Monday Morning Notes

Notes from Pastor's sermon on June 26th: "He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease" - John 3: 22-34.

How do we live as Christians in a culture of self-promotion, a cult of self, a kind of idol worship?

• How do we see ourselves?
• How do we see Jesus?
• How do we respond?

John the Baptist, the greatest man who ever lived according to Jesus himself, is our model.

• John saw himself as the friend of the bridegroom or the best man - privileged, special to the bridegroom (Jesus) with a limited task, when his task is over (presenting the bride in Jewish tradition) he steps joyfully out of the way
• John saw Jesus as above all, from heaven (everyone and everything else is from earth), speaking God's words, all things placed in his hands
• John responded by saying, "He must increase, but I must decrease". Not an option, but a necessity because of who He is and who we are.

• Do we see ourselves humbly and gratefully accepting God's gift of our place and task? Do we step aside?
• Do we see Jesus as above all, on an entirely higher plane, as God's salvation for the world?
• Do we respond with "he must increase, but I must decrease"? Do people see me first or Jesus first?

This is a daily, moment by moment affirmation.

Additional passages: Galatians 2:20 and Philippians 1:20-21.