The King of Sin: Pride

Introduction: The Silent Sin

Start conversationally, like this:

“If I asked you to list the worst sins — most of us would say murder, lying, maybe lust… but rarely pride.

Yet pride is sneaky — it hides behind good grades, behind compliments, behind hard work.

It’s the sin that tells us, ‘I’m fine on my own. I dont need any help’

It’s the sin that kicked Lucifer out of Heaven, and it’s the same one that keeps us from truly depending on God today.”

Main Passage: Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Pause for a moment, then continue:

“We’re starting this series on the seven deadly sins — not because we want to just talk about what’s wrong, but because we want to understand what’s keeping us from living right.

And we’re starting with pride, because it’s the root that poisons everything else.”

1. What Pride Is

Self exaltation - putting yourself in Gods place

Self reliance - Pride isn’t just confidence. It’s trusting in you and you alone for yourself

Self Glory - It’s taking credit for what God gave.

It’s living like I’m the main character — and God’s just in the background.

Theres a quote from a pastor I heard a while back: There is only one hero in your story. We are not the hero of our story: Jesus is

Scripture:

Isaiah 14:13–14 (about Lucifer): “For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven… I will be like the Most High.’”

You could say:

“Pride starts in the heart before it shows up in our words.

It whispers, ‘I deserve better. I know more. I don’t need help.’

But every time pride takes the throne, God steps off — because He won’t share His glory with anyone.”

2. What Pride Does (The Consequences)

Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

Pride blinds you.

Pride blinds you — like the Pharisee in Luke 18 who thanked God that he wasn’t “like other men.” He was so focused on how good he looked that he couldn’t see his sin.

His prayer wasnt to God it was jsut him comparing himself to others. TO focused on how good he looked that he couldnt see how hard his heart was.

Revelation 3:17 — “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

That’s what pride does. It makes you think you’re fine when you’re not.

It convinces you that spiritual blindness is sight.

It blinds you to your need for grace.

Pride separates you.

Pride separates you — from people and from God. When you can’t admit weakness, you can’t receive help. WHen you cant say Im sorry, it starts to build walls

Psalm 10:4 “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.”

Pride initially says I dont need you and eventually I dont need God

Proverbs 13:10 “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.”

You know the person who always has to be right? No one likes being around that guy - where he always needs to win or be right and most conversation turns into a fight

The Pharisee stood apart when he prayed - but the humble tax collector bowed and went home justified

Pride destroys you.

Pride destroys you — like King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. The moment he said, “Is not this great Babylon that I have built?” God humbled him. He lost everything until he lifted his eyes back to Heaven.

Proverbs 29:23 “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

God didnt destroy Nebuchadnezzer because He hated him, it was because of his pride.

God will sometimes break your pride before your pride breaks you

3. The Cure for Pride

If pride is the disease of self-dependence, then the cure is humility — dependence on God.

Scripture:

Philippians 2:5–8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Micah 6:8 — “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Say something like:

“The opposite of pride isn’t low self-esteem — it’s right perspective.

It’s knowing who you are and who you’re not. Its looking at who you are in light of God

It’s saying, ‘God, without You, I’m nothing. But with You, I can do all things.’”

Encourage the youth:

“Jesus — the Son of God — washed feet.

The King of Kings wore a towel and washed feet.

4. Application: Recognizing Pride in Our Own Hearts

Add a little more to this

Make it personal:

“Pride doesn’t always look loud.

Sometimes it’s quiet — it’s the part of you that says, ‘I don’t need to pray about that,’ or, ‘I can handle it.’

Sometimes it’s when you compare yourself to others.

Sometimes it’s when you secretly crave to be seen

Sometimes its in the way you react to correction

Sometimes its in the way you serve - do you serve for God’s glory or for people to notice you

Then challenge:

“Ask God tonight: ‘Lord, show me where pride lives in me.’

Because you can’t kill what you won’t see.”

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is just admit to the Lord that youre not ok

5. Conclusion: Grace for the Humble

“The good news? God doesn’t just expose pride — He replaces it with grace.

James 4:6 — “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Every time you lower yourself, God lifts you up.

And when you humble yourself God give not only grace but when youre down and out for the fight He steps in for you.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Every time you say, ‘I can’t,’ He says, ‘That’s where I’ll show My strength.’”

End with:

“Jesus didn’t just die for our sins — He died to give us a new heart, one that bows low before God.

Theres a quote from the song Courageous by casting crowns that says:

The only way we'll ever stand Is on our knees with lifted hands

Thats the picture of victory of pride: not standing tall but kneeling in surrender to Christ.

Optional Reflection

You could close like this:

“Maybe for some of you, pride has been keeping you from apologizing.

Maybe it’s kept you from confessing something, or from letting someone in.

Tonight, you can lay that down.

Because on the other side of humility — is freedom.”