Embracing Weakness: God's Strength in Our Brokenness
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound truth that our love for God is rooted in His initial love for us. Before we could even think rightly about Him, He chose us and pursued us. Our salvation is authored solely by His grace, and all we bring to the table is our need. This divine love was demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice while we were still sinners, and this work of grace continues to transform us daily. As we delve into spiritual growth and maturity, we recognize that it is Jesus who initiates and completes this process in us.
Spiritual growth is not about overcoming our weaknesses through our own strength but about acknowledging them and allowing God to work through them. This is contrary to the stoic philosophy of self-reliance. Instead, we embrace our weaknesses with the hope that God’s strength will be made perfect in them. This perspective shifts our focus from self-improvement to divine transformation.
Paul’s teachings in 2 Corinthians 12 illustrate this beautifully. He speaks of his own profound spiritual experiences but emphasizes that these are not the norm for everyone. Instead, he highlights the universal experience of the "thorn in the flesh," a persistent struggle or weakness that God uses to demonstrate His power and grace. Paul’s plea for relief from his thorn was met with God’s assurance that His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in weakness. This teaches us that our weaknesses are not obstacles to be overcome but opportunities for God’s power to be displayed.
In our journey of faith, we are called to a posture of repentance, which is not just about confessing sin but about accepting the truth of our brokenness and God’s glory. This humility and self-awareness create an environment for spiritual growth. True maturity is not about accumulating knowledge but about heart transformation that reflects in our behaviors.
As we partake in communion, we remember Christ’s brokenness for our wholeness. This act symbolizes our dependence on His grace and the sufficiency of His sacrifice. It is a reminder that our hope is not in self-actualization or intellectualization but in the transformative power of Jesus Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. God’s Pursuit and Our Response: Our love for God is a response to His initial love for us. He chose us and pursued us before we could even think rightly about Him. This foundational truth reminds us that our salvation is entirely by His grace, and our role is to bring our need to Him. [31:06]
2. Embracing Weakness: Contrary to the stoic philosophy of overcoming weaknesses through self-reliance, the Christian approach is to acknowledge and embrace our weaknesses. This allows God’s strength to be made perfect in our frailty, shifting our focus from self-improvement to divine transformation. [36:13]
3. The Thorn in the Flesh: Paul’s experience with the thorn in the flesh teaches us that persistent struggles or weaknesses are opportunities for God’s power to be displayed. When Paul pleaded for relief, God assured him that His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in weakness. This universal experience encourages us to rely on God’s strength in our struggles. [52:00]
4. Posture of Repentance: True repentance is not just about confessing sin but about accepting the truth of our brokenness and God’s glory. This humility and self-awareness create an environment for spiritual growth, where Christ can work in our hearts to bring about transformation. [39:23]
5. Communion and Dependence on Grace: Communion is a powerful reminder of Christ’s brokenness for our wholeness. It symbolizes our dependence on His grace and the sufficiency of His sacrifice. Our hope is not in self-actualization or intellectualization but in the transformative power of Jesus Christ. [01:07:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:06] - Opening Prayer
[32:32] - Back to School Initiative
[33:58] - Fire Drill Recap
[35:35] - Embracing Weakness
[36:58] - Spiritual Growth and Maturity
[37:45] - Organic Process of Spiritual Growth
[38:30] - Posture of Repentance
[39:23] - Tim Keller on Repentance
[40:49] - Heart Transformation
[42:24] - Paul’s Example of Humility
[45:30] - Visions and Revelations
[52:00] - The Thorn in the Flesh
[59:20] - Persistent Prayer
[01:07:51] - Communion and Dependence on Grace
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)
> "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2. Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
> "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
3. Romans 5:8 (ESV)
> "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by the "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10? How does he describe its purpose? [52:00]
2. According to Philippians 1:6, who is responsible for completing the good work in us, and what does this imply about our role in spiritual growth? [38:30]
3. How does Romans 5:8 illustrate the concept of God's initial love for us before we could even think rightly about Him? [31:06]
4. In the sermon, what is described as the Christian approach to dealing with weaknesses, and how does it differ from the stoic philosophy? [36:13]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that God's grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness? How does this perspective change our understanding of personal struggles? [52:00]
2. How does the concept of spiritual growth being an organic process initiated by Jesus challenge the idea of self-improvement? [37:45]
3. What does it mean to have a "posture of repentance," and how does this posture facilitate spiritual growth according to the sermon? [39:23]
4. How does the act of communion serve as a reminder of our dependence on God's grace and the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice? [01:07:51]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a personal struggle or "thorn in the flesh" you are currently facing. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an opportunity for God's power to be displayed? [52:00]
2. In what ways can you embrace your weaknesses this week, allowing God's strength to be made perfect in them? Consider specific actions or prayers you can incorporate into your daily routine. [36:13]
3. How can you cultivate a posture of repentance in your life? Identify one area where you need to accept the truth of your brokenness and God's glory. [39:23]
4. Think about your spiritual growth journey. How can you rely more on Jesus to initiate and complete this process rather than focusing on self-improvement? [37:45]
5. During your next communion, how can you more deeply reflect on Christ's brokenness for your wholeness? What specific thoughts or prayers can you bring to this sacred moment? [01:07:51]
6. Identify a moment this past week where you relied on self-reliance rather than God's grace. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [36:13]
7. How can you practically demonstrate your dependence on God's grace in your daily interactions and decisions? Share one specific way you plan to do this in the coming week. [01:07:51]
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Pursuit and Our Response
Our love for God is a response to His initial love for us. Before we could even think rightly about Him, He chose us and pursued us. This foundational truth reminds us that our salvation is entirely by His grace, and our role is to bring our need to Him. This divine love was demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice while we were still sinners, and this work of grace continues to transform us daily. As we delve into spiritual growth and maturity, we recognize that it is Jesus who initiates and completes this process in us.
Reflecting on this truth, we see that our relationship with God is not based on our efforts or merits but on His unmerited favor. This should fill us with humility and gratitude, knowing that we are loved and chosen by God despite our flaws and failures. Our response to His love should be one of surrender and trust, allowing His grace to work in and through us.
1 John 4:19 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us."
Reflection: Think of a moment when you felt unworthy of love. How does knowing that God chose and pursued you change your perspective on that moment? Can you bring your need to Him today and trust in His grace?
[31:06]
Day 2: Embracing Weakness
Contrary to the stoic philosophy of overcoming weaknesses through self-reliance, the Christian approach is to acknowledge and embrace our weaknesses. This allows God’s strength to be made perfect in our frailty, shifting our focus from self-improvement to divine transformation. Spiritual growth is not about overcoming our weaknesses through our own strength but about acknowledging them and allowing God to work through them.
This perspective shifts our focus from self-improvement to divine transformation. By embracing our weaknesses, we create space for God’s power to be displayed in our lives. This is a radical departure from the world’s view of strength and success, which often emphasizes self-reliance and personal achievement. Instead, we are called to a posture of humility and dependence on God, trusting that His strength is sufficient for our every need.
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: Identify a specific weakness or struggle in your life. How can you invite God to work through this weakness today, trusting in His strength rather than your own?
[36:13]
Day 3: The Thorn in the Flesh
Paul’s experience with the thorn in the flesh teaches us that persistent struggles or weaknesses are opportunities for God’s power to be displayed. When Paul pleaded for relief, God assured him that His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in weakness. This universal experience encourages us to rely on God’s strength in our struggles.
Paul’s teachings in 2 Corinthians 12 illustrate this beautifully. He speaks of his own profound spiritual experiences but emphasizes that these are not the norm for everyone. Instead, he highlights the universal experience of the "thorn in the flesh," a persistent struggle or weakness that God uses to demonstrate His power and grace. This teaches us that our weaknesses are not obstacles to be overcome but opportunities for God’s power to be displayed.
2 Corinthians 12:7-8 (ESV): "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me."
Reflection: Reflect on a persistent struggle or weakness in your life. How can you see this as an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed? What steps can you take to rely more on His strength?
[52:00]
Day 4: Posture of Repentance
True repentance is not just about confessing sin but about accepting the truth of our brokenness and God’s glory. This humility and self-awareness create an environment for spiritual growth, where Christ can work in our hearts to bring about transformation. Repentance involves a deep recognition of our need for God and a turning away from self-reliance.
In our journey of faith, we are called to a posture of repentance, which is not just about confessing sin but about accepting the truth of our brokenness and God’s glory. This humility and self-awareness create an environment for spiritual growth. True maturity is not about accumulating knowledge but about heart transformation that reflects in our behaviors.
Psalm 51:17 (ESV): "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you need to repent. How can you embrace humility and self-awareness in this area, allowing God to bring about transformation in your heart?
[39:23]
Day 5: Communion and Dependence on Grace
Communion is a powerful reminder of Christ’s brokenness for our wholeness. It symbolizes our dependence on His grace and the sufficiency of His sacrifice. Our hope is not in self-actualization or intellectualization but in the transformative power of Jesus Christ. As we partake in communion, we remember Christ’s brokenness for our wholeness.
This act symbolizes our dependence on His grace and the sufficiency of His sacrifice. It is a reminder that our hope is not in self-actualization or intellectualization but in the transformative power of Jesus Christ. Communion calls us to reflect on the depth of Christ’s love and the completeness of His work on the cross, encouraging us to live in a state of gratitude and dependence on Him.
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (ESV): "And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'"
Reflection: As you prepare to take communion, reflect on the areas of your life where you need to depend more on God’s grace. How can you live out this dependence in your daily actions and decisions?
[01:07:51]
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "That a Christian is someone who doesn't deny their weakness and even doesn't find ways to overcome their weakness. They acknowledge their weakness, they share their weakness, and they embrace weakness with a hopefulness that God will work in the midst of their weakness to show their strength." [35:35] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Spiritual growth is something that we hunger for, and I've been encouraged by that within our church, that there's a growing desire for transformation, a growing desire to know God, to know Christ, to understand what he's done, and to see him working in us and then through us." [36:58] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we recognize that there's nothing we can do to save ourselves from our sin and our brokenness, that there's nothing we can do to liberate ourselves from death or sin, we then invite Christ to come and to work in us." [37:45] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What is the greatest power in the universe? The grace of Jesus Christ, who died for sin and in the power of the Spirit, rose from the power of sin and death, and then gave us that same Holy Spirit to live in our lives, to bring about renewed life and new life, that we could live with hope, even as our circumstances crumble." [01:02:28] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Our hope cannot be found in self-actualization. Our hope cannot be found. In intellectualization. Our hope cannot be found in changing our government. Our hope can only be found in Jesus. And it is all here now." [01:08:44] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Christians have this anticipation, this belief that our weaknesses, our weakness gives us a chance to see God's strength. And that's what we're going to pick up today. Talking about spiritual growth and spiritual maturity." [36:13] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Repentance isn't just the confession of sin it's an acknowledgement of the truth it's an acceptance of our brokenness in spite of God's glory but what repentance does is it brings us into that relationship with God where we then experience his transformation his work in our lives." [39:23] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Paul understood what it meant to have all the information from the bible and yet be so far from God and then upon meeting Christ in a profound spiritual experience having his heart changed because what Christ wanted to do was dismantle the pride and the self-glorification in his life." [40:49] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Paul takes this idea of a thorn and we know that, that thorns go back to the fall where, where upon Adam and Eve's sin, there was this declaration that a consequence of that was that there would be pushback from creation, from the physical creation, that there would be a brokenness inside of all of us, that we would be exposed to thorns, that there would be pain in our lives, there would be struggle in our lives." [53:46] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you're struggling today with whatever it is you're struggling. Jesus wants you to hear this. My grace is sufficient for you. What does he want you to hear about your thorn? That his power is made perfect in your weakness." [01:06:55] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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