Online Sermons
Lesson #9 - Boasting
Series: Taming The TongueLesson #9 – Boasting
1. Why do people brag?
Does constant bragging flow from a low self-esteem?
~ Is our boasting an effort to make us feel superior to those around us?
~ He thinks the sun comes up just to hear him crow. / Charles Martin
Are people generally repelled by braggarts?
~ When people characterize you, does the word CONCEIT come to mind?
~ You boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. – Js.4:16
~ An ant climbed on an elephant’s back and asked for a ride over a bridge.
After they crossed, the ant exclaimed, “My, but didn’t we shake that bridge!”
Do you have a problem tooting your own horn (patting yourself on the back)?
~ Do you sometimes strut like a preening peacock? – e.g., King Herod in Acts 12:21-23
~ Disney’s character Gaston (Beauty And The Beast) was the personification of the word gascon (a braggart).
2. Isn’t HUMILITY supposed to be a Christian virtue?
Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Mt.5:3
Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. – Lk.14:11
Mic.6:8 – What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly…
Prov.6:19 – It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil of the proud.
Prov.15:33 – The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility. cf. Prov.18:12b & 22:4
Prov.25:27 (NCV) – It is not good to eat too much honey, nor does it bring you honor to brag about yourself.
Prov.27:2 – Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Rom.12:3 – I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think… cf. Philp.2:3
Col.3:12 – As those who have been chosen of God…put on a heart of compassion, humility, gentleness and patience…
Js.4:6 – God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. cf. Js.4:10
1Pet.5:5-6 – clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.
Does God frown on HAUGHTY EYES? – Prov.6:17
~ “Grace puts its hand on the boasting mouth, and shuts it once for all.” / Charles Spurgeon
~ Texans have a saying, “all hat, no cattle.”
~ Has modesty become a thing of the past? Does MODESTY ever become outdated
3. Are we sometimes “inflated without cause” (Col.2:18)?
Do we have a good reason to be boastful?
~ Behaving as a braggadocio is underscoring the “I” in PRIDE. – cf. Ps.94:4; Isa.10:12-13; Dan.4:30 and Lk18:11-12
~ Whatever superb gifts or talents we possess, are they not all gifts from God? – Js.1:17 cf. Deut.8:17-18 and 2Chron.32:24-26
Is it okay to boast (glory) in the cross of Christ? – Gal.6:14
By the grace of God I am what I am… - 1Cor.15:10 cf. Eph.2:8-10
4. A word about Paul!
Is it bragging if it is factually true?
You yourselves know…how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility (Acts 20:18-19). cf. Acts 20:33-35
Need Paul apologize for his “apologia” (defense)? – cf. 2Cor.11:21ff
~ Does Paul’s defense of His apostleship contradict his own definition of love (love does not brag)? – cf. 1Cor.13:4b
