Humility and Exaltation

Gary DeLashmutt
Matthew 23:5-12

Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility and God's opposition to pride. God is always opposed to the proud and He always exalts the humble. God does this by looking for: 1) our heart attitudes towards ourselves; 2) our view of human praise and recognition; 3) our fear of man or rest in Him. We can cultivate humility by cooperating with God in the process.

The Writing on the Wall

Ryan Lowery
Daniel 5:16-30

Daniel, now much older, again finds himself facing the ruling authority in Babylon to declare the truth of God. A once unknown historical figure, Belshazzar who was second in command, struggled with many lessons similar to Nebuchadnezzar, seen earlier in Daniel. Archaeological evidence found in 1854 confirms Belshazzar's rule. Previously, Daniel predicted Babylon's rule coming to an end at the hand of the Medes and Persians and now that defeat was underway. In the end, Belshazzar did not humble himself before God's Word but instead rejected evidence and denied God.\r\n

Humility and Power

Ryan Lowery
Daniel 4:1-37

God has been pursuing King Nebuchadnezzar for decades. When King Nebuchadnezzar has a period of time that is maddening, he writes about his personal experience of being humbled before God. \r\n\r\nRyan Lowery shares his personal story of how his pride kept him from seeking God, but how Ryan had a humbling experience that lead him to God.

Christian Confidence

James Rochford
Acts 3:1-4:31

In these chapters, we see a case study on Christian confidence through Peter and John's interactions with the governing officials about healing a lame man. Five keys to confidence we learn from their example are: 1) don't take credit; 2) defend your faith; 3) be filled with the Holy Spirit; 4) commit to do good; 5) pray.

Who Should Be Sovereign?

Dennis McCallum
Luke 20:1-26

Tensions rise between Jesus and the religious leaders after he drives swindlers out of the temple court. They question Jesus' authority, but Jesus sees through their pseudo-seeking and refuses to answer them. Then Jesus tells the parable of the evil vintners, who beat the workers and killed the son of the vineyard owner. Finally the religious leaders try to trap Jesus in a question about taxes, but He wisely tells them to give to Caesar what is his and give to God what is His. The question is this: will we submit to God's sovereignty in our lives, or will we continue to refuse Him, like the religious leaders in Jesus' day?

The Pharisee, the Tax Collector, and the Children

Dennis McCallum
Luke 18:9-17

Jesus confronts the Pharisees' self-righteous attitude with a parable of a tax collector and a Pharisee who went to the temple to pray. Jesus condemns the prideful Pharisee who boasted to God about his own good works and praises the humble tax collector who begged God for mercy. Then Jesus explains to His disciples that people must receive the kingdom of God like a child to enter it. God wants us to approach Him in childlike humility and to reject the Pharisees' comparative and judgmental attitude.

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Scott Risley
Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to demonstrate what is needed to be right with God. While the Pharisee demonstrated self-righteousness in his prayer, the tax collector demonstrated humility and his need for mercy in his prayer. Righteousness before God can only be obtained by faith in Jesus' atoning sacrifice, not on the basis of our own works.

God's Attitude Toward Those Who Reject Him

Dennis McCallum
Luke 15:1-32

Jesus speaks to an audience of both the lowest of society's low as well as the self-righteous. Jesus addresses the self-righteous lot by telling three parables that each reflect God's character. He teaches how much God loves the humble sinner and the lengths God goes to win that person to Himself; as well as the dangers and consequences of a self-righteous person's attitude toward God.

Identity

Gary DeLashmutt
Philippians 3:1-9

According to the Bible, there are ultimately only two bases for identity: boasting in one's achievements or affiliations; or boasting in Christ. Paul counts his own religious background as inferior compared to his identity in Christ. Paul urges the Philippians to follow his example in putting confidence in their identity in Christ rather than their flesh.