February 9, 2013 - Church at Worship

Sermon: "Pride: Bursting the Bubble: Part 1 - Dangers, Toils, & Snares"- Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Joelle Reuer, Scott Smith, SD ’09

Alumni Welcome: Charles Goodacre, SD ’71

Children’s Feature: Patty Marruffo

Meditation:

My sin was all the more incurable because I did not think myself a sinner. – Augustine of Hippo

Give me humility, in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride, which is the heaviest of burdens. – Thomas Merton

Christ sends none away empty but those who are full of themselves. – Donald Gray Barnhouse

We Americans generally want to think of ourselves as good people. That, in many respects, is where the trouble begins. – James Davison Hunter

Responsive Reading: Jan Davidian, SD ’63, MS ’67-1st service, Ronald Forde, SD ’83, MS ’11-1st service, Charles Holman, SD ’63-2nd service, Clifford Tym, SD ’68, MPH ’78-2nd service

Sermon Notes:

The song, “Amazing Grace,” has that inimitable line that says, “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come....” It goes on to affirm that grace has
brought us safe thus far, and it will be grace that carries us home. But make no mistake about it: our past and future journey will lead through many dangers, toils, and
snares. It is those “Dangers, Toils, & Snares” that we address in this sermon series.

The epistle to the Hebrews says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so
easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2a, TNIV. Emphasis added). The intent of this series, then, is to aid us in fixing our eyes on Jesus
despite the things that hinder and the sin that entangles.

Today we begin with what may be the most alluring—and the most overlooked—sin
of all: pride. Are we bursting with pride and don’t even know it?! What does Jesus
offer us in its place?

May God teach us—grant us—humility.

Randy Roberts
Senior Pastor