Wisdom for Living: “Contentment,” #9 | Mac Hammond
 
 
Recap
 
Pastor Mac introduced us to another word with regard to his series on “Wisdom for Living.” It’s the word “contentment.” It may seem kind of milquetoast at first, but if you think about it, contentment has the greatest impact on your life. Ask yourself this question: Are you content in your life? Or are you discontent with how your life is being played out? In this ninth installment of his wisdom series, Pastor Mac teaches about contentment and how to attain it in your life no matter what life brings.
 
Dive Deeper
 
The greatest impact on the quality of your life is contentment. Conversely, discontentment is the foundation of the things you don’t want.
 
We’re called to be one heart, one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel. If you’re an island standing alone, you’re nothing. You’re to be part of a larger body. 
 
Discontent in a relationship will grow into anger or animosity or resentment; even hatred and division will occur. 
 
Discontentment is the foundation of any failure that you experience, both in the body of Christ and as a Christian. 
 
Discontentment says, “I can’t be happy unless this situation changes or that situation changes.” 
 
If you’re discontent with your job or with your level of income, the Lord says that’s not okay. The Lord wants you to do what you do as unto the Lord. You give it your best shot. That’s the only way God can promote or graduate you in that arena of life’s endeavor.
 
Discontent can touch just about every part of our lives because we are carnal beings. We have a carnal nature, and we live in a body of flesh that makes a lot of demands. 
 
The reason discontentment is so dangerous is because it alters your motive; even when you’re doing the right thing, your motive in doing it is wrong. Your motive is self-gratification.
 
Discontentment sets you up to go in the exact opposite direction that you want to go in. 
 
What does the apostle Paul say about this matter? He said, “I have learned to be content in whatsoever state I’m in.” He experienced many adverse “states.” He was stoned, beaten, whipped, shipwrecked! In all of that, he said he learned to be content!
 
What is the definition of content? The Greek word means “inward sufficiency.” The definition in Strong’s Concordance says, “separated or independent of natural circumstance.” Another definition given by W.E. Vines is “without covetousness.” When you covet something, you’re saying you can’t be happy unless you have that. 
 
Read About It
 
2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 
 
Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
 
Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” 
 
Discussion Questions
 
What about you? Overall, are you content or discontent in your life? 
 
Are you overall content with your life but just feel discontent in an area of your life? 
 
What area or areas do you feel discontent and how can you turn your attention in that area back to the Lord and find contentment in Him?

Recent Sermon Notes

The Impossible Dream | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the first message in his new series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said “the impossible dream” is a good message for the outset of a new year. However, it’s a good message for all to hear at any time during the year. He began the message by asking a rhetorical question: “Do your dreams fall only within the realm of logical possibility. Or do your dreams require the element of the miraculous in order to be realized?” He went on to explain how God-given dreams will always necessitate the supernatural power of God in order for them to be fulfilled.

GRACE UNVEILED, “Dominion of Grace” #25 | Jim Hammond

This past Sunday, Pastor Jim gave the 25th installment to his teaching series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” In the past messages, we’ve been studying Romans 3, 4, 5, and 6. Before teaching on chapter 7, Pastor Jim wanted to break down these chapters again in a way we have not heard them before. He said, “You’re going to hear these chapters taught in a different way.” So far, we focused on the gift of righteousness. And we focused on justification. But there is a third subject that Pastor Jim wanted to focus on before we moved on to the next chapter.   

GRACE UNVEILED, #24, “The Dominion of Grace” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim was back and gave his 24th installment of his study on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace: The Dominion of Grace.” By now, the congregants that have been following Pastor Jim’s teaching on Romans should have a clear understanding of what justification is and what it means to the believer. There are many benefits to this justification. It’s a gift of New Testament righteousness. But this righteousness is something you must be established in. And fortunately, by the time this study on Romans has been completed, you absolutely will have been established in it. Because, as Pastor Jim said, “I’ve been hammering it and hammering it and hammering it!” 

How to Finish the Year Strong 1 | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac gave a message entitled, “How to Finish the Year Strong.” We’re at the end of the year and many use this time as an occasion to pray about what the Lord would have them do in the coming year…to set their sail in Christ, so to speak. They want the Lord to help them identify the marks they are to press toward in order to finish their race. To that end, Pastor Mac spoke to us about “finishing strong.”

Releasing the Anointing | Releasing the Anointing

Special guest Dr. James Tan continued his message entitled, “Releasing the Anointing.” He used Hebrews 5:14 as his text: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Dr. James said, “This tells us there is solid food available, but it only belongs to those who are full age.” If there is full age, then that means these is a half age, or partial age, or young age. God’s goal for us is that we grow and mature into “full age.”