Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.
Summary
Themes
Key Points
- 1.Placing confidence in earthly shortcuts, relationships, careers, or personal righteousness will ultimately lead to disappointment and anxiety.
- 2.Legalism and self-righteousness act as spiritual poison that ruins joy and drives people away from true grace.
- 3.True believers worship by the Spirit of God, boast exclusively in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.
- 4.Human credentials, cultural background, and religious achievements cannot earn a right standing before God.
- 5.Everything previously counted as personal gain must be considered a loss when compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus.
- 6.Faith requires coming to God with empty hands—offering nothing of our own merit and receiving everything from Christ.
- 7.True standing before God at the final judgment depends on being found in Christ's righteousness rather than our own.
- 8.Intimate relationship with Christ involves experiencing both His resurrection power and the fellowship of His sufferings.
- 9.
Sermon Moments
“The Survivor TV show illustration showing how painful it is when someone realizes they placed their confidence in the wrong person.”
“Nate's grandmother waking the family up singing 'This is the day the Lord has made' and continuing to declare it even while battling cancer.”
“John Piper's definition of rejoicing in the Lord as experiencing Christ as your satisfying treasure regardless of circumstances.”
“Paul's contrast between disease-ridden pack scavengers (dogs) and the filth that legalism brings into the church.”
“Golfer Scottie Scheffler standing with a trophy and declaring that achievements do not define him because Christ does.”
“John Calvin's picture of faith as an empty, open hand stretched out toward God with nothing to offer and everything to receive.”
“The story of William Borden, who surrendered immense wealth for global missions and left behind the legacy: 'No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.'”
“Personal testimonies acting like exit signs on a highway, warning fellow believers not to take a road that leads to emptiness.”
This Week
Remember This
Our true standing before God rests not on our credentials, performance, or self-righteousness, but solely on the righteousness of Christ received through faith.
A Challenge for You
Share your story of misplaced confidence and how Jesus transformed your life with someone around you, setting up spiritual safeguards for your brothers and sisters in Christ.These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.
Read each passage, or hear where it was taught.
Continue this series
Our Greatest Gain
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39:59Grace – Our Greatest Gain
Mason King · The Village Church
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44:28Contentment – Our Greatest Gain
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47:39Rejoice: Our Greatest Gain
Matt Chandler · The Village Church
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39:39Balance: Our Greatest Gain
Adam Paa · The Village Church
Jun 1, 2026
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Part 2 · Current
42:10Confidence – Our Greatest Gain
Nate Miller · The Village Church
May 26, 2026
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47:13Work Out What God Has Worked In
Matt Chandler · The Village Church
May 18, 2026
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39:47Fellowship – Our Greatest Gain
Trevor Joy · The Village Church
May 11, 2026
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51:20Our Greatest Gain
Matt Chandler · The Village Church
May 4, 2026
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