Week 9 – Monday – Complaining and Arguing

Go read Philippians 2:14.

<> Is there any lack of clarity in this verse?
<> Are you more of a complainer or an arguer?
<> What areas of your life create complaining and arguing in you instantly?

Complaining
When you complain, the underlying heart of what you are saying is that you think you deserve something better than what you are getting. Thinking you deserve better than what you are getting is an attitude of pride and entitlement. It is the exact opposite of where Paul started the chapter.

Go reread Philippians 2:5-11.

<> What is the connection between Philippians 2:5-11 and vs. 14?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news the world has ever seen. You are loved despite what you deserve. When you complain and act like your life is LESS than what you deserve – you reject the gospel. You actively, accidentally, and atrociously REJECT the gospel with your mouth. This is a huge problem. Romans 10:10 says that both the heart and the mouth are involved in salvation. Complaining is the opposite of confessing. Rather than use my mouth to speak the truth of the gospel, I’m going to waste my breath letting everyone around me know that I don’t really trust the gospel yet – by complaining.

With your mouth you need to start picking one or the other: gospel or complaint.

<> When you complain, how do you kill your own opportunity to preach the gospel?
<> When you complain, how are you failing to live the gospel?

Arguing
When you are an argumentative person, the underlying heart of what you are saying is that there are differences between me and other people that I REFUSE to reconcile. I’m going to argue at every chance I get because I think I’m better than other people. What I think is smarter than other people. The heart behind an argumentative person is divisive whether it realizes it or not. This is the exact opposite of what Paul started the chapter with.

Go read Philippians 2:1-4.

<> How does your argumentative personality submit to Phil. 2:1-4 at all?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most unifying good news the world has ever seen. It undercuts every social barrier by teaching us that ALL men are sinful traitors who have destroyed our relationship with God and have no hope other than that Jesus lived and died on our behalf. Regardless of your understanding, maturity, ethnicity, gender, etc. you like me NEED Jesus.

When you remain argumentative and refuse to be united under the banner of the cross of Christ – you REJECT the gospel.

<> When you are argumentative, are you accepting your and other’s identities in context of the gospel?

The Power of Our Mouths
The problem is that the Scriptures are going to speak very HIGHLY of the power that is in our mouths. Spiritually speaking you speak truth and life into people’s lives or you speak death and complaint and negativity and argumentative nature into other’s lives. When the Holy Spirit is moving in you towards obedience, your mouth will swing towards truth and life. If your mouth is constantly pointing towards complaint and argument, something is breaking down in your relational submission to the Holy Spirit and your grateful thankful understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.