Focus Verse: Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
Purpose: To expose pride as sin no matter the context, challenge cultural rebranding of it, and equip believers to speak truth with grace.
I. Pre-Intro
“I have two jobs as your pastor: to convict and to equip. Today’s message is not a detour from our Bible character study—it’s a moment of discernment. We are addressing something pressing, because the world is preaching a message this month that contradicts the gospel. And I won’t let it go unchallenged.”
II. Introduction – What’s in a Word?
- Culture celebrates June as Pride Month.
- But before we debate what kind of pride, we need to ask what God says about pride itself.
- Pride is not a personality trait—it’s a spiritual condition.
III. What Scripture Says About Pride
A. Frequency and Usage
- 49 mentions of “pride” in the KJV.
- 0 times used positively.
- Alternate terms in modern translations: arrogance, haughtiness, conceit, self-exaltation, high-mindedness.
B. God’s View of Pride
- Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goeth before destruction…”
- James 4:6 – “God resisteth the proud…”
- 1 John 2:16 – “The pride of life is not of the Father…”
- Isaiah 2:11 – “The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down…”
IV. The Cultural Rebranding of Sin
- Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe to those who call evil good…”
- Sin is now marketed as virtue. Examples:
- Sexual sin → “Love is love”
- Abortion → “Women’s rights”
- Greed → “Ambition”
- Porn → “Adult entertainment”
- Pride → “Empowerment,” “Identity,” “Authenticity”
- Romans 1:32 – “They not only do them, but give approval…”
V. Counterfeit Celebrations: “Straight Pride” and “Veteran Pride”
- The issue isn’t who’s proud—it’s that pride itself is sin.
- Even moral causes don’t need pride. They need:
- Honor
- Humility
- Gratitude
- Purpose
- Luke 14:11 – “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…”
VI. The Right Response: Speak Truth in Love
- Ephesians 4:15 – “Speak the truth in love…”
- 2 Timothy 2:25 – “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…”
- John 15:18–19 – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me…”
Truth without love is harsh. Love without truth is hollow.
We need both.
VII. Closing Appeal – Truth Never Needs a Rebrand
- We don’t need pride to define us.
- We don’t create “Christian versions” of worldly lies.
- God calls us to be humble disciples, not prideful Christians.
- The gospel never asks you to celebrate yourself—it asks you to surrender yourself.
VIII. Discussion Questions
- How does the Bible define pride vs. the world’s version?
- Why is pride at the root of so many sins?
- Can we be confident in truth without being prideful?
- How should we approach conversations about Pride Month?
- Why is it dangerous to make “Christian versions” of worldly pride?
- How do we stand firm without being harsh?
Full List of Verses Where “Pride” Appears (KJV)
- Leviticus 26:19
- 1 Samuel 17:28
- 2 Chronicles 32:26
- Job 33:17
- Job 35:12
- Psalm 10:2
- Psalm 10:4
- Psalm 31:18
- Psalm 59:12
- Psalm 73:6
- Proverbs 8:13
- Proverbs 11:2
- Proverbs 13:10
- Proverbs 14:3
- Proverbs 16:18
- Proverbs 29:23
- Isaiah 9:9
- Isaiah 13:11
- Isaiah 16:6
- Jeremiah 13:9
- Jeremiah 13:17
- Jeremiah 48:29
- Jeremiah 49:16
- Ezekiel 7:10
- Ezekiel 16:49
- Ezekiel 24:21
- Ezekiel 30:6
- Daniel 4:37
- Hosea 5:5
- Hosea 7:10
- Obadiah 1:3
- Obadiah 1:12
- Zephaniah 2:10
- Zechariah 9:6
- Zechariah 10:11
- Mark 7:22
- Romans 1:30
- Romans 11:20
- 1 Corinthians 4:6
- 1 Corinthians 5:2
- 2 Corinthians 5:12
- 1 Timothy 3:6
- 1 Timothy 6:4
- 2 Timothy 3:2
- Titus 1:7
- James 4:6
- 1 Peter 5:5
- 1 John 2:16
- Revelation 18:7
Full Message: