Building Stronger Relationships Through Vulnerability and Support
Summary
In this sermon, I focused on the importance of relationships and community, drawing from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. I emphasized the value of having someone to lean on in times of need, using personal examples from my life to illustrate this point. I also discussed the importance of inviting others into our stories and being vulnerable with them, as this is where real relationships and community begin to grow. I highlighted the significance of being there for others, not just in words but in presence, and the warmth and security that comes from knowing someone has your back.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved deeper into the concept of backing into each other, covering and protecting each other in times of attack. I stressed the importance of having Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the third person in our relationships, backing into our stories and relationships. I shared how this has been crucial in my own life, particularly in my marriage, and how the Holy Spirit can stir our hearts to pray for and support those we are in relationship with.
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of inviting others into our stories and being vulnerable with them, as this is where real relationships and community begin to grow. #!!07:33!!#
- The significance of being there for others, not just in words but in presence, and the warmth and security that comes from knowing someone has your back. #!!08:45!!#
- The concept of backing into each other, covering and protecting each other in times of attack. #!!09:22!!#
- The importance of having Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the third person in our relationships, backing into our stories and relationships. #!!09:55!!#
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The speaker emphasizes the importance of deep, meaningful relationships where we allow others into our true selves, even in our moments of weakness or failure. This is where real community starts to grow and become useful for one another. ([07:33])
2. The speaker talks about the importance of inviting Jesus and the Holy Spirit into our relationships, especially during challenging times. They back into our stories and relationships, providing peace, grace, and gentleness. ([09:55])
3. The speaker encourages us to invite Jesus into our hearts, our stories, and our messes. He emphasizes the importance of opening up to Jesus, showing Him our vulnerabilities, and allowing Him to redeem and restore us. ([14:36])
4. The speaker discusses the value we bring to others in our relationships. He encourages us to be engaged in their stories, to be there for them in times of need, and to be willing to share our lives, hearts, and resources with them. ([05:09])
5. The speaker talks about the value of two and the value of you. He emphasizes the importance of having someone in our lives that we can count on and trust, and the value we bring to those relationships. ([02:30])
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
2. Proverbs 27:17
3. Romans 12:4-5
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What does the speaker mean when he talks about letting others into our true selves? ([07:33])
2. How does the speaker describe the role of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our relationships? ([09:55])
3. What does the speaker mean when he talks about inviting Jesus into our messes? ([14:36])
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 relate to the speaker's point about the importance of deep, meaningful relationships?
2. How does the speaker's discussion about the value we bring to others in our relationships relate to Proverbs 27:17?
3. How does Romans 12:4-5 support the speaker's point about the value of two and the value of you?
Application Questions:
1. How can we apply the speaker's message about letting others into our true selves in our own relationships?
2. How can we invite Jesus and the Holy Spirit into our relationships, especially during challenging times?
3. How can we better engage in the stories of others and be there for them in times of need?
Devotional
Day 1: Inviting God into Our Mess
We all have moments of brokenness and messiness in our lives. It's during these times that we need to remember to invite God into our situations. He is our comforter, our healer, and our guide. He can turn our mess into a message and our test into a testimony.
Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt broken or messy. Did you invite God into that situation? If not, how could you invite Him into similar situations in the future?
Day 2: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Relationships
The Holy Spirit is not just a spiritual concept, but a living presence in our lives. He guides us, comforts us, and prompts us to act in love towards others. Our relationships can be greatly enriched when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our interactions.
Romans 8:26 - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you felt the Holy Spirit stirring your heart to reach out, pray for, or encourage someone in your life? How did you respond to that prompting?
Day 3: The Value of Two and You
Every relationship in our lives has value. We each bring unique gifts, talents, and perspectives to our relationships. Recognizing and enhancing our contributions can lead to more fulfilling and successful relationships.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Reflection: Think about a relationship in your life where you bring unique value. How do you contribute to the success of that relationship? How can you further enhance your contribution?
Quotes
1. "I'm going to talk about the value of 2 and the value of you. Two people are better off than one for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." - 01:49
2. "I value them so much that I also don't want to ever do anything to mess those relationships up. I want them to know how much I value them. I want my wife to know, I want Hardy to know, I want my kids to know, I want my dad to know that I'm always there for them." - 03:15
3. "I think about times in my life whether I've been on a mountain hike and I've tripped and someone helped me up or whether I was on a bike ride with one of my sons just recently and I rolled the bike and how my son was right there to help pick me up." - 07:33
4. "I love this idea of the Holy Spirit of Jesus backing into us. I love that his peace, his grace, his gentleness. I love the idea that he can wake me up to the fact that something's going on in Tracy's story or my relationship with Hardy with my kids." - 09:55
5. "Lord Jesus we invite you into our hearts today, we invite you into our story, we invite you into the mess. We invite you in Lord to this idea that we want you to back up to us. We want to show you the back side, we want to show you the things that we try to keep everyone else from seeing." - 14:02
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