Psalm 23:1-3 ESV

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Three Key Things That It’s Not About You:

#1) GOD IS NOT ABOUT YOU!

• God Is About God!

Psalm 25:11 NKJV

For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Psalm 31:3 NKJV

For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

Joshua 7:9 NKJV

For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”

Ezekiel 20:44 NKJV

Then you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”

• It’s not about you or how good you are. It’s about how good He is!

Ezekiel 39:25 NKJV

Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name.

Psalm 106:8 ESV

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.

Isaiah 48:11 ESV

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

Psalm 115:1 ESV

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Matthew 10:39 ESV

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Mark 8:35 ESV (Ref. Luke 9:24 & Matthew 16:25)

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Psalm 79:9 ESV

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!

Matthew 5:10 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Philippians 1:29 ESV

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

1 Peter 3:14 ESV

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Psalm 25:6-7 ESV

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

1 Corinthians 1:12-13 (ESV)

What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Colossians 3:23 (ESV)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

• Everything you do should honor God!

Several Popular Theologies:

1. Savior Theology

A. Definition = Christian job is to bring the good news of Jesus to the world because we all need a savior. Jesus is the only savior.

B. Focus: Jesus & His Mission

C. Deals with the root cause which is sin

2. Liberation Theology

A. Definition = Job of a Christian is to revolutionize society from oppression

B. Focus: Society

C. Deals with oppressive symptoms (there will always be symptoms to hook people)

3. Progressive Theology

A. Definition = Deep belief in loving one another (John 15:17)

B. Focus: People’s individual happiness (morals and not salvation, Compassion, justice, tolerance)

C. Deals with symptoms by downplaying sin (low view of Christ)

#2) THE BIBLE IS NOT ABOUT YOU!

Exegesis — refers to an explanation of the biblical text based on an investigation of the language, history, culture, and context of a passage in its original setting.

Eisegesis — refers to interpretation of a passage of Scripture based on a subjective understanding of the text.

Narcigesis — refer to interpretation of a passage of Scripture by finding or putting yourself in it.

• The Bible Is Not About You! The Bible Is About Jesus!

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

• Even the faith you have is a gift from God.

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

When you study the Bible, it’s important you look for God in it.

5 Day Bible Study Plan

Day 1 — What’s happening (and who’s involved)?

• In a paragraph, note big moments in the passage, who’s involved, as well as a main idea (if applicable).

Day 2 — What’s the connection?

• Note how the passage/chapter connects to the surrounding text (context). Also, note how it connects to the rest of the Bible.

Day 3 — What’s the lesson for the original audience?

• In a paragraph, zoom in on an important moment and explain what the original audience needed to understand.

Day 4 — What’s the lesson for me today?

• In a paragraph, explain what you need to understand from the same lesson in Day 3. (Hint: the principles should not change from past to present, only the application).

Day 5 — What am I going to do about it?

• Write down any action steps that you will take in order to respond to the lesson of the passage.

#3) THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT YOU!

• Don’t go chasing God just for your blessings. Don’t go chasing God just for your fulfillment and purpose. Everything that you do, do it for His glory!

Matthew 22:37-40 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

• The gospel is to help you find Jesus.

• If you think about it, there are only two paths you can pursue… The Pursuit of Happiness or The Pursuit of Truth

Your pursuit of happiness will at times lead you to sacrifice the truth, while your pursuit of truth will at times lead you to sacrifice your happiness.

• If the gospel is about pursuing Jesus (the Truth), then you are truly free.

Ephesians 1:3-5 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Philippians 3:8 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

CONCLUSION

• Despite my continued failures, my shortcomings, and foolish heart.… God for His name’s sake died on the cross and resurrected.… and now sees me as perfect, spotless, holy.… not because I am but because He Is.

1 Samuel 12:20-22 ESV

And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.

• If you are church person but not a Jesus person, it’s time to go from engagement to marriage.