Pride on SermonAudio

Envy was once considered one of the seven deadly sins; yet, today, we treat it with casual resignation. We do this at great peril, since this dragon is as deadly as ever. Look around and you see it wreaking havoc on hearts and homes, churches and civilizations. Having seen the beautiful virtues of the wisdom from above in the last sermon, we return to this passage to see the hatefulness of this sin and resolve to put envy to death.

We sometimes become presumptuous of God's grace, thinking that the time for judgment is over and we have license to sin. However, the Lord will discipline those He loves, and He will purify His church. -Notes: https://pastormarksbury.blogspot.com/2026/09/blog-post.html -Livestream: https://lwbcfruita.org/live -Donations: https://www.lwbcfruita.org/give

The sermon challenges the common evangelical phrase 'accept Christ,' arguing that it reverses the biblical order of salvation by placing the burden on human decision rather than divine initiative. God is the one who accepts sinners through Jesus' sacrifice after they are convicted of their sins and repent. The central message is that salvation is not merely a mental agreement or a simple acceptance of a gift, but a profound spiritual transformation initiated by God's grace and received through humble repentance. The preacher urges listeners to seek genuine conviction and brokenness before God, ensuring that the focus remains on His acceptance rather than human effort.

The sermon explores the biblical call for Christian unity found in Philippians 2:1-4, emphasizing that true fellowship stems from the consolation and love experienced in Christ. It contrasts this spiritual reality with modern divisions caused by political strife and personal pride, urging believers to reject selfish ambition and conceit. The text highlights humility as the antidote to division, instructing individuals to esteem others above themselves and prioritize their interests alongside their own. By grounding communal harmony in Trinitarian grace rather than superficial feelings, the message challenges the church to model a counter-cultural love that reflects Christ's self-sacrifice. Ultimately, maintaining unity requires actively suppressing pride and cultivating deep, genuine care for fellow believers.

This sermon addresses the challenge of interpersonal conflict within the church by examining Paul's instructions to Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4. The preacher outlines three practical steps for maintaining unity: rejoicing in the Lord, cultivating a gentle and reasonable spirit, and bringing all anxieties to God through prayer. These actions are presented as essential responses to sin and pride that threaten community harmony. The central message emphasizes that true joy and peace guard the hearts of believers who depend on Christ rather than their own strength. Ultimately, the passage calls the congregation to pursue holiness and mutual love as evidence of their faith.

Pride is the perennial enemy of the saint, but we must depend upon Christ to make us humble servants who seek His glory.

Challenges pride brings to the human experience and hope for this struggle that Christ provides to all who trust in Him. Copyright: There is a 5-minute segment of this sermon that contains a summery video from the Bible Project. (BibleProject is the author and owner of that content. Find more resources at www.bibleproject.com._