Embracing Change: The Power of Moral Inventory

 

Summary

In our journey through the series "The Power to Change," we have been exploring the transformative steps rooted in both scripture and the 12-step program. This room is filled with individuals seeking change, and the path to that change is illuminated by God's Word. We've already discussed the first three steps: admitting our powerlessness, believing in a power greater than ourselves, and deciding to turn our lives over to God's care. Today, we delve into the fourth step, which is about making a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

This step is akin to taking inventory in a failing restaurant, as seen in Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares." Just as a disorganized refrigerator can predict a restaurant's problems, our moral inventory reveals the areas in our lives that need change. The 12-step program, though not a church, is deeply spiritual, emphasizing that true change requires a power greater than ourselves and a willingness to look inward.

The power to change relies on two entities: God and ourselves. While external influences exist, true change begins with us. The moral inventory is about identifying the moral issues that render us powerless. It's not about feeling bad but about recognizing the patterns and issues that have held us back. This process is exhaustive, starting from our earliest memories and examining our lives in detail.

Fearlessness is crucial because ignoring problems doesn't make them disappear. We must be specific in our repentance, acknowledging not just what we've done but why we did it. This honesty allows us to break free from the chains that bind us. The goal is not humiliation but freedom, as Paul writes in Galatians, "Christ has set us free to live a free life."

True freedom is not doing what we want but what we ought. Many of us are enslaved by our desires, thinking we're free, but in reality, we're bound by them. Naming our chains is the first step to breaking them. This process is not just for those at rock bottom but for everyone. It's about confessing, understanding, and embracing the good news of the gospel.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Inventory: Just as a restaurant's refrigerator reveals its issues, our moral inventory uncovers the areas in our lives needing change. This process is about identifying patterns and issues that have held us back, allowing us to break free from the chains that bind us. [04:01]

2. The Role of God and Self: True change relies on a power greater than ourselves and our willingness to look inward. While external influences exist, the power to change begins with us, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility in our spiritual journey. [07:16]

3. Fearlessness in Repentance: Ignoring problems doesn't make them disappear. We must be specific in our repentance, acknowledging not just what we've done but why we did it. This honesty allows us to break free from the chains that bind us. [11:39]

4. True Freedom: True freedom is not doing what we want but what we ought. Many of us are enslaved by our desires, thinking we're free, but in reality, we're bound by them. Naming our chains is the first step to breaking them. [20:45]

5. The Goal of Freedom: The purpose of the moral inventory is not humiliation but freedom. By understanding and confessing our sins, we embrace the good news of the gospel, allowing us to live a life free from the chains of our past. [43:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:38] - Introduction to Step Four
- [04:01] - The Importance of Inventory
- [05:52] - Spiritual Journey and Responsibility
- [07:16] - The Role of God and Self
- [08:11] - Moral Issues and Powerlessness
- [09:09] - Identifying Patterns
- [10:13] - The Process of Inventory
- [11:39] - Fearlessness in Repentance
- [15:48] - True Repentance
- [16:58] - The Pain of Change
- [19:03] - Scriptural Foundations
- [20:45] - True Freedom
- [28:18] - Steps to Take Inventory
- [43:27] - The Goal of Freedom
- [49:11] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV): "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
2. Galatians 5:1 (NIV): "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
3. 1 John 1:8-9 (NIV): "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of taking a "searching and fearless moral inventory" as described in the sermon? [05:52]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of being specific in repentance? [11:39]
3. According to the sermon, what role does fearlessness play in the process of repentance and change? [11:39]
4. How does the sermon use the example of Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" to explain the concept of moral inventory? [04:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does Psalm 139:23-24 encourage believers to engage in a moral inventory, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about self-examination?
2. How does Galatians 5:1 define true freedom, and how does this concept challenge common perceptions of freedom as discussed in the sermon? [20:45]
3. What does 1 John 1:8-9 suggest about the relationship between confession and forgiveness, and how does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on honesty in repentance?
4. How does the sermon interpret the role of personal responsibility in the process of change, and how does this relate to the biblical passages discussed? [07:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you ignored a problem in your life. How did that affect you, and what steps can you take to address similar issues fearlessly in the future? [11:39]
2. Identify a specific pattern or issue in your life that you feel powerless over. How can you begin to take a moral inventory to address this issue? [08:11]
3. Consider the concept of true freedom as doing what we ought rather than what we want. How can this understanding change the way you approach your daily decisions? [20:45]
4. What are some specific "chains" in your life that you need to name in order to break free from them? How can you begin this process of naming and breaking these chains? [20:45]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of a moral inventory into your spiritual routine, and what support might you need from your small group to do this effectively? [05:52]
6. Reflect on the role of God and self in your journey of change. How can you balance reliance on God with taking personal responsibility for your actions? [07:16]
7. How can the principles discussed in the sermon help you to better understand and embrace the good news of the gospel in your life? [43:27]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Self-Examination
In our journey toward transformation, taking a moral inventory is crucial. This process is akin to a restaurant assessing its stock to identify areas needing improvement. By examining our lives, we uncover patterns and issues that have held us back, allowing us to break free from the chains that bind us. This inventory is not about feeling guilty but about recognizing the areas where change is needed. It requires honesty and courage to look at our lives in detail, starting from our earliest memories. This fearless self-examination is the first step toward true freedom. [04:01]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What specific patterns or issues in your life have you identified that need change? How can you begin to address them today?


Day 2: The Role of Divine and Personal Responsibility
True change is a partnership between divine power and personal responsibility. While external influences exist, the power to change begins with us. We must be willing to look inward and take responsibility for our spiritual journey. This involves acknowledging our powerlessness and believing in a power greater than ourselves. By turning our lives over to God's care, we open ourselves to transformation. This step emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in our spiritual journey, recognizing that change starts with us. [07:16]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to take more personal responsibility for your spiritual growth? How can you invite God's power into these areas?


Day 3: Fearlessness in Repentance
Ignoring problems doesn't make them disappear. We must be specific in our repentance, acknowledging not just what we've done but why we did it. This honesty allows us to break free from the chains that bind us. Fearlessness is crucial in this process, as it enables us to confront our issues head-on. By being specific in our repentance, we can understand the root causes of our actions and begin to change them. This step is not about humiliation but about finding freedom through honesty and courage. [11:39]

"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." (Proverbs 28:13, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions or attitudes do you need to repent of today? How can you approach this repentance with honesty and courage?


Day 4: True Freedom through Surrender
True freedom is not doing what we want but what we ought. Many of us are enslaved by our desires, thinking we're free, but in reality, we're bound by them. Naming our chains is the first step to breaking them. By surrendering our desires and aligning our actions with what we ought to do, we find true freedom. This process involves recognizing the areas where we are enslaved by our desires and taking steps to break free from them. True freedom comes from living a life aligned with God's will. [20:45]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: What desires or habits are currently enslaving you? How can you begin to surrender these to God and find true freedom?


Day 5: Embracing the Goal of Freedom
The purpose of the moral inventory is not humiliation but freedom. By understanding and confessing our sins, we embrace the good news of the gospel, allowing us to live a life free from the chains of our past. This process involves acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness, leading to a life of freedom and grace. The goal is to live a life that is not bound by past mistakes but is open to the transformative power of the gospel. This freedom allows us to live fully in the grace and love of God. [43:27]

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace the freedom offered by the gospel today? What steps can you take to live a life free from the chains of your past?

Quotes



And what it means by searching is if you actually, if you go through this step formally, which I will recommend that you do, the first time you go through, not just the first time, but the first time every time, but the first time you go through, it is exhaustive. Meaning you start from your earliest memory. [00:09:58] (16 seconds)


Things rarely go away if you just ignore them. If you just ignore them. And there is... It seems to be... I don't know if it's true, so let me just say I don't have the statistics in front of me. But it feels to me that more and more younger generations are... They get anxiety about something, and they just... Put blinders on. [00:11:57] (24 seconds)


The fantasy of some easier, softer way that will allow us to avoid that pain has kept a number of us from completing this step and from maintaining our recovery. What this is saying is that people who truly want change have to be able to do it. They have to be able to do it. They have to come to the knowledge that there is not an easy way. [00:16:58] (20 seconds)


The kind of slavery where where there there is no freedom and now that is your master your pride is your master that drug is your master those kind of books are your master that kind of images on the internet are your master they dictate life to you now you are not free and so this whole idea of you i want to really set you free means you are actually free to do what you ought to do that's that is true freedom not what you want to do but what you ought to do you're not a slave to that any more you see many us are are in chains figuratively speaking we're in chains we're chained up by something and we know we're chained but we don't take the time to go you know what i'm chained at the wrist i'm chained at the ankles i'm chained however right if you can't name the chain you can't be changed if you can't name the chain you can't be changed if you can't name the chain you can't be changed if you can't name the chain you can't be changed true fundamental change comes when you go it's that and the more specific you are the the more power that flows to that point [00:27:07] (87 seconds)


The better you do at your inventory, the better you do at confessing, the better you actually understand. The good news, what we call the gospel, what Jesus did for you. I'll let Jesus speak to this. In Luke 18, Jesus says this. Then Jesus told this story to some who had, now notice who his target audience, great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else. [00:43:14] (23 seconds)


Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. just didn't believe in jesus they all of a sudden got down deep and said man this specifically is where i've messed up and a number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire they got rid of their old life the value of the books was several million dollars so the message about the lord spread widely and had a powerful effect in other words when folks got serious about confessing a moral inventory the outcome was that the gospel spread even further and it spread notice this with power a lot of us don't have anything to share with our neighbors beyond the philosophy of religion because we've never really experienced god's power and we've never experienced god's power because we were never honest enough to confess specifically wholeheartedly and thoroughly fearlessly because when you finally you finally name the chain you can be changed [00:48:08] (67 seconds)


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Transcript
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