Hold tightExperience Jesus

June 10, 2026

The First Pride Parade

Culture tells us pride is a virtue. Scripture calls pride a vice.

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. — Isaiah 14:12-15

Pride says: "I will" instead of "Thy will."

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. — Genesis 3:1-7

The lie from the beginning is the beginning of lies: "You will be like God."

And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." — Genesis 11:4

Pride parades self. Humility denies self.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. — Philippians 2:5-11

Lucifer exalted himself and lost heaven. Jesus humbled Himself and hell lost.

Discussion Questions

1. The sermon opens with a contrast: culture celebrates pride while Scripture condemns it. Where do you see pride celebrated or even rewarded in everyday life — and how does that make it harder to recognize in yourself?



2. Isaiah 14 and Genesis 3 both reveal the same root temptation: the desire to "be like God." In what areas of your life do you find yourself most tempted to trust your own judgment over God's?



3. The sermon draws a sharp line between pride and humility using the phrase, "Pride says 'I will' instead of 'Thy will.'" What does surrendering your "I will" to "Thy will" look like practically in a decision you're currently facing?



4. Philippians 2 shows Jesus — who had every right to exalt Himself — choosing the path of humility and servanthood instead. What is one way you could follow that example this week in your relationships at home, work, or church?



5. The sermon closes with this contrast: "Lucifer exalted himself and lost heaven. Jesus humbled Himself and hell lost." How does the outcome of Christ's humility give you courage to choose humility even when it feels costly?