Traps
Escaping the Stuff that Holds Us Back
Comparison — Part 4 of Traps
May 14, 2023 • Scotty Priest • Galatians 5:1, Hebrews 12:1–2, Ecclesiastes 4:6, Proverbs 14:30, John 21:20–23
The insidious trap of comparison has the potential to hold us back from the life God wants us to experience. Sometimes we ask ourselves, "Why don't I have as much as they have?" "Why don't I have the opportunities they have?" "The talents they have?" "The looks they have?" Comparison views life as a competition. It exaggerates the blessings of others and minimizes your own. Comparison crushes contentment. Do I believe that God is holding out on me? Is Jesus enough for me? Or am I constantly looking for Jesus plus something else? We need to fight for contentment over comparison.
Gossip — Part 3 of Traps
May 7, 2023 • Scotty Priest • Proverbs 26:20, Proverbs 21:23, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 18:8
We all have things that hold us back from the life that God wants us to live. Often we get trapped in the snare of gossip. God hates gossip because God loves you. Gossip divides and destroys. What do you want to be known for? Do you want to be known as the person who always has the inside scoop? Or do you want to be known as a person who can be trusted? What if we were caught talking well about other people? What if we were caught with words of good gossip? Let's be a followers of Jesus who go out and speak words of life.
Apathy — Part 2 of Traps
April 30, 2023 • Scotty Priest • John 10:10, Galatians 5:1, Luke 10:25–37
Traps are the ideas, attitudes, mindsets, behaviors, activities, sins that are easy to get into but difficult to escape from. They hold us back from the life God wants us to have. How do we avoid these traps? This week we are talking about the trap of apathy — the trap that keeps us from making an impact in our world. The trap that keeps from stepping forward into action to make a difference. As followers of Jesus we don't have the luxury to stay in the trap of apathy. We are called by our savior to escape the trap of apathy and make a difference in the world.
Guilt & Shame — Part 1 of Traps
April 23, 2023 • Scotty Priest • John 10:10, Galatians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 7:10
Guilt. Shame. Apathy. Busyness. Comparison. Entitlement. We all have stuff that holds us back from experiencing all life can be. Ideas and behaviors that can TRAP us. So enticing, offering life but draining the joy from us. It’s time to break free.