Francis Chan: We Are Church - Church Together, August 2016

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of humility and dependence on God, even when we experience success or blessings. We are reminded that our strength and accomplishments come from God's marvelous help, and that pride and self-sufficiency can lead to destruction. The passage encourages us to stay grounded in our faith, recognizing that God's kindness and love should lead us to repentance.

Key Scripture References

• Matthew 11:20-24 - This passage highlights Jesus' disappointment with the cities where He had performed many miracles, yet the people did not repent. It serves as a warning that even when we experience God's blessings and kindness, we can still fall into sin and face judgment if we do not remain humble and dependent on Him.
• Romans 2:4-5 - This verse emphasizes that it is the kindness of God that should lead us to repentance. However, when we reject God's love and mercy, we store up wrath for ourselves on the day of judgment.
• 2 Chronicles 26:15 - The story of King Uzziah serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency. Despite being an awesome king, Uzziah's fame spread far because he was marvelously helped by God, but when he became strong, he grew proud to his destruction.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - Although not explicitly mentioned in the passage, this verse is implied as a warning against pride and self-sufficiency. Paul writes that he would rather boast about his weaknesses than his strengths, because God's power is made perfect in weakness.

Application and Reflection

As we reflect on these passages, we are reminded of the importance of staying humble and dependent on God, even when we experience success or blessings. We must recognize that our strength and accomplishments come from God's marvelous help, and not from our own efforts or abilities.

The story of King Uzziah serves as a warning against pride and self-sufficiency. When we become strong and successful, we can easily fall into the trap of thinking that we are the ones who have achieved greatness, rather than acknowledging that it is God's marvelous help that has made us successful.

This message encourages us to stay grounded in our faith, recognizing that God's kindness and love should lead us to repentance. We must remain humble and dependent on Him, trusting in His power and provision, rather than relying on our own strength and abilities.

As we conclude this message, let us remember the words of Jesus: "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!" (Matthew 11:21). May we avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-sufficiency, and instead remain humble and dependent on God's marvelous help.