The Introduction - Patch Series

We live in a world littered with bad attitudes. You’ve seen the people before, they like to make you feel bad, they love to make others feel miserable.

Check this video out.

Sadly, some people need the patch. They can’t figure out how to say the right things…EVER, and all they do and say is be hateful and rude.

Have you ever been around those people? Those people that when you think about it, you’d certainly wish you never have see them again?

Next week, we’re going to talk about how to deal with them. But this week, we’re going to focus on you. How can YOU avoid the patch.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

”For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joins and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

”You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Tonight, here is the good news:

You don’t have to be the problem, you can be the solution.

How do you be the solution?

1. Focus on the future

People who look back at the past continually will have attitude problems. For many people, the past is full of sorrow and regrets. Many people hate their past and wish they could do everything to change it.

In the movie Billy Madison, Billy has to go back to high school…blah blah blah. (Story of him calling his friend, and peeing his pants)

Philippians 3:12-14 (Message)

”I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: by no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running and I’m not turning back.

One of the reasons why people have bad attitudes, is because their focus is in the wrong place.

Key point: When your focus is in the wrong place you trip over things, and hurt yourself and others.

2. Give (be a servant)

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

”For the Son of Man did not come to the earth to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”

Your attitude will change when you start giving. There’s something about giving your time, your money, and yourself away that makes you feel good. I can’t explain, but I know that as a result you will be blessed.

Romans 14:17-19 (NLT)

”For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will approve of you too. So then, let us aim for the harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”

Let me take a few things out of this:

1. Serve God first

2. Other people will see

3. Build each other up

Jesus gave and gave and gave and gave and gave. And he still gives today. Everything he does is giving. And if we are supposed to be like Him, we need to give too.

3. Surround yourself with positive people

Job 2:9-11 (NIV)

”His wife said to him, ‘are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He replied, ‘you are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?’”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (Message)

”If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourself that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus they do to us – trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us – he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!