REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

"Got Pride?”

ICEBREAKER: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life?

DESCRIPTIONS OF PRIDE:

· Pride attempts to exalt itself and is brought down while humility bows low and gets exalted

· Pride is full of pride and proud of it

· Pride is a disease whose symptoms are so subtle that one often doesn't know he's contracted it

· Pride is the root to a tree that bears the fruit of many sins

· Pride creates spiritual deafness to hearing the voice of reason

· Pride refuses to acknowledge the need or desire for help

· Pride would rather drown in a sea of self than to allow someone else to rescue us from ourselves

· Pride is a walk that refuses to see the warning signs of eminent danger and destruction

· Pride would rather hear a thousand accolades of agreement than one voice of opposing truth

· Pride becomes a law unto itself

· Pride fails to realize the benefits of humility

· Pride puts scales, veils & blinders on functioning eyes

· Pride already knows everything which eliminates the possibility of learning something new

· Pride wears a mask with a haughty look

· Pride lives in a lonely tower it has built for itself

· Pride needs to build itself up while tearing others down

· Pride refuses to acknowledge any of its own shortcomings, mistakes or flaws while finding everyone else's

· Pride incarcerates us in a jail that wisdom never visits

· Prides claims to be right even when it knows it is wrong

· Pride is a vehicle on a road speeding to nowhere without brakes

· Pride attempts to shoot others with a gun it has pointed at itself

· Pride lives in a mental fortress that has become its own prison

· The most ironic thing about pride is that it deceives the one who possesses it

· You cannot grasp the truth about yourself while holding on to pride

7 Negative Effects of Pride

1. Pride destroys relationships

2. Pride keeps you ignorant

Physically, fiscally, intellectually and spiritually

3. Pride is the root of stubbornness and rebellion

Rebellion is pride in action while stubbornness is pride refusing to act in obedience

4. Pride is a setup for a downfall

5. Pride erects a wall between you and God

6. God sets himself against the proud

7. Pride is a disqualifier for positions of church leadership

TEXT: Daniel 4

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 KJV) Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 GW)

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13 KJV)

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2 KJV)

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10 KJV)

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (Proverbs 29:23 KJV) Pride lands you flat on your face; humility prepares you for honors. (Proverbs 29:23 MSG)

JESUS ADMONITION

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, PRIDE, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:14-23 KJV)

LUCIFER' S DEMISE

Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:11-15 KJV)

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. How would you define the negative kind of pride?

2. How do you think Daniel remained humble throughout all the adversity he faced?

3. Why do you think even after King Nebuchadnezzar had a vision, Daniel interpreted the vision and heard Daniel's warning and admonition, he still disobeyed? Why do people today fail to hear the Word of the Lord?

4. In 1 Timothy 3:1-13, why do you think pride is a disqualification for church leadership?

5. In Mark 7:14-23, why do you think Jesus put pride in the same category as adultery, murder and theft?

6. Which of the seven negative effects of pride do find most alarming?

PRAISE REPORTS & PRAYER REQUESTS: