Joy Despite My Past
Teaching Notes
Learned Helplessness
Learned Hopefulness
Stay Clear of Legalist.
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Philippians 3:1-6
Paul starts off this chapter by reminding us again to rejoice in the Lord…or to choose joy.
Then Paul makes an abrupt shift in language and tone as he is going to warn us to stay away from something that many of us have in our past – namely legalism.
Stay clear of legalism.
What is Legalism?
“Excessive adherence to law or formula.”
Oxford English Dictionary
7 Traits of a Legalist
Loves rules more than people.
Loves being right more than being kind.
Looks down on people who are not like them.
Wants others to clean up before they come in.
Struggles with the fact that the thief on the cross got in under the wire (Luke 23:34–43).
Loves when the preacher scolds people for things they don’t struggle with personally (or at least not in public).
Teaches human traditions as if they were the Word of God (Mark 7:8).
The Tetris Effect
Why does legalism have such a stronghold over us? There is a phenomenon psychologists have dubbed “the Tetris Effect.”
Named after the famous tile-matching video game created in 1984, this effect takes place when people spend so much time and attention with an activity that it begins to affect their thoughts, mental images, and dreams.
Gamers start to see the world through the lens of shapes and how they might fit together.
They see images of tiles falling from the sky outside the game, including when they sleep. They dream in tiles.
The same effect happens outside of video games and can produce what some call “the Negative Tetris Effect.”
The Joy Challenge
Your Joy Challenge has two parts to it:
Evaluate your life against the seven traits of a legalist. (1 for the one that is hardest for you; 7 for the one that is not a struggle for you)
Think through why this is true for you.
What is the underlying driver of this attitude?
As you go through the day, be mindful of the one your struggle with the most.
Share your evaluation with a trusted friend and ask them to pray for you and help you grow.
Evaluate the circle of relationships you have.
Do you have friends and family that are grace-givers? Thank God for them. Let them know how much joy they bring you.
Do you have friends and family that are a bit logistic? Apply Paul’s advice and put the past behind you and stay clear of legalist.
Setlist
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
I Got Hope- Citizen Way/Mitch Langley
Because Of Christ- The Belonging Co.
Revival- Daniel Doss
I Got the Joy- The Collective KC feat./Triish
WFC Speedway
My Testimony- Elevation Worship
Faith and Wonder- Meredith Andrews
It Is Well- Bethel Music
Holy Spirit Come- Patrick Mayberry
Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!