"Sephora" (the world) vs. Nazareth (the city of our Lord's choosing)

- John 1:46, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

- 1 Cor 1:28-29, "God chose what the world considers low-class/low-life (what is considered to be nothing) to reduce what is considered to be something to nothing

B. God values humility far more than our world. Whose opinion ultimate matters?

- Mk 9:35, "Anyone who wants to be 1st, must be the very last... (1st for/in what?)

- Lk 9:48, "Whoever is least among you, is the greatest" (greatest for/in what?)

C. Big Idea: Jesus calls us to reject "Sephora" and willingly choose "Nazareth"

- James 4:10, "Humble yourself before the Lord"; Col 3:12, "As God's chosen people, clothe yourselves in ... humility"; 1 Peter 3:8, "Be Humble"; Micah 6:8, "God has shown you what is good. To walk humbly..."; Eph 4:2, "be humble"

10 attributes of Christian humility:

1. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God.

- 1 Pet 5:6,“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God”

2. Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got.

- Matt. 10:24, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master”

3. Humility does not feel a right to treat OTHER people worse than Jesus did

- Matt 5:38-40, "If someone slaps you, turn the other cheek..."

4. Humility knows it is dependent on grace for everything...

- Eph 2:8, "It is by grace you are saved, not your works, lest anyone should boast

5. Humility knows it is fallible, and thus sees convictions and beliefs to be fallible

- Is 55:8, "My ways/thoughts are HIGHER than yours"

6. Humility knows it is fallible, and so values criticism and learns from it.

- Phil 2:3, "in humility, consider other people more important than yourself"

7. Humility recognizes that the only praise worth having is from Jesus

- 1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up"

8. Humility realizes that the only "healing"/solution/fix worth having is from Jesus

- 2 Chron 7:14, "If my people will humble themselves, (and pray, seek my face, and turn from wicked ways), I will heal them (their land)."

9. Humble people value relationships with humble people.

- Rom 12:16, "Do not be proud, rather associate with people of humble positions"

10. Humble people have as their ultimate value, a relationship with a humble God

- Mt. 11:28, "Come to (connect with) Me; I am humble; and you will find rest...

Application: True healing-rest-reward, only come when we walk humbly w/Jesus

- Are you humble? If so, how? Where do you model each of these 10 attributes?

Mar 11 Mon - 1 Cor 1

Mar 12 Tues - Luke 1, John 1

Mar 13 Wed - Luke 9

Mar 14 Thr – Mt 5

Mar 15 Fri - Mt 10

Mar 16 Sat – Mt 11

PRAYER:

A - Adoration (prayer of centering; focus on God's goodness);

C - Confession (prayer of repentance and asking for God's forgiveness);

T - Thanksgiving (prayer of gratefulness, content, joy, avoiding pessimism);

S - Supplication (prayer for others; then pray for yourself)

S - STOP and listen... give God some time to speak to you --- end with the LORD'S PRAYER

Where to begin: What's the state of your soul today? Who is going to heaven because of you?