Date: June 29, 2025
Sermon Title: Disciple: The Un-American Christian Attitude: Moving from Independent to Dependent
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12
Highland Baptist Church
Pampa, TX
Pastor: Andy Biles

THE AMERICAN MIND

• Be Independence - Going alone, I can do it on my own
  • Matthew 19:23-26 - “It is easier for a camel…than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
  • Matthew 19:26 - “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
• The Christian life is impossible without God
  • Romans 8:5-8 - Without Christ it is impossible to please God.
• God does not use “independent spirits” or “independent attitudes”.
  • He wants people wholly devoted to His kingdom, Matthew 6:33 (“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”). This cannot happen when we have an independent spirit. An independent spirit focuses on things that are beneficial to oneself, not what is beneficial for the whole. That is vain and narcissistic!

THE DISCIPLE’S MIND
Is not independent, but dependent on God and one another

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

• Is united together with other believers
  • In seeking His kingdom
    • Matthew 6:33 - “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

• • In defense of the evil one
    • James 5:16 - “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
    • 2 Thessalonians 3:3 - “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

• • In his love for one another
    • 1 John 3:14 - “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.”
    • 1 John 3:16 - “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
    • 1 John 4:7-8, 11 - “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love… Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
    • John 13:35 - “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• • In his work for the church
    • Hebrews 10:23-25 - “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

• Is dependent
  • Is dependent on Christ
    • Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

• • Is dependent in His Word
    • We can rely on His Word
      • 1 Peter 1:25 - “But the word of the Lord remains forever.”
      • Isaiah 40:8 - “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”
    • We can rely on His promises
      • Numbers 23:19 - "God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?"
    • We can rely on His faithfulness
      • Deuteronomy 31:8 - “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
      • 1 John 3:1 - “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God.”
      • Hebrews 10:23 - “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
      • 2 Timothy 2:13 - "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself."