Approval - Wk2
March 14, 2021

Chasing Carrots

Week Two - Approval
John 12:42-43 and Micah 6:8


People-Pleaser Problems:
1. Obsessing over what other people think
2. Overly sensitive to criticism
3. Struggling to say “no”

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God. —John 12: 42-43

Spiritual issue - ultimately we end up serving whomever it is we are trying to please.
Yourself -


Someone or something else -

Will we work for the

of people or the of God?

  • One is a carrot we will never obtain

  • The other is a carrot we were guaranteed

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. —Ephesians 1:4-5

What pleases God is different from what pleases people.

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8

God-Pleasing Opportunities:
1. Act justly
2. Love mercy
3. Walk humbly with God


We can try to please people or we can try to please God, but only one is possible, and it turns out to be the same one worthy of the effort.