Introduction

  • Micah 6:8

Matthew 23:1-12

  • Focus on self:
    • Love for:
      • Attention and praise from men
      • Being honored by men
      • Elevated and admired by men
  • Focus on Christ
    • Look to, focus on God and Christ
    • Practice God’s law: not to draw praise for self
    • Give attention and praise to God
    • Humble themselves
    • Be servants

I Corinthians 1:10-2:9; 3:1-9

  • Focus on self:
    • Divide into groups aligned with human teachers
    • Give undue status and authority to men
    • Worldly, physical focus
    • Impressed by:
      • Clever arguments
      • Debate tactics
      • Men’s philosophies, wisdom,
      • Charisma
      • Mighty people: wealth, renown, confidence
      • Eloquent speech, appealing voice
      • Physical attractiveness
  • Focus on Christ
    • Focus on Christ and God’s message
    • Preach the gospel of Christ
    • Christ crucified = wisdom of God
    • Spiritual focus
    • Confidence, power, boast in God
    • View themselves as servants
    • Working with God
    • Give credit and glory to God

II Corinthians 1:12-14, 24

  • Focus on Christ:
    • Not a “lord” over others
    • Not a person with special distinction
    • Working together with other disciples

John 3:22-31

  • Focus on self:
    • Concerned about people following ME
    • Building MY following
    • Pointing people to ME
  • Focus on Christ
    • Concerned about people following Christ
    • Building Christ’s following
    • Completely point people to Christ
    • Humbly doing my part in God’s work

When we focus on ourselves

  • Love for:
    • Attention and praise from men
    • Being honored by men
    • Elevated and admired by men
  • Concerned about people following ME
  • Building MY following
  • Pointing people to ME.
  • Divide into groups aligned with human teachers
  • Give undue status and authority to men
  • Worldly, physical focus
  • Impressed by:
    • Clever arguments
    • Debate tactics
    • Men’s philosophies, wisdom,
    • Charisma
    • Mighty people: wealth, renown, confidence
    • Eloquent speech, appealing voice
    • Physical attractiveness

When we focus on Christ

  • Look to, focus on God and Christ
  • Practice God’s law: not to draw praise for self
  • Give attention and praise to God
  • Humble themselves
  • Be selfless servants
  • Not a lord over others
  • Not a person with special distinction
  • Working together with other disciples
  • Focus on Christ and God’s message
  • Spiritual focus
  • Preach the gospel of Christ
  • Christ crucified = wisdom of God
  • Confidence, power, boast is in God
  • View themselves as servants
  • Working with God
  • Give credit and glory to God
  • Concerned about people following Christ
  • Building Christ’s following
  • Completely point people to Christ
  • Humbly doing my part in God’s work

Applications

  • Convert people to Christ. Be careful of converting people to my church.