Posts Tagged ‘pride’
Commandment Keeping and Boasting
by Edward Bragwell, Sr. via Biblical Insights, June 2014 Jesus declares that hypothetically if we were to keep all his commands, we would still have no right to boast. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to…
Read MoreWhy do some use titles?
Question: Hello brother Hamilton. Hope you’re doing well. I have a question that pertains to “titles” given to those in position in the church and mainly I’m speaking on preachers and the title that some give themselves such as reverend, pastor, evangelist, etc. Now, I read some of your articles which has helped me, but…
Read MoreHow can I build up my confidence?
Question: Hi there, At a young age, I did not care what people said about me. In fact, I did not even take note of it. However, it feels as if I put other people’s opinions about myself over my own opinions. I think this started when I started to take rude remarks seriously. Right…
Read MoreCan I ask God to make me famous?
Question: I have a question: I am a musician. I pray to God if He can do me a favor and make me famous. The thing I’m scared of is not gaining fame. Am I more likely going to make it to fame by praying? Answer: You are assuming that being famous is something God…
Read MoreJamaica Patois Wisdom – Pride
by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…
Read MoreIs getting a breast augmentation wrong?
Question: I want to get breast augmentation. Please help me. Is it wrong. Answer: Breast augmentation for a woman falls under the realm of cosmetic surgery. Such surgery is most often used to correct damage from injuries or diseases. For example, burns or cancer. As a way of restoring the look or function of the…
Read MoreWhy did Peter say that perhaps God would forgive Simon?
Question: I a question for you regarding a scripture. It was a passage that you showed someone grappling with blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22) I am sure I am misunderstanding or overthinking the passage, but…
Read MoreWhere does taking care of your appearance stop and vanity begin?
Question: A friend and I were talking about vanity. We know it’s a sin, we just don’t know when it stops being taking care of the appearance and when it starts being vanity. What is vanity? Answer: “”Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Vanity comes from the…
Read MoreAre we wiser today than prior generations?
Question: I believe that I have wisdom that I have obtained from a society that has evolved. It is because of the Bible, and other resources similar to it, that we as humans have been able to communicate our thoughts and rationalize our actions, but we have only grown from it, not depended upon it. Therefore,…
Read MoreWhen It’s All About Me
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/WhenItsAllAboutMe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:13-21 I. Peter once tried to hide the fact that he followed Jesus. A. Despite repeated accusations that he was seen with Jesus, he denied the truth. B. But one servant called his bluff, pointing out “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you” (Matthew 26:73).…
Read MoreHow do I deal with an arrogant leader?
Question: I have a “leader” in our church who always explains that he is not arrogant because he does not hold himself in a higher value than others; however, his actions say otherwise. He will take any chance he gets to show off his biblical knowledge, he will constantly tell people they are wrong, he…
Read MoreControlling Our Emotions
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ControllingOurEmotions.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 7:18-23 I. From the heart comes the emotions which affect all aspects of our life – Proverbs 4:23 A. We can poison the well with evil thoughts – Mark 7:20-23 B. We can sweeten it with righteous ideals – Philippians 4:4-9 C. It affects our outlook on life – Proverbs 15:13…
Read MoreWho Has Low Self-Esteem?
From Meditate on These Things, November 2009: Particularly enjoyed the article self-esteem, as blaming “low self-esteem” for all of the behavioral problems of children seems to have been a special problem for many in my profession, but especially therapists who come out of the very liberal schools of “social work.” I had opportunity some years ago to…
Read MoreThinking Highly of Self
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/ThinkingHighlyOfSelf.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 12:3-16 I. Several years ago, Whitney Houston, came on the music scene with a song that became her signature song, “The Greatest Love of All.” I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs. A lonely place to be. And so I learned to depend on me. I decided…
Read MoreCan a person, ashamed over their living condition, be too proud to ask for help?
Question: This was asked of me by a friend. I don’t know the answer. I told her I don’t think shame can turn to pride. Can being ashamed of something be misinterpreted? Such as having a house that has become unliveable, and being overhelmed by it? I am ashamed because I let it get that…
Read MoreIs it wrong to have pride in your work?
Question: I have a question about pride. If you are proud of being something of having something, but you don’t talk about it or brag about it, is it still bad if you feel like you have something that is better than everyone else? Answer: Pride is a dangerous emotion, which can easily get out…
Read MoreBefore Destruction
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/BeforeDestruction.mp3 Text: Matthew 26:31-41 I. Solomon gives warning – Proverbs 16:18 A. A young man from Nigeria asked how this passage would apply to teenagers B. Of course, its application is much broader, but it caused me to think about explaining this on level easy to comprehend and apply II. Pride is a motivator of sins – I…
Read MoreSelf-Esteem
by Keith Sharp via Tri-County Church of Christ. Perhaps the one goal American parents and educators agree on for children more than any other is “high self-esteem.” John Rosemond, a professional family psychologist who writes a nationally syndicated column that appears in the Watertown Times, wrote an article entitled “Self-Esteem Isn’t Praiseworthy Goal” (Watertown Times. Sunday,…
Read MoreHaman
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Haman.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Esther. A. It is not a very long book and it is very easy to read. Its story is so compelling that I will be looking for a passage in Esther and before I know it, I’m caught up…
Read MoreWhy Israel Fell
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/WhyIsraelFell.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 I. The prophet Isaiah told the people that the Messiah was coming. A. He would bring righteousness to all the nations and remove the burdens of sin B. He would establish a new government, one that would last forever C. The people of Israel foolishly thought that the Messiah would…
Read MoreGod’s Prophetic Word
by Carey Scott The interesting thing about many of the prophecies of the Old Testament is that many of them have dual purpose and application. Of course, they were spoken and written to the people of the prophet’s day, and the purpose was to get them to repent and return to serving God who had…
Read MoreYour series on “pride” has been very helpful
Question: I have been reading your sermon outlines for about a year now and using some of your topics for my own messages. Today I plan on teaching from Psalms 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes.” I will also be preaching about Job’s sin (if God…
Read MoreWhat is pride?
Question: I was just wondering what pride really means. Checking the dictionary gave me too many definitions. I was wondering why it would be a sin. I mean, of course, you should love God with all your heart, but can’t you also have some self-esteem or self-confidence? Answer: Pride is the concept of putting yourself…
Read MoreQuestions about James 4
Question: Before I start, I changed Bibles. The one I was using was one that has been in my collection of books for a long time, and it’s from the church I used to go to. The one I have now is supposed to be the most accurate. It is a little confusing because of…
Read MoreThose with Positive Self-Esteem
Text: Romans 12:1-5 I. The concern for a person’s self-esteem continues to permeate the thoughts of our society. A. It is not unusual for a concept to be argued for or against based on its supposed impact on a person’s self-esteem. 1. Spanking, giving grades, or even keeping score during a game is considered bad for the…
Read MoreIs the use of a “praise team” scriptural?
Question: Have you heard of this idea of having a “praise team” in the song service of some churches? This is confusing to me because it would seem that it would place women in a leadership role if they were part of the “team” leading the congregation. What are your thoughts on this? Answer: A…
Read MoreLessons from Jonah
I. The book of Jonah is unique among the prophets A. The emphasis of the story is upon the messenger instead of the message. B. We learn lessons from the actions of the prophet, instead of the message he delivered. C. The tale of a man being swallowed and living three days in a great fish have caused some…
Read MoreHow do you handle a manipulative girl?
Question: I think girls to be just as aggressive as boys but in a different way. Does God allow mean behaviors such as being manipulative and subversive to get what one wants? Please tell me, how do you turn around a catty, snippy or snooty child? Answer: Oh, I agree; aggression can be demonstrated in…
Read MoreThe Sin of Pride
I. Pride is prevalent in our society A. Pride in our work B. Pride in yourself – often call self-esteem C. Letters come addressed not just to the church, but to “Senior Pastor” or “Reverend” II. People have always wanted titles, to have others look up to them A. III John 9 – Diotrephes loved to be looked up to B. Mt.…
Read MoreSelf-Esteem
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Let me tell you about a man I know A. He tells me that while he is not incapable, he is the most insignificant person in the group he associates with. Sometimes, he is ashamed to be connected with his friends because of the awful things that he has done in his…
Read MoreWhat should a teenager do to guard against pride?
Question: The Bible tells us that “Pride comes before destruction.” What are the things a teenager should guard against in order to be respectful and humble? Answer: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). The problem of pride is not unique to teenagers. All people struggle with it since…
Read MoreNotes on Pride
Psalm 31:23 Psalm 94:2 Proverbs 11:2 Proverbs 15:33 Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 18:12 Proverbs 21:4 Proverbs 22:4 Proverbs 29:23 Isaiah 3:16-17 Isaiah 66:2 Jeremiah 49:16 Obadiah 3-4 Matthew 23:12 Mark 7:20-23 Luke 14:11 James 4:6 James 4:10 James 4:16 I Peter 5:5 I John 2:16
Read MoreLove Is …
In learning the craft of needlepoint, a person will sometimes work on a sampler. The sampler generally contains a notable quotation and a variety of images and scrollwork to demonstrate the different stitches mastered. Bible verses are often selected for the basic text, and one of the most popular selections is I Corinthians 13:4-8: Love suffers…
Read MoreReligion on Parade
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 23:5-12 I. Jesus condemns the Pharisees many times and in our reading he condemns them for using religion as a way for people to notice them. – Matthew 23:5 A. What is a phylactery (or some translations say frontlet)? 1. It comes from passages like Exodus 13:6-9. a. The sign or monument…
Read More