This week Justin explained that when we have shame, we hide. We blame God or other people. Check out Genesis 3:7-13 to see how Adam and Eve hide after they try to be like God.
When we have pride, that leads to shame, which leads to hiding and then blame.
How do you know if you have a shame issue? Are you hiding from anything? Do you use your gifts to hide? We all have strategies to hide and then blame others. We need to constantly remember how broken we are.
Here are some things to help with humility:
1. Say, "I'm sorry." (Leave it at that, you don't need to justify.)
2. "Your idea is better." (It is OK to not always have the best ideas.)
3. Submit to a mentor and do what they say. (1 Peter 1:5-10)
4. Live with someone so you don't get stuck in your own ways. (We've been taught to share since pre-school, but we can forget that easily.)
5. Practice communion regularly to remember that we are fallen. This is something we forget every day. (And Jesus knew we would forget..."Do this in remembrance...")
Another nice little reminder of this is 1 John 1:5-10. We are all fallen. We all live in sin.
Look at Genesis 2:25. Humility is when we can be vulnerable and feel no shame. We can have true intimacy with God and in out other relationships. {I don't know about you, but I want that!}
If this gets frustrating, remember we can't change ourselves. We have to simply turn to God (Psalm 147:1-6).
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Humility - Don't "Play God"
Where does insecurity/arrogance come from? Read Genesis 3.
In Genesis 2:15-17 we see this setting up. An important point is that the tree is the knowledge of good and evil (sneak peak: that is what we want!)
In Genesis 3:1-3 we see how we are tempted by Satan. What was their sin here? They wanted to be like God - the can't trust God. This is OUR story.
Our biggest sin is to be like God.
"I didn't trust God in my loneliness, so I (insert something you do to feel in control) to have power like God." Anything we use for power is our biggest sin - it is the root sin.
How do we try to be like God? One of the ways we do this is in codependent relationships. How many relationships do you receive more than you give? If you don't really receive, you are in control of that relationship.You can use serving to be in a power position, to be in control like God. Why are you never vulnerable? You have power by not sharing things.
We can't be Christ-like (humble) if we want to be like God.
Genesis 3:7 - We feel ashamed. There is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is conviction from God. Shame is from ourself. We think, "I am bad, I hate myself." Shame is the root issue.
We need to find the middle point of feeling shame and trying to be like God. What is that middle point? We have to remember that we are both fallen and loved. Jesus says do this in remembrance of me - he knew we would forget this.
In Genesis 2:15-17 we see this setting up. An important point is that the tree is the knowledge of good and evil (sneak peak: that is what we want!)
In Genesis 3:1-3 we see how we are tempted by Satan. What was their sin here? They wanted to be like God - the can't trust God. This is OUR story.
Our biggest sin is to be like God.
"I didn't trust God in my loneliness, so I (insert something you do to feel in control) to have power like God." Anything we use for power is our biggest sin - it is the root sin.
How do we try to be like God? One of the ways we do this is in codependent relationships. How many relationships do you receive more than you give? If you don't really receive, you are in control of that relationship.You can use serving to be in a power position, to be in control like God. Why are you never vulnerable? You have power by not sharing things.
We can't be Christ-like (humble) if we want to be like God.
Genesis 3:7 - We feel ashamed. There is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is conviction from God. Shame is from ourself. We think, "I am bad, I hate myself." Shame is the root issue.
We need to find the middle point of feeling shame and trying to be like God. What is that middle point? We have to remember that we are both fallen and loved. Jesus says do this in remembrance of me - he knew we would forget this.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Getting LOW
This week was our first night talking about Humility. (Yikes! What a big topic!!!)
To learn about humility, you have to first learn about pride. We want to repent of pride - it leads to every other vice! Pride can be subtle and deceptive.
There are two areas of pride: we either feel arrogant or insecure.
What does arrogance look like? Cockiness, defensiveness, rejecting others, protecting yourself, competition, comparison... The core belief of arrogance is that my worth rests in being better than someone else.
What does insecurity look like? Shame, self pity, assuming rejection, proving yourself, competition, comparison...The core belief of insecurity is the my worth rests in what others think and my identity in God is not good enough.
Both arrogance and insecurity seek to find identity through comparison. The only difference is how you are measuring up. The both say that my identity as a child of God is not enough (and neither is yours).
What is God's response?
Check out 1 Peter 5:5 - This is how God rescues us (he comes to oppose us). Read on...1 Peter 5:6-9
We have some options:
1. We can acknowledge there is an enemy and humble ourselves.
2. We can welcome God's correction. I know I want to be conformed to the image of Christ, so being corrected is for my good!
Humility is...
How can we practice? Soak in God's story. Your core beliefs matter. For arrogance? We have to believe deeply that we are fallen. We can regularly reflect on our own brokenness. For insecurity? We have to believe deeply that we are loved. (And so is everyone around you.) And that is something we just get to receive.
To learn about humility, you have to first learn about pride. We want to repent of pride - it leads to every other vice! Pride can be subtle and deceptive.
There are two areas of pride: we either feel arrogant or insecure.
What does arrogance look like? Cockiness, defensiveness, rejecting others, protecting yourself, competition, comparison... The core belief of arrogance is that my worth rests in being better than someone else.
What does insecurity look like? Shame, self pity, assuming rejection, proving yourself, competition, comparison...The core belief of insecurity is the my worth rests in what others think and my identity in God is not good enough.
Both arrogance and insecurity seek to find identity through comparison. The only difference is how you are measuring up. The both say that my identity as a child of God is not enough (and neither is yours).
What is God's response?
Check out 1 Peter 5:5 - This is how God rescues us (he comes to oppose us). Read on...1 Peter 5:6-9
We have some options:
1. We can acknowledge there is an enemy and humble ourselves.
2. We can welcome God's correction. I know I want to be conformed to the image of Christ, so being corrected is for my good!
Humility is...
- NOT a state you can achieve. It is a practice.
- NOT the opposite of self-esteem.
- NOT thinking less of yourself.
How can we practice? Soak in God's story. Your core beliefs matter. For arrogance? We have to believe deeply that we are fallen. We can regularly reflect on our own brokenness. For insecurity? We have to believe deeply that we are loved. (And so is everyone around you.) And that is something we just get to receive.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
God is a Worthy King
Sorry for the delay! I was a bit distracted during the talk last week, so here are some notes from a friend.
This has been rather convicting to me, and I have seen God show up in many ways. One, was that I was so tempted to by this bag I had been swooning over...it was over 50% off! I was so close to purchasing it when I remembered that I needed to be more obedient in my finances. That was money that I didn't need to spend, especially when I feel called to do all I can to sponsor some dear friends of mine on their mission trip to India. Second, I became aware of a struggle I am going to have to face. Although I am not exactly thrilled to have to go through this, I have come to be thankful for the opportunity to grow closer to God during it, and I know he wants me to obedient in loving others the way he does. I trust that this is His plan, which is far greater than any plan I can come up with on my own.
What is the definition of a king?
- One who holds a preeminent position; a chief among competitors
- Terry’s definition: A person, place, or thing in which we put our hopes and desires, often measured by the consumption of our wallets and our calendars.
(John 6:1-15) They even ate till they were full! (that was rare in biblical times)
He is a King of grace (v14-15)
He is a King of truth (v26-27)
(v28-29) All you need to do is trust Him and be in a relationship with Him
(v30-36, 41-42) He doesn’t always give the way we expect Him to, but it’s because He has better for us (v53-56, 60)
Jesus’ message was difficult to understand and follow, but it has two points:
(1) Showing how close we have to be to understand Him
(2) A testing of faith that we will follow Him closely
(v66-69) “Lord, to whom shall we go?” …would we say this to Him now?
(John 15:13-15) He redefines love and forgiveness
--To whom is my allegiance??--
This has been rather convicting to me, and I have seen God show up in many ways. One, was that I was so tempted to by this bag I had been swooning over...it was over 50% off! I was so close to purchasing it when I remembered that I needed to be more obedient in my finances. That was money that I didn't need to spend, especially when I feel called to do all I can to sponsor some dear friends of mine on their mission trip to India. Second, I became aware of a struggle I am going to have to face. Although I am not exactly thrilled to have to go through this, I have come to be thankful for the opportunity to grow closer to God during it, and I know he wants me to obedient in loving others the way he does. I trust that this is His plan, which is far greater than any plan I can come up with on my own.
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