Our Favorite Things: Reputation

When Good Things Become God: Reputation | December 10, 2023
Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor

Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (NIV)
A good name is better than fine perfume…

1 Timothy 3:7 (NIV)
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 2:11-13 (NIV)

Matthew 4:5-7 (NIV)

Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 6:1 (NIV)
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Can I SAY NO?
Do I MANAGE PERCEPTIONS?
Do I live a HIDDEN or DOUBLE LIFE?
Am I PREOCCUPIED with OPINIONS?
Can I GIVE and RECEIVE FEEDBACK?

Hebrews 4:13-16 (NIV)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Reflection Questions:
Read Galatians 1:10. How in your life have you seen the approval of people become more important than the approval of God?
Read Mathew 6:1. How can doing “works of righteousness” (good things) for God become more for people than for God? Have you ever experienced this in your life? Explain. How can we know if our focus is on God or on the approval of people?
How can an inability to say “No” to people be evidence of the idolatry of approval/reputation? What is the cost long term to us if we constantly try to please people?
Why does a reluctance to give or receive feedback point to the idol of reputation/approval?
How do your respond to the criticism of others? Does it create insecurity and challenge your self worth? Explain
Do you ever find yourself preoccupied with what others think about you? (real or perceived?) Share some personal examples.
Why is living a double/hidden life evidence of approval addiction? What is the solution? How have you applied your solution personally in your life?
What can do practically to break the addiction of approval? How can we practically place the weight of our identity in what Jesus says is true about us? What does it mean that our identity in Jesus is RECEIVED and NOT ACHIEVED? How does that truth affect your thinking and response to approval?

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Notes Page: https://journeybozeman.com/sermons/notes/2023.12.10.pdf