Breaking Down Paper Walls: Overcoming Excuses in Life

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we often carry forward things that are beneficial, like good friends and habits. However, there are also things we should leave behind, such as excuses. Excuses are like paper walls; from a distance, they appear to be real obstacles, but upon closer inspection, they are merely fabrications that we use to justify inaction or failure. These excuses often masquerade as legitimate reasons, becoming the "becauses" we hide behind when faced with challenges or opportunities.

It's easy to spot these paper walls in others, yet we struggle to recognize them in ourselves. We often disguise our excuses as reasons, convincing ourselves and others that they are valid. This self-deception can prevent us from pursuing opportunities and fulfilling our potential. The root of excuses often lies in blaming external factors for internal issues, creating barriers that limit our growth and experiences.

The challenge is to acknowledge these paper walls and recognize them for what they are: excuses. By doing so, we can begin to dismantle them and open ourselves to new possibilities. This process requires honesty with ourselves and a willingness to confront the fears and insecurities that fuel our excuses. As followers of Jesus, we are called to push through these paper walls, as they compete for lordship over our lives, dictating our actions and limiting our freedom.

The author of Hebrews encourages us to throw off everything that hinders us, including the sin that entangles us. Sin, in this context, is anything that harms us or others, including the lies we tell ourselves. By fixing our eyes on Jesus and following His example, we can overcome these excuses and live a life of purpose and impact. The people who make the most significant difference in the world are often those who have the most reasons not to, yet they choose to act despite their limitations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Excuses as Paper Walls: Excuses often appear as legitimate obstacles, but they are merely paper walls that we construct to justify inaction. Recognizing these excuses for what they are can free us to pursue opportunities and fulfill our potential. [00:25]

2. Self-Deception and Growth: We are adept at spotting excuses in others but struggle to see them in ourselves. This self-deception can hinder our growth and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of life. Acknowledging our excuses is the first step toward dismantling them. [04:48]

3. The Root of Excuses: At the core of our excuses is the tendency to blame external factors for internal issues. This creates barriers that limit our experiences and opportunities. By confronting these internal issues, we can begin to dismantle the paper walls that hold us back. [11:17]

4. Following Jesus Beyond Excuses: As followers of Jesus, we are called to push through our excuses, as they compete for lordship over our lives. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can overcome these barriers and live a life of purpose and impact. [30:22]

5. Living a Life of Impact: The people who make the most significant difference in the world are often those who have the most reasons not to. By choosing to act despite our limitations, we can live a life of purpose and make a meaningful impact on the world. [32:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Things to Leave Behind
- [00:25] - Excuses as Paper Walls
- [00:54] - Excuses vs. Reasons
- [02:21] - Recognizing Excuses in Others
- [04:48] - Self-Deception and Growth
- [06:22] - The Challenge of Acknowledging Excuses
- [07:42] - The Root of Excuses
- [11:17] - Internal vs. External Blame
- [17:41] - Excuses Competing for Lordship
- [20:46] - The Book of Hebrews
- [22:00] - Throwing Off Hindrances
- [23:31] - Sin and Self-Deception
- [30:22] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
- [32:02] - Living a Life of Impact
- [34:35] - Leaving Excuses Behind

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

Observation Questions:
1. What metaphor does the sermon use to describe excuses, and how does this metaphor help us understand the nature of excuses? [00:25]
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between a reason and an excuse, and how can they be easily confused? [02:21]
3. How does the author of Hebrews suggest we deal with things that hinder us, according to the sermon? [22:00]
4. What role does self-deception play in the excuses we make, as discussed in the sermon? [04:48]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of "paper walls" relate to the idea of sin that entangles us, as mentioned in Hebrews 12:1? [22:22]
2. In what ways do excuses compete for lordship over our lives, and how does this affect our ability to follow Jesus? [18:02]
3. Why might acknowledging our excuses be a crucial step in living a life of purpose and impact, as suggested in the sermon? [32:02]
4. How does fixing our eyes on Jesus help us overcome the barriers created by our excuses? [30:22]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you used an excuse to avoid a challenge. What was the "paper wall" you created, and how can you begin to dismantle it? [07:09]
2. Identify an area in your life where you feel stuck. What internal issues might you be blaming on external factors, and how can you address them honestly? [11:17]
3. Consider a time when you recognized an excuse in someone else. How can you apply that same clarity to identify excuses in your own life? [04:48]
4. What specific steps can you take this week to "throw off everything that hinders" you from running your race with perseverance? [22:00]
5. Think of a person or situation you avoid due to a perceived limitation. How can you challenge yourself to act despite this limitation? [32:02]
6. How can you practice fixing your eyes on Jesus in your daily routine to help overcome excuses? What practical changes can you make to focus more on Him? [30:22]
7. Reflect on a person who has made a significant impact in your life despite their limitations. What can you learn from their example to apply in your own life? [32:02]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Paper Walls
Excuses often appear as legitimate obstacles, but they are merely paper walls that we construct to justify inaction. From a distance, these paper walls seem like real barriers, but upon closer inspection, they are fabrications that hinder our progress. Recognizing these excuses for what they are can free us to pursue opportunities and fulfill our potential. It requires a willingness to look beyond the surface and question the validity of the obstacles we perceive. By doing so, we can dismantle these walls and move forward with confidence. [00:25]

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Reflection: What is one excuse you have been using as a paper wall in your life? How can you begin to dismantle it today?


Day 2: Self-Deception and Growth
We are adept at spotting excuses in others but struggle to see them in ourselves. This self-deception can hinder our growth and prevent us from experiencing the fullness of life. Acknowledging our excuses is the first step toward dismantling them. It requires honesty and introspection to identify the "becauses" we hide behind. By confronting these excuses, we open ourselves to growth and new experiences, allowing us to live more authentically and purposefully. [04:48]

Proverbs 21:2 (ESV): "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you justified inaction. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future to promote personal growth?


Day 3: Internal vs. External Blame
At the core of our excuses is the tendency to blame external factors for internal issues. This creates barriers that limit our experiences and opportunities. By confronting these internal issues, we can begin to dismantle the paper walls that hold us back. It involves taking responsibility for our actions and recognizing that true change begins within. By shifting our focus from external blame to internal reflection, we can overcome the limitations we place on ourselves. [11:17]

James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you tend to blame external factors. How can you take responsibility and address the internal issues contributing to this situation?


Day 4: Following Jesus Beyond Excuses
As followers of Jesus, we are called to push through our excuses, as they compete for lordship over our lives. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can overcome these barriers and live a life of purpose and impact. Jesus provides the ultimate example of perseverance and faithfulness, guiding us to move beyond our limitations. By aligning our actions with His teachings, we can break free from the excuses that hold us back and embrace a life of true freedom and fulfillment. [30:22]

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel excuses are competing for lordship? How can you refocus on Jesus to overcome these barriers?


Day 5: Living a Life of Impact
The people who make the most significant difference in the world are often those who have the most reasons not to. By choosing to act despite our limitations, we can live a life of purpose and make a meaningful impact on the world. It involves courage and determination to move beyond excuses and embrace the opportunities before us. By doing so, we can contribute positively to the lives of others and fulfill the unique purpose God has for each of us. [32:02]

1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong."

Reflection: Reflect on a limitation you perceive in your life. How can you choose to act despite this limitation to make a positive impact on those around you?

Quotes



Excuses are like paper walls, that from a distance, they look like real obstacles. From a distance they look impenetrable, From a distance they look like we really don't have any choice but to do what we're doing or not to do what we're not doing, or to not try or to not try again. [00:32:47]

Excuses get passed off as reasons, and excuses easily become, in the real world, becauses. Because all of us have some becauses that we habitually hide behind when certain things come up, right? I mean, "Why don't you?" "Well, you know, because." "Well, why haven't you?" "Well, because." [01:27:42]

We can spot an excuse in somebody else a mile away. We can't see it six inches away in the mirror. What we say is, "The reason, the reason, the reason, the reason." What we almost never say is, wouldn't this be refreshing? "Well, my excuse is." [04:48:55]

Is it possible, and this is, I think this is all of us at some level, is it possible you've invented reasons to defend certain behaviors, reactions, overreactions? "Why do you always overreact?" "Well, I'll tell you why I overreact." And then you present your paper wall. [07:56:15]

At the root of an excuse is blaming something internal on something external. This is so insidious. It's something that's wrong with me, but it's so hard to look in the mirror to admit, so it's, I decide it's not me, it's something out there, and the moment I decide it's something out there, I begin constructing a wall. [11:20:35]

There is a relationship between your ability to follow Jesus and your willingness to push through your paper walls and to acknowledge that your reasons are excuses, your becauses are actually excuses. And the reason I say that is because our excuses compete for lordship of our lives. [17:51:01]

The people who do the most good in the world are often the people who have the most reasons not to. I mean, aren't those the stories where like, oh my goodness, I mean, they didn't have paper walls, they had actual reasons and look at what they accomplished in the world. [32:25:57]

There's a relationship between our ability to run our race with endurance and our willingness, and its willingness, it's not ability, and our willingness to acknowledge that we're living behind paper walls. There is a, there's an, you know, undeniable relationship between your ability to become what you wanna become and to fulfill your potential. [32:56:21]

We all need to shut down the excuse factory. We all need to get in the habit of saying, "Well, the re, okay, my excuse is," "well because, my excuse is, "Well, I've never been. "Well, my excuse up until now has been." Because they just weigh you down, they hold you back, they rob you of potential, and do you know what? [33:48:51]

Excuses are not one of those things. They need to be left behind. And if you choose to leave them behind, you'll be better off. And if you choose to leave 'em behind, your family will be better off, or your future family be better off, and if we all decide to leave them behind, the world would be a better place. [34:38:31]

So let's shut down the excuse factory. Let's move beyond our paper walls. And in Part Two, I'll start the process of telling you how. So don't miss Part Two of "Paper Walls, Moving Beyond The Excuses That Hold You Back." [35:09:12]

And the author is saying, "Look, don't lose," come on, "don't lose your own race," and don't lose your own race because you blame things that really weren't even real to begin with. Would you just get rid of anything that holds you back so that you can at least run and compete in the race that God has laid out for you? [26:48:52]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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