Keep Comparison from stealing the full life

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I can’t believe it! It felt like forever but we are back in action y’all!

Vision: This is going to be a year of Growth, Challenge, and Discovery

Read: 2 Cor. 10:12

2 Corinthians 10:12 (CSB)

12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.

Express: Comparison Creates Doubt

Pray

Ask: How many of you have ever picked up an ADHD hobby?

Tell:

Guitar Playing

Podcasting

Bread Making

Content Creation

Chess

One thing I realized about why I picked up these hobbies is because I was trying to outdo other people. I never wanted to be less than someone else. I wanted to be the best at everything so I’d learn something and be all about it for like weeks and then I’d get over it. But I recognized when I saw other people who were really good at what they did, I would doubt myself.

Explain: When we begin to compare ourselves to others, we end up drowning ourselves in doubt

SHIFT

Passage from Paul

Bold in writing but timid in speech

In Corinth, philosophers and teachers compared themselves to others so they would get more followers.

Boastful

Let’s read the words again from Paul so we can see his attitude toward these folks that compare themselves

2 Corinthians 10:12 (CSB)

12 For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.

Paul is basically saying that when people compare each other, they are making their own standard that defines what it means to be successful.

My question to you today is, by what standard are you comparing yourself to?

Here is a list of things we typically compare ourselves in:

Comparisons

Athletics

Popularity

Intelligence

Talents & Skills

Appearance and Body Image

Material belongings Relationships

Independence

Family Dynamics

Which standards do you have in place in these areas that are causing you harm?

what does it mean to be...

When you compare yourself, it is sign that you are unhappy with who you are and what you are capable of which causes you to live your life with doubt.

The beautiful thing about being a Christian is that we serve a God that doesn’t compare you to the people around you.

You don’t have to do anything extra or special in order to make God happier or to earn God’s love.

The truth is, you are loved no matter what you are capable of or incapable of.

The only standard of a person we ought to be comparing ourselves to is Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL

We could never live up to Him, but he calls us to be like Him

Our sin makes us broken and causes us to think that we are no good.

sin causes us to compare ourselves

Jesus died even while we were broken and messed up so we can have the hope of living with Him forever.

All he calls us to is to believe that He took your sin on the cross, was punished for what you deserved and that His death and resurrection gives you and I life forever.

To be honest, just believing in Jesus doesn’t remove comparison from your life. It doesn’t remove doubt, but He gives us a way to think more highly of ourselves so we can take steps toward getting rid of doubting ourselves.

I want to just real quick give you 3 things to help you kill comparison and doubt.

Pay attention to your feelings - what causes you to doubt yourself

Find out more about what it means to belong to Jesus. - What does it mean to be a child of God?

Celebrate what you have - Find things you can be thankful for in your life. Gratitude kills Comparison

Comparison is dangerous, it changes the way we live, but I want to encourage you today that we serve a God who loves you and doesn’t compare you. He wants you to be His and for Him to be yours.

CALL TO PRAYER:

Have students come forward - Pray for those who are dealing with doubt in their lives.

Release to Small Groups