans 15:1-2).
With such attitudes, the Christian community is not self-centered. Instead, through Christ, they are in complete unity, with God in their midst. Then the world will know our heavenly Father sent Christ, and has loved this community as He has loved Christ (John 17:20-23).
Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon.
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource