The Search for Significance (Part 1 and 2)

• Self worth = approval from others + performance
  • I must have the approval of certain other people before I can approve of myself
    • God’s answer: RECONCILIATION: only his acceptance can fulfill our need for acceptance
  • I must meet certain standards in order to feel good about myself
    • God’s answer: JUSTIFICATION
  • Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished
  • I am what I am, I cannot change, I am hopeless
• We are addicted to approval
• God promises freedom from fear: of rejection, failure, …
• God has emotions
• He knows himself absolutely and every situation thoroughly, therefore he always thinks correctly, which is why He is never overwhelmed by His emotions
• You keep yourself angry by continuing to think about what makes you angry
• Emotions don’t destroy our life, it’s being overwhelmed by certain emotions
• Our task is to understand what His thoughts are so that we can have His emotions
• There are 1,050 commandments to the Christian in the New Testament
• Four inadequate reasons for being obedient:
  • Someone will find out
  • God will hate me
  • I couldn’t be proud of myself
  • I’ll trade with God
• God disciplines his child, not punish
• Adequate reasons for obedience:
  • Sin is destructive (everything antagonistic to who God is) and holds you captive
    • If something is not right, it’s wrong – don’t justify wrong if you can’t explain why it’s right
  • The Father will discipline
    • Because sin is destructive
  • His commands are good
    • He is trying to bring blessing to our lives
  • Love of Christ compels us
  • Rewards