When Jesus Is Your Jury
Pastor Steven Furtick
Sermon Summary
What is the voice in your head saying about you? When you’re wrestling with self-limiting beliefs, it’s tempting to try to impress people to prove yourself. But that only fuels the unfulfilling cycle of performance. Pastor Steven teaches us how to find freedom from human opinion and reach a new verdict about our worth so we can walk in our purpose.
Sermon Highlights
You can impress them or bless them, but you can’t do both at the same time.
Your job is to please Jesus and help John.
You’ve got to know your job, but you’ve also got to know your jury. Who’s your jury?
PRAISE
I can’t be controlled by a jury when God has given me a job.
Stop performing for people who don’t hold your prize.
When you are a servant of God’s purpose, you won’t be a slave of people’s praise.
If you are a slave to people’s praise, you’ll be a casualty of their criticism.
PATIENCE
Some of the greatest fruit of your life will come from the greatest failures.
I have to trust His timing even when I don’t hear Him talking.
Don’t judge it before you know what it’s there for.
POWER
The power to change belongs to God.
The point isn’t that I’m such a sinner or such a saint; it’s that He’s such a Savior.
He has the power to catch you when you fall and stand you back up again.
Scriptures
Read this week’s Scriptures. Ask your group what stands out to them.
Sermon Discussion
Conversation Starter
Pastor Steven shared about the dining table being his favorite place to study at home. Do you have a favorite spot in your home? Why?
Discussion Questions
“Your job is to please Jesus and help John.” Pastor Steven talked about a man named John who God has called him to minister to. Who would be “John” to you?
“Stop performing for people who don’t hold your prize.” Who are you tempted to “perform” for, and what can you do to make Jesus your jury instead?
“I have to trust His timing even when I don’t hear Him talking.” Where do you need to do this in your life right now?
“The point isn’t that I’m such a sinner or such a saint; it’s that He’s such a Savior.” In John 8, they put the woman’s sin at the center instead of Jesus. Where in your life do you need to remember that He’s “such a Savior”?
BONUS ACTIVITY: Hand out some sticky notes and have everyone write down: Wrong John. Pastor Steven shared the story of the John who called him unqualified. Even though he’s forgiven him, every now and then, he’ll still feel tempted to try and prove himself to that John. So, he challenged us with this – Every time you feel temped to prove yourself this week, say this: “Wrong John.” Put the sticky note somewhere to remind yourself that Jesus is your jury.
Prayer Prompt
Ask your eGroup if they have any prayer requests or praise reports they’d like to share, and include them in your closing prayer.
Pray this prayer over your eGroup to close, and/or send it to them throughout the week to let them know you’re praying for them!
Dear Lord,
Forgive us for the times when we’ve done the right things with the wrong motives, trying to be impressive instead of a blessing. Help us to remember that people only praise on the surface, but pleasing You leads to peace, joy, and a fulfilling life. When our internal verdict gets loud this week, I pray that each of us will be reminded to make Jesus our jury and trust that we’ve got “such a Savior.” Amen.