Sermon Notes
1. Entitlement says, “I DESERVE.”
I deserve…a comment on my social networking picture because I liked yours.
I deserve…to be happy.
I deserve…to be able to text my friends…even in class…or while driving.
I deserve…my parent, my school, job or the government to bail me out financially.
I deserve…to be able to try and do it all, even though my day runs out of hours.
I deserve…more vacation and less responsibility.
I deserve…to borrow your stuff and never return it.
I deserve…to be unhappy and fussy because feelings should be expressed.
I deserve…to party and hook up and get my needs met.
I deserve…to buy myself something new because…well, I deserve it.
I deserve…to see any video clip or movie regardless of rating or content.
I deserve…to point out what you did wrong and conceal my part in it.
I deserve… to get into Heaven whether I believe in Jesus or not.
We find, “The more I focus on me, the more unhappy I’ll be.”
Those expecting God to accomplish their Mission, get off Mission.
2. Those who resist entitlement go from DEMANDING help to DELIVERING help. They get back ON Mission.
3. Those who go from “I DESERVE” to “I SERVE” find that their joy increases.
Circle Group Questions
Ice Breaker – Describe a time when you demonstrated entitlement.
Share one of your Personal Reflections from the week.
Read Luke 4:16-30.
What type of miracle were the people of Nazareth wanting from Jesus?
What miraculous event were they ignoring?
Why didn’t Jesus perform miracles in Nazareth like he did in other places?
What was the response when they found out that they were not going to get what they wanted?
Pastor Dave said, “Those expecting God to accomplish their Mission, get off Mission.” Do you agree? How can our expectation of what God is going to do get in the way of seeing what God is actually doing? (See James 4:1-3.)
How did Jesus respond to what he could have felt he was entitled to? How can we learn from his example? (See Philippians 2:3-8 on page 44).
How has God empowered us to avoid feelings of entitlement? (See Hebrews 2:14-15 and James 4:7-10.)
In what ways does the world try to convince us that we are entitled to pleasing ourselves and to having what we want? How is that the same as the lie the serpent told Eve in Genesis 3:5 “You will be like God”? What are practical ways to break entitlement in our lives?
Personal Reflections
Sunday
What stood out to you from today’s sermon? What teaching can you apply this week? What Reflections did you apply last week?
Monday
In what areas do you think “I Deserve”? How can you focus less on your self?
Tuesday – Reflect
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
James 4:1–3
What desires cause battles within me? How do they affect my relationships with others?
Wednesday – Reflect on Matthew 20:1–16
What, in your circumstances, appears to be unfair? How is God using this for your benefit? For the benefit of others?
Thursday – Reflect
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3–4
In what ways do you consider yourself better than others? What practical ways can you teach yourself to consider the interests of others?
Friday – Reflect
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5–8
How can you humble yourself and be sacrificial to others in your life? In the world around you?
Saturday
Consider: Rather than focusing on your agenda and wants, how can you get on Mission with God? Where can you serve? What can you give?