Embracing Sacred Wounds: Healing Through Community
Summary
In our journey together as a community, we are learning to embrace our vulnerabilities and wounds, much like the man with the withered hand whom Jesus healed. This community, which we call the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, is a place where we bring our hidden wounds into the light, allowing the power of God to flow through us. By sharing our stories and struggles, we scorn the shame that often binds us, and we find healing and strength in our shared experiences.
The concept of sacred wounds is central to our journey. These are the places of brokenness, sin, and guilt that, rather than being mere hardships, become opportunities to encounter God and help others. The book of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and this is a powerful example for us. We are not defined by the standards of the world that seek to shame us. Instead, we find our identity in being loved and accepted by God.
The cross, which was meant to be a symbol of shame, became a place of triumph for Jesus. Even in His resurrected body, Jesus bore His wounds, showing us that our scars and brokenness can be transformed into something beautiful. When we share our stories, we step into the light and scorn the shame, realizing that our wounds can reveal God's work within us.
Through the stories shared by members of our community, we see how God meets us in our pain and brokenness. Whether it's overcoming addiction, living with physical limitations, or dealing with profound loss, each story is a testament to God's unwavering presence and love. These stories remind us that we are worthy, chosen, loved, and redeemed, and that God is with us in our darkest moments.
As we continue to meet in the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, we find healing together. We are reminded that our sacred wounds are not a source of shame but a testament to God's transformative power. We are loved, and we are called to stretch out our hands, embracing our need for God and each other.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embracing Vulnerability: In the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, we learn to bring our hidden wounds into the light, allowing God's power to flow through us. By sharing our stories, we scorn the shame that binds us and find healing in our shared experiences. [00:29]
2. Sacred Wounds: Our places of brokenness and guilt are not just hardships but opportunities to encounter God. Like Jesus, who scorned the shame of the cross, we find our identity in being loved and accepted by God, not by the world's standards. [01:19]
3. Triumph Over Shame: The cross, meant to shame Jesus, became His place of triumph. Our scars and brokenness can also be transformed into something beautiful, revealing God's work within us. [03:07]
4. God's Presence in Pain: Through the stories of our community, we see how God meets us in our pain and brokenness. Whether overcoming addiction or dealing with loss, each story is a testament to God's unwavering presence and love. [07:22]
5. Healing Together: In the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, we find healing together. Our sacred wounds are not a source of shame but a testament to God's transformative power. We are loved and called to embrace our need for God and each other. [09:37]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Embracing Vulnerability
[00:54] - Stories of Inspiration
[01:19] - Sacred Wounds
[01:34] - Scorning Shame
[02:21] - Redefining Standards
[03:07] - Triumph Over Shame
[03:37] - Sharing Our Stories
[04:16] - Testimonies of Transformation
[05:36] - God's Presence in Pain
[06:09] - Scorning Shame Together
[07:22] - Healing Through Community
[08:09] - Hope in Wounds
[09:37] - Finding Healing Together
[10:09] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Fellowship of the Withered Hand
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 12:2 - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
2. John 20:27 - "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest about the significance of bringing our hidden wounds into the light? How does this relate to the story of the man with the withered hand? [00:29]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "sacred wounds"? What role do these wounds play in our relationship with God and others? [01:19]
3. According to the sermon, how did Jesus transform the cross from a symbol of shame into a place of triumph? [03:07]
4. What are some examples from the sermon of how community members have experienced God's presence in their pain and brokenness? [07:22]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the idea of "scorning shame" as described in Hebrews 12:2 apply to the personal stories shared in the sermon? What does it mean to scorn shame in one's own life? [01:34]
2. In what ways do the wounds of Jesus, as mentioned in John 20:27, serve as a model for how we can view our own scars and brokenness? [03:21]
3. How does the sermon suggest that our identity in God differs from the identity imposed by worldly standards? What implications does this have for how we view ourselves and others? [02:21]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of community in finding healing and transformation through our sacred wounds? [09:37]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a personal wound or area of brokenness that you have kept hidden. What steps can you take to bring it into the light within a supportive community? [00:29]
2. Consider a time when you felt shame due to societal standards. How can you begin to scorn that shame and embrace your identity as loved and accepted by God? [01:34]
3. How can you use your own experiences of pain and brokenness to help others encounter God? What specific actions can you take this week to support someone in need? [04:02]
4. Think about a story of transformation shared in the sermon. How does it inspire you to view your own challenges as opportunities for growth and connection with God? [07:22]
5. In what ways can you actively participate in the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, supporting others in their journey of healing and transformation? [09:37]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on God's presence and love. What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God in this area? [05:36]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to embrace their sacred wounds and find healing together? What role can you play in fostering a supportive and loving environment? [09:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Vulnerability as a Path to Healing
In the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, individuals are encouraged to bring their hidden wounds into the light, allowing God's power to flow through them. By sharing personal stories and struggles, the community scorns the shame that often binds them, finding healing and strength in shared experiences. This process of embracing vulnerability is not about exposing oneself for the sake of exposure but about creating a space where God's transformative power can work through the collective acknowledgment of brokenness. The act of sharing becomes a sacred practice, where the light of God shines through the cracks of human frailty, offering hope and healing. [00:29]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one hidden wound or struggle you have been hesitant to share with others? How might sharing it with a trusted friend or community bring healing and allow God's power to work through you today?
Day 2: Sacred Wounds as Opportunities for Divine Encounter
The concept of sacred wounds suggests that places of brokenness, sin, and guilt are not merely hardships but opportunities to encounter God. Just as Jesus scorned the shame of the cross, individuals are invited to find their identity in being loved and accepted by God, rather than by the world's standards. This perspective shifts the focus from seeing wounds as sources of shame to viewing them as places where God's grace and love can be most profoundly experienced. By embracing sacred wounds, believers can transform their understanding of suffering, recognizing it as a pathway to deeper intimacy with God. [01:19]
"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." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a personal area of brokenness or guilt. How can you view this as an opportunity to encounter God's grace and love today, rather than a source of shame?
Day 3: Triumph Over Shame Through Christ's Example
The cross, intended to be a symbol of shame, became a place of triumph for Jesus. This transformation illustrates how scars and brokenness can be turned into something beautiful, revealing God's work within individuals. By following Christ's example, believers are encouraged to see their own wounds not as marks of defeat but as testimonies of God's redemptive power. This perspective invites a redefinition of personal narratives, where shame is replaced with triumph and brokenness becomes a canvas for God's artistry. [03:07]
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a personal scar or area of brokenness. How can you allow God to transform this into a testimony of His redemptive power and triumph over shame?
Day 4: Experiencing God's Presence in Pain
Through the stories shared by members of the community, it becomes evident that God meets individuals in their pain and brokenness. Whether overcoming addiction, living with physical limitations, or dealing with profound loss, each story serves as a testament to God's unwavering presence and love. These narratives remind believers that they are worthy, chosen, loved, and redeemed, even in their darkest moments. By recognizing God's presence in pain, individuals can find comfort and hope, knowing that they are not alone in their struggles. [07:22]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a current or past painful experience. How have you experienced God's presence in this situation, and how can you invite Him into your pain today?
Day 5: Healing Together in Community
In the Fellowship of the Withered Hand, healing is found together as a community. Sacred wounds are not seen as sources of shame but as testaments to God's transformative power. By embracing the need for God and each other, individuals find strength and healing in their shared journey. This communal approach to healing emphasizes the importance of connection and support, where each person's story contributes to the collective testimony of God's work. Together, the community becomes a living example of God's love and redemption. [09:37]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your community to support others in their healing journey? What steps can you take today to foster deeper connections and encourage those around you?
Quotes
Jesus we're learning together to be part of his community in The Fellowship of the withered hand we all bring that which we would most be apt to hide and uh be ashamed of and we all carry those we we all have wounds but when we bring them into the light voluntarily together with Jesus in an appropriate and kind of healthy way then the power of God flows and hiddenness cannot defeat us anymore. [00:18:02]
In dozens and dozens of stories that have come in one of the major themes have been sacred wounds ways in which you have found those places in your life to reveal Brokenness sin guilt uh become not just hardships to overcome but places to meet God and places from which we help other people. [01:12:48]
The cross was the ultimate attempt by powers in Jesus day to shame him anybody who died on a cross was humiliated and a failure but Jesus scorned that shame he said no I do not regard the cross as ultimately shaming me it is my place of Triumph and when Jesus was resurrected you may know about this in several of the gospels Luke and John in particular um he has given this glorious body but it still Bears his wounds. [02:50:84]
When we share our stories with each other we Scorn the shame and we step into the light I'm so grateful to get to do that with you and I want to read just a few of these stories and invite you to Scorn the shame whatever would keep you from thinking that God must not love me or I could never be truthful with another person no we scorn that shame together with our friend Jesus in the shadow of the cross. [03:14:79]
Our wounds too our scars our Brokenness become the ways in which we can see God at work inside me and I can be together with you it happened for me this morning in somebody that I met with I was born to a drug addict and alcoholic parents did not have much support growing up I turned to alcohol alcohol as a teenager and as a result I had a baby that gave up for adoption. [04:02:28]
I was born crosseyed and with ocular albanism there is no way to correct it they correct some nearsighted in stigmatism I've been never been able to drive school is very difficult they didn't have the technology that schools have today I was never a reader I I tell people I'm always on the bud system because I never go anywhere alone except if I go for a walk which I do uh God is with me. [05:00:52]
God has sent me amazing friends and people who are willing to take me places and help me when my lack of vision limits me I see God everywhere I look uh in my life it has not been easy but the riches I received in the friendships and relationships are well worth the disappointments and inconveniences of not seeing this beautiful world in its fullness I am learning it is a blessing to need other people even when you would rather be the one on the giving end than on the receiving end. [05:27:72]
I have suffered depression and anxiety for many years along with chronic migraines I am also neurode Divergent beginning to realize that I have autism I live on my own and and then this person lives in the UK uh since losing both my parents I have struggled to cope with the stress and the pressure I have lost count the number of times I wanted to end my life as I feel everybody would be better off without me. [06:14:44]
I feel failure shame worthless just not good enough and then writes about Psalm 14 43:7 my prayer answer me quickly Lord my spirit fails do not hide your face from me or I will like those who go down to the pit every day I pray that prayer it was by chance this person goes on to right they discovered uh become new what a blessing that has been I'm learning that God understands the pain God is with me in the pit. [06:40:84]
About 20 years ago a policeman knocked on my door bearing the sad news that my oldest son had passed away initially they informed me it was a car accident however when I called the police in Massachusetts for details they revealed that my son had died by Suicide from hanging the ramifications to myself my family from the suicide were painful and life-changing each of the family members experienced the L L differently my marriage was never the same after that. [07:30:63]
Some wounds cannot be healed This Side of Heaven and here's where our hope is we serve A Savior by whose wounds you and I are healed there's an old old himm Crown Him With Many Crowns that I grew up with and wonderful Theologian Rich Mau points out one of the verses in that hymn says uh crown him the Lord Of Love behold his hands and side Rich wounds what a pregnant phrase Rich wounds yet visible above in eternity in God's kingdom they will be seen in Beauty glorified wounds are glorified wounds are beautiful. [08:06:00]
That is the god that we love that is the god of the scripture is the god of the Sacred wound and because he Bears his wound he is able to be with us and help bear ours and so we meet together here in The Fellowship of the withered hand and when we bring our stories we find Healing we mess up on our own we fight healing together sacred wounds scorning the shame you are loved stretch out your hand that's us king that's every one of us needs God every one of us just desperate need for God. [09:17:56]
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