Sermons About Sloth
Pride
se7en: Pride Reconnect – April 12, 2009 Text: John 20:19-31; Romans 10:8-11 Key Thought: Pride disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy. That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! ... One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.” Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.
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Envy
se7en: Envy Reconnect – April 5, 2009 Text: I Corinthians 11:17-34; Matthew 21:1-16; Luke 22:14-24 Key Thought: Envy disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy. “Envy wrecks everything” For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. (I Corinthians 11:23-28, NLT)
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Greed
Text: Luke 12:13-31; I Timothy 6:17-18 Key Thought: Greed disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy. ...someone called from the crowd. “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.” And he gave an illustration: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store everything. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?’” Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food and clothing... These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” (Luke 12:13-31, NLT)
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Lust
Text: I Thessalonians 4:1-5; Romans 8:1-2 Key Thought: Lust disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy. Finally dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You are doing this already, and we encourage you to do so more and more. For you remember what we taught you in the name of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honour – not in lustful passion as the pagans do, in their ignorance of God and his ways. (I Thessalonians 4:1-5, NLT)
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The Wound of Apathy
Apathy is certainly one of those wounds inflicted on Jesus which brought about his suffering and death. Early church leaders identified what are called the "seven deadly sins," which include lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. It is that deadly sin of sloth that connects us with the wound of apathy. The early definition of sloth was seen as apathy, joylessness, a refusal to enjoy the goodness of God. Like Peter, James, and John who fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus struggled in prayer, we are guilty of this same sin. In contrast to our sinful apathy, Jesus remains true to his mission and goes to the cross to pay the awful price for our sin.
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Wrath
Wrath disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy. "Understand this, my dear friends: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the just kind of life God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." (James 1:19-21, NLT)
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Gluttony
Sin disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy. "Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." (Romans 6:12-13, NLT)
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Sloth
Sin disconnects and destroys, but Jesus offers the antidote: a connection with God that brings health, life and joy.
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