Terrence kicked off a new series, The Path Forward, focusing on overcoming sin and committing to a Christ-centered life. It emphasizes the importance of living dead to sin and alive in Christ, drawing from Romans 6:11-12:
“So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”
The message outlines a nine-step process for overcoming sin, based on the G4 counseling model, which many churches use to help people break free from sinful patterns. The sermon covers the first three steps, focusing on the mindset and posture that may prevent believers from taking them.
Four Invitations for Overcoming Sin
- Resist Self-Assurance and Embrace the Fear of God
The sermon warns against self-righteousness, which leads people to trust in their own moral standing rather than God’s grace. The Pharisees in Jesus’ time embodied this attitude, believing their outward religious acts justified them before God.
- The problem: Some people assume they are spiritually fine, showing up to church only to apply the sermon to others, not themselves.
- The consequence: Living without a healthy fear of God—not terror, but reverence for His holiness and justice—leads to a lack of repentance.
- The solution: Actively seek out God’s conviction rather than avoiding it. Instead of assuming you are spiritually fine, expect God to challenge and refine you every time you approach Him.
“May we never show up to church thinking the sermon is for someone else. May we always come expecting that God has something to say to us.”
- Resist Self-Absorption and Embrace a Broken Spirit
This lesson comes from Luke 18:9-14, where Jesus contrasts a Pharisee and a tax collector in their prayers:
- The Pharisee prays about himself, listing his religious accomplishments.
- The tax collector humbles himself, acknowledging his sin and begging for God’s mercy.
The Pharisee’s mistake was comparison—measuring his righteousness against others rather than against God’s holiness. Many people today do the same, thinking, “At least I’m better than that person.”
Two Correct Ways to Compare Ourselves:
- Compare yourself to your past self – Are you growing in your commitment to Christ? Is there evidence of transformation?
- Compare yourself to Jesus – No matter how righteous we think we are, we still fall far short.
- Application: Name your sins specifically in prayer. Instead of vague prayers like, “Forgive me for my sins, known and unknown,” confess specific actions and attitudes.
“If you struggle to pray, start naming your sins—you’ll be praying all day.”
- Resist Self-Serving Religion and Embrace Humble Surrender
The Pharisee in Luke 18 boasts about fasting and tithing, treating his good works as a bargaining tool with God. This mindset is dangerous because it turns obedience into accomplishment, and accomplishment into entitlement.
Signs of Self-Serving Religion:
- Keeping score of good deeds and expecting God to reward you.
- Feeling entitled to blessings because of your spiritual achievements.
- Trying to barter with God (e.g., “God, I gave my tithe, why am I struggling?”).
In contrast, humble surrender recognizes that:
- Obedience is not a transaction but a response to God’s grace.
- Everything we do for God is because of His mercy, not because we deserve rewards.
“How dare we remind God of how many times we came to church this month when life gets hard? We don’t barter with God—our very breath is His mercy.”
- Application: Stop keeping score of your works and start keeping score of God’s grace. Reflect daily on how much He has forgiven you.
- Resist Excuses and Hate Sin as Much as God Does
Many people downplay their sins by calling them “struggles” instead of what they really are—offenses against a holy God. If we aren’t careful, we romanticize our mistakes and give ourselves permission to continue sinning.
Why We Must Hate Sin:
- John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world enough to send Jesus.
- The flip side of that verse is that God hated sin so much that He was willing to crush His own Son to defeat it.
- If God went to such extremes, we should also hate sin fiercely.
“We should be like that lady from Tom & Jerry with a broom—chasing our sin out of our lives with everything we have!”
- Application: Be brutally honest about your sin. Stop making excuses and call it what it is.
Practical Application
- Engage with the 9-step process for overcoming sin.
- Examine yourself daily and commit to repentance before Easter.
- Approach communion with reverence, reflecting on 1 Corinthians 11, which warns against taking it lightly.
- Live in expectation that God will convict and guide you.
Final Challenge
- Engage with the 9-step process leading up to Easter.
- Take personal responsibility for your faith—don’t wait for others to change.
- Expect God to convict, challenge, and transform you through this series.
The sermon is a powerful call to self-examination, repentance, and transformation. By resisting self-righteousness and embracing true humility, believers can experience freedom from sin and a renewed relationship with God.