Reflect

(cont.)

Take-Home Study Guide

Ready
Read: Genesis 3:4-6 Read: Romans 7:22-24 Meditate & Memorize: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

o Do you spend a lot of time worrying about what others think of you? o Do you have trouble making friends, and is your understanding of this problem that theres something wrong with all of them? o Do people close to you perceive you as lazy or a workaholic? How did you do? Worse than you thought, right? Consider this Proverb: Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5 ESV) Perhaps now you see what a serious problem Pride is. So what do we do about it?

Receive Down in the depths of every soul is a relentlessly hungry monster, which is ruthless for its own glory. Its particularly hungry for adulation and affirmation, but its never satisfied. Its stomach is always aching for more. This monster has a name, Pride. Deep down every one of us harbors pride, and feeding the Pride Monster is often our greatest passion. God created each of us with the capacity to worship. Were never not worshiping. Before the fall, Adam and Eve worshiped God only. But when they willfully succumbed to the serpents temptation to be like God (Gen. 3:5), the wires of worship got crossed. They placed themselves on the thrones of their hearts. And ever since then, while Gods Word and his creation declare His glory, we depart from the song to sing about ourselves. The Pride Monster devours everything in its path, seeking its own satisfaction, its own centrality, and therefore its own glory.

Respond
Pride has us saying, I am God. But the truth will set us free. The real power to kill the Pride Monster is not summoning up our inner religious strength or telling ourselves that we are good enough. The real power to kill the Pride Monster is found in the Gospel that Jesus killed Pride (and all sin) through His sinless sacrifice on the cross. We must meditate, chew, and stew on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV) We must putt off Pride, but we must also put on the Gospel which as a reflection of Jesus Christ calls us to selflessness and self-sacrifice for others and His mission. Are you prideful about your big house? Repent. Ask Jesus to slay that monster. Fill that big home with orphans, Christian fellowship, or a church plant just getting off the ground. Are you prideful about your success at work? Repent. Ask Jesus to slay that monster. Work as unto the Lord and be generous with what He blessed you with. Are you prideful about your parenting? Repent. Ask Jesus to slay that monster. Humbly be open to the possibility that you are not the perfect parent and strive to always be learning and becoming more Christ-like in your parenting. Take what God has revealed to you and disciple new parents in humility and joy.

Reflect
The Pride monster rears its head everyday. We see it in numerous circumstances, from keeping up with the Joneses to the propensity to become a me monster in social situations. You can see it in passive aggression and manipulative silence. You dont have to be loud and obnoxious bragger, you can be prideful by withholding affection or service. Consider these questions to give yourself a Pride Diagnostic: o Look over you last several social media updates. Do a large percentage of them complain about something? o Do you struggle often with impatience and short-temperedness? o Is it common for others to charge you with being too defensive? Continued

Use this sermon-based study guide as you lead your family in worship, do your morning devotions, talk in your community groups, or in any other way that might help you know Christ more fully..

Reflect

(cont.)

Take-Home Study Guide

Ready
Read: Genesis 3:4-6 Read: Romans 7:22-24 Meditate & Memorize: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

them complain about something? o Do you struggle often with impatience and short-temperedness? o Is it common for others to charge you with being too defensive? o Do you spend a lot of time worrying about what others think of you? o Do you have trouble making friends, and is your understanding of this problem that theres something wrong with all of them? o Do people close to you perceive you as lazy or a workaholic? How did you do? Worse than you thought, right? Consider this Proverb: Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5 ESV) Perhaps now you see what a serious problem Pride is. So what do we do about it?

Receive
Down in the depths of every soul is a relentlessly hungry monster, which is ruthless for its own glory. Its particularly hungry for adulation and affirmation, but its never satisfied. Its stomach is always aching for more. This monster has a name, Pride. Deep down every one of us harbors pride, and feeding the Pride Monster is often our greatest passion. God created each of us with the capacity to worship. Were never not worshiping. Before the fall, Adam and Eve worshiped God only. But when they willfully succumbed to the serpents temptation to be like God (Gen. 3:5), the wires of worship got crossed. They placed themselves on the thrones of their hearts. And ever since then, while Gods Word and his creation declare His glory, we depart from the song to sing about ourselves. The Pride Monster devours everything in its path, seeking its own satisfaction, its own centrality, and therefore its own glory.

Respond
Pride has us saying, I am God. But the truth will set us free. The real power to kill the Pride Monster is not summoning up our inner religious strength or telling ourselves that we are good enough. The real power to kill the Pride Monster is found in the Gospel that Jesus killed Pride (and all sin) through His sinless sacrifice on the cross. We must meditate, chew, and stew on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV) We must putt off Pride, but we must also put on the Gospel which as a reflection of Jesus Christ calls us to selflessness and self-sacrifice for others and His mission. Are you prideful about your big house? Repent. Ask Jesus to slay that monster. Fill that big home with orphans, Christian fellowship, or a church plant just getting off the ground. Are you prideful about your success at work? Repent. Ask Jesus to slay that monster. Work as unto the Lord and be generous with what He blessed you with. Are you prideful about your parenting? Repent. Ask Jesus to slay that monster. Humbly be open to the possibility that you are not the perfect parent and strive to always be learning and becoming more Christ-like in your parenting. Take what God has revealed to you and disciple new parents in humility and joy. Use this sermon-based study guide as you lead your family in worship, do your morning devotions, talk in
your community groups, or in any other way that might help you know Christ more fully..

Reflect
The Pride monster rears its head everyday. We see it in numerous circumstances, from keeping up with the Joneses to the propensity to become a me monster in social situations. You can see it in passive aggression and manipulative silence. You dont have to be loud and obnoxious bragger, you can be prideful by withholding affection or service. Consider these questions to give yourself a Pride Diagnostic: o Look over you last several social media updates. Do a large percentage of Continuted