No Bad Apples: Week #3 – Throw Out Self-Centeredness
Philippians 2.1-4 Victory Fellowship
July 10, 2022 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. Introduction:
a. You’ve heard the saying, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.” It usually refers to a person unwilling to work well with others and consequently undermine the task at hand. The same can be true of certain attitudes that keep us from experiencing living in the unspoiled fullness of the Spirit of Christ.
b. For five Sundays in the summer of 2022, my sermons will focus on an attitude (bad apple) that needs to be eliminated from the life of a Spirit-filled Christian in order to preserve our faithful witness.
c. Entitled, No Bad Apples, this series will deal with improving our walk of faith, similar to picking out the bad fruit in order to make the bunch more appealing.
d. The topics each week will include:
i. Being too Stubborn to Change
ii. Negativity
iii. Self-Centeredness
iv. Wounded-ness (playing the victim)
v. Fault-finding (blaming others)
II. This 3rd week I want to focus on throwing out being Self-Centered.
a. One of my childhood memories is biting into a perfectly good apple only to find a worm in the center.
b. Being self-centered is like that. We may appear prim and proper and all cleaned up on the outside, but if we nurture self-centeredness we are rotting our spiritual core.
III. Application:
a. In order to keep our spiritual life fresh we must avoid being self-centered. We avoid being too proud to ask for help along the way. We admit our limitations and ask God to guide us. WE NEED THE LORD.
b. Paul tells the church in Philippi:
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
c. Christ was all about humility and thinking of others more highly than ourselves.
Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
Luke 6: 27-31 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
d. Being self-centered is a major impediment to real and sustained spiritual growth.
e. If we want to be filled with the Fruit of the Spirit, we must throw out Self-Centeredness! We must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to change our ways.
i. We no longer seek our own agenda
ii. We are no longer motivated by jealousy and selfish ambition,
iii. We no longer have to be in control – but we seek God’s will.
IV. Conclusion:
a. Let’s agree to ask God to help us examine our lives - and if we see any of these behaviors present - I say it’s time we throw them out!
i. Being too Stubborn to Change
ii. Negativity
iii. Self-Centeredness
iv. Wounded-ness (playing the victim)
v. Fault-finding (blaming others)
This week let’s examine in what areas we may need to Avoid Being Self-Centered. Come Holy Spirit and let the tossing begin!
PRAYER
SONG: Less Like Me
Philippians 2:1-4 NLT
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
