Words of Truth

Volume  2    Issue   39    August 4th, 2002

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out our web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net


Welcome to a place where only God is glorified and only the Bible is taught!

(I Corinthians 10:31 and I Peter 4:11)



(Note: Brethren, here is a sermon I prepared several weeks ago and had not preached.  I am putting it in the bulletin as we are beginning a series on “The Seven churches of Asia Minor” and I would not be able to preachit for a while.  I hope we all can benefit from the following material.) - B.A.Y.

Pride and Popularity

Introduction:
Being Proud: “feeling or showing pride; having or displaying excessive self-esteem – Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.   Being Popular: “Suitable to the majority” – Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

I.  Pride

A.  We cannot put ourselves on a pedestal.  Romans 12:3
1.  If we are full of pride like that then we will shame upon ourselves.  Proverbs 11:2
2.  We can do all things, but only through Christ.  Philippians 4:13
a. We should always give glory to God, not to self.  I Corinthians 10:31
b. Nor should we forget to return and give thanks to God for the things He has done for us (Luke 17:11-19).
3.  Pride is worldly not Godly.  I John 2:15-17
B.  Notice God’s view on pride:
1. Proverbs 6:16-19
2. Proverbs 8:13
3. Proverbs 16:18
4. Proverbs 29:23
C.  Christians need to be humble (not proud or haughty : not arrogant).
1. James 4:10
2. Matthew 18:3-4
3. I Peter 5:6-8
D.  An Example of humility VS pride: Luke 18:9-14.
II. The Need to be Popular
A. Saul had issues with wanting to please others and be popular.  I Samuel 15:24
1. One cannot serve man and God.  Galatians 1:10
2. One cannot server God and the riches of this world or any other master.  Matthew 6:24
3. You are either with God or against God, but you cannot be both (Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23).
B. Aaron had issues of popularity and listening to the desires of the people (Exodus 32:1-5; 15-26).
C. Diotrephes loved the “preeminence” (III John verses 1-11).
1. Christ is the one whom is supposed to have the "preeminence".  Colossians 1:18
2. We should never do things to “seem religious” or to please men:
a. Matthew 6:5
D. Christ was not popular (suitable to the majority):
1. John 6:60-66
2. Mark 6:1-6
3. Mark 5:31
4. John 1:9-11
a. Many did not come to Christ because of a few of losing their acceptance among the majority.  John 12:42-43
b. Even the parents of one who benefited from Christ did not want to acknowledge the Lord (John 9:1-23).
E.  Christ taught against those who sought out popularity and prestige (Matthew 20:20-28 and Matthew 23:1-12).
1. We, as faithful Christians, are not going to be popular:
a. Luke 6:26
b. John 15:18-19
c. John 17:14-17
d. I John 3:13
III. How to Correct Ourselves When We Suffer From the Need to be Proud and Popular
A. Simon the Sorcerer was popular because he used trickery, then his need to be popular became sinful when he tried to by the genuine ability to perform miracles.  He was told to REPENT (Acts 8:5-24).
B.  If we have issues of pride we need to be sorrowful and repent.  II Corinthians 7:9-10 t to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
1. We need to turn away from these things God hates so that we will not be judged for them.  Ezekiel 18:30-31
2. We need to take of the chain of pride.  Psalms 73:6
3. Pride defiles the man just as murder, fornication, etc.  (Mark 7:21-23).



News and Notes
Those Serving Today:
A.M. Song Leader – Mike Lockwood
Lord’s Table – Brian Yeager
Assisting – Terry Nannie and Jay Wagner
First Prayer – George Papp
Closing Prayer – Steve Buroon

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Desiree’ Crist, Anne Holt, Deanna Papp, Joan Croyle, Goldie Buterbaugh (Carol’s mom), and Gracie Cook.

Gospel Meeting:
Our meeting starts next Sunday and runs from August 11th – 15th with David Hurst who is an elder and the local preacher for the church in Somerset, KY.



What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16), repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of sins into the church (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Galatians 6:3-5).  One must then remain faithful (Revelation 2:10).