Refocusing on Purpose: Overcoming Spiritual Misdirection
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the concept of misdirection and how it applies to our spiritual lives. Just as illusionists use misdirection to divert our attention, we too can be easily distracted by things that seem important but ultimately lead us away from our true purpose. This misdirection can happen in various aspects of life, including sports, business, and even within the church. We examined the story of Intel's shift from memory chips to microprocessors as an example of how focusing on the wrong thing can lead to failure, and how a change in focus can save an organization.
We then turned our attention to the church and how it can fall into the trap of self-centeredness. Churches often start with a mission to impact the world but can gradually shift their focus to internal needs and preferences. This shift can lead to a loss of the original mission, which is to seek and save the lost, as Jesus did. Jesus' mission was to seek out those who were spiritually lost and bring them into a relationship with God. We are called to do the same, but it requires us to take our eyes off ourselves and focus on others.
We delved into Philippians 2:3-4, where Paul instructs us to avoid selfishness and vain glory, and instead, to be humble and consider others better than ourselves. This humility is not about thinking less of ourselves but about valuing others more. We discussed how this principle applies to various relationships, including marriage, where mutual submission leads to a healthy and fulfilling relationship.
Finally, we outlined three imperative steps to combat our natural bent towards selfishness: admitting our selfish tendencies, humbling ourselves before God, and intentionally esteeming others. By following these steps, we can align our lives more closely with Jesus' example and mission, thereby killing the "despicable me" within us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Misdirection in Life and Faith: Just as illusionists use misdirection to divert our attention, we can be easily distracted by things that seem important but ultimately lead us away from our true purpose. This can happen in various aspects of life, including sports, business, and even within the church. Keeping our focus on God's mission is crucial to avoid these distractions. [03:47]
2. The Church's Mission: Churches often start with a mission to impact the world but can gradually shift their focus to internal needs and preferences. This shift can lead to a loss of the original mission, which is to seek and save the lost, as Jesus did. We must continually refocus on this mission to avoid becoming self-centered. [07:32]
3. Humility Over Selfishness: Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to avoid selfishness and vain glory, and instead, to be humble and consider others better than ourselves. This humility is not about thinking less of ourselves but about valuing others more. Practicing this principle leads to healthier relationships and a more fulfilling life. [14:02]
4. Admitting Our Selfishness: The first step to overcoming our natural bent towards selfishness is to admit it. Acknowledging that we often prioritize our own needs over others is crucial for spiritual growth. This admission allows us to seek God's help in transforming our hearts and minds. [28:02]
5. Intentionally Esteeming Others: After admitting our selfish tendencies and humbling ourselves before God, we must intentionally esteem others. This involves recognizing the value in others and lifting them up, even at our own expense. By doing so, we align our lives more closely with Jesus' example and mission. [31:16]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:51] - The Art of Misdirection
[03:47] - Misdirection in Sports
[04:58] - Business and Focus
[06:18] - Intel's Shift in Focus
[06:48] - Churches and Self-Centeredness
[07:32] - Jesus' Mission
[08:24] - Seeking and Saving the Lost
[09:06] - The Church's True Mission
[09:51] - Despicable Me Series Recap
[11:49] - Philippians 2:3-4
[14:02] - Humility Over Selfishness
[17:29] - Selfishness in Sports
[19:07] - Vain Glory
[22:35] - The Virtue of Humility
[25:52] - God, Others, Self
[27:26] - Steps to Combat Selfishness
[31:16] - Intentionally Esteeming Others
[33:12] - Watchman Nee's Story
[35:56] - Dawson Trotman's Example
[37:22] - Paul's Instructions
[38:30] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[39:32] - Closing Prayer and Song
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV): "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul instruct us to avoid in Philippians 2:3-4? How does he suggest we should treat others instead?
2. According to the sermon, how can misdirection affect our spiritual lives and the mission of the church? [06:48]
3. What example from the business world was used in the sermon to illustrate the importance of focusing on the right things? [06:18]
4. How did Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost relate to the church's mission, as discussed in the sermon? [07:32]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize humility and valuing others above ourselves in Philippians 2:3-4? How does this contrast with our natural tendencies?
2. How can the concept of misdirection in sports and business be applied to our spiritual focus and priorities? [03:47]
3. What are the potential consequences for a church that shifts its focus from its original mission to internal needs and preferences? [06:48]
4. How does admitting our selfish tendencies and humbling ourselves before God help us align more closely with Jesus' example and mission? [28:02]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were distracted by something that seemed important but ultimately led you away from your true purpose. How can you refocus on God's mission in your life? [03:47]
2. In what ways might your church be at risk of shifting its focus from its mission to internal needs? How can you help refocus on seeking and saving the lost? [06:48]
3. Think about a relationship in your life where mutual submission and humility could improve the dynamic. What specific steps can you take to value the other person more? [24:30]
4. Identify one selfish tendency you struggle with. What practical steps can you take this week to admit it, humble yourself before God, and intentionally esteem others? [28:02]
5. How can you intentionally esteem someone in your life this week? Think of a specific person and a specific action you can take to lift them up. [31:16]
6. Reflect on the story of the Chinese Christian farmer who watered his neighbor's fields first. How can you apply this principle of putting others' needs before your own in your daily life? [33:12]
7. Consider the example of Dawson Trotman cleaning the boots of others. What small, humble act of service can you perform this week to demonstrate humility and value others? [35:56]
Devotional
Day 1: The Danger of Misdirection
In life and faith, we can easily be distracted by things that seem important but ultimately lead us away from our true purpose. Just as illusionists use misdirection to divert our attention, we too can be led astray by various distractions in sports, business, and even within the church. These distractions can cause us to lose focus on God's mission for us. It is crucial to remain vigilant and keep our eyes fixed on what truly matters—our relationship with God and His purpose for our lives. [03:47]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What are some distractions in your life that divert your attention from God's mission? How can you refocus on what truly matters today?
Day 2: Refocusing the Church's Mission
Churches often start with a mission to impact the world but can gradually shift their focus to internal needs and preferences. This shift can lead to a loss of the original mission, which is to seek and save the lost, as Jesus did. Jesus' mission was to seek out those who were spiritually lost and bring them into a relationship with God. We must continually refocus on this mission to avoid becoming self-centered and ensure that our efforts align with God's purpose. [07:32]
Matthew 9:36-38 (ESV): "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'"
Reflection: How can you contribute to refocusing your church's mission on seeking and saving the lost? What specific actions can you take to support this mission?
Day 3: Embracing Humility Over Selfishness
Philippians 2:3-4 instructs us to avoid selfishness and vain glory, and instead, to be humble and consider others better than ourselves. This humility is not about thinking less of ourselves but about valuing others more. Practicing this principle leads to healthier relationships and a more fulfilling life. By embracing humility, we can better align our lives with Jesus' example and foster a community that reflects God's love and grace. [14:02]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with selfishness? How can you practice humility and consider others better than yourself today?
Day 4: Admitting Our Selfishness
The first step to overcoming our natural bent towards selfishness is to admit it. Acknowledging that we often prioritize our own needs over others is crucial for spiritual growth. This admission allows us to seek God's help in transforming our hearts and minds. By humbling ourselves before God, we open the door for His grace to work in us, enabling us to become more selfless and Christ-like in our actions and attitudes. [28:02]
1 John 1:8-9 (ESV): "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on your selfish tendencies. How can you admit these to God and seek His help in transforming your heart?
Day 5: Intentionally Esteeming Others
After admitting our selfish tendencies and humbling ourselves before God, we must intentionally esteem others. This involves recognizing the value in others and lifting them up, even at our own expense. By doing so, we align our lives more closely with Jesus' example and mission. Esteeming others requires intentionality and a conscious effort to put their needs and well-being above our own, fostering a community of love and mutual respect. [31:16]
Romans 12:10 (ESV): "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life whom you can intentionally esteem today. What specific actions can you take to lift them up and show them honor?
Quotes
1. "If our eyes are focused on the wrong thing, we don't see what we need to see. And if we don't see what we need to see, then we don't actually accomplish the goals that we want to accomplish. We don't, we don't have the things in life that we want to have in life because we're, we're looking at the wrong thing. That happens like all the time and organizations and businesses, they start going one direction. They have a product or they have a plan. They have a mission statement. And as the business grows or things get better, they begin to take their eyes off of the goal and onto something different. And all of a sudden, like struggle comes." [04:58] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You know, Jesus said, Jesus said, I came to seek and to save the lost. That was Jesus' personal mission statement. I came to seek and to save the lost. He said, I showed up because there's some people who are lost. They're not physically lost. It's not like they're roaming around Georgetown or at that time Jerusalem or Nazareth not knowing where they were at. They were spiritually lost. They don't know that there is a God in heaven who loves them. They don't know that there is a Savior coming that is going to be Lord of their life and help them breathe eternally for the first time and live an abundant life here. He says, and they're wandering, trying to find all of the things in life that don't really matter, thinking that they do, and they're wandering around lost. And I came to seek them out and to save them." [08:24] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It's hard for us to see when our eyes are on me. But here's the thing. Organizations and businesses and churches, they're just made up of people, right? An organization doesn't see incorrectly. A church doesn't see incorrectly. It's the people in the organization or the people in the church that get their eyes on themselves rather than on the mission or what it's supposed to be." [09:06] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "But in reality, the Bible teaches, and if you look at your life and other people's lives, you'll see it as well. The Bible teaches that inherently, we're not. We're inherently bent towards selfishness. Like if I just go about my life on my own without Jesus leaning into my life, I'm going to do things and make decisions long-term that benefit me because I am number one. That's the way we're born, selfishly bent that way. You watch it in kids. They start with me and mine, even at a young age. That was the bad news. We're naturally bent towards. We're naturally bent towards despicable me. Like we will actually do things that hurt other people. We might be good in the short run. We might make some noble decisions here and there. But in the long run, it's about me." [10:36] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So humility is placing someone else's value above your own. God, you are more valuable than I am. Every Sunday, and we'll do it today. Every Sunday at the end of the service, we give an invitation, an opportunity for somebody to do just this. To come to the point of themselves, maybe the Spirit's been moving in their life through the music, through the message, through a conversation with somebody. Maybe it's been some things in their life that are happening. They've come to the point where they go, you know what? I have admitted that. I've admitted that I can't do life on my own. I've admitted that I'm broken. I've admitted that I'm selfish. And sometimes it takes coming into a church and at the end of a service to go, you know what? I'm going to humble myself before God today." [30:01] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Every person in this room, every person you'll meet today, every person on this planet is better at something than you are. That's just true. And you're better at something than they are. Every person you meet is going to be better at something that you are. So how do you intentionally esteem someone? You begin to see that in them. And if you can't see that in someone else, one of two things are true. One, you don't know them well enough. That could be the case. You don't know them well enough at a deep level to see something that they are really good at, that God has put inside them, something that they're better at than you. Or if you do know them well enough and you can't see anything, then you're selfish. You can't see past you to see the good in them." [31:16] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You see, the natural world puts things in this order. It goes, self, others. God. But when Paul says, look out for others, he's, he's flipping that on its head. And he goes, it's God, others, self. It's, it's counterintuitive, but that's what it means to walk with Jesus. And that's what it means to kill despicable me. It's taking my eyes off me, taking my eyes off my selfishness and putting them on other people. And the more I leverage my life for other people, the less I live in the world of despicable me." [26:46] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "You have to admit it. It's kind of like AA, right? If you're in a 12 step program, you have to admit you've got a problem. Like you have to admit, you know what? Yeah, I think I'm a pretty good person. But if I'm being honest, I'm not going to admit it. If I'm being honest, I'm more despicable me than great me. Like at the end of the day, I tend to do things that benefit me at the expense of others. You've got to be able to admit, say, you know what? I am not, I haven't got it all figured out. There's a power in that of saying, all right, listen, I will be the person to admit I am not everything that I should be. I admit that I look for, or I look out for number one." [28:02] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You know, here's something. This is true. Every person in this room, every person you'll meet today, every person on this planet is better at something than you are. That's just true. And you're better at something than they are. Every person you meet is going to be better at something that you are. So how do you intentionally esteem someone? You begin to see that in them. And if you can't see that in someone else, one of two things are true. One, you don't know them well enough. That could be the case. You don't know them well enough at a deep level to see something that they are really good at, that God has put inside them, something that they're better at than you. Or if you do know them well enough and you can't see anything, then you're selfish. You can't see past you to see the good in them." [31:16] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You have to come to a point in your life, where you realize, hey, I don't have it all figured out. Hey, I'm naturally bent towards selfishness. And the only way that I break that cycle, you can manage your selfishness. But at the end of the day, your natural bent takes you back to your home base, selfishness. And after you admit that, I've got a problem. I'll never overcome it. The second thing is you've got to humble yourself to God. Say, God, you're God and I'm not. So humility is placing someone else's value above your own. God, you are more valuable than I am." [29:28] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?