Church Blog

November 16 2009 at 4:00 am

Bookends of the Christian Life, Part 2

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Yesterday our friend and visiting author and teacher, Jerry Bridges, preached the second message in our “Bookends” series on the “virus” of self-righteousness, an enemy of the gospel. Since it was Jerry’s book The Bookends of the Christian Life that inspired this series, it was a special honor that he would preach a message in it.

Options:
  • Listen online or download an mp3 of the message.
  • Download a summary outline in PDF format.
  • Use the following questions to reflect on how to apply the message to your life.

1.  Jerry Bridges taught us that one of the enemies of the gospel is trusting in our own righteousness. Have you expected God to answer your prayers or bless you because you have had consistent quiet times or served faithfully?  If so, whose performance are you trusting?

2.  Have you ever been tempted to find something in yourself that is superior to others around you and look down on them with contempt? If so, then whose grace and righteousness matters in your life?

3.  In the midst of a trial have you ever been tempted to accuse God and say in your heart, “After all I have done for God, this is what I get?” How does believing God owes us something reveal self-righteousness?

4.  Jerry Bridges taught us that the self-righteous sense little need for Jesus, little need for forgiveness and therefore, have little reason to love Jesus? Does that describe you? If so, what one thing can you do to cultivate a consciousness of your own sin and an assurance of God’s forgiveness?

5.  How does a moment-by-moment trust in the righteousness of Christ slay the gospel enemy of self-righteousness?

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