Embracing Divine Interruptions for Spiritual Growth
Summary
In this Advent season, we are reminded of the profound ways God interrupts our lives, much like He did with Mary, Joseph, and others in the biblical narrative. These divine interruptions are not mere disruptions but opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper communion with God. As we navigate our daily lives, we have the choice to do so with or without God, and it is always better to choose the former. This season, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tyler Staton, a pastor who has embraced the concept of finding God through interruptions in his life. Tyler shared how his journey of discipleship has been marked by learning to live monastically in an urban context, where God meets him primarily through relationships and interruptions.
Tyler's experience highlights the importance of being interruptible, a concept echoed by theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who emphasized the significance of allowing our lives to be disrupted by God. Tyler's disciplined life, marked by intentionality and proactive spirituality, reached a point where he realized the need for reactive spirituality—responding to God's work in the moment. This realization led him to pray for growth in gentleness and patience, fruits of the Spirit that are cultivated through reaction rather than action.
The Advent season serves as a reminder of the great interruption of the Incarnation, where Jesus, the ultimate interrupter, challenges us to respond to His presence in our lives. Our spiritual journey involves surrendering control and trusting in God's work, recognizing that true joy comes from allowing Jesus to form us through life's interruptions. Tyler's practices of beginning and ending his day with prayerful reflection demonstrate a commitment to being present with God and others, allowing divine interruptions to reveal areas of need and vulnerability.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing Interruptions: Allowing God to interrupt our lives can lead to profound spiritual growth. Like Mary and Joseph, our response to divine interruptions can shape our spiritual journey and deepen our relationship with God. [08:55]
- Reactive Spirituality: While proactive spirituality involves intentional practices, reactive spirituality requires us to respond to God's work in the moment. This balance is essential for cultivating fruits of the Spirit like gentleness and patience. [07:15]
- Surrendering Control: Spiritual growth often involves surrendering control and trusting in God's work. The Advent season reminds us that Jesus, the good King, brings joy through surrender, not through our own efforts. [10:55]
- Presence and Vulnerability: Being present with God and others allows us to recognize our needs and vulnerabilities. This openness invites God's love and transformation in our lives, as seen in Tyler's daily practices of prayer and reflection. [19:20]
- Living in the Middle Voice: Spiritual maturity involves joining the action of God, recognizing that He is already at work within us. By becoming attuned to His presence, we open ourselves to deeper transformation and grace. [25:30]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - The Great Interrupter
[00:56] - Doing Life with God
[01:39] - Finding God in Urban Life
[02:34] - Relational Interruptions
[03:38] - The Importance of Interruptibility
[05:04] - Personal Transformation
[06:58] - Proactive vs. Reactive Spirituality
[08:21] - The Incarnation as Interruption
[09:49] - Surrendering Control
[11:31] - Becoming More Interruptible
[13:18] - Seeing Jesus in Others
[15:11] - The Power of the Familiar Story
[16:41] - Surrendering to God's Work
[19:06] - Daily Practices of Presence
[22:14] - Evening Reflection and Surrender
[24:38] - The Middle Voice of Spirituality
[27:45] - Conclusion and Gratitude
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 1:26-38 - The Annunciation to Mary
2. Matthew 1:18-25 - Joseph's Dream
3. Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit
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Observation Questions:
1. How did Mary and Joseph's lives change when God interrupted their plans? Reflect on their initial reactions and eventual acceptance. [08:21]
2. What does Tyler Staton mean by "proactive spirituality" and "reactive spirituality"? How does he describe the difference between the two? [07:15]
3. In what ways does Tyler suggest that God communicates with him through interruptions in his daily life? [02:34]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus as the "great interrupter" in the lives of people during His time on earth? [08:55]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of being "interruptible" challenge one's current spiritual practices or daily routines? Consider how this might apply to your own life. [04:22]
2. What does it mean to live in the "middle voice" of spirituality, and how does this concept relate to the idea of surrendering control to God? [25:30]
3. How can the Advent season serve as a reminder of the importance of surrendering control and trusting in God's work, according to the sermon? [10:55]
4. How does Tyler's practice of beginning and ending his day with prayerful reflection help him remain open to divine interruptions? [19:20]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interruption in your life. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in the future to allow for spiritual growth? [09:29]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to surrender control. What steps can you take this Advent season to trust more in God's plan? [10:55]
3. Consider the relationships in your life. How can you become more aware of God's presence through these interactions, as Tyler describes? [02:34]
4. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, such as gentleness or patience, to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate this fruit in your daily interactions? [07:15]
5. Think of a time when you felt God's presence most clearly. How can you create more opportunities for these moments in your daily routine? [22:47]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of prayerful reflection at the end of your day to recognize where you might have missed God's presence? [22:14]
7. What is one practical way you can become more interruptible in your daily life, allowing God to work through unexpected moments? [04:22]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Divine Interruptions
In the Advent season, we are reminded of the profound ways God interrupts our lives, much like He did with Mary and Joseph. These divine interruptions are not mere disruptions but opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper communion with God. When we allow God to interrupt our lives, we open ourselves to transformation and a deeper relationship with Him. Embracing these interruptions can shape our spiritual journey, leading us to a more profound understanding of His purpose for us. [08:55]
Luke 1:38 (ESV): "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."
Reflection: Think of a recent interruption in your life. How can you view it as an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper communion with God today?
Day 2: Balancing Proactive and Reactive Spirituality
While proactive spirituality involves intentional practices, reactive spirituality requires us to respond to God's work in the moment. This balance is essential for cultivating fruits of the Spirit like gentleness and patience. By being open to God's presence in the moment, we allow Him to shape our character and grow in spiritual maturity. Reactive spirituality invites us to be attentive to God's work around us and respond with grace and humility. [07:15]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you reacted hastily. How can you practice being more open to God's work in the moment and respond with gentleness and patience?
Day 3: Surrendering Control to God
Spiritual growth often involves surrendering control and trusting in God's work. The Advent season reminds us that Jesus, the good King, brings joy through surrender, not through our own efforts. By letting go of our need to control, we allow God to work in our lives in ways we could never imagine. Surrendering control is an act of faith, trusting that God's plans are greater than our own. [10:55]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: Being Present and Vulnerable
Being present with God and others allows us to recognize our needs and vulnerabilities. This openness invites God's love and transformation in our lives. By practicing presence and vulnerability, we create space for God to work in us and through us, revealing areas of need and inviting His healing and grace. [19:20]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice being more present and vulnerable with God and others today? How might this openness invite transformation in your life?
Day 5: Living in the Middle Voice
Spiritual maturity involves joining the action of God, recognizing that He is already at work within us. By becoming attuned to His presence, we open ourselves to deeper transformation and grace. Living in the middle voice means acknowledging that while we participate in our spiritual journey, it is ultimately God who initiates and sustains the work within us. [25:30]
Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
Reflection: How can you become more attuned to God's presence and work in your life today? What steps can you take to join Him in the transformative work He is already doing within you?
Quotes
I began to pray that I would grow in gentleness and patience and I realized that those were a couple fruits of the spirit that I didn't know how to grow in because they were primarily reactionary not proactive and and my proactive spirituality was really strong and my reactive spirituality had some catching up to do. [00:07:15]
The Incarnation simply was the great Interruption um so starting with Mary she thought her life was going to head down One path and she would be a devout Jewish wife and mom and raised a nice family and then all of a sudden no it's not going to look anything like that. [00:08:21]
Spirituality uh or or discipleship to Jesus in my experience is just again and again learning to surrender control um and again and again learning to trust more and more and I as we've approached this Advent season I've been thinking a lot about the fact that you know the this time of year we're not waiting. [00:10:55]
I begin every day by lighting a candle and sitting in 10 minutes of silence just praying a breath prayer simple breath prayer again and again and it is a way of for me to be with God inviting him to work on the deepest part of me to offer me um the sort of life that I'm after but cannot lead myself to. [00:19:20]
To love someone they have to they have to express some type of need and I don't express much need oh God yes yes I'm in charge yes I'm I'm in charge I have a well-ordered life I have a plan and an agenda and I have so you know monastic practices that that curate my appetites for everything. [00:23:40]
To live in the middle voice is to acknowledge that I do not bring the action that the action doesn't begin with me like my even you know we're talking about personal spiritual practice here so like uh my spiritual maturity doesn't begin with with me on the porch in the morning uh Jesus or the father he is the true night Watchman who does not rest. [00:25:30]
I am currently in a moment in my own discipleship to Jesus where I feel like I have kind of ways of living monastically in a very Urban context that have been super fruitful for me and the ways that um God has has met me primarily uh in my adult life and those rhythms are still very sacred to me. [00:02:34]
I think for all of us to think in the Advent season about um how by whom is God seeking to interrupt my life in this season is a really deeper and Rich way of thinking about um where's God already at work. [00:09:49]
I ride my bike Everywhere I Go um and so I live only about a mile and a half from my house or or from my church where I work at and so I cycle home and I pray a really simple version of the prayer of examine um in the evenings on my way home as kind of a way of surrendering the work day and transitioning into presence with my family. [00:22:14]
I think I started to notice something about me that has probably been one of the greatest agents of my own transformation and and now maybe one of the greatest obstacles and it's that I planted a church when I was 26 and that meant that since I was a 26y old young man I've essentially been able to order my world according to my plans. [00:05:04]
I just felt Jesus very gently just directing my attention again and again to the gauge of my spiritual formation being uh the tone that I used in conversation with my wife or the level of patience I was able able to have with my children and frustrating moments on the weekend or not have and and I was greatly humbled. [00:07:15]
I remember this moment it was last year during Advent and at the church I lead we do like this special Advent worship Gathering where we go through the major movements of Advent all in one evening so we can then walk each step of the journey together as a community so is at that evening we're right at the beginning of the season of Advent. [00:15:11]
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