Choosing Honor in a Cancel Culture: Biblical Principles and Blessings

Today, we explored the transformative power of honor in a world that is quick to judge, criticize, and cancel. Honor is not just a feeling or a reaction—it is a deliberate choice to value others as God values them. In a culture where offense is easily taken and relationships are often fractured over minor disagreements, choosing honor stands as a radical, countercultural act. We began with a simple game, cheering for one another, to illustrate how intentional encouragement and affirmation can uplift and unite. This is a small picture of what it means to honor others in our daily lives.

Honor, at its core, means to esteem, cherish, and treat others as precious. It is not about treating people as ordinary or common, but about believing the best and building up those around us. Dishonor, on the other hand, is not always overt disrespect; often, it is simply failing to honor, treating people as unremarkable, and assuming the worst. This mindset limits what God can do in our lives and in the lives of those around us, as seen in Jesus’ own experience in his hometown, where a lack of honor hindered miracles.

Scripture calls us to honor God with our resources, to honor our parents throughout our lives, to honor those in authority regardless of our personal opinions, and to honor spiritual leaders. Honor is not something that is earned; it is something we freely give, reflecting God’s character both in us and toward others. When we choose to honor, we sow seeds that God himself will water, leading to blessing and restoration in due season.

The challenge is to declare a spirit of honor over every area of our lives—our homes, workplaces, relationships, and even our thoughts. This week, let’s be intentional: write a note, speak a blessing, refuse to gossip, and boldly reject the lie that someone must deserve honor before we give it. In doing so, we plant seeds for a harvest that God promises will come, if we do not give up.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Honor is a deliberate choice that counters the prevailing culture of offense and cancellation. By choosing to value others as God does, we resist the urge to judge or dismiss, and instead become agents of encouragement and unity in our communities. This act of honoring is a spiritual discipline that shapes both our hearts and the environment around us. [01:28]
• 2. Dishonor is not always loud or aggressive; often, it is the quiet act of treating others as ordinary or unremarkable. When we fail to honor, we limit God’s work in our lives and in the lives of others, just as Jesus was limited in his hometown by their lack of honor and belief. Recognizing the subtlety of dishonor calls us to be vigilant in how we view and treat those around us. [06:29]
• 3. Scripture commands us to honor God with our resources, our parents throughout our lives, those in authority, and our spiritual leaders. This is not conditional on their perfection or our agreement with them, but is a reflection of God’s order and our trust in His wisdom. Honoring these relationships opens the door to God’s blessing and favor in our lives. [08:44]
• 4. Honor is not earned; it is freely given. When we honor others, we reflect God’s character and sow seeds that will bear fruit in due season. Even when it feels undeserved or unnoticed, every act of honor is a seed that God promises to water, leading to restoration, breakthrough, and blessing at the right time. [12:32]
• 5. The practice of honor requires perseverance, especially when we are weary or tempted to give up. The enemy will whisper that others do not deserve our honor, but we must answer boldly, remembering that we are planting for a harvest we do not want to miss. Refusing to give up on honoring others ensures that we remain aligned with God’s promise of reward in due season. [17:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:33] - Cheering Each Other On: A Picture of Honor
• [01:28] - The Reality of Cancel Culture
• [03:00] - Personal Stories of Boycotts and Canceling
• [04:30] - Cancel Culture in Relationships and Families
• [05:03] - What Honor Really Means
• [06:29] - The Subtlety of Dishonor
• [07:13] - Jesus and the Cost of Familiarity
• [08:44] - Honoring God with Our Resources
• [09:29] - Honoring Parents at Every Age
• [10:52] - Honoring Authority and Spiritual Leaders
• [12:32] - Why Honor Matters: Reflecting God’s Character
• [13:55] - Practicing Intentional Honor
• [15:27] - Sowing Seeds of Honor and Waiting for the Harvest
• [17:52] - Persevering in Honor and God’s Promise
• [18:41] - Boldly Rejecting the Lie: Honor is Freely Given
• [19:27] - Prayer and Charge to Plant Seeds of Honor

Bible Reading

Romans 12:10 (ESV) — "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

2. Mark 6:4-5 (ESV)
"And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.' And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them."

3. Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Observation Questions

1. In Mark 6:4-5, what was the result of the people’s lack of honor toward Jesus in his hometown?
2. According to Romans 12:10, how are we supposed to treat one another?
3. In Galatians 6:9, what promise is given to those who keep doing good and don’t give up?
4. The sermon described dishonor as not always being loud or aggressive. What are some subtle ways dishonor can show up in our relationships? [[06:29]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus was limited in what he could do in his hometown because of their lack of honor and belief? What does this say about the power of honor and dishonor? [[06:29]]
2. The sermon said that honor is not earned but freely given. Why might it be difficult to honor someone who hasn’t “earned” it in our eyes? [[12:32]]
3. How does choosing to honor others, even when it’s hard, reflect God’s character to the people around us? [[12:32]]
4. The sermon mentioned that when we get tired or discouraged, we might stop “planting seeds” of honor. What are some reasons people give up on honoring others, and what might be the consequences? [[17:52]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to declare a spirit of honor over every area of our lives—home, work, relationships, and even our thoughts. Which area is the hardest for you to practice honor in, and why? [[17:52]]
2. Think of a recent situation where you were tempted to “cancel” or write someone off because of a disagreement or offense. How could you have responded with honor instead? [[04:30]]
3. The pastor encouraged us to do something intentional this week—write a note, speak a blessing, refuse to gossip, or encourage someone. Which of these will you commit to, and who will you do it for? [[13:55]]
4. When the enemy whispers that someone doesn’t deserve your honor, how can you boldly reject that lie and choose to honor anyway? What would that look like in a real-life situation? [[18:41]]
5. The sermon said that every act of honor is a seed that God promises to water, leading to blessing and restoration. Can you share a time when honoring someone led to a positive change in your relationship or situation? [[15:27]]
6. The Bible commands us to honor our parents, those in authority, and spiritual leaders. Is there someone in one of these groups you find it hard to honor? What is one step you can take this week to show them honor, even if you disagree with them? [[10:52]]
7. The pastor said, “Don’t give up—keep honoring, keep esteeming, keep outdoing one another.” What is one practical way you can persevere in honoring others, especially when you feel weary or unappreciated? [[17:52]]