Me vs. We mentality
Discipleship: Equipping the Disciples • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:17:36
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Follow Me
Follow Me
Jesus did not just speak, teach for knowledge, for education but for application. To be a disciple means to be a follower (to adhere) to a teacher. Jesus calls people to action then and to action today.
Jesus had been feeding (the 5000), Jesus had been teaching about the foundation of the church (on the words of peter that he was the Christ), John had been ordering (ordering someone to stop preaching Jesus because he was not a follower) and now Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem ( Lk9:1-51) that leads us to our starting passage.
In Jesus earthly ministry Jesus called some to follow Him, others wanted to follow Him. Yet there was a problem, same problem we see today, let’s look at the passage and see if we can figure it out (Lk9:57-62).
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59 And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”
61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Can you see the problem? What is it?
People wanted to come their own way to follow Him
Let me bury my father first (v.59)
Let me go say good-bye first (v.61)
That me first , or first me mentality was alive before the church and was alive in the first century and today.
Jesus demand was deny self and follow Him (Lk9:23)
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Jesus required one to hate (Lk14:26)
26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
(Transition): I don’t think we would have to argue the point that we live in the midst of a “me first” culture, and if we are honest within Christiandome many want to come to Jesus their own way (expand)
Even within the church the “Me first” mentality can be seen, we could be guilty of. So today we are going to look at
The “me first” mentality in the church
The counter to it, the “others first” mentality we need to maintain as disciples of Jesus Christ
The “me first” mentality
The “me first” mentality
This is just as dangerous as the false teachers slipping in unnoticed (Jude4) for this can take the disciple from being one of Christ to one of the world and can take them out of Christ even.
So, as we go today we will look at the examples of what Christ has given us and what many do with it now that can be dangerous.
“Me first” mentality regarding our attendance (Act2:42; Heb10:25)
We have the example of the early church.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
They were continual
They were devoted
They were growing (v.46)
They were warned (Heb10:25)
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.
So, let me come to the church today what the “me first” when it comes to the assembly may look like:
(Me First Culture picture inserted here)
Such things as putting personal interests before God’s.
Tired; so don’t go to assembly
Recreational outings
Elective work or school
Family gatherings
Stay home to watch TV or sporting event, or something similar
Haphazard attendance in the assembly can be a sign of of the “me first” mentality
“Me first” regarding our contribution (1Cor16:1-2; 2Cor9:7-9)
Christians were instructed to give of their prosperity and for certain needs
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
and look at this
7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”
Not only must we but are to do it cheerfully, so that all grace may abound in you.
(Me first culture picture inserted here again)
Many Christians give sparingly
They spend on themselves then given leftovers to God
They did not budget offerings so it is not as “purposed”
They are not living with budget and are suffering financially and offerings are no longer a priority
Negligent giving of our prosperity is a sign of the “me first” mentality.
(Transition) it’s ok to say “ouch” I know I can squirm some on this too. Bear with me a little longer on this “me first” mentality
“Me first” regarding our serving one another (Rom12:3-8; 1Pt4:10-11)
We are each grace (talent) given. Given as a part of the whole body. We are commanded to exercise them (see Rom12:6)
Now look what Peter says
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.
Exercise it (Paul) employ it (Peter) all so God may be glorified.
(Me first culture picture inserted here, again)
Many within the church put in little effort to serve one another.
Not taking time to get to know one another
Not seeking to discover your spiritual gift, abilities that God has given you
Men not attending business meetings, women not not teaching classes
Attending church to get and not to give of themselves.
Lack of involvement in the local church is a sign of the “me first” mentality.
I want to pause just for a second that part of this stuff tonight comes from a book called “The Me First Syndrome” by Wayne Jackson. Now that credit is given where credit is due, here is another thing to consider.
“Me first” regarding family (Col3:18-21; Eph5:22, 25, 33)
Christians have instructions, commands, duties within the family.
18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
Wives, husbands, children, fathers.
When we do not do it, it often times has selfish motives, “Me first” motives
(Me first mentality picture)
Husbands and wives can do this to each other when not making the other a priority
Parents can do that when they divorce without consideration for the impact of the children
Children can do this when they do not honor or obey their parents
Dysfunction families grow, abound, and dissolve where there is the “me first” mentality.
“Me first” regarding our theology (Ps37:4; Jn14:13; Php4:13)
This one is very dangerous because it is not theologically sound, meaning taking scripture and allowing it, believing to be or mean something that it does not mean, let me show you.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
How do you think (Ps37:4) could be taken wrong?
How about possible wrong theology on this.
13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
How can (Jn14:13) be taken, interpreted wrong?
Oh here is another since we are on a roll
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Bad theology of (Php4:13)? Think about it for a minute
Wrong theology is taking God’s word and twisting to mean, say what we want it to say. This is “me first” mentality.
(Transition) Well I want you to know there is hope for us when we go from the me to the we mentality and we practice the others first principle
“Others first” mentality
“Others first” mentality
The me first mentality greatly damages the unity and the growth in the church. We are to be givers and not just consumers. The New Testament examples, or a few of them, is what we will look at now to promote disciples that are unified in Christ and for Christ so to better serve the body of Christ.
As exampled by Christ (Php2:5-8; 2Cor8:9; Mt20:28; Php2:3-8)
Christ came to this earth putting others first because of His great love for us
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Jesus who was rich in mercy (Eph2:4) rich in grace (Eph2:7) came and became poor, giving mercy and grace that we may become rich (expand; does not mean prosperity)
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
He became the ransom, the sum paid to set us free. The price His very blood. That is others first exampled
We are called to have the same attitude.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit (v.3)
Esteem others more than self (v.3)
Look out for others interests, needs (v.4)
Follow Christ’s example set (vv.5-8)
(Transition) Jesus exemplified an “others first” life that was more than a mentality but an action. We can learn and apply from what Jesus did.
As exampled by the Macedonians (2Cor8:1-5, Php4:10-19
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
Notice the love, the generosity they exampled. In affliction, in poverty they displayed “we” mentality.
You know why? Check out the next verse
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
They first gave themselves to the Lord
Then they gave of themselves to others
It was not short lived it continued, it was a lifestyle of “others” first mentality; in summary of Php4:10-18
WHile they desired to help Paul at one time they could not, but when able they did, they continued to do it.
Paul was OK, knew God provided what he needed in poverty and hunger or in abundance
When no one else what helping, supporting Paul the Philippians were.
They were Gods supply chain to meet every need that Paul had, well maybe give you one verse from this to glean from
17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
Putting others first ensured that God would continue to meet their needs (v.19)
(Transition) the Macedonians exemplified the true value of putting others first, not just in word but in deed. - Jesus teaches the importance of “others first”
As commanded by scripture (Mt22:37-40)
37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
(Insert love God love others picture here)
All the law of the Prophets hang on loving God and loving others.
(invitation- stay on the slide) -
Love God by repenting and believe the gospel (Mk1:15)
Love God by confessing Jesus ( Mt10:32)
Love God by obeying the gospel (2The1:8)
Love God by accepting His gift of grace by faith (Eph2:8)
Love God by being baptized for forgiveness of sins (Act2:38)
Love God by loving others since the love of God is now in you when you obey the gospel.
(invitation conclude) There is one place we have to put me first, that is in full surrender to God’s call of you through the gospel, no one can do it for you. Surrender the me to become part of the we today!
(Song) (Prayer)