Growing Up - Maturing in Attitude
To receive you this morning. In your name we pray. Amen. Was most of you know, by now. I have an older brother. He is 5, 1/2 years older than me, 6th grade older than me. And my brother is a very, very intelligent guy. Very smart. I got good grades all throughout school. I remember growing up, you know, when a high school off in time, you know, your guidance, counselor will call you in and want to know, hey, what do you want to do with your life? What career path? Do you want to go down? What? What is it you want to do after you graduate from here and High School in Warren, High School. My brother had received the call to go into Ministry that he initially. Got the call to go into Ministry. After one year of Bible College decided kids are definitely not my phone and went straight instead. Receiving his high school guidance counselor called him in to talk this over with him. It's better that you care about other people, you seem to be really involved in your church. And in that his guidance counselor and said, would you do that? You are super intelligent. You could go on and you could you could be probably whatever you wanted to be. Something like that, is a waste of your intelligence. It is a waste of your gifts. And your abilities?
Guidance counselor had this idea that she wanted him to use the intelligence and the gifts, and the talent, they have been blessed with an order to lift himself up in order to advance himself in order for him to get better.
Call to do something greater than himself. Something that was beyond himself. Something that was outside of himself of his Focus was not on something that would just financially benefit and its future family.
But that's, it's tempting in this life, right? That's the message that our culture, especially our American culture Street. Look out for number one and Contour culture.
You know what? I'm going to practice on the soccer field, the baseball field, the basketball or the tennis courts, so that I can become a better player so that I can get a scholarship so that I can go to a better school. I'm going to get a higher education so that I can get a better job. Corporate ladder so I can get a promotion so I can make more money so that I can have a bigger house and have a newer car. I'm going to improve myself so that I can get ahead and I be the best in order to benefit me.
And there is nothing wrong. Getting a higher education. There's nothing wrong with being better at sports. There's nothing wrong with getting a promotion, the problem and all of it is when the focus is I'm going to do all this in order to Simply benefit myself.
We focus on self. We talked about our self-esteem getting self-help or self-improvement it is. Self self self.
Scripture. As I read through God's word, that he has given. Picture. That's how our attitudes should be.
The church in Rome. What time is the problem with people's attitudes? They're very much focused on themselves and what they thought was, right. She has one group of people in the church in Rome. Most likely they were from a very Jewish background. Who said, you know, what, if you are going to be a Christian, if you were going to be a follower of Christ you need to abstain, from eating, certain things specifically for them. It was eating Meats. It really is making sure they have seen from eating meats that were sacrificed to idols. In addition to that, they held, you know, what? If you're going to be a Christian, if you're going to be a follower of Christ, you need to make sure you were continue to honor and recognize.
This year's, we look at some of the Jewish holidays are holy days. The matter fact, recognizing one of those this afternoon come out to the house at 4. It's going to be a great time of fellowship and celebration of God, really, really would encourage you to come out to that. Bring a side dish in a lawn chair, as we celebrate, the Feast of Tabernacles. But this one group was saying these are required for you to do. You need to abstain from these food and you need to celebrate these holy days. On the other hand, there was another group of people in the church in Rome. Who said there is no freedom.
We have freedom because of what Christ has done from us. We don't have to abstain from these Foods. We don't have to celebrate these days. It's not required of us anymore.
It wasn't necessary to observe these. And each group. Had an attitude that we're right. But the other group was wrong. Edelbrock condemnation in judgement towards the other group for their belief.
What's in Christchurch?
Always in on who's right? And wrong on the issue.
But that's not Paul's bigger concern. About who is right? It was wrong.
Bigger concern. Was over there, attitude? The mentality and the attitude that they had formed about one of them being, right? In one of them being wrong. And how they have brought judgment and condemnation to the others. Rather than each of them taking the time to look at the motive of the other group. Revivals with you would encourage you to turn to Romans chapter 14.
Thought you can follow along on the screen, but it would encourage you again. If you got a Bible, open it up, getting to God's word used to get your hands on those pages or scrolling through your screen. Romans chapter 14. Verses 5 through 10. Paul writes this that church in Rome. One person is seems one day as better than another, while another is seems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. One who observed observed of all observers it in honor of the Lord and honor of the Lord. Since you give thanks to God. Well, the other one who abstains of stains and honor the Lord and give thanks to God. Self and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lords. Listen Christ, died and left again. He might be both the lord of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or why do you despise your brother? We will all stand before the Judgment seat of God.
Paul saying here's yeah, you guys are divided. One of you is abstaining an observing certain days. One of you, is it saying your freedom we can eat all days or alike. YouTube, you guys need to realize you both are trying to do the same thing? Both of you are striving to honor God with what you're doing.
He says one group is stronger in the face. It's in one is weaker. He weighs in on who kind of has the right idea here. The even when one of them might have been stronger in their face, their attitude might have been right on this issue. Should have been one of Grace. Should have been one in recognizing that the other group was striving to honor God with what they were doing.
Tim Roth.
I'm right, you're wrong.
I'll be honest, and I've said this before, this is a huge problem that I have.
I am someone talks about my brother earlier. He is someone this way. We get it from her mom. That we like to be, right? So it's really interesting when the three of us don't agree on something. And I know I have the shoes tendency when I get into disagreement with someone, if I get in an argument with someone, even when we at the end of disagree. As soon as I get a chance to be alone, I'm going to be researching what we talked about what our disagreement was about. I'm going to be trying to prove my point still. If I find out more evidence that I am, right, I'm going to bring it up later. Going to dig my heels in. I'm right. You're wrong. Now. It's in my research. I found the other person might have a valid point. I might be wrong. I won't say a word of it again.
Cuz I don't want them to know that. I'm not right. I recognize this is a huge problem, I have.
Need to be right.
Even to the point that it hurts relationship.
Now also basically says the weaker group. Once a week or in their face, so you know what? They should be striving to grow in maturity. They need to be growing in the face and having a different understanding because, you know what those that were weaker in their faith, they kind of have this attitude. They have it all figured out. I don't need to grow, like, I know everything I need to know.
They had a legalistic attitude. Says, you know what the ones that are eating. Everyday, like, they're the ones that are stronger in their faith. Easter requiring people to abstain and because you know what, they had developed a very legalistic attitude. The following Jesus. You must observe these days.
There's a problem with legalism. When it comes to the church, there are things that we we can, we should observe and follow and do. But when we have this very legalistic attitude, often that leads to a lack of Grace.
We talked last week about our need to grow in God's grace. How you know what? We all deserve God's Wrath. We all sit in Judgment of hell. Every single one of us.
What is only through the grace of God for the death of Jesus Christ on the cross that we have hope and we have Redemption. We have salvation besides the blood of Jesus, that we have Grace. And when we have rules over Grace. We are the weaker ones.
Interpol held both of them. Weather.
They needed to have an attitude adjustment. The issue wasn't the point. They were trying to make the issue, was the people that they were trying to make it with. The issue was that they were judging one another instead of examining the other group was striving to honor. God.
He says, you know, it.
It's God's job to judge to look at the motives and intentions of their heart. This issue of food until so, sore stronger. You need to check your attitude. Still while you're right on this issue, you're still wrong. Because, you know what? You're causing your brother to sin against their conscience. They have they have in their mind. You know, it the best way for me to honor God, is to abstain from this for you to force them and say you should eat this. Instead you are causing them to sin. You are causing them to this last week celebrating some of these days and we really encourage everyone here and I'm going to encourage you. Even if you did this week, even though, Yom, Kippur has already packed. We still have a few more of those kids. If you didn't take one home, if you took one home and you didn't do it, I would encourage you to do it. And part of that was starting at Wednesday night, Sundown, through through Thursday, sundown. What's the fast? This is actually like a complete and total fast like you were supposed to not eat or drink or go beyond that. Like, don't even take a shower or bathe and put on deodorant toothpaste makeup, like none of them complete and total fast.
It's kind of like if I had all my heart that God is calling me to fast, and I'm trying to honor God through fasting. If my wife says, hey, just for us for lunch. I'm going to make this nice juicy steak dinner for the beautiful salad and a big potato. Like, don't worry about that fast. We were required to fast anymore. Just go ahead and have this beautifully cooked medium rare steak with me.
No, I had felt a God to honor. I needed the best if she comes in. You don't need to do that. Just have the steak with me. She's causing me. Sin against my conscience. Impala spelling, the stronger ones here if they're doing this to honor God. Are you at is proving your point in your, right? This issue you are causing them to send and there for you.
That he actually says, you know what you need to do. You need to meet them, where they're at, on this issue.
Do you know when you're around them? You can go without eating meat.
Spend time with them, meet them, where they're at, with the intention with the goal of building them up in their face, that while they might be doing what they do to honor God, that they can come to a realization, you know, what choir device to do to build them up in their faith and Devotion to Christ.
The basically say that wall, you have god-given freedoms. You have the freedom to eat what you want.
For the sake of other people. There are times when you should sacrifice your freedom. Especially when you're around other people.
What's that stick with you? For just a minute?
If we have god-given freedoms, talk a lot about that.
A god also causes.
For the sake of others. What time? Sacrifice our freedoms.
Put this Freedom beside, the things that we deserve, the things that we have rightly been given. The state. Of others.
Pulse s, you know what? We have an obligation. Two people.
Did he continues his letter to the church in Rome? Chapter 15 verses 1 through 7. Erase this. We are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the week. And not to please ourselves. Let each of us, please his Neighbour for his good to build him up. Christ did not please himself as it is written. The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me. For whatever was written in, former days, was written for our instruction that through endurance into the encouragement of the scriptures. We might have both may the god of endurance and encouragement Grant you to live in harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus that together. You met with one voice glorify the God and father of our Lord. Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one. Another as Christ has welcomed for the glory of God.
Four. Others must be a priority over our self.
Jesus.
Think about it.
Heaven.
In a place of perfection. A place filled with Glory a place filled with life.
And he gave it up.
Sacrificed. To come to a fallen. Broken. Versed in rebellious World, a place filled with violence and greed and selfishness.
He sacrificed his place in heaven.
Not for himself.
but for those around, for the sake of us.
We fine in Psalm 69 versus six and seven. It says let not those who hope in you before be put to shame Through Me O Lord God of hosts. Let those who seek you be. Brought be brought to dishonor Through Me, O God of Israel for it, is for your sake. That I have four more approach that dishonor has covered my face. I have come to take the dishonor of every man upon himself.
He sacrificed everything he had for the sake. Of us.
Because he saw a people. For broken and in need and destined for hell without him.
So, he sacrificed it all for us.
Pulse is likewise. We have an obligation.
To build each other up. We have an obligation not to tear each other down. We have an obligation to bear with those who might not be at the same place that we are at. Obligation to be sacrificial for others. The way that Christ have. That means we need to have an attitude that stops thinking of myself all the time that stops taking a I'm right you're wrong. This is my freedom is what I'm going to do it. No matter what, because for the sake of others to build others up. We have to have an attitude more like his, which was sacrificial for the sake of other people.
Family, there is a problem in the church today.
We? The church are so incredibly divided.
Typically wear / doctrinal issues.
I want to be very clear Doctrine. Is extremely important?
knowing and following God's word and striving to follow God's word to the best of our ability is extremely important, but the problem is most of the divisions that we have amongst churches, Are not doctrinal issues that our Salvation Centric. Not issues that focused around salvation. Their secondary issues.
And in those things, we have prioritised politics or better Church politics. Over people. Do you realize it is estimated globally that there are over 45,000 Christian denominations?
Over 200 of them. In the United States alone. That number is estimated to be growing.
You look Christ, desire for the church was.
The church to be one.
Not only that. Church is shrinking. At an alarming rate. According to last year's state of the church by the Barna research group. The number of practicing Christians has been cut in half over the last 20 years. Practicing Christians. Now represent only one of every four Americans. So I want that to be a wake-up call to you. We want to still try and say that America is a Christian Nation.
Only 25% of it are practicing Christians. We cannot say we cannot claim that America is a Christian Nation. Might have a foundation on Christian principle, but we cannot say is a Christian Nation. 25% of it is a practicing Christian Nation. Not only that. According to a Gallup poll, only 47% of Americans, even claim to belong to a church synagogue or mosque.
I understand that that less than half of Americans claim to belong to any one of the three major world religions. Not just Christianity.
To suffice to say, I would say, not only is America not a Christian Nation, America even a religious Nation.
Less than half of America, says they belong to one of the three major world religions.
Let's get. This is down. 50% from just 2018. But that number has dropped 3% over the course of two years cuz this study came out in 2020. We might say, 3%, That's not a huge gap until. We put faces. To that number.
And realize that that drop of 3% represents nearly 10 million people in 2 years. Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Completely.
Not only that that number has dropped from 70% in 1999. 70% said, they belong to one of the three major world religions, just a little over 20 years ago.
That means there's nearly been a loss of 66 and a half million people in the last 20 years.
American church is shrinking drastically. Faxed.
Andy Stanley laid out the top five reasons. People are leaving the church.
Number three. Reason was this? They had a bad Church experience. Your nieces are bad Church experience. He's not talking about. Well, I didn't really like your style of worship and I didn't like the preacher. I didn't like this. I didn't like that.
I said this is the most bad Church experiences. Are the result of somebody prioritizing of you over a u? Something Jesus never did and instructed us not to do either. Self-righteousness and legalism are leftovers of the Old Testament laws, which Jesus replaced through his death on the cross.
Relationships are messy and complicated. But if our actions are rooted in Jesus's command to love one. Another in John 13:34. We can prevent many. Lead people away from his body.
Research. LifeWay. Adult stopped attending church. 32% of them replied by saying church members seem to judgment or hypocritical.
Your ties. Appoint. Over prioritizing. People. What we need to realize is that when you are, right. At the expense of someone else coming to know Christ.
You're wrong. The even when you're right, you're wrong, that your desire to be right your attitude of being, right? When it harms the relationship in the harm. Someone might come to know Christ. You are wrong. As we mature in Christ, Our concern for others must outweigh Our concern for ourselves. Our attitude must shift from me. Amy me, whether you know what, I'm self-serving. I'm selfishness. I have these freedoms that I want or that I have been given to I have to be right all the time or attitude my shift away from myself and must focus on others.
What Jesus did?
Were called to do.
Why are memory verse this week is Romans 15 verse to. Let each of us, please his Neighbour for his good to build him up. You say that with me? Let each of us, please his Neighbour for his good to build him up.
Cuz we can know and understand scriptures, all we want. Like, we talked about 2 weeks ago.
We can understand and know God's grace all we want. Like we talked about last week.
but if our attitude, If our actions. Don't reflect that. Same knowledge and understanding. It means nothing.
Scripture gives us endurance and encouragement. For what?
Does, it's the live in harmony? Glorify God.
We want to grow up in Christ. We need to remember what our goal is in becoming mature. Our goal is to glorify God.
My focus has to be less of me and more of him. My focus has to be less of me and more of my neighbor.
We need to start seeing other people, the way God sees them.
that other person in person or on Facebook is someone I need to win an argument against Got someone that I need to prove wrong. Someone that I need to show them the error of their ways.
Brother that someone who deserves the wrath of God, the same way that I do.
Brother. That someone who is a beloved child of God, who is created in His image.
That person. Is a Child Jesus Christ. Sacrificed heaven, to come to this earth to die for?
I see that that person is someone that God has a desire for me to live in harmony with.
Guess what would happen? If we refocus our energy.
We refocused. The time we spent. Ourselves. Proving a point on Facebook or in person. It's all the self-help, self-improvement that we do.
We spent our time glorifying God. We spend our time. Focusing on others. Instead of dividing our church that unites our churches that unite us as Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Focusing on the things that can bring help to others to build each other up and to build other stuff.
What if we focused on things like you realize that there are estimated to be 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States?
You realize that there are approximately 400,000 Christian churches in the United States.
One Church would have a family one, Family Church? Foster child need. For the foster care system in America.
We're focusing on others to build others up.
What if we refocused? Fighting about refugees. And whether they should be here or not in the world. Can I do to help? How can I help people? Trying to escape your family safe.
How can I help?
What if we focusing so much?
Making sure abortion is a legalized.
Play focused.
Desperately need being right or wrong about the issue of abortion. Focus on the people. He said, you know what I'm saying? You know what, we're going to make sure you have the resources you need.
Carry this child to term, and whether you give it up for adoption, working to make sure you have the resources to be able to do that in the health of the counseling. You following making that decision.
We're going to give you the resources in the help that you need to raise this child.
Guess what's left? Right or wrong about an issue. When we focus on the actual people surrounding the issue?
For making sure a drug addict. Father gets thrown in prison for as long as you know, we said, you know it, what can we do to help him overcome this thing?
Counseling children for all the tragedy that he is.
We focus so much on ourselves and just making sure we're right on thing.
Do we forget that people attached to each and every one more about the people in the point? Not saying that there are right and wrong in these issues much is but we can be right on the issue and be wrong in God's eyes because we stopped caring about the people. If we want temperature, if we want to grow up, we have to have an attitude shift like Christ in his sacrifice.
T'god.
Focus. Our efforts that we have on ourselves.
Focus on the people surrounding these issues instead. American Church, shrink
and we would,
Because you know what? We stopped focusing on ourselves and we started focusing on God. Focusing on building each other up instead of being destructive arguments constructive. We would build the kingdom of God.
God, I know.
I know that I can be selfish.
I know that I can be stuff.
I know I have a tendency. What is Right In God, humble me? Correct me. Even in my right next to my self-righteousness.
I've been wrong.
Help me to stop focusing on myself to focus on you and to focus on others, help me to be more like Christ. Give me an attitude. Got a family of SEC Noble. Not be known for being right people and focuses on people.
True, that people can come to know you if they can mature.
So he's having to prove a point.
Do we have an attitude, like you? In your name we pray. Amen.
Jesus's desire is Hope first church is people. If you want.
We're striving to be a family.
There might be some of you in this in here, this morning watching online.
We are sitting outside of the family. You have never accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior and the reality of it is you are lost. You are a sinner, just like all of us once were.
Deserving of God's Wrath. God's judgement. Hotel.
It is only through the grace and blood of Jesus Christ on the cross that you can be a part of the family. Do you have the Salvation? It is only through Jesus. Repenting of your old way of turning around if you confess Jesus as Lord, and savior of your life of being baptized and raised a new injury for the rest of your life. That's what it means to join the family of God. And if you have not done that, we want to talk with you about the next step for you, is part of the family of God.
Do you have a decision that is on your heart this morning? I would love to talk with you or whether it's not this morning. I would love to talk with you sometime later this week or one of our, their leaders, one of our their ministers. If you have a decision on your heart, this morning, would encourage you to find me in the back. As we stated in, we sing this song.