8. Group Questions 1.Why does God hate sinful pride? How does it minimize His work in our lives? 2.Why is it sometimes difficult to focus on and listen.

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Group Questions1. Why does God hate sinful pride? How does it

minimize His work in our lives?

2. Why is it sometimes difficult to focus on and listen to other people’s interest areas rather than talking about our own? How do our selfish tendencies influence our conversations? Our activities? Our thoughts?

3. Do you agree with Jerry Bridges statement that, “there are degrees of selfishness as well as degrees of subtlety in expressing it? Why or why not?

3 Kinds of Sinful Pride

1. Pride in MORAL SUPERIORITY

2. Pride of CORRECT DOCTRINE

3. Pride of ACHIEVEMENT

4. Pride of an INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

Self-Righteousness

A feeling of moral superiority with respect to other people.

Luke 18:10-12"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

Luke 18:9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

James 4:6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

How To Battle Self-Righteousness

1. Seek an attitude of HUMILITY

2. IDENTIFY ourselves with our sinful society

Luke 18:13-14But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am…

Jerry BridgesRather than feeling morally superior…we ought to feel deeply grateful that God by His grace has kept us from, or perhaps rescued us from, such a lifestyle

Ezra 9:6"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.

Nehemiah 1:6-7let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now

pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and

have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded

your servant Moses.

Doctrinal PrideThe assumption that whatever my

doctrinal beliefs are, they are correct, and anyone who holds another belief is

theologically inferior.

1 Corinthians 8:1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols,

we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

(NASB)

Romans 12:3For by the grace given to me I say to

everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according

to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

1 Corinthians 4:7For who sees anything different in you?

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

…My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. You shall

remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to

your fathers, as it is this day.

Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done all that

you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done

what was our duty.'"

Independent Spirit

This spirit expresses itself primarily in two areas:

1. A Resistance to Authority2. An Unteachable Spirit

Isaiah 66:2All these things my hand has made, and so

all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in

spirit and trembles at my word.

A Prayer…Lord, I am willing to…

RECEIVE What You GiveLACK what You WithholdRELINQUISH what You Take