22nd Jan 2023 - CFC Bangalore - Sunday Church Service - Christ Must Increase And I Must Decrease
22nd Jan 2023 - CFC Bangalore - Sunday Church Service - Christ Must Increase And I Must Decrease | Zac Poonen For more sermons please visit https://www.cfcindia.com/
Summary
The service focused heavily on worship, praise, and acknowledging God's supreme sovereignty and goodness. The message emphasized giving thanks for God's provision and salvation through Jesus Christ, drawing on scripture to encourage believers to praise the Lord in all things. The service concluded with a reading of Proverbs 4:23, urging the congregation to guard their hearts diligently.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
A song of grateful praiseThe service begins with songs expressing gratitude for how Jesus has done all things well.
Finding our hope in Christ aloneThe congregation sings of finding light, strength, and peace through the love of Christ.
Entering God's presence in prayerThe speaker leads a prayer to acknowledge God as the eternal Creator and invites the congregation to cast aside distractions to receive His word.
A foundation of God's promisesThe speaker begins by reciting promises of heart circumcision from Deuteronomy and the command to guard one's heart from Proverbs.Deuteronomy 30:6
God's provision through technologyReflecting on the recent years of separation, the speaker notes how God used Zoom to ensure the ministry could continue reaching people globally.
Prioritizing quality over quantity in leadershipThe speaker emphasizes that the church's focus has always been on finding godly, balanced leadership rather than merely increasing numbers.
Christ must increase and we must decreaseFollowing the example of John the Baptist, true spiritual growth requires us to become smaller so that Christ can be more present in our lives and homes.John 3:30
The magnet for soulsUsing the illustration of a needle in a haystack, the speaker describes how a Christ-like life acts as a powerful magnet that pulls people toward Jesus without the need for forceful persuasion.
The danger of lying and the goal of decreasingTo remain a powerful magnet for God, one must avoid the sin of lying and maintain the singular life goal of decreasing so that Christ alone is exalted.
How unconfessed sin makes us deaf to GodUnresolved sin and a neglected conscience gradually make a person unable to hear God's voice. Small acts of disobedience accumulate until even God's direct communication cannot be perceived.Hebrews 5:11
Avoiding the three worldly temptationsTo keep a clear conscience, one must avoid or immediately confess the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Responding to the warmth of God's wordThe speaker reflects on the experience of hearing God speak through the sermon, noting how the heart burns when responding to His voice.
Reflecting on the importance of spiritual shepherdsThe speaker recalls how he was watched over by mentors and teachers during his youth, emphasizing the value of having shepherds in one's life.
What is the goal of our life?Drawing from 1 Timothy 1:5, the speaker identifies three essential goals for every believer: love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
A call to keep the spiritual flame aliveThe speaker concludes by urging the congregation to maintain their pure love, good conscience, and sincere faith as they serve throughout the earth.
