This Could Be the Death of Me | Levi Lusko | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

This Could Be the Death of Me

Fresh Life Church • Apr 4, 2026 • 48 min

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Summary

In this Good Friday sermon, Pastor Levi Lusko explores the deadly nature of pride—the foundational sin that elevates self above God and others. While pride brings spiritual destruction, Jesus confronted and defeated sin through His humble death on the cross. By looking closely at Christ's seven final words from the cross, believers discover divine remedies for self-absorption, self-pity, and self-reliance, stepping into the complete freedom of His finished work.

Themes

Pride and HumilityThe Cross of ChristSpiritual FreedomRepentance and GraceSurrender and FaithThe Seven Sayings of Jesus

Pastor's Points

1.

Pride is not just a sin; it is the sin that launches a thousand others.

2.

Pride kills, but so does the cross.

3.

The cure for our pride is found in Christ's cries from the cross.

Key Points

1.
Pride is biblically defined as putting oneself above God and others, making self the center and main character of life.
2.
Pride manifests in multiple forms, including self-promotion, self-righteousness, and self-pity (which is an inverted form of pride focused on self-loathing).
3.
Pride is the original sin that caused Lucifer's fall, and it acts as the gateway that opens the door for all other sins to enter our lives.
4.
True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
5.
The cross is not a compliment to human goodness; it is a sobering reminder of how broken we are and how deeply loved we are by God.
6.
When Jesus prayed 'Father, forgive them' from the cross, He offered the cure for self-absorption by choosing intercession and compassion over vengeance.
7.
In ensuring His mother was cared for by John ('Woman, behold your son'), Jesus provided the cure for self-importance by demonstrating active love amidst His own pain.
8.

Sermon Moments

“Pride is the sin the devil wants to jump over the wall of your life so once the door is open, he can bring all of his friends in.”

“The cross is not a compliment. It is a horrific insult. It is God saying, 'You are so terrifically screwed up that the only way you can be rescued is if I allow my own son to be butchered.'”

“You are so bad that Jesus had to die. But you are so loved that Jesus was glad to die.”

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

“When you have yourself as a god, you have a terrible god.”

“Entrance into God's kingdom is only supplied by those who are willing to go low.”

“If you want a God who's small enough for your brain, he will be too small for your sin.”

“When God looked at Jesus on the cross, he saw all your sins. So when God looks at you, he only sees the righteousness of God in Christ.”

This Week

Examine your heart for hidden forms of pride, including self-pity, humble-bragging, and the desire for control.

Replace self-absorption with intercession by praying for those who offend or hurt you, following Christ's example on the cross.

Practice thinking of yourself less by purposefully looking out for and serving those right in front of you.

Abandon self-exaltation and surrender the drive to build your own kingdom, bowing low in daily repentance before King Jesus.

Reject victim mentality during difficult trials, remembering that Jesus endured true abandonment so you would never be separated from God's love.

Rely on Christ rather than giving in to physical cravings or letting earthly desires control your choices.

Stop beating yourself up over past sins, receiving the full freedom and justification found in Jesus' declared truth: 'It is finished.'

Remember This

Through His humble sacrifice and final words from the cross, Jesus defeated the power of pride and provided complete freedom for all who surrender their lives to Him.

A Challenge for You

If you need to trust Jesus for salvation, do not wait—you are on a bullet train towards the grave, so turn to Christ today, give Him your life, and let this Good Friday be the death of your old self and the start of eternal life.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.