WEBVTT 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:03.759 Thank you for joining us today. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:06.959 At Crosschurch, we believe people need Jesus. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.320 People need each other. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:09.839 People change the world. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:11.519 And people leave legacies. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:17.440 Our desire is for you to understand, accept, and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:18.800 Thank you for listening. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:23.440 If you would like to know more about Crosschurch, please visit CrossChurch.com. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:26.640 If you got a copy of God's Word, why don't you grab it? 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:29.679 1 Corinthians chapter 9 is where we're going to be. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:34.079 We are walking through this great book of the Bible over about 11 weeks together. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:37.920 We're talking about the 11 dangers for every Christian. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:50.000 And so far, we have talked about a lot of things like division, unforgiveness, sexual sin, marriage problems, rejecting godly leadership in your life, all kinds of stuff like that. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:56.320 And today, thankfully, I'm going to talk about a subject that really doesn't affect anybody at all in this room. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.119 It's in other rooms that we need to be worried about. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:05.519 But today, for your friends that are not at church today, I'm going to talk to you about the danger of selfishness. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:06.000 Okay. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:09.040 There are a lot of surprising things when you get married. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.040 Can we all agree with that, married people? 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:18.000 If you're a dude, you may be surprised at how long it takes for your wife to get ready. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:20.719 Still a shock to me, 21 years in. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.480 You may be surprised at just how different she is. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:27.120 She has these things called feelings. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:30.480 And so it doesn't matter just what you say, it matters how you say it. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:32.079 Can I get an amen, ladies? 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:32.640 Okay. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:34.159 So I was like, that's right. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:34.959 That's right. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:35.519 Okay. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:43.439 If you're a woman and you get married, you may be uh surprised at just how gross he is in general. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:46.319 I'm a guy, I know it, I'm not offended by it. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:50.079 Um you may be surprised at how much food means to him. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:53.599 Uh he's a little more sensitive than he would like to let off. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:58.959 And uh, you know, there's just a lot of surprising things when you get into that close of a relationship. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:02.400 Uh you know what I've been most surprised about in my own marriage? 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:04.959 I've been surprised at how selfish I am. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.359 I really have been surprised, like shocked at that. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.680 And Meredith's way more selfish than I am. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.520 And so, I mean, it's a it's just we're all shocked. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:14.479 I'm just kidding. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:17.759 Um here's what I'd say as we get started. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.159 You have a problem, and it's you. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:25.599 Like I have a problem and it's me. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:31.919 Like, like we all have problems, and uh at the center of the problem is you. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:38.960 And uh the the sin nature that you have that you were born with, by the way, it dominates your life. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:47.360 And even after you come to faith in Christ, uh the Bible describes how there's an there's an old man living inside of you, like the flesh. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:53.919 And the flesh needs to die on a daily basis because the flesh always thinks about itself. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:54.560 Okay. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:03.599 Uh I uh I often uh, or every now and then, I don't really do a lot of them anymore, but um, I like I'm doing a wedding this weekend, this next weekend on Saturday. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:08.879 And uh and I will often do pretty much the same thing of some variation. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:15.120 Um, and one of the things I talk about with most couples is this I talk to them about the mirror of marriage. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.680 And when I when I say the mirror of marriage, here's what I mean. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:24.560 If there was like a mirror back by the back wall right here, like I can look at myself right now and be like, I mean, it's not bad. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:29.120 I mean, just kind of look at myself, you know, both ways and like, okay, like it's not bad. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:39.360 If that mirror was right here, like five inches from my face, well, I would I would see like some really big eyebrows that have just been an issue my whole life. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.560 And if it if I'm honest with you, it's an eyebrow. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:43.199 Okay. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.120 I it takes work to make it too, okay. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.479 Um I would see like sunspots on my face. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:56.240 I would see a graying beard that once was dark and now it's you know getting lighter and lighter as I get older. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.560 I would just see like my imperfections up close. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:00.479 That's what marriage does to you. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:08.240 And one of the things that is the most shocking of all things in marriage is that you realize how much you really do love yourself. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:10.879 Y'all remember Terrell Owens used to play in the NFL? 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:14.240 Tio used to say this, he said, I love me some me. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.920 You know that's every one of our mantras. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:20.399 I love me, some me. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.800 You love you, some you. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.879 And you don't really know that you're selfish. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:33.600 In fact, of all the dangers we've talked about, this one might be the most subtle of all because you just don't know it if you're selfish. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:50.000 And often it takes something like marriage where you're that up close with somebody and you've never had to worry about anybody else your entire life until you get into this thing, and uh, and before you know it, she's telling you how selfish you are, or he's telling you how selfish you really are. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.920 In fact, it was interesting after the 8 a.m. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:58.480 service, I was in the lobby talking, and I had two women, I don't know their exact age, but 60s plus. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:04:59.439 Okay. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:03.600 Both single, one of them widowed, one of them not married. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.959 And they both came up to me and said, you know what, as a single person, like this is a major thing in my life. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:16.319 One of them said, like, because I don't have somebody else in the home with me besides my dog, like I don't I don't have to deal with this. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:18.959 And so I battle selfishness. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:26.560 I would I would tell you this when uh when we begin to fight for our rights, closeness will never be achieved. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.439 In fact, I like a little homework Bible-wise for you. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:34.560 I'd like you to go home and just find in the Bible where you're supposed to be concerned about your rights. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:39.839 I think you'll you'll struggle to find that. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:42.160 Um here here's the incredible thing. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.399 I've talked a lot about marriage and singleness already. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:45.199 Guess what? 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:48.000 Paul ain't talking about marriage in this passage today. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:52.560 I just use it as an as a picture because it's one way that is often highlighted. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:55.360 Uh, but he's not talking about marriage at all in this passage. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:04.800 He's talking about the Christian life, and he is specifically speaking about how you were to live as a Christian in order to reach other people with the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:16.319 And here's what I tell you: many people and many Christians will never reach another person for the hope of Jesus or with the hope of Jesus because they're just consumed with themselves. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:25.360 Many people will never make a kingdom impact for the kingdom of God because you're just consumed with yourself. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:32.879 And so while while I'm about to talk about this passage in chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians, um here's what I tell you. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:37.199 No doubt these principles apply to marriage, but it's not about marriage. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:42.319 These apply to the to the workforce, although it's not about it's not about your career. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.120 Uh, these apply in your family, it's not about your family. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:48.240 It applies in church what we're doing right now, but it's really not even about church. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:54.720 It's about you and your own, listen to me, evangelism of lost people in your life. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:07:00.319 Evangelism is just simply, I am trying to reach you with the message of the gospel. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:00.800 Okay? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:02.399 And so here's what we're gonna talk about today. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.000 I'm gonna talk to you about selfishness versus servanthood. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:10.560 I'm gonna contrast those uh throughout the entirety of the message and throughout this passage together. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:12.079 Uh, let's begin reading together. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.000 If you don't have a Bible, don't worry, just look at the screens and uh grab your journal. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.839 I'm gonna give you some notes along the way. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.680 Here's what Paul says, verse 19. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:25.519 He says, For though I am free from all, I have made myself a, what's the word? 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:31.920 Yell it out, a servant to all that I might win more of them. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:37.040 I want you to notice how many times he speaks about winning people to Jesus in this passage. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:38.480 Now, Paul's here. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:49.120 Uh one of the things I want you to understand about Bible study is that uh in order to rightly interpret the Bible, you never just cherry pick a verse out of the Bible and just like apply it to your life. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:59.360 You gotta understand who is who is the author speaking to, who is the audience that is receiving this, and what is the overall context of what they're already talking about in the passage. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:04.480 And so, in order to understand verse 19, you really got to read the several verses before that. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.399 I would encourage you to do that on your own. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:09.680 Let me highlight one of those, which gives you the main thought. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:10.800 It's verse 14. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.800 So look back there in your Bible. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:20.399 Says, in the same way, the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.439 You say, Well, Nick, I'm more confused now than I was. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:24.959 What is the Bible speaking about? 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:37.679 Paul is saying this: that it is okay for a person called to the ministry, say, a pastor, minister, missionary, uh, to make their living by what they do in the gospel ministry, okay? 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:47.279 What Paul is saying is this that even though it's fine for me to do that, he says, I have rejected that right and I have made myself a servant of all. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.039 Now, uh, let's just yell it out. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.600 Anybody remember what Paul did for a living? 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:52.720 Like, how did he make money? 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:53.919 Yell it out. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.279 He's a tent maker. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.879 You say, Well, what's a tent maker? 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:58.960 Person who makes tents. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.879 That's what a tent maker is, all right? 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.360 So he made tents and he would sell tents. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:07.279 That's how he made a living as he was doing the gospel ministry. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:11.360 And so here's a like an incredibly basic takeaway for us. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.879 I want you to write this in your journal. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:17.279 Selfishness thinks about me, servanthood thinks about others. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:22.000 Selfishness thinks about me, and servanthood thinks about others. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:27.759 Paul had every right to earn a living in this way, uh, even a biblical justification for it. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:32.399 And even with that, he was like, Man, I don't want to think about myself, I want to think about other people. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:40.720 And in his mind, this was the thought if this hinders even one person from coming to faith in Christ, I will just make myself a servant of all. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:46.639 Now, it sounds pretty familiar to the way that Jesus is described by Paul in the book of Philippians. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.039 I want you to just look at the screen, Philippians chapter 2. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:55.759 By the way, great verse to teach your children about this is what Jesus is like, and this is how you should treat your sister. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:56.480 All right. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:05.440 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:12.000 Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:22.559 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. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:28.720 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:37.039 Verse 8, and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:49.120 Here's what I tell us if if the God of the world can humble himself and take on the form of a servant, what's our excuse? 00:10:50.000 --> 00:11:08.240 Like if God, if God, according to this fascist, did not count equality with God, Jesus did not count equality with God, a thing to be grasped was like, hey, I will I will humble myself even to the point of death, then then what is what is our excuse for not living in the form of a servant? 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:15.919 Someone once said it this way that humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking about yourself less. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.200 So we all think humility is like, well, don't think good about yourself. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:23.919 Like, like uh Nick, you're you're kind of short and you're bald. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.759 And like that's humility is to realize those things. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:31.440 That's that's embarrassing, but it's not humility, okay? 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:40.080 Humility is not thinking bad things about yourself, humility is just not thinking of yourself. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:44.000 So I'm gonna I'm gonna talk about this for a little bit here. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.039 Forget yourself. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:49.759 Forget yourself. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:59.120 Said in the lingo of what we're talking about with servanthood, servanthood is not thinking less of yourself, but it is thinking yourself about yourself a lot less. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:03.840 Could there be a more like anti-2026 message than that right there? 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:10.159 Take on the form of a servant, put others before yourself, and don't bring attention to yourself, just forget yourself. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:17.039 Like, is there is there like anything more that we could say that would just go directly in the face of the culture day than that? 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.919 Culture says this, make it all about you. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.279 Like, do all that you can for yourself. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:40.080 Social media says bring attention to everything in your life, only the good, and show them the highlights of your life and the vacation and the beach that you were at, and show them your coffee, show them your food pictures. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.440 Actually, don't take off those. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.720 I actually like those, okay? 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:54.559 But everything else, it's all about me and lift up me and show you me, and it's all about my life, and it's all about I am all about me. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:00.639 And the Bible stands in direct contrast to that and says, forget yourself. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:05.360 Like servanthood says, think about others, not about yourself. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.000 And Paul says, I have made myself a servant of all. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:08.559 Why? 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.879 So that I could win people to faith in Jesus. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:13.039 He goes on, verse 20. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.279 He says, To the Jews I became a Jew in order to win Jews. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.799 There's the word again, win. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:26.480 To those under the law, I became as one under the law, though not being myself under the law, that I might win those under the law. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:36.399 To those outside the law became as one outside the law, not being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ, that I might win those outside the law. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:39.519 To the weak I became weak that I might win the weak. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:53.120 I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some, and I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.440 Some of you are like, Well, I'm more confused than I was before. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.720 Like, what is he saying here? 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.399 Here's what Paul is saying. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.360 Paul is saying, I am a Jew of all Jews. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.399 Okay, some of you may be here today and you're of Jewish descent. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.759 Paul was as well. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.840 Paul was a Jew by ethnicity. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:12.559 Paul also had in-depth training in the religion of Judaism. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:35.279 And if you don't know Paul's uh life story, it is uh the maybe arguably the most radical change that you see anybody come into place with, like in the Bible, where this dude hated Jesus, hated the church, hated the movement of Christianity, was doing all in his life, all that he could to stop out the work of the gospel. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:40.320 And then the dude met Jesus and got radically changed. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:47.519 And he was no longer, when he got saved, he was no longer under the Jewish ceremonial restrictions or rules. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:49.279 He was free in Christ. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:57.039 But what he's saying is this if I have to do cultural things to gain a hearing with the Jews, I will do that. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:02.559 And then he says the same thing about non-Jews who are called Gentiles or people who are not under the law of God. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:17.759 He's saying this I will fit in and I will do what I can to fit in with the community wherever I'm at, so that I can gain an audience with the Gentiles, with Jews, whoever is before me, I will do what it takes to gain a hearing with them. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:26.159 Now, let me be very clear because I have seen a lot of Christians over the years use this to basically be like, well, I just do this so I can reach them. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:29.039 And they involve their lives in all kinds of sketchiness. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.759 All right. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:34.879 This was never an excuse for sin in Paul's life. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.440 Okay? 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.559 This was never, I'm going to be like them. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:43.679 Paul was like, I'm going to just like relate so that I can share the gospel. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:49.279 And so I would just caution you towards using this as freedom to sin. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:51.600 I don't think that's how it's used here in the Bible. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:51.919 Okay. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:55.200 Let me give you a statement for your journal that contrasts these two things. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:00.080 Selfishness is about my rights, servanthood is about the mission. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:03.120 Selfishness is about my rights. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.480 Servanthood is about the mission. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:14.399 For Paul, this entire discussion here in 1 Corinthians 9 is about evangelism and is about reaching others who don't know Christ. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:19.440 And the reality was some of them looked very religious like the Jews would in that day. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:23.440 Others looked very irreligious like the Gentiles of that day. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:31.519 And here's what Paul could have said, like, and in all reality, been doctrinally right and wrong in spirit. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.559 You see what I'm saying? 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:36.559 Like, it's not that he was saying something wrong, but he would have been wrong in spirit. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:40.159 He could have easily said, Listen, listen, I'm not under those Jewish laws anymore. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:46.960 And so you you Jews just need to like forget about it and just listen to me and listen to my gospel. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:50.639 That's that's called having no tact whatsoever. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.279 Okay? 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:56.879 That's why he says, I become all things to all people so that I, by all means, I might win some. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.240 Write this statement down. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:02.720 The gospel is offensive enough, you don't have to be offensive on top of that. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.640 8 a.m. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.440 laughed at that too. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.519 I didn't write that as a joke, but I guess it's funny. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:07.920 Okay. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:11.119 Um, the gospel is offensive enough. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.759 You don't have to be offensive on top of that. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.759 Uh let me let me see if you agree with me that the gospel is offensive. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:21.119 To to a culture that doesn't know God. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.920 How does this message hit? 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:28.240 You're not a good person, you're actually a bad, wicked, evil person. 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.880 And you're that way from birth. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.920 And in fact, the Bible goes even beyond that. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.759 It's not just that you're bad, it's that you're dead. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:40.720 You're dead in your sins, and you can't do anything to get yourself out of this situation. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:49.440 But God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for you, and and and when you hear about his love for you and his sacrifice for you, you need to repent. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:54.960 Which means this, you need to stop living the way that you're living, and you need to turn in faith to Jesus. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:00.400 And if you don't, you'll spend eternity in hell. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:03.839 And Jesus is the only way out of this scenario. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:08.960 So mention the religion, it's not the way. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:13.119 Fill in the blank with the religion of the day. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.400 Jesus says that will never get you to heaven. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:19.119 I am the way, the truth, the life. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:22.319 Everybody agree with me that's pretty offensive to the culture today? 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:24.799 On numerous levels. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.599 Alright? 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:29.359 What I would say is this the gospel is offensive enough. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:31.920 Don't be a jerk on top of that. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:32.799 Okay? 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.440 Uh don't live for yourself. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:38.240 Don't hold on to your rights. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.880 Forget yourself, as I said a moment ago. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:56.319 I think a great goal for every follower of Jesus in this room as you as you think about reaching other people with the hope of the good news is this that man, they fill in the blank with your name. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.960 Hey, you know that guy Bill that I work with? 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:06.559 You know Susan that that I that's one of my teachers? 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:12.720 Hey Ryan, who who I live in the dorm with or in the frat house with. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.480 They're the most loving person I know. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:20.720 And the most clear and honest person that I know. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.279 No matter what I do, they love me. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:28.000 And no matter what I do, they keep on being clear with me about my need for Jesus. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:31.759 Most loving, most clear. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:36.160 There's an author and a podcaster by the name of Ali Beth Stuckey. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:43.279 I read uh one of her books a couple years ago, and uh I saw that she released it another one, and so I bought it this summer and I read it. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.559 Here's the title of it. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:47.200 It's called You're Not Enough and That's Okay. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:51.839 I love the subtitle, Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.440 It's pretty funny. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:20:00.799 I started reading the book and I quickly realized that it was geared towards like young girls and women. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:08.720 You might have said, Nick, I think there was a sign before you got to actually reading it. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:19.519 And it was funny as Meredith and I went to the beach this summer together, and I was reading it in the airport on the way back, and I kept like just putting it against my lap so that people couldn't see how hot pink it was. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:26.240 And uh, and so I honestly I I thought pretty early, like, okay, maybe this just maybe this is not really for me. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.200 And then I remembered, okay, I got I got four kids, three of them are daughters. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:34.720 I have one wife, it's key. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:41.920 Uh and then like 50% of y'all at least that I preach to on Sundays are women. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:50.880 So it's probably good for me to know a little bit more about what y'all are dealing with and what's going on in your mind and how I can help address all that. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:57.680 She uh she writes, I'm glad I finished it by the way, fantastic book, would say man or woman, it's helpful. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:02.000 She writes a section called the cult of self-affirmation that's really strong. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:21.920 She says the cult of self-affirmation is composed of a ubiquitous network of self-help gurus, self-development uh experts, and even Christian teachers who pervade social media, line the top charts of Amazon and the shelves of Barnes and Noble, and populate many of our pulpits and even the halls of Congress. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.200 Here's the key. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:27.440 All working to affirm the supremacy of self. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.279 You are the center of your world. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:34.559 You are, in fact, the center of the universe. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:39.920 Make your happiness the supreme pursuit of your life. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:42.240 Can I be like real honest with you? 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:51.599 I meet with people all the time who are at the end of that pursuit, and here's what they have found it's empty every time. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.279 It's an empty path. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:58.240 And in fact, I would say it is the pathway to emptiness. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.599 She contrasts that. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.119 Idea of self-affirmation with the idea of self-forgetfulness in such a brilliant way. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:08.960 Let me give you a word on self-forgetfulness based on 1 Corinthians 9. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:11.440 I think this is 1 Corinthians 9 2AT. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:17.920 Self-forgetfulness is the pathway to personal happiness and the usefulness to God. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:22.640 So if you're here today and you're like, Nick, I want my life to count for the kingdom of God. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:26.079 I want my life to be a witness to other people. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:33.680 Like I want to get to heaven one day and hear God say, Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.319 Forget yourself. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:40.720 That is the pathway to be happy in this life. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.759 And it is the pathway to usefulness to God. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.440 Have you not seen that in your life? 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.480 Like, have you not seen that in your relationships? 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:51.279 Whenever it's about your spouse, you're happier. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:55.119 Whenever it's about your kids, you're happier, you're happier than when it's all about you. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:02.240 Or whenever it's about your other, your other people in the workplace or other people in friendships, whenever you make it about them, you're happier. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:06.480 It's like the Bible's true, right? 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.720 Isn't that wild? 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.720 Um so anybody need to forget yourself today? 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.400 Anybody need to give up your rights? 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:16.880 Think about this like in a career setting. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:29.119 Some of you um are not in college, some of you like are out in the workforce, and uh anybody ever get frustrated in your job and think to yourself, well man, they why is nobody asking my opinion? 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:33.920 Why is uh why did I get overlooked? 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:36.799 Why did she get the promotion or he got the promotion? 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.480 I should have gotten that. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:43.920 Um do they not notice what I'm doing? 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.640 You realize where a lot of that comes from? 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:50.480 Just consume with myself. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:52.559 Self-forgetfulness says this. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.480 I know God sees what I'm doing. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:56.240 That's enough. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:00.160 I wonder how many of you just need to walk away from church like that's your number one thing. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:04.880 I know God sees what I'm doing, that's enough for me today. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:29.680 She writes this other powerful quote uh what I've learned over the years is this the seasons defined by self-centeredness have been my most miserable, and the times in my life when I have felt peace and fulfillment have been the moments when I've removed myself from the center, reoriented myself around God and his truth, and remembered that I'm not enough. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.960 Can I just get an oh yeah from the crowd today? 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.079 Oh yeah. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.960 I've never done that. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:38.079 I mean, that's how great is that? 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.640 Have you not seen that in your life? 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:51.119 When you have been the center, miserable, when you have reoriented your life around God, peace and fulfillment. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:55.119 Some of you are are in that shift right now. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:59.839 You're even like teetering on, man, is this is this real? 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.279 Like, should I give my life to Jesus? 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:17.359 And and the very thing that you are worried about, which is like forgiving yourself and surrendering yourself and surrendering control, is the very thing that is making you the most miserable in your life. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:25.519 God says, surrender to me, and I will show you the pathway to life. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.559 He goes on. 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.880 This is how he closes the passage, verse 24. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:35.200 He says, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.519 So run that you may obtain it. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:41.759 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:49.119 Underline this they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.319 Verse 26. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:26:01.759 So I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as when beating the air, but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.799 What is Paul's talking about? 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.200 Paul's using a sports illustration. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.880 Anybody a sports person? 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:07.680 Okay. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.200 I I was asked what this morning. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:12.559 I've already been talking sports movies, like before church. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:16.319 Um, somebody asked me, like, what's my favorite sports movie? 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:19.039 I said, I think it may be Rocky IV. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:22.319 If you've never seen it, you're welcome. 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.240 Okay, go home today. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:31.440 Paul's using a sports illustration here because just like we have races and competitions in our day, they also had it in the ancient world. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:37.680 And he says, You ever seen like a picture of the person who would win the race or win the Olympics way back in the day, hundreds of years ago? 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:48.480 And they would have a wreath or like a like a plant put together on their head to show that they are a winner of the match or the race or whatever the competition was. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:52.799 He says, in a race, people receive a temporary wreath. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:57.839 But we as Christians, we are running a different kind of race. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:01.359 We are running for one that is imperishable. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:04.079 Here's another statement for you as we wrap up. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:10.240 Selfishness focuses on the momentary, servanthood focuses on the eternal. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.400 Selfishness is all about the momentary, all about the now. 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:17.279 Servanthood focuses on the eternal. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:24.799 In both 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us that there is a day that you will stand before God. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.400 I don't know if you believe that or not. 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:33.039 The Bible tells us that one day you will stand before God and you will give an account of your life to God. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:40.079 And part of that account will be, have I lived for the eternal or have I lived for the temporary? 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.119 There's the ultimate judgment. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.960 What have you done with Jesus? 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:49.119 If you've repented of sin, received him into your life, you go to heaven. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.000 If you have rejected Jesus, you go to hell. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:55.519 Then there's a judgment for believers. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:01.200 Have you lived your life for things that matter or things that do not matter? 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:05.599 And the Bible says that in that day, the world will be burned up. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:14.400 And only the things that were done were for the Lord, things that were done with eternity in mind, are the things that will last. 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.359 Look at the screen. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:17.839 First Corinthians chapter 3, like six chapters earlier. 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:25.200 He says, Each one's work will become manifest, for the day will disclose it because it will be revealed by fire. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:28.640 And the fire will test what sort of work each has been done. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:34.400 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a what's the word? 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.920 A reward. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:42.559 So let me let me ask you this like what will last in your life? 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:48.720 Um, what what kind of wreath are you working for? 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:53.680 One that will last or one that is burned up? 00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:00.400 Many of you have spent your life in temporary, momentary pursuits. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:05.039 You are in the career you've always wanted. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:07.920 Making more money than you ever thought you could. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:11.680 You're in college getting the degree you've always set your heart upon. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:19.680 And uh you're spending your life, you're spending your time, you're spending your money on frivolous things. 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.519 It's a temporary wreath. 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:24.640 Like you're just walking around with a temporary wreath, like, hey everybody, look. 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.400 Look at this. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:29.680 I mean, how cool am I? 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:40.640 He says, but God is calling you out of that kind of life and into a life that is fixated on the eternal. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:54.960 Where you see your career not just as a way to provide for your family, but as people that God has surrounded you with to reach with the hope of the gospel. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:30:03.599 You you begin to see the frat house or the sorority house or the dorm or the apartment complex that you live in. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:14.400 As not just a place to have fun and meet friends, but as a place that God has placed you as a missionary to reach other people with the hope of the good news of the gospel. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:18.319 You begin to see your family, your children. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:27.839 As not just people you gotta feed, people you gotta provide for, but people that you need to give the gospel to. 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:31.519 You need to begin working for an imperishable wreath. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:36.799 Many of you spend your life and your money on things that don't matter. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:46.319