The Last Four: Part 3 - "Psalm 115" with Craig Groeschel - Life.Church

Not to Us, Lord—Glory Belongs to God

Scripture References

• Psalm 115:1

Overview

Our culture runs on self-promotion, yet Psalm 115 calls us to redirect every spotlight: “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory.” Craig walked through that single verse, showing how it dismantles narcissism, re-centers us on the Lordship of Jesus, and grounds our work in God’s love and faithfulness. The goal is a life that receives compliments graciously but reflects all honor back to God.

Context

• July “At the Movies” services are not archived online, so Craig is sharing short mid-week teachings he calls “The Last Four,” drawn from the last four verses he highlighted in the YouVersion Bible app.
• Upcoming at Life.Church: baptism weekend and the August series “I Choose” (purpose over popularity, discipline over regret, surrender over control, important over urgent).

Main Points

A selfie culture needs a Psalm 115 correction

• Social media invites constant “Look at me” moments—selfies, 40-plus Snapchats a day, personal reality shows.
• Even believers must fight the drift toward narcissism and remember we are called to be Christ-centered, not self-centered.

“Not to us, Lord, not to us”—double emphasis on humility

• The psalmist repeats the phrase, functioning like two exclamation points that shove self off the stage.
• Saying “Lord” matters: Jesus is not only Savior but King of kings, Lord of lords, the great High Priest. Seeing Him rightly changes posture.

Recognizing Jesus as Lord, not just Savior

• We are not the main character of the Bible; Jesus is.
• Life’s purpose is to bring God glory in everything we do.

To Your Name be the Glory—names and nature of God

• Think through His names: Jehovah Gyra, Jehovah Rafi, Jehovah Ni.
• Titles and images of Jesus: Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end, gate, door, living water, true vine.
• Remembering who He is puts us in our place and fuels worship.

What is “glory”?

• Definitions Craig read: praise, honor, renown; a distinction granted by common consent; great beauty, splendor, magnificence.
• One day every knee will bow and unanimously agree—He alone deserves that distinction.

Handling compliments without stealing glory

• Illustration: The rundown field transformed over five years; a passer-by credits God, and the owner jokes, “You should have seen it when God had it to Himself.”

• It’s polite to say “Thank you” when affirmed—you did practice the song or paint the painting.
• Internally, acknowledge God gave the breath, talent, and opportunity; reflect the credit back to Him.

“He gets the glory. He gets the glory. He gets the glory.”

Because of His love and faithfulness

• God’s love: while we were still sinning, Christ died for us; God so loved the world He gave His Son.
• God’s faithfulness: even when we are faithless, He remains faithful.
• Those two qualities make Him eternally worthy of all glory.

Key Truths

• A Christ-centered life cannot coexist with self-centered promotion.
• Repeating “Not to us” drives the truth deep: we are servants, not the main attraction.
• Every gift, ability, and opportunity originates with God.
• True humility says “Thank you” to people and “All glory to God” in the heart.
• God’s unchanging love and faithfulness are the grounds for continual praise.

Response

• Examine your social media habits and post with God’s glory, not self-glory, in mind.
• When complimented, respond courteously yet silently return the praise to God.
• Meditate on the names and titles of God this week; let them reshape your posture.
• Serve someone anonymously, ensuring only God receives credit.
• Pray Psalm 115:1 daily, allowing it to recalibrate your motives.

Closing

Self-promotion is the air we breathe, but Scripture invites us to exhale it and inhale worship instead. Every skill, success, and “like” is an opportunity to redirect attention to the One who supplied it all.

“Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory because of Your love and faithfulness.”

Prayer

“So Father today I pray that we would be encouraged, empowered, equipped to reflect any light that comes to us to You. May we glorify You in everything that we do. God, may we work in such a way that we show our love for You. May we serve people, show love, and honor the gifts You’ve given us. Whenever someone maybe compliments us, God, we’ll say thank You, but in our hearts and in our worship, in all that we do, we want You to be glorified. May we exist to bring You praise and honor in everything that we do. Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory because of Your love and faithfulness. We pray this in Jesus’ name.”

Resources

• YouVersion Bible app (created by Life.Church)