Becoming Christlike Disciples: Becoming Less

BIG IDEA

When you become less and stay connected, the Spirit produces in you what you could never produce on your own.

INTRODUCTION

Last week we talked about staying connected to Jesus—and that we don’t need a better plan, we need God’s power.

But if that power is available… why aren’t we experiencing it? (Pause) If we’re really connected… shouldn’t something be different? Shouldn’t something be growing?

Let me give you a picture…

Have you ever tried to have a real conversation with someone, but they’re distracted the whole time?

You’re talking… but they’re checking their phone… looking around… half-listening…

And you can feel it, right?

They’re there… but they’re not really with you

(Pause)

And because of that…

👉 There’s no depth 👉 No connection 👉 No real relationship happening

And if there’s no real connection… there’s no real change.

So what’s the issue?

It’s not a lack of effort—it’s too much of us.

We don’t just need to stay connected…we need to become less.

And when we do… something begins to grow that only God can produce.

That’s exactly what our text shows us. Becoming less is becoming greater in the Kingdom of God. Listen to Jesus talk about this in Matthew 20:16

Matthew 20:16 ESV

So the last will be first, and the first last.

In God’s Kingdom, everything is flipped.

The ones who push to be first… end up last. The ones who humble themselves… are lifted up.

Because in God’s economy, it’s not about position—it’s about surrender.

THE WRONG SOURCE PRODUCES THE WRONG FRUIT

vs. 16–21 “Walk by the Spirit… and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

If we’re going to understand this text, we have to start by understanding what these terms actually mean.

Works of the Flesh — what grows when self is at the center instead of God Walking in the Spirit — living under His direction and power… discovering God’s view, choosing to act on it, and depending on the Spirit to empower obedience

Connect to last week: 👉 Disconnected life is a flesh-controlled life

👉 You’re always producing something—and this is what grows when self is in control.

(Pause)

Paul shows us four areas where the flesh shows up:

👉 Distorted desires — sexual sin 👉 Misplaced worship — trusting something other than God 👉 Broken relationships — self damaging others 👉 Loss of control — giving in to the flesh

Now don’t misunderstand this…Paul isn’t talking about someone who struggles—he’s talking about someone who lives in this as a pattern of life.

Because while a believer may stumble into these sins… a life that is continually defined by them points to a heart that hasn’t been transformed.

And Scripture is clear—those who live this way will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But this isn’t meant to push you away—it’s meant to wake you up.

God didn’t save you to leave you there… He saved you to change you.

So if that’s what grows when the flesh is in control… what grows when the Spirit is in control?

WHY BECOMING LESS IS NECESSARY

vs. 17 “The flesh and the Spirit are in conflict”

The Spirit wants to produce fruit…but the flesh gets in the way.

👉 Pride blocks love 👉 Control blocks peace 👉 Self-focus blocks kindness

The Battle Within

Think about a tug of war.

Two sides pulling in opposite directions—and the rope can only go one way.

The Spirit is pulling you toward life, obedience, and fruit The flesh is pulling you toward sin and self

And both are pulling hard.

Whichever side you feed… is the side that wins.

You can’t stay connected while staying full of yourself.

🔑 The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t grow where the flesh is still in charge.

BECOMING LESS CREATES SPACE FOR THE SPIRIT

vs. 24 “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh…”

Romans 6:11 ESV

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Pruning removes what’s dead so the vine can produce more fruit. But we must take it a step further. Crucifying the flesh removes what’s self-driven.

Christ Centerpiece

So what does becoming less actually look like? (Pause)

👉 It looks like Jesus.

👉 Jesus became less not only to save us, but to show us how Christlike disciples are called to live.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

He didn’t grasp for position… He didn’t hold onto His rights… He humbled Himself… He became a servant… He gave His life.

(Pause)

Just as Christ became less… He now calls us to do the same. This isn’t just a good idea—it’s the call of every follower of Jesus.

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

That’s the Christian life right there. Less of me… more of Him… not just once—but every day.

Law vs Christ

The law revealed sin…Christ broke its power.

As we die daily, we step into that freedom.

And following Jesus always means leaving some things behind.

And next week, we’re going to talk about what it really means to live in that freedom.

The Cost of Freedom

There’s a story from the von Trapp family.

As the Nazis rose to power, they had to leave everything behind—their home, their land, their wealth—and escape over the mountains to freedom.

They gave up what looked valuable… but they gained something far greater—freedom.

And they never regretted the exchange.

(Pause)

That’s what following Jesus looks like.

👉 He sets us free from the bondage of sin. 👉 And yes—there are things we leave behind…

Old habits Old patterns Old ways of thinking

(Pause)

But what we gain is far greater.

👉 Peace instead of chaos 👉 Freedom instead of bondage 👉 Life instead of emptiness

Because freedom in Christ is always worth what you leave behind.

(Pause)

And next week, we’re going to talk about what it really looks like to live in that freedom.

Lust vs Desire

👉 Lust — the sinful craving 👉 Desire — what drives you toward it

You’re not just tempted by the action—you’re pulled by the craving behind it.

👉 Lust is the craving 👉 Desire is what drives you toward it

It’s like craving junk food—the craving hits first, then you act.

👉 God doesn’t just want to change behavior—He wants to change the appetite.

👉 Because when the craving changes, the choices change too.

When sin is nailed to the cross… its pull on our hearts is nailed there too. Its power fades… as Christ’s power fills us.

👉 And we’ll talk about how that becomes real in your life next week.

This is deeper than behavior—God searches our hearts.

👉 We surrender what He reveals → we die to ourselves → Christ lives in us

👉 You don’t produce fruit by trying harder—you make room for it by surrendering deeper.

👉 And when you do… something begins to grow.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

vs. 22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is…”

Not fruits (plural)… ONE fruit with multiple expressions

What grows when you become less…

👉 Love — less self 👉 Joy — more trust 👉 Peace — more surrender 👉 Patience — more reliance 👉 Kindness — more compassion 👉 Goodness — more Christlikeness 👉 Faithfulness — more devotion 👉 Gentleness — more humility 👉 Self-control — Spirit-led living

👉 You don’t produce this… you participate in it.

🔑 The fruit of the Spirit is not something you achieve—it’s something that grows when you get out of the way.

FRUIT IS THE EVIDENCE OF ABIDING

John 15:7–8 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Abiding → connection Becoming less → surrender Fruit → evidence

👉 If there’s no fruit… something is disconnected. Something isn’t right at the root.

Living in the Spirit isn’t something we turn on and off—it’s a way of life.

👉 Walk in the Spirit 👉 Be led by the Spirit 👉 Live by the Spirit 👉 Keep in step with the Spirit

All of those point to the same reality:

👉 This isn’t a moment—it’s a movement 👉 It’s not occasional—it’s ongoing 👉 It’s a daily, active relationship with God

You can’t walk in the Spirit if you’re not first living in the Spirit.

Just like Jesus didn’t walk out of the tomb until life was in Him… we won’t walk it out until His life is in us.

🔑 Fruit is not the goal—it’s the evidence that you’re connected.

OUR RESPONSE

So what do we do with this?

1. Crucify the Flesh Daily

“Less of me” is a daily decision

2. Surrender to the Spirit

Stop trying to manufacture what only God can produce

3. Stay Connected

Word — God speaks Prayer — God empowers Praise — God is exalted Presence — God is experienced

4. Examine the Fruit

What’s growing in my life right now? Does it look like Jesus?

TAKEAWAY: More of Him… less of me.

CONCLUSION

Last week: Stay connected This week: Become less Next week: Become free

(Pause)

You can’t walk in freedom… until you first come to the end of yourself.

Some of you are sitting here thinking…That sounds good… but I don’t feel free.

That’s exactly why next week matters.

Because we’re not just talking about becoming less…we’re going to talk about becoming free.

(Pause)

You don’t have to force love You don’t have to fake peace You don’t have to manufacture joy

When you stay connected and surrender fully… the Spirit produces it.

The fruit you’ve been trying to produce…is on the other side of the surrender you’ve been avoiding.