Embracing Wholeness: Gratitude, Surrender, and Personhood

 

Summary

In today's exploration of personhood, we delve into the profound gifts of gratitude and surrender. The psalmist's declaration, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," serves as a reminder of the remarkable gift of existence and personhood. It's easy to take these gifts for granted, but today, we focus on being immensely grateful for them. Alongside gratitude, we are called to surrender each part of ourselves to God, recognizing that this is what we were made to do. We often experience a lack of integration or wholeness within ourselves, a brokenness that is common to all humanity. This disintegration is not unique to any one of us, but rather a shared human experience.

Dallas Willard's concept of the "renovation of the heart" provides wisdom on how to be renewed from within. Everything is made up of parts, each with properties and functions that allow them to integrate into larger wholes, ultimately leading to shalom. This mirrors the creation narrative in Genesis, where God creates parts and joins them together to form a harmonious whole. Understanding the parts that make up a person is foundational to understanding personhood itself.

At the core of our being is the heart, which is central to our ability to choose. This involves freedom and creativity, the essence of our will and spirit. Our mind, encompassing both thought and emotion, interacts with our will, influencing our choices. The body, with its appetites and habits, is the material part of creation that can come under the control of our will. Our social dimension, shaped by relationships, is integral to our identity. Finally, the soul integrates all these parts, connecting us to God and the universe.

To be fully renovated, we need a strong will that chooses the good, a mind that thinks truthfully and desires nobility, a body aligned with our values, relationships that reflect integrity, and a soul that ties everything together. This is the pursuit of wholeness and shalom.

Key Takeaways:

- Gratitude and Surrender: Embrace the gifts of existence and personhood with immense gratitude. Recognize the opportunity to surrender each part of ourselves to God, acknowledging that this is our true purpose. [01:04]

- Integration and Wholeness: We all experience a lack of integration within ourselves, a common human brokenness. Understanding this shared experience can lead us to seek wholeness and healing through God's renovation of our hearts. [02:10]

- The Heart's Central Role: At the core of our being is the heart, which embodies our ability to choose, encompassing freedom and creativity. This central function is vital to our personhood and spiritual journey. [05:03]

- Mind and Emotion: Our mind, with its capacity for thought and emotion, plays a crucial role in our decision-making. Recognizing the interplay between thought and feeling can lead to greater self-awareness and spiritual growth. [07:27]

- The Soul's Integration: The soul is not a mere whispery part of us but the integrator of our being, connecting us to God and the universe. Pursuing a whole and integrated soul is essential for experiencing true shalom. [11:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:50] - The Gift of Personhood
- [01:21] - Gratitude and Surrender
- [02:10] - Integration and Wholeness
- [03:27] - Understanding Personhood
- [04:20] - Core Functions of a Person
- [05:03] - The Heart's Role
- [06:00] - Kingdom Language
- [06:41] - The Mind's Capacity
- [08:23] - The Body's Role
- [09:41] - Social Dimension
- [10:28] - The Soul's Integration
- [11:26] - Pursuing Wholeness
- [12:06] - Prayer of Surrender
- [12:17] - Closing Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
2. Genesis 1:1-31 - The creation narrative, highlighting the integration of parts into a harmonious whole.
3. Romans 12:1-2 - A call to present our bodies as a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewal of our minds.

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the psalmist's declaration in Psalm 139:14 relate to the concept of gratitude for our personhood as discussed in the sermon? [00:50]

2. In the Genesis creation narrative, what are some examples of God creating parts and integrating them into a whole? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on integration and wholeness? [02:46]

3. According to the sermon, what are the core functions required to be a person, and how do they relate to the biblical understanding of personhood? [04:20]

4. How does Romans 12:1-2 connect with the sermon’s emphasis on surrendering each part of ourselves to God? [12:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to be "fearfully and wonderfully made" in the context of the sermon, and how does this understanding impact our view of personhood? [00:50]

2. How does the concept of "renovation of the heart" as discussed in the sermon align with the biblical call to be transformed by the renewal of our minds in Romans 12:2? [02:10]

3. The sermon mentions the heart as central to our ability to choose. How does this understanding of the heart influence our spiritual journey and decision-making? [05:03]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our social dimension and relationships are integral to our identity and spiritual growth? [09:41]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent moment when you took your existence or personhood for granted. How can you cultivate a habit of gratitude for these gifts in your daily life? [01:04]

2. Identify an area of your life where you feel a lack of integration or wholeness. What steps can you take to seek healing and wholeness through God's renovation of your heart? [02:10]

3. Consider the role of your heart in your ability to choose. How can you strengthen your will to choose the good in your daily decisions? [05:03]

4. Think about a recent decision where your emotions heavily influenced your thoughts. How can you achieve a better balance between thought and emotion in your decision-making process? [07:27]

5. Reflect on your current relationships. Are there any that do not reflect integrity? What actions can you take to align these relationships with your values? [09:41]

6. The sermon emphasizes the soul as the integrator of our being. What practices can you incorporate into your life to pursue a whole and integrated soul? [11:10]

7. How can you practically surrender each part of yourself—your will, mind, body, relationships, and soul—to God this week? [12:06]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Gift of Personhood
Gratitude and surrender are profound gifts that shape our understanding of personhood. The psalmist's words, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," remind us of the remarkable gift of existence. It's easy to overlook these gifts, but embracing them with gratitude can transform our lives. Surrendering each part of ourselves to God is not just an act of obedience but a fulfillment of our true purpose. This surrender involves recognizing the beauty and complexity of our being and offering it back to the Creator. By doing so, we align ourselves with the divine intention for our lives, experiencing a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment. [01:04]

Psalm 139:14-16 (ESV): "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Reflection: What are some specific aspects of your personhood that you often take for granted? How can you express gratitude for these today?


Day 2: Seeking Wholeness Through Integration
Humanity shares a common experience of brokenness and disintegration, often feeling a lack of wholeness within ourselves. This shared experience can lead us to seek healing and integration through God's renovation of our hearts. Dallas Willard's concept of the "renovation of the heart" suggests that everything is made up of parts that integrate into larger wholes, leading to shalom. This mirrors the creation narrative, where God forms a harmonious whole from individual parts. Understanding the parts that make up a person is foundational to understanding personhood itself. By seeking integration, we pursue a life of wholeness and peace, aligning ourselves with God's design. [02:10]

Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel disintegrated or broken? How can you invite God to begin the process of renovation in these areas today?


Day 3: The Heart as the Center of Choice
At the core of our being is the heart, which embodies our ability to choose and encompasses freedom and creativity. This central function is vital to our personhood and spiritual journey. The heart's role in decision-making is profound, as it influences our will and spirit. Our choices reflect the condition of our heart, and cultivating a heart that chooses the good is essential for spiritual growth. By nurturing a heart aligned with God's will, we open ourselves to a life of freedom and creativity, experiencing the fullness of our personhood. [05:03]

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Reflection: What recent decision have you made that reflects the condition of your heart? How can you align your heart more closely with God's will in your daily choices?


Day 4: The Interplay of Mind and Emotion
Our mind, with its capacity for thought and emotion, plays a crucial role in our decision-making. Recognizing the interplay between thought and feeling can lead to greater self-awareness and spiritual growth. The mind influences our will, shaping our choices and actions. By cultivating a mind that thinks truthfully and desires nobility, we align ourselves with God's truth and wisdom. This alignment allows us to navigate life's challenges with clarity and purpose, experiencing a deeper connection with God and others. [07:27]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: How do your thoughts and emotions influence your daily decisions? What steps can you take to ensure your mind is aligned with God's truth today?


Day 5: The Soul as the Integrator of Being
The soul is not a mere whispery part of us but the integrator of our being, connecting us to God and the universe. Pursuing a whole and integrated soul is essential for experiencing true shalom. The soul ties together the heart, mind, body, and social dimensions, creating a harmonious whole. By nurturing a soul that is aligned with God's purposes, we experience a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment. This pursuit of wholeness is a lifelong journey, inviting us to continually seek God's presence and guidance in every aspect of our lives. [11:10]

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV): "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what ways do you feel disconnected or fragmented in your life? How can you invite God to integrate these parts into a harmonious whole today?

Quotes


The psalmist says I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that is not just about our bodies our bodies are amazing but as we will see they're not the most amazing parts of us so to be given the gift of existence at all is remarkable to be given the gift of personhood is an unbelievable opportunity and so often I we just take it for granted not today so gratitude and then surrender to surrender each of our parts to God is what we were made to do. [00:00:48]

We all have this sense of a lack of integration or wholeness I mentioned a few episodes ago that I will feel sometimes the image that came as like a dull little man trying to put on a show and that was actually quite a heavy insight for me because it runs very deep but after it got sent out my friend Kevin called it he was just laughing hysterically he just thought that was so funny and it made me realize I am not terminally unique and we all wrestle with some kind of issues like that. [00:01:21]

Dallas writes we're going through renovation of the heart great wisdom on how to be renewed from our heart how to have our hearts renewed and that there's a basic way of understanding anything all things are made up of parts and they have properties that have certain functions that enable them to go into relationship with other parts and form larger holes that in turn have new properties that allow them to be integrated with even still larger parts and eventually what we get to is shalom. [00:02:08]

At the very core of who you and I are is our heart that's why this is about renovation of the heart and the function that is involved here is the ability to choose Dallas writes I won't take the time to read it but it's in chapter two he's talking primarily about two things that are greatly prized by human beings freedom and creativity and so it's called the heart because it refers to what's at the core of us. [00:05:01]

The mind in the bible and other places generally refers to both our capacity for thought to be able to reflect to make connections to perceive as well as our capacity for feelings there's a book that just came out just got reviewed in the new york times this last sunday by a physicist very bright guy but it's called emotional and it's all about how our emotions influence our thoughts and at the same time virtually every thought comes with a feeling or an emotion of some level of some depth. [00:06:48]

Feelings incline us toward or away from things that come before our minds in thought feeling involves a tone that is pleasant or painful along with an attraction or repulsion with respect to the existence or possession of what is thought of how we feel about food cars relationships positions hundreds of other things illustrate this point notice that feeling and thought always go together now of course our will is interactive with our mind depends on thought so that I can know can I choose a or choose b. [00:07:27]

The body is mostly made up of appetites and habits it's very important because the body is the one piece of all creation material stuff that can come under the control of will and when a little baby is born and then you watch it learn to walk and learn to talk you are watching matter tissue atoms come under the influence under the control of personal will or spirit and we're amazed at that because it actually is miraculous. [00:08:56]

The social dimension of our lives we'll talk about things like I can still hear my mother's voice in my head that's very very real leading researchers in this field talk now about what they call interpersonal neurobiology that is from when we are infants we must have acceptance love soothing nurturing and that actually forms the neural synapses so that we can soothe ourselves and goes deeply into our minds and into our spirits. [00:09:49]

Dallas would say the soul was understood not as the whispery part of you that lives after you die like after daffy duck is killed and this little vapory thing rises up the soul is what integrates the various parts of us into one whole which is needed for shalom for the renovation of the heart and the soul is what connects us then to god and beyond this is this immense universe. [00:10:54]

For you to be renovated you need a will that is strong and chooses the good you need a mind that thinks what is true and desires what is noble you need a body whose habits are aligned with the values that you have you need relationships with other people that have integrity with your whole person and then a soul that is whole and ties it together that is what we're pursuing. [00:11:17]

Thank you that you made me a person thank you that I have a will and that I can think and that I can feel and that I have this remarkable body that gives me a little kingdom and that there's other people that know me and that I can love and that can love me and that I have a soul that is deep or beyond all understanding thank you god and now god I surrender to you my will my mind my body my relationships my soul bless the lord o my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name. [00:12:06]

Bless the lord o my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name that's what's being renovated you got one of those see you next time. [00:12:17]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?