This past weekend I was blessed to be able to lead worship at my home church's retreat for the singles ministry. It was an incredible weekend for several different reasons: (1) I got to help lead worship - one of my favorite things to do, (2) I heard some incredible teaching from our Associate Pastor, Bill Decker, (3) and I got to actually rest and take a nap by the lake in my hammock.
The weekend's theme was 'Rebuilt'. We went through Isaiah 58 and talked about how the people were doing all of the right things, yet had sin in their lives that was had not been dealt with. During Saturday night's message I got convicted of a lot of sin that I consider 'not a big deal sin'. I think you know what I mean by that. I tend to play off a lot of sin by excusing it as 'little sins'. Here are some of the little sins that we talked about:
- Ungodliness. How often do we not even consider God's will in our decision making?
- Anxiety. Anxiety is the lack of trust in God.
- Unthankfulness. Enough said.
- Discontentment. How often do I get flustered about the circumstances in life that I can do nothing about?
- Pride. Pride is moral self-righteousness. It comes in three different forms. (1) Pride of Doctrine, (2) Pride of Achievement, (3) Pride of Independent Spirit.
- Selfishness. (1) Selfish Interests, (2) Being Inconsiderate.
- Lack Of Self Control. Self Control is the ability to control or govern one's desires, impulses, emotions, and passions. This is different from 'will power'. Pagans can have enough 'will power' to obey self-determined rules; only Christians can have the 'Self Control' that comes from the Holy Spirit during the sanctification process.
- Impatience and Irritability. How quickly/easily do I lose my cool?
- Anger. "We often get angry because we are trying to protect idols in our lives." Dang.
- Being Judgmental. (1) Politics, (2) Church, and (3) Social Settings. "If it isn't dishonoring to God, you don't have a dog in the fight." Again, dang.
- Coveting. Envy is the painful awareness that some has an advantage that you don't have. Jealousy is acting on your envy.
- Sins of the Tongue. (1) Gossip, (2) Lies, (3) Slander, (4) Critical Speech, (5) Harsh Words, (6) Insults, (7) Profanity, (8) Coarse Joking. I got eight slaps in the face on this one particular point... Ouch.
- Worldliness. Have I become attached to the temporary things of this world?
*Don't worry, he used a lot of Scripture to back it up, I just didn't have paper with me to write them down. I got the points from someone later.
Also, he delivered this message in such humility. On most every point he actually confessed ways he had personally failed recently. I felt like his style of communicating allowed everyone listening to let their guard down because he was able to convey that he was a sinful, fallen human being just as they were and he was no more holier than they were just because he is on staff at a church. I was very impressed with his sermons. I was very blessed to be able to hear them and I anticipate emailing him later this week to express my gratitude for the work he put into preparing them.
Here was a view from my hammock by the lake.
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