Control Issues (2 of 3)
Series: A Weary World Rejoices
Craig Smith
Matthew 2:1-18
I. Introduction
Welcome to Mission Hills and to week number two of our Christmas series, A Weary World Rejoices. What we're doing in this series is looking at what the Christmas story has to teach us about being able to rejoice in spite of all the things that are making us weary right now.
Last week, we talked about all the waiting we've done this year and how weary it's made us. But we saw that waiting doesn't have to rob us of joy...if...we learn how to wait well.
This week we're going to talk about the weariness that comes from striving for control. I think, for me, one of the hardest parts about 2020 has been that so many of the things that have affected me and my family and my team here at Mission Hills are completely out of my control. And that's hard for me because, if I'm going to be completely honest with you...I'm a little bit of a control freak.
Any other control freaks in the house?
Now, you may not think of yourself that way. I know I don't naturally think of myself as a control freak. I prefer to think that I'm a strong leader or that I have strong opinions or to say that I just have high standards or that I'm particular or even that I'm picky. But the truth is, I have control issues.
And actually, I think all of us do. It might be more pronounced, more out in the open, for some people than for others, but the reality is that if you've ever sinned, you have control issues. Because that's what sin is. It's the decision to do what's not right because it's what I want to do right now. If you've ever sinned, you have control issues, just like me.
And for the last couple of years, God's really been working on me to help me understand where that need for control comes from and what it costs me to strive for control. And today I want to take you to a part of the Christmas story that God has used in my life to help with my control issues.
If ...
Series: A Weary World Rejoices
Craig Smith
Matthew 2:1-18
I. Introduction
Welcome to Mission Hills and to week number two of our Christmas series, A Weary World Rejoices. What we're doing in this series is looking at what the Christmas story has to teach us about being able to rejoice in spite of all the things that are making us weary right now.
Last week, we talked about all the waiting we've done this year and how weary it's made us. But we saw that waiting doesn't have to rob us of joy...if...we learn how to wait well.
This week we're going to talk about the weariness that comes from striving for control. I think, for me, one of the hardest parts about 2020 has been that so many of the things that have affected me and my family and my team here at Mission Hills are completely out of my control. And that's hard for me because, if I'm going to be completely honest with you...I'm a little bit of a control freak.
Any other control freaks in the house?
Now, you may not think of yourself that way. I know I don't naturally think of myself as a control freak. I prefer to think that I'm a strong leader or that I have strong opinions or to say that I just have high standards or that I'm particular or even that I'm picky. But the truth is, I have control issues.
And actually, I think all of us do. It might be more pronounced, more out in the open, for some people than for others, but the reality is that if you've ever sinned, you have control issues. Because that's what sin is. It's the decision to do what's not right because it's what I want to do right now. If you've ever sinned, you have control issues, just like me.
And for the last couple of years, God's really been working on me to help me understand where that need for control comes from and what it costs me to strive for control. And today I want to take you to a part of the Christmas story that God has used in my life to help with my control issues.
If ...
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