Speaker: Jeremy Utley
Title: I MUST Decrease for Christ to Increase
Date: 10/05/2025
Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29)
We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3)
We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Summary
Jeremy Utley teaches that for Christ to truly increase in our lives, we must decrease—denying our self-will, self-interest, and self-awareness in a daily, costly commitment to discipleship. Drawing from John 3:30 and 2 Corinthians 4:10, he emphasizes that bearing Christ's dying (saying no to our own initiative and will) is the prerequisite for manifesting Christ's life, and that this requires constant vigilance and passion to become nothing so that Jesus becomes everything.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
He must increase and I must decreaseJohn the Baptist demonstrated zero competition when his disciples pointed out that Jesus was baptizing more people, declaring that he must decrease while Jesus increases.
The self-life as the primary hindranceOur self-interest, self-esteem, self-worth, and self-awareness are the main obstacles preventing the life of Jesus from increasing in us.
Counting the cost of discipleshipWhile God's forgiveness is a free gift, being a true disciple is costly and requires denying oneself and taking up a cross daily.
Bearing the dying of Jesus in our bodiesPaul explains in 2 Corinthians that we must constantly bear about the dying of Jesus in our bodies so that his life may be manifested in our flesh.2 Corinthians 4:10
What the dying of Jesus actually meansBearing the dying of Jesus is not about wearing a cross necklace or displaying verses, but following Jesus' example of doing nothing of his own initiative.John 5:30
Throwing off the old natureBelievers are commanded to throw off their old evil nature and let their attitudes and thoughts constantly change for the better.Ephesians 4:21
Filled with the fullness of ChristOur lives are meant to be filled completely with the fullness of Christ rather than just being a slightly improved version of our natural lives.
Reaching versus dyingWe cannot reach the heights of the life of Jesus through our own effort; we must fall into the ground and die to bear fruit.
Pride, grace, and dying everywhereBecause pride anywhere prevents us from receiving grace, and death is required everywhere, we must take up the cross in every aspect of our lives.
Taking up your cross dailyJesus explicitly stated that anyone who wants to follow Him must take up their cross every single day.
Kindling the fire of passionLike a campfire that goes out if left unattended, our passion to die to the old man requires constant attention and must be kindled afresh.
God's immeasurably moreGod wants to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine in our lives, so we must not let our hope or our passion die out.
Speaker: Jeremy Utley
Title: I MUST Decrease for Christ to Increase
Date: 10/05/2025
Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29)
We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3)
We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Summary
Jeremy Utley teaches that for Christ to truly increase in our lives, we must decrease—denying our self-will, self-interest, and self-awareness in a daily, costly commitment to discipleship. Drawing from John 3:30 and 2 Corinthians 4:10, he emphasizes that bearing Christ's dying (saying no to our own initiative and will) is the prerequisite for manifesting Christ's life, and that this requires constant vigilance and passion to become nothing so that Jesus becomes everything.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
He must increase and I must decreaseJohn the Baptist demonstrated zero competition when his disciples pointed out that Jesus was baptizing more people, declaring that he must decrease while Jesus increases.
The self-life as the primary hindranceOur self-interest, self-esteem, self-worth, and self-awareness are the main obstacles preventing the life of Jesus from increasing in us.
Counting the cost of discipleshipWhile God's forgiveness is a free gift, being a true disciple is costly and requires denying oneself and taking up a cross daily.
Bearing the dying of Jesus in our bodiesPaul explains in 2 Corinthians that we must constantly bear about the dying of Jesus in our bodies so that his life may be manifested in our flesh.2 Corinthians 4:10
What the dying of Jesus actually meansBearing the dying of Jesus is not about wearing a cross necklace or displaying verses, but following Jesus' example of doing nothing of his own initiative.John 5:30
Throwing off the old natureBelievers are commanded to throw off their old evil nature and let their attitudes and thoughts constantly change for the better.Ephesians 4:21
Filled with the fullness of ChristOur lives are meant to be filled completely with the fullness of Christ rather than just being a slightly improved version of our natural lives.
Reaching versus dyingWe cannot reach the heights of the life of Jesus through our own effort; we must fall into the ground and die to bear fruit.
Pride, grace, and dying everywhereBecause pride anywhere prevents us from receiving grace, and death is required everywhere, we must take up the cross in every aspect of our lives.
Taking up your cross dailyJesus explicitly stated that anyone who wants to follow Him must take up their cross every single day.
Kindling the fire of passionLike a campfire that goes out if left unattended, our passion to die to the old man requires constant attention and must be kindled afresh.
God's immeasurably moreGod wants to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine in our lives, so we must not let our hope or our passion die out.
