Embracing Moral Inventory for Spiritual Growth
Summary
In our journey of spiritual growth, we often find ourselves caught in the cycle of introspection, which can lead to negative rumination rather than true self-awareness. This is where the concept of a moral inventory comes into play, as it is a practice done in partnership with God, rather than in isolation. Psalm 139 serves as our guiding scripture, inviting God to search our hearts and reveal any offensive ways within us. Unlike introspection, which can be vague and negative, a moral inventory is specific and balanced, examining both our strengths and weaknesses.
The process of taking a moral inventory is akin to removing the plank from our own eye before addressing the speck in our neighbor's eye, as Jesus taught. This involves a structured approach, often used in recovery circles, where we begin by listing the wrongs done to us, as these are more vividly remembered. This counterintuitive method helps us recognize our own responses and contributions to these situations. By categorizing our resentments and examining what was threatened—be it pride, self-esteem, or emotional security—we can identify patterns in our behavior and areas of sensitivity.
This practice is not easy and can feel overwhelming, much like a task we've been avoiding. However, once we begin, we find it is not only possible but also energizing. If resistance arises, revisiting earlier steps in our spiritual journey can be helpful. Ultimately, this process reveals our defects of character, preparing us for further spiritual growth. As we continue through the steps, we become ready for God to remove these defects, leading us toward salvation.
Key Takeaways:
- Introspection often leads to negative rumination, whereas a moral inventory, done with God, provides clarity and balance by examining both positive and negative aspects of our lives. [02:37]
- The moral inventory process begins with listing wrongs done to us, as these are more vividly remembered, helping us recognize our own responses and contributions to these situations. [05:01]
- By categorizing resentments and examining what was threatened, we can identify patterns in our behavior and areas of sensitivity, which are crucial for spiritual growth. [09:28]
- The process of taking a moral inventory can feel overwhelming, but once we begin, it becomes energizing and reveals our defects of character, preparing us for further spiritual growth. [08:03]
- Revisiting earlier steps in our spiritual journey can help overcome resistance, ultimately leading us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and readiness for God to remove our defects. [12:27]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:37] - Introspection vs. Moral Inventory
[03:25] - Partnership with God
[03:56] - Removing the Plank
[05:01] - Starting with Wrongs Done to Us
[06:15] - Resentment Inventory
[07:21] - Overcoming Resistance
[08:03] - Taking Action
[09:28] - Identifying Patterns
[10:43] - Real-Life Examples
[11:11] - Sensitivity and Habits
[12:10] - Examining Ourselves
[12:44] - The Pain of Resistance
[13:02] - Series Conclusion
[13:17] - Community and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, O 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."
- Matthew 7:3-5: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Observation Questions:
1. What is the difference between introspection and a moral inventory as described in the sermon? [02:37]
2. How does Psalm 139 guide us in the process of taking a moral inventory? [03:10]
3. What is the significance of starting a moral inventory by listing wrongs done to us, according to the sermon? [05:01]
4. How does the sermon describe the process of categorizing resentments and examining what was threatened? [09:28]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the practice of a moral inventory, as described in the sermon, align with the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 7:3-5? [04:21]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a moral inventory can lead to spiritual growth and readiness for God to remove our defects? [12:27]
3. How might the process of identifying patterns in our behavior, as discussed in the sermon, help us in our spiritual journey? [11:42]
4. What role does partnership with God play in the moral inventory process, and how does it differ from doing it alone? [03:25]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when introspection led to negative rumination in your life. How might a moral inventory have provided clarity and balance in that situation? [02:37]
2. Consider the wrongs done to you that you vividly remember. How can you use these memories to recognize your own responses and contributions to those situations? [05:01]
3. Identify a pattern in your behavior that you have noticed. How can recognizing this pattern help you in your spiritual growth? [09:28]
4. What are some practical steps you can take to begin the process of a moral inventory with God’s guidance? [03:25]
5. Think about an area of your life where you feel resistance to change. How can revisiting earlier steps in your spiritual journey help you overcome this resistance? [08:03]
6. How can you prepare yourself for God to remove your defects of character, as discussed in the sermon? [12:27]
7. What specific action can you take this week to remove a "plank" from your own eye before addressing the "speck" in someone else's? [04:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Clarity Through Moral Inventory
In our spiritual journey, introspection often leads to negative rumination, clouding our self-awareness. A moral inventory, however, offers clarity and balance by examining both the positive and negative aspects of our lives. This practice is done in partnership with God, inviting Him to search our hearts and reveal any offensive ways within us. Unlike vague introspection, a moral inventory is specific and structured, allowing us to see ourselves more clearly and grow spiritually. [02:37]
"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 area of your life do you need to invite God into for a clearer understanding today?
Day 2: Recognizing Our Contributions
The process of taking a moral inventory begins with listing the wrongs done to us, as these are often more vividly remembered. This counterintuitive method helps us recognize our own responses and contributions to these situations. By doing so, we can better understand our role in conflicts and begin to address our own shortcomings. This practice encourages us to take responsibility for our actions and seek reconciliation where needed. [05:01]
"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict. How did your response contribute to the situation, and what can you do to address it today?
Day 3: Identifying Patterns and Sensitivities
By categorizing our resentments and examining what was threatened—be it pride, self-esteem, or emotional security—we can identify patterns in our behavior and areas of sensitivity. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for spiritual growth, as it allows us to address the root causes of our reactions and work towards healing and transformation. This step in the moral inventory process helps us become more self-aware and better equipped to handle future challenges. [09:28]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: What recurring pattern in your behavior do you notice, and how can you begin to address it with God's help today?
Day 4: Overcoming Resistance
The process of taking a moral inventory can feel overwhelming, much like a task we've been avoiding. However, once we begin, it becomes energizing and reveals our defects of character, preparing us for further spiritual growth. If resistance arises, revisiting earlier steps in our spiritual journey can be helpful. This practice ultimately leads us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and readiness for God to remove our defects. [08:03]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of resistance you feel in your spiritual journey, and how can you take a small step to overcome it today?
Day 5: Readiness for Transformation
Revisiting earlier steps in our spiritual journey can help overcome resistance, ultimately leading us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and readiness for God to remove our defects. This process of transformation is not easy, but it is essential for spiritual growth and salvation. As we continue through the steps, we become more open to God's work in our lives, allowing Him to shape us into the people He created us to be. [12:27]
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one defect of character you are ready to ask God to remove, and how can you prepare your heart for this transformation today?
Quotes
Introspection often involves kind of rumination where I'm just spiraling around generally over negative things that I've have said or that I've have done that does not lead to self-awareness in fact uh Tasha Ur a researcher actually found that people who are more introspective are actually less self-aware than others in a moral inventory this is not a continued spiral it's very limited very focused um awareness this is part of why writing is uh writing something down is really careful writing prevents um Limitless rumination. [00:02:28]
Introspection is something that I do all by myself the moral inventory is something I do with God our key scripture passage here from Psalm 139 search me oh God and know my heart try me and know my anxious thoughts see if there's any offensive way in me and Lead Me in the way Everlasting I'm not doing this I'm asking God's help and God and I do this together introspection tends to be quite vague and general and cloudy the moral inventory is quite specific um one step at a time. [00:03:10]
We all love to take inventory of other people that's why Jesus said why do you say to your neighbor uh why do you notice the speck in your neighbor's eye and you don't notice that there's a plank in your own own or say to your neighbor let me take that Speck out of your eye while there's a plank in your own hypocrite first take the plank out of your eye that's what we're doing in step four we're doing exactly what Jesus talked about we are seeking to take the beam the plank out of our eye. [00:04:06]
I don't Begin by listing things that I remember that I have done wrong Begin by listing things that I remember other people have done wrong to me now this is absolutely brilliant it's counterintuitive but here's the thing if I step on your toes you might say ouch I may not remember that but if you step on my toes I will remember that very vividly for sometimes why because I feel the pain of it I don't feel the pain when I I feel the pain of harm that's done to me much more vividly than the pain that I inflict on other people. [00:04:54]
When it comes to um doing the 12 Steps that's where we actually start and I'm go to a little bit more detail about this but get a piece of paper and then you'll want to um uh put it in four columns and the first one is I resent and then the second one is for what was the event that took place and then the third column is because what was threatened and then the fourth column is where we get down to business and that is um what was my response what was my Parton this what did I do wrong. [00:05:36]
I know I know I know everything inside of us pushes away at this particular Step at the fourth step just feels overwhelming let me tell you it's a bit like doing something that you've been putting off for a long time and when you finally get around to it because you didn't want to go there part of way you find that is when I begin to take action when I take a Next Step there it's not impossible it's actually doing and energy begins to flow when I start taking action in an area especially here looking at myself looking at my life that I have been neglected for a long time. [00:07:25]
If you find yourself really resisting step four you might go back to step three and just work through have I really turned my life and will over the care of God or you might go back to Step One have I really acknowledge have I come to believe that I am powerless over my ultimate problems my life really is unmanageable so you might want to revisit earlier steps if you find yourself pushing back but as you begin to do this uh you'll discover actually it's doable that's for sure what I felt even though it took a while. [00:08:03]
What you might notice as you look at uh uh what part of me was threatened and what was my response you might have noticed this as I was talking with you certain patterns will emerge where then I begin to see oh yeah it's not just that there's a random series of uh sins bad behavior wrong thinking and so on my part there are areas of particular sensitivity and there are habits of um attack or withdrawal the way that I use words the way I respond to other people um that I begin to notice after a time. [00:11:07]
Step four as after I go through it and I look at it and notice the patterns on the connections is part of what I will use to identify because knowledge of our errors is the beginning of our Salvation the Apostle Paul is running the church at Corinth I think it's 1 Corinthians 11:28 talking about uh communion and he says let a person examine thems that's what we're talking about so in step four those categories those columns and I do that work and when I'm all through with it then I can take a look and find out what part of me are most easily threatened and what are the patterns my defects of character that I will especially need to look at. [00:12:02]
I know I know I know this one can be a bit overwhelming I promise you it's doable it is not writing our inventory it's not taking our inventory that is painful it's resisting it keep coming back it works if you work it. [00:12:41]
We're a community that believes in spiritual growth one day at a time and a part of that is prayer so there is a team of of us that meet each weekday Monday through Friday to pray for the become new community and viewers just like yourself if you have a prayer request we'd love to pray for you you can text it to us at 855 888 0444 or email it to us at connect at become new.com thanks for joining us and we'll see you next time. [00:13:24]
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