- Introduction
- A. Paul is talking about growing up in Christ.
- 1. Growth can be a hard process.
- 2. Growth has to be the goal of every Christian.
- B. Growth described by 2 Peter 1:3-11.
- C. Bringing one's self into the discipline of Christ is key to growth (Matthew 16:24).
- I. JESUS SPEAKS OF SINCERITY
- A. Luke 12:1-5
- 1. Hypocrisy greatest complaint against church (Revelation 3:14-19)
- II. SINCERITY DERIVED FROM WORD "SIMPLE"
- A. Simple: A mindset without duplicity (James 1:8)
- B. Hypocrisy does two things:
- 1. It attacks you internally - you know you are lying.
- 2. It deters you in character and others in their struggle to go to heaven.
- III. SINCERITY: Latin, "sinny setty" - without wax
- A. Covering the cracks with wax.
- 1. If you are a disciple, you must give God your whole heart (Luke 14:26-27).
- 2. No duplicity (Matthew 6:24).
- 3. Must be a sincere progress (John 15:8)
- IV. HYPOCRISY: Greek, describes an actor wearing a mask
- A. Thespian Symbol: Two masks - comedy, tragedy
- 1. Jesus teaches to remove the mask (Matthew 6:16-18).
- V. WHAT KIND OF DISCIPLE ARE YOU?
- A. What is your attitude?
- 1. Paul talks about this great struggle (Romans 7:18-24).
- VI. HYPOCRISY DECEIVES IN TWO WAYS:
- A. We fail to see that pleasing God is our primary goal.
- B. It makes man's religion humanistic.
|
