Replace A Complaing Attitude Series

LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE – PICK A GOOD ONE

Replace A Complaining Attitude

Sunday January 21, 2007

Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-2

Numbers 11:1-3

Intro.

A. We are launching today into a brand new sermon series that will take us all the way to Easter Sunday. As you can see this is a series on the topic of attitudes. Now you may be wondering “Why are we going to spend the next ten weeks talking about attitudes?” Well first and foremost we are doing this because the bible speaks a lot about the subject of our attitudes and if the bible has much to say on a topic then we obviously have much we need to learn about this issue. The second reason we are going to be talking about attitudes for ten weeks is totally selfish. That reason is that “I need help with my attitude! Now I know that will be reason for many of you to shout “Amen” “Hallelujah” and “Praise God” but let’s be honest shall we? Most of you sitting here today need help with your attitudes as well, DON’T YOU?

1. I believe that one of the greatest hindrances and obstacles to greater effectiveness in my life is this one thing “Attitude”. I keep falling back on what my pastor in Bible College told me when I first began pastoring and I told him I didn’t know what to preach about. He told me to preach to myself and I would be amazed at how many need the same help that I do. Now if you are sitting here today and you are saying to yourself, “I don’t need help with my attitude.” “This series is going to be meaningless to me.” I might suggest that you take a little closer look at yourself because my experience has shown me that often times the person who says, “I don’t need help.” Is the person who actually needs the most help.

B. Let’s begin with a definition of what an attitude is so that we are at least all on the same page when we talk about this subject. The dictionary tells us and I am paraphrasing here, that an “Attitude is an inner feeling expressed by an outward behavior.” Here is how Jesus said it in Luke 6:45 NIV The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

1. Pastor and speaker John Maxwell in his book “The Winning Attitude” defined attitude this way:

It is the “advanced man” of our true selves.

Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.

It is our best friend or worst enemy.

It is more honest and consistent than our words.

It is an outward look based on past experiences.

It is a thing that draws people to us or repels them.

It is never content until it is expressed.

It is the librarian of our past.

It is the speaker of our present.

It is the prophet of our future.

C. Now let’s talk for a few minutes about the importance of our attitudes.

1. It has been said that “Attitude is everything”. We I am not going to tell you that attitude is everything because I don’t think that will square with the scriptures. What I mean by this is that there are some people who believe we can just “Think” our way out of our troubles or problems. If we just think “Happy Thoughts” everything will be OK. Well I can’t say I believe that, but I will tell you what I do believe and what I do believe is that attitude effects everything. My attitude affects my relationship with my wife. Just ask her if you don’t believe me. My attitude affects my relationship with my kids. My attitude affects my job. My attitude affects my relationship with God.

2. [] How many times have we seen in sports where a professional baseball or football team that is loaded with talent and is paying millions of dollars for that talent and yet the team continues to lose games? Why does that happen? More often than not it is attitude. It is not that the team does not have the talent to win it is that they do not have the attitude to win. Maybe they have lost so many times that their attitude is one that says, “We are destined to lose no matter what we do.” Here is what Football coach Lou Holtz said about attitude; Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. The Figure Skater Scott Hamilton said The only disability in life is a bad attitude.