BIG IDEA
No one grows alone. Consistently meeting provides direction, accountability, and inspiration to live for Jesus.
MESSAGE NOTES:
WHAT:
There are some things in life that affect who you are, not just what you’re doing. Some of these things can create risk and danger that come result in a self-reliant lifestyle and self-reliant faith. There are two of these things that really two things that go hand and hand causing risk and danger. They are isolation and pride.
We know that we need to make decisions and take action in pursuing our faith, but sometimes we take the wrong trail in those decisions and actions. Usually that means we look for the short cut, or the easiest path. We go about our relationship with God on our own and stay isolated. We say things like: “My relationship with God is mine and it’s nobody else’s business. If I feel close to God then it’s all good.”
But when it comes to our faith, it doesn’t work that way.
SO WHAT:
Learning about God isn’t enough to give you faith you have to do it. And doing faith is what church is. Church is your faith in action, moving you down and helping you stay on the right trail.
Here’s what the Bible says about picking your own trail:
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:! ESV
“Sound judgement” means wisdom or advice. It means you have people available that know about what you are trying to learn about, they have experience with it. But if you choose isolation you are walking away from that help, thinking that you can figure it out by yourself and do it better.
This can usually lead you to avoid church altogether, or to pick and choose the people or church you think satisfies your pride. This usually leads to division. Paul warns the church about this type of pride and division in the book of 1 Corinthians.
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 NLT
NOW WHAT:
From the very beginning we have had an enemy that wants us to think we know best. Better than anyone around us. This enemy is Satan. And Satan turns isolation (the me, me, me thinking) into pride (and pride is a higher opinion of myself than someone else.)
And here’s a secret: pride is Satan’s greatest tool against us.
So how do you get rid of pride? The first step is to admit that you are prideful. The next step is found in the book of Philippians.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NLT
What you’re really doing is caring about how they feel more than how you feel. This becomes easier when you’re at church because you will start to experience people doing it for you. You will be forgiven when you don’t deserve it or accepted without having to prove yourself.
Isolation and pride will keep you from this truth:
The church wants you, not to use you, not to fix you, not because we think we’ve got it all right but because you are family and families aren't perfect but we love each other.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Q1: Have you ever gotten lost on a trail or picked the wrong trail?
Q2: When was a time when you felt isolated? This could be physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
Q3: Do you sometimes find it hard to come to church when you have feelings of isolation?
Q4: Have you ever let your preferences of pride keep you from experiencing God more?
Q5: What’s one way or one person you can live out Philippians 2:3 with?