WELCOME TO THE WELCOME TO THE JACKSON ST. CHURCH OF CHRISTJACKSON ST. CHURCH OF CHRIST

We are so glad you are hereWe are so glad you are here

(Phil 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

•

 FOCUSING ON THE

NEGATIVE

INTRODUCTION•Friend and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”

•Familiarity breeds contempt•There is so much good in the worst of us, And so much bad in the best of us, That it hardly behooves any of us To talk about the rest of us.

•All relationships have problems but we need to focus on the positive. Focusing on the negative destroys relationships.

I. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

OUR CHILDREN • (Eph 6:4) And you, fathers, do not

provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

• (Col 3:21) Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

II. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

OUR MATE

• (Col 3:18-19) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. {19} Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

II. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

OUR MATE• (Eph 5:25-33) Husbands, love your

wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, … {28} So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ….{33} Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

III. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

OUR NEIGHBOR

• (Prov 11:12) He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

• (Prov 21:10) The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

IV. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

OUR COUNTRY

• (Prov 14:34) Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

• Those who are so negative about our country should be required to spend a year in another country!

V. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

THE CHURCH • (Eph 4:29-32) Let no corrupt word proceed

out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {31} Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. {32} And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

V. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

THE CHURCH

• (James 4:11) Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.

• (James 5:9) Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

V. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

THE CHURCH • (Rom 2:1-3) Therefore you are

inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. {2} But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. {3} And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

V. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

THE CHURCH • (Rom 14:1-4) Receive one who is weak in

the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. {2} For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. {3} Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. {4} Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

V. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

THE CHURCH

• (Rom 14:10-13) But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.“ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. 

VI. WE SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE WITH

OUR GOD• (Psa 103:2) Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:• Even our relationship with God can be

destroyed if we focus on the negative with Him.– Death of loved ones - God called them

home?– Cosmic killjoy - doesn't want us to have

any fun?– Our suffering - why does God allow it?

CONCLUSION• (1 Pet 4:8-9) And above all things have

fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." {9} Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

• (Mat 7:1-2) "Judge not, that you be not judged. {2} "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

• (Luke 6:37) "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

• HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING JUDGED BY GOD IN THE SAME WAY YOU HAVE JUDGED OTHERS?

• DO YOU WANT GOD TO FOCUS ON

THE NEGATIVE IN YOUR LIFE?