The Disciple and Self-esteem

Spiritual growth and the disciple

Tonight is a teaching, hopefully in a class style that is going to be a little subjective for a part of it, but don’t worry we will be objective too and bring in scripture to counter some of the subjective points made.

(insert Full Potential Power Point Slide Here)

Question: Are you, are we, living as Christians to our full potential?

We know from last weeks lesson that Spiritual growth is a choice, a decision with direction and it takes determination and we look at.

A reminder regarding spiritual growth:

It is commanded by God (2Pt3:18)

We are to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord.

It takes effort (Php2:12-13)

Effort on our part, to work out our salvation

Assisted by God who is at work in you to will and to work for His good pleasure

It is blessed by God (2Pt1:8-11)

It is blessed by God will we apply the graces given and we have the assurance we will not be useless nor unfruitful and let me quote a couple of these verses, they are not on the screen because I want us to go consider the potential question still.

2 Peter 1:10–11 NASB95

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

I believe things that keep us from growing and maturing to the fullness of Christ and living to our full potential in Christ and for Christ is. We have the wrong view of God (make Him too small and not powerful enough or caring enough) and also how we view ourselves. This is our focus today the disciple and self-esteem, how we view ourselves can help or hinder us in our spiritual growth.

God fully equips us, provides the equipping to us (2Pt1:3) but we have to put it into use and believe we have the equipping to accomplish what God wants us to do for His glory. When we don’t believe it, or we don’t develop the equipping it hinders us from spiritual growth. We can stop the stunted growth by understanding the hindrance and doing something about it.

(Transition) So what is self-esteem, how does it affect our spiritual growth?

Self-esteem and the Christian

(Insert self-esteem and the Christian PowerPoint here)

Self-esteem (noun) confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect. There is many facets to self-esteem and I want to touch on some of those then look at the Christian view of self-esteem.

Question: when you think of self-esteem what do you think of?

Self-esteem is our internal feelings and evaluation of ourselves.

This is our perceived self-image it does not make it true, but our view will impact what we do with it.

Self-esteem and self-image are closely related and often based on childhood

I mentioned that a part of this tonight is subjective so I need you to bear with me as we work through this, scripture is coming it a bit.

Our childhood are our formulate years we learn by input from others both positive and negative.

Input from others can directly impact what we think, view, feel and even then say about ourselves.

(insert how I can view, talk to myself PowerPoint)

While I mention the negative, those things that can hinder us, there are good things in childhood that can help us have a healthy self-esteem. Now we can use these things as adults too.

Being praised

Being listened too

Being respected

Being touched (attention given to)

Being involved in sports, etc.

Question: How can we help someone with self-esteem as a child of God (a disciple)?

Some of the things that can crush self-esteem are such things as:

Harsh criticism, being yelled at, etc.

Being ignored, ridiculed or teased

Too high or rigid expectations

Failure in sports or school

These things can be devastating to the self-esteem and the person can believe the things said and it will have impact, consequences such as

(Insert- Consequences of poor self-esteem PowerPoint)

These negative consequences reinforce negative self-image and lead to poor and low self-esteem and oftentimes leads to self destructive behavior.

(Transition) But wait there is hope! The right view of God and how God looks at us is our basis for a Christian self-esteem that is healthy

Our bible basis for self-esteem

Oftentimes we let others tell us how to view ourselves instead of the Creator. The Christian basis for self-esteem should be one of dignity by virtue given and created by God.

Virtue of divine generation

God created by His very Word, from formless to form the heavens and the earth and then one more thing. Divine generation of man

Created in His image and given dominion (Gen1:26-28)

Genesis 1:26–27 NASB95

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:28 NASB95

28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Created in their image and giving dominion over every living thing. God had a mighty trust in man to take care of His creation. - - - let that sink in, God’s mighty view of man, trust in man to care for His creation.

Created as a outpouring of His great love, view of us (Jn3:16; 1Jn4:10; Rom5:8)

God loved us and demonstrated it.

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

and add to that

1 John 4:10 NASB95

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

and just one more

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God loved us, demonstrated His great love toward us in sending Jesus Christ. And by sending Jesus brings us to the next thing.

Virtue of spiritual regeneration

Sinners who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Tit3:4-7; 1Jn3:1)

I though about only putting (v.5) up from Titus, but that would not get the full impact of our regeneration and God’s high view and great love for us.

Titus 3:4–5 NASB95

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:6–7 NASB95

6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(Expand on the above verses briefly) - His love appeared, His love saved us according to His mercy by the washing and regeneration by the Holy Spirit

Having done that, we are made heirs, by receiving God’s grace we are justified and given eternal hope of eternal life!

Other reasons for having good self-esteem

Blessings from the continual forgiveness of sins (1Jn1:7-2:2)

One of my go to passages to be reminded of God’s continued love for me and for man. God’s call for continued repentance/confession and God’s continued provision for us.

1 John 1:7–8 NASB95

7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:9–10 NASB95

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 John 2:1–2 NASB95

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Blessings of Spirits help to overcome sin (Gal4:6; rom8:12-14; Eph3:16)

Because we have the Spirit to overcome sin we can cry Abba Father!

Because of the Spirit to overcome sin we are led by the Spirit of God and are called sons’s of God

And i have to give one scripture at least

Ephesians 3:16 NASB95

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

Check that out, granted according the the riches of HIS GLORY to be strength by the Holy Spirit in our inner man, Now if that is not an esteem booster than nothing is. God loves, God provides, God empowers, and it by the riches of His glory not a work of your own, it is His in you!

Blessings of God’s family to help us (Heb3:12; 10:25)

We need one another and God has given us one another to help one another so not to:

Hebrews 3:12 NASB95

12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.

and then add to that

Hebrews 10:25 NASB95

25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

to encourage one another. Another blessing provided by God is YOU!

Blessings of God’s promise to never forsake us (Heb13:5-6; Deu31:8; 1Kng8:57; Deu31:6)

God has promised to be with us to never forsake us (Heb13:5; Deu31:6, 8 and 1Kng8:57) and from that we can have this confidence

Hebrews 13:6 NASB95

6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

That a blessing that is, to have this confidence because of Gods promise, God’s promise given because of God’s great love for us.

(Transition) - - - do you get the point that God highly esteems us, cares for us, so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us? while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. He wants us to have the right view of self, his view of us. So now, how does this all impact the Christian and Spiritual growth? Glad you asked.

Self-esteem and Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth is enabled by God and when the Christian has the right view of self (self-esteem) it helps them be willing to spiritually grow and overcoming those things that can hinder us (poor self-esteem).

Poor/low self-esteem hinders spiritual growth . .

(Insert low self esteem picture here)

Self defeating by believing not capable of growing

I cannot teach a class, i’m not smart enough or bible versed enough (expand)

I will make a mistake in something I do or say

Self defeating by giving up or giving in.

I’ve never done that before I don’t think I can

It’s too hard to do

I don’t have the ability to do it.

And yes this one too, I don’t think I can commit, make the time for it.

Self defeating can lead to group defeating.

We are too small a church to impact the community or the people

We don’t have sufficient resources to do anything but keep the doors open

All of these things are excuses and show a low self-esteem and even a low trust and faith in God who created you, us in His image for His glory and for His purpose. When we realize these things are that, excuses that come from wrong view of self, wrong view of God then we can do something about it and we can then spiritually grow and not be spiritually defeated or held back.

Healthy self-esteem exampled by Paul

For himself (Php4:13)

Paul knew his circumstances were not holding him down or back. He knew God would accomplish what He wanted through Paul spite his circumstances.

For others (Php1:6, 2:12-13)

Paul encouraged the church at Philippi with a great reminder

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

and he also challenged them

Philippians 2:12–13 NASB95

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Question: What is the challenge that Paul issues in (v.12) and the promise in (v.13)?

We can learn to follow Paul’s example

So we can do whatever God wants us to do (Eph2:10)

God called us through the gospel of grace by faith that led to obeying the the gospel and fulfilling what God wants us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Question: What did God call us to do when you look at Eph2:10?

We can contribute collectively to the body (Rom12:3-9; 1Pt4:10-11)

To summarize Rom12:3-9

Everyone of the believers are given grace and alloted a measure of faith (v.3)

We are all one body with many functions, all a part of one another (vv.4-5)

Use your gifts for the body and do it with love (vv.6-9)

Now I want to give you from Peter

1 Peter 4:10–11 NASB95

10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Paul said use it, Peter says employ it in serving one another, and be a good steward!

Question: What is the results when the gifts given are used, employed when you look at (v.11)?

Some application principles to consider:

(Insert healthy self-esteem picture here)

Know, or get to know your strengths/weaknesses

We all have strengths and weaknesses, one of our biggest weaknesses is we are fearful of trying, learning something new. Well, you are a new you, a new creation that has been regenerated as a child of God,

He have gifted you, learn your gift and walk in the gift, and if there is an area you are not gifted in, don’t sweat it. We all have different gifts, talents.

Focus on the “I can” attitude vs “I can’t”

Know God wants to grow you, set some spiritual growth goals that are realistic

Thank God for being you and not being or comparing yourself to anyone else

Seek to encourage yourself

God loves me, the brethren loves me, I chose to love me today.

Today I will not speak anything negative about myself; commit to see what God says and believe what God says vs what others say or I think about myself.

(insert Spiritual growth picture here; used before)

(Conclusion) We know that poor self-esteem is a hindrance to spiritual growth; we tend to doubt self, doubt others, give up on self and make excuses for not even trying.

On the other hand spiritual growth is greatly enhanced and helped when we grow through healthy self-esteem. As we grow we gain confidence, check this out

1 John 3:18–19 NASB95

18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him

1 John 3:20 NASB95

20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

(reinsert spiritual growth picture here again)

Healthy God esteem, self-esteem that is set down by God and the truth of his word is greater than our own heart and how we view ourselves. So today chose to learn, believe, follow what God says so we have the right estimation of us and it will help us to grow spiritually.

(Invitation slide) (Song) (Prayer)