Judging Success

God’s ways are not man’s ways, Isa. 55:8, 9• God is right• Man is wrong

What is success?• 1. the favorable or prosperous

termination of attempts or endeavors;the accomplishment of one's goals.

• 2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.

- Dictionary.com

Judging Success

What is success?• You shall love the Lord your God

With all your heart,With all your soul,And with all your mind.This is the first and great commandment.

- Mt. 22:37, 38

Judging Success

Judging Success

Personal

Congregational

Material: wealth vs. poverty• Rich fool, Lk. 12:13-21• Rich man & Lazarus, Lk. 16:19-26• Beware, 1 Tim. 6:6-10, 17-19

Judging SuccessPersonal

Political: prestige vs. obscurity• Pharaoh & Moses, Ex. 3:1; 5:2• Caesar & Paul, Acts 25:9-12• Beware, Mt. 20:20-28

Judging SuccessPersonal

Social: accepted vs. rejected• Barabbas & Jesus, Mt. 27:15-26• False teachers & Paul, 2 Cor. 10:10-11:5• Beware, Lk. 6:26

Judging SuccessPersonal

True personal success, 2 Tim. 4:6-8

Judging SuccessPersonal

Number of conversions• Noah, Gen. 7:7; 1 Pt. 3:20, 21• Paul, Acts 17:30-34• Season, 2 Tim. 4:1-5• Plant & water, 1 Cor. 3:5-7

Judging SuccessCongregational

Size of church• Gideon, Jud. 7:1-7• Jesus drove people away, Jn. 6:66• Growing vs. swelling, Eph. 4:11-16• Two or three, Mt. 18:20

Judging SuccessCongregational

Relative peace• Jerusalem, Acts 5• Paul, Acts 13, 16, 19• Corinth, 1 Cor. 11:19• Test men, Rev. 2:2-6

Judging SuccessCongregational

Prominent men• Pilate, Herods rejected Jesus• Not many mighty, 1 Cor. 1:26• Poor are rich in faith, Jas. 2:5

Judging SuccessCongregational

True congregational success, Rev. 3:7-13

Judging SuccessCongregational