Sermon on Attitude | The Church Moving Forward #5 – Attitudes To Develop
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Church Moving Forward Series, Sermons on Attitudes
INTRODUCTION:
A. Philippians 3:12-14
B. This is the last of a series of sermons on the church moving forward into the future
1. The fact is that we will move into the future regardless of how we prepare for it
2. The question is actually one of what we will be able to do with the future when it arrives
3. So far we have looked at:
a. Challenges we must accept
b. Enemies we must defeat
c. Dangers we must avoid
d. Opportunities to take
4. There is one more essential ingredient in Moving the Church Forward – ATTITUDE
C. Someone once wrote this verse asking, “Who am I describing?”
It is the “advance man” of our true selves.
Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.
It is our best friend or our worst enemy.
It is more honest and more consistent than our words.
It is an outward look based on past experiences.
It is a thing which draws people to us or repels them.
It is never content until it is expressed.
It is the librarian of our past;
It is the speaker of our present;
It is the prophet of our future.
What is it?
It’s our attitude!
D. In this lesson I want to share some biblical truths with you about the importance of attitude and how it can help us accomplish God’s will in “Moving The Church Forward.”
DISCUSSION: (Continuing with this sermon on attitude)
A. WHAT IS AN ATTITUDE AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
1. Attitude Defined
a. A person’s prevailing tendency to respond favorable or unfavorably to an object, a person, a group, or an event
b. Normally, we speak either of positive or negative attitudes
c. Practically, it is how we think or feel about things
d. Attitudes are formed by what we believe to be true about things
2. Attitudes are expressed in several ways
a. In our facial expressions
b. In our tone of voice / inflection
c. In our behavior or lack of it
d. In the way we perform a task
e. In the energy we put into whatever we are doing
f. In the interest we have in a person, thing or activity
3. Ask yourself, “How am I expressing Christianity?”
4. The late General Douglas MacArthur wrote something very profound about aging on his 75th birthday: “In the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber; as long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage, you are young. When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then, and then only are you grown old.”
5. “Wouldn’t you hate to wear glasses all the time?” asked a small boy of his playmate. “No-o-o,” the other boy answered slowly, “not if I had the kind grandma wears. She sees how to fix a lot of things, see lots of nice things to do on rainy days, and sees when folks are tired and sad, and what will make them feel better, and she always sees what you meant to do even if you haven’t got things just right. I asked her one day how she could see that way all the time, and she said it was the way she learned to look at things as she grew older. So it must be her glasses.”
6. The power of attitude is seen in the fact that since it reflects what we believe, it reflects what we are, what we will do, what we will sacrifice, how hard we will work, and how much of ourselves we will give to anything
a. There can be no doubt that attitude is a great determining factor of success
b. It is as true of the work of the church as it is with anything else
B. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ATTITUDES?
1. First, our English word “attitude” is translated in the Bible as: mind, countenance, and heart.
2. Attitude is a very descriptive word that gives insight into how a person thinks or feels about something or someone
3. Note the following biblical examples:
a. Ezra 7:10
b. Nehemiah 4:6 … attitude of work
c. Nehemiah 4:17 … trowel and sword in hand
d. Psalm 119:97-104
e. Philippians 2:5-8 … attitude of sacrifice
f. Acts 5:41
g. Ephesians 4:22-23
h. 1 Peter 4:1
4. It is obvious that God’s word recognizes the importance of attitude, and either commends or condemns people for the product of attitude in their lives
Finally, in this sermon on attitude…
C. ATTITUDES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE LORD’S CHURCH
1. A positive attitude toward God, Mark 12:30
a. It will make a difference in how interested you are in God, and doing what He commands
b. It will shape your willingness to seek for spiritual growth
c. It will determine the moral climate you decide to live in
2. A positive attitude toward the church, 2 Corinthians 11:28
a. We need to promote, talk up, let people know about the church
b. This involves several different things:
1) Loving the people in the church, 1 John 3:16-18
2) Actively supporting the work of the church
3) Your level of involvement with the church, Matthew 6:33
3. A positive attitude toward the assemblies of the church, Hebrews 10:25
a. Are assemblies important? Your attendance will answer the question
b. Bringing visitors to the assemblies
c. Participating in the worship
4. A positive attitude about being different from the world 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
a. This is the difference between leading others to Christ or being led away from Christ
b. Lift your head and know you are a son or daughter of the King
5. A positive attitude about life, Romans 8:28
a. This is the difference between overcoming the problems in life and being overcome by them
b. Do you see life as your opportunity to learn how to be a servant of God
CONCLUSION: This sermon on attitude reminds you:
A. You can’t keep an attitude a secret
1. You will show it in your face, your voice, and your actions
2. However much you are for or against something – your attitude will show through to others
B. If the church is going to move into the future and do all that God wants us to do, then we must have a good attitude – the proper attitude
C. ARE YOU MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROPER ATTITUDE?
See also:
- The Church Moving Forward #1 – Challenges to Accept
- The Church Moving Forward #2 – Enemies to Defeat
- The Church Moving Forward #3 – Dangers to Avoid
- The Church Moving Forward #4 – Opportunities to Take