Selfishness or Selflessness? | Rev. Adam Hamilton | Church of the Resurrection

About this sermon

In this fourth message of our series on the significance of Christ’s crucifixion, Pastor Adam dives deep into one of the most profound questions we ask: Why did Jesus have to die? Rather than simply explaining how the cross “works,” Pastor Adam shifts the focus to what God is trying to say to us through it. He reminds us that Jesus' life, ministry, and especially His death, are God’s way of speaking truth, grace, and purpose into our lives. This week’s message introduces us to the Moral Influence Theory of the Atonement—a powerful perspective that shows how Jesus’ death wasn’t just about forgiving sins, but about changing us. Jesus becomes the ultimate example of selfless love, modeling a life lived for others, a cruciform life—a life shaped by the cross. In a world driven by self-interest, this sermon challenges the cultural narrative of individualism and invites us to a higher calling: to live sacrificially, compassionately, and selflessly. From this message, we learn that Jesus came not only to rescue us from the consequences of sin, but to free us from the power of sin itself—our inward pull toward selfishness. When we truly see what He did on the cross, it moves us to respond, to shift from being self-centered to others-focused. We’re reminded that joy, purpose, and meaning are found not in chasing happiness, but in giving ourselves away in love. This is more than a sermon—it’s a call to live differently. To live a life that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ. Watch now and be inspired to walk the cruciform path—one of humility, service, and transformation. Highlights: [0:00] - Welcome [0:34] - Reading of Scripture [1:33] - Intro Video [2:13] - Sermon Intro: I Believe That He Died For Me, But How Exactly Does It Work? [4:51] - 8th Theory: Moral Influence Theory [9:03] - The Human Condition: What Is Going On With us? [9:55] - Original Sin [12:50] - Ayn Rand & Her Theories [17:09] - “The Life I Want For Myself” [18:02] - What Does It Really Mean To Be A Good Neighbor? [20:13] - What Is Jesus’ Primary Purpose? [21:30] - Cruciform Lives [23:51] - Volunteering For Others Makes Us Happy [27:10] - Let Us Be Like Jesus [29:13] - Reflecting A Cruciform Life [34:15] - Conclusion [37:39] - Closing Prayer [38:26] - Thank You For Watching Visit our website: https://resurrection.church/ Connect with us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareresurrection Twitter: https://x.com/umcresurrection Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resurrectionumc/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChurchoftheResurrection Learn more from us at https://resurrection.church/next #ResurrectionAUnitedMethodistChurch #MoralInfluence #LentSeason

Topics

• Church & Fellowship
• Resurrection
• The Church