Francis Chan - Dying To Self

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message encourages us to break free from the self-centered mentality that has become so prevalent in our culture. We are reminded that true joy and fulfillment come not from focusing on ourselves, but from looking at God and others with humility and love. The Bible teaches us that when we shift our focus away from selfishness and towards serving others, we experience a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in life.

Key Scripture References

• Second Timothy 3:1-5 - This passage warns about the dangers of self-centeredness in the last days, where people will be "lovers of selfies" and focused on themselves. It's a stark warning that even in the church, we can become consumed by our own desires and needs.
• Psalm 27:4 - David's heart's desire is to dwell in God's house and stare at His beauty. This is a powerful reminder of what true joy looks like – not in taking selfies or focusing on ourselves, but in beholding the glory of God.
• Revelation 5:11-14 - In heaven, there is no self-centeredness; everyone is staring at Jesus and giving Him praise. This passage gives us a glimpse of what it means to truly worship and love God, and how that should shape our lives on earth.
• First Corinthians 12:4-7 - Each one of us has been given a gift from the Holy Spirit for the common good. However, we often don't recognize this because we're too focused on ourselves. By shifting our focus away from self-centeredness and towards serving others, we can discover and use our gifts to bless those around us.
• Philippians 2:1-4 - Paul encourages the church to have the same mind as Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. This passage reminds us that true love is not about focusing on ourselves, but about considering others more important than ourselves.
• Galatians 2:20 - Paul says he's been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the Son of God who loved him and gave Himself for him. This passage shows us that true freedom from self-centeredness comes through surrendering to God and allowing Him to live His life through us.
• Hebrews 5:12-14 - The writer of Hebrews warns against spiritual immaturity, where people are still drinking milk instead of solid food. This passage encourages us to grow in our faith and move beyond self-centeredness towards a deeper understanding of God's Word.

Main Message (continued)

The message emphasizes that true joy and fulfillment come not from focusing on ourselves, but from looking at God and others with humility and love. We are encouraged to break free from the self-centered mentality that has become so prevalent in our culture and instead seek to serve others and glorify God.

Key Takeaways

• We must recognize the danger of self-centeredness and its effects on our lives and relationships.
• True joy and fulfillment come from beholding the glory of God and serving others, not from focusing on ourselves.
• Each one of us has been given a gift from the Holy Spirit for the common good; we must discover and use our gifts to bless those around us.
• We must surrender to God and allow Him to live His life through us, crucifying our self-centeredness and living by faith in Christ.