Exploring Deeper Spiritual Growth and Community Reflection
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound journey of spiritual and emotional growth, emphasizing the importance of delving beneath the surface of our lives to address the unseen aspects of our being. We began by acknowledging the privilege of community and the opportunity to worship together, mindful of those who cannot do so freely. As we embark on Black History Month, we celebrate the rich legacy and contributions of Black individuals, recognizing the importance of reflection, learning, and recommitment to uplifting one another.
Our new series, "Search Me, God," inspired by Pete Scazzero's "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality," invites us to examine the deeper parts of ourselves, akin to the unseen 90% of an iceberg. This series challenges us to move beyond the superficial 10% of our lives that we often present to the world and to God. We are called to offer our entire selves as living sacrifices, as Paul urges in Romans 12:1-2, seeking transformation through the renewal of our minds.
The journey of faith is not merely about behavior management or adhering to a set of rules. Instead, it is about allowing God to access and transform the hidden parts of our lives. Many of us have been conditioned to focus on external appearances, but true discipleship requires us to yield our whole selves to God. This series encourages us to confront the emotionally unhealthy spirituality that may be holding us back, such as using God to hide from our pain or dividing our lives into sacred and secular compartments.
As we navigate this series, we are invited to pray the words of Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to search us and reveal the areas in need of healing. This journey promises the gifts of slowing down, being anchored in God's love, and breaking free from illusions. It is an invitation to experience the fullness of God's transformative power in our lives, moving beyond the surface to embrace the entirety of who we are.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Importance of Community and Reflection: We are privileged to gather and worship together, mindful of those who cannot. As we celebrate Black History Month, we reflect on the contributions of Black individuals and commit to uplifting one another. This time of reflection is crucial for personal and communal growth. [46:04]
2. Exploring the Unseen 90%: Like an iceberg, much of who we are lies beneath the surface. We are called to examine the unseen parts of our lives, allowing God to transform us beyond the superficial 10% we often present. This journey requires honesty and vulnerability. [58:56]
3. True Discipleship Beyond Behavior Management: Faith is not about adhering to a set of rules but about yielding our whole selves to God. We must move beyond behavior management to experience true transformation, allowing God to access the deeper parts of our lives. [01:03:24]
4. Confronting Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality: We must address the ways we use God to hide from our pain or divide our lives into sacred and secular compartments. True spiritual growth involves confronting these unhealthy patterns and allowing God to heal us. [01:12:45]
5. Embracing God's Transformative Power: As we pray Psalm 139:23-24, we invite God to search us and reveal areas in need of healing. This journey promises the gifts of slowing down, being anchored in God's love, and breaking free from illusions, leading to a deeper relationship with God. [01:19:06]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [44:55] - Opening Prayer
- [46:38] - Introduction and Acknowledgments
- [48:31] - Black History Month Celebration
- [51:30] - New Series: Search Me, God
- [54:21] - Romans 12:1-2: A Call to Transformation
- [56:19] - The Iceberg Analogy
- [58:56] - The Other 90%
- [01:00:59] - Giving God More Than 10%
- [01:03:24] - Beyond Behavior Management
- [01:06:40] - Freedom in Christ
- [01:11:07] - Beneath the Surface
- [01:12:45] - Signs of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality
- [01:19:06] - Invitation to Deeper Transformation
- [01:25:00] - Communion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2
- Psalm 139:23-24
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 12:1-2 say about how we should present ourselves to God, and what is the result of renewing our minds according to these verses?
2. In the sermon, the pastor uses the iceberg analogy to describe our spiritual lives. What does the 10% above the surface represent, and what does the 90% below the surface signify? [58:14]
3. How does the pastor describe the difference between behavior management and true discipleship in the sermon? [01:03:24]
4. What are some signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality mentioned in the sermon? [01:12:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1 relate to the idea of yielding our whole selves to God, as discussed in the sermon? [01:05:41]
2. The sermon mentions using God to hide from our pain. How might this behavior manifest in a person's life, and what are the potential consequences? [01:12:45]
3. What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and how does this transformation differ from simply conforming to the patterns of the world? [01:10:17]
4. How does the prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 serve as a tool for self-examination and spiritual growth in the context of the sermon? [01:18:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the iceberg analogy. What are some aspects of your life that you tend to keep hidden beneath the surface, and how might you begin to address them with God's help? [58:56]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of community and reflection. How can you actively participate in uplifting others in your community, especially during Black History Month? [48:31]
3. Consider the idea of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. Are there areas in your life where you might be using God to avoid dealing with personal pain or struggles? How can you begin to confront these issues? [01:12:45]
4. Romans 12:2 talks about renewing your mind. What practical steps can you take this week to focus on renewing your mind and aligning your thoughts with God's will?
5. The sermon invites us to pray Psalm 139:23-24. How can you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine to invite God to reveal areas in need of healing in your life? [01:19:06]
6. How can you slow down and be more anchored in God's love, as suggested in the sermon? What changes might you need to make in your daily schedule to allow for this? [01:20:11]
7. The sermon discusses breaking free from illusions. Are there any illusions or false beliefs you hold about yourself or your faith that you need to let go of? How can you begin this process? [01:21:44]
Devotional
Day 1: The Privilege of Community and Reflection
In a world where many are unable to gather freely, the ability to come together in worship is a profound privilege. This time of community is not just about being physically present but about engaging in meaningful reflection and growth. As we celebrate Black History Month, we are reminded of the rich legacy and contributions of Black individuals. This is a time to reflect on their impact and to recommit ourselves to uplifting one another. Such reflection is crucial for both personal and communal growth, as it allows us to appreciate the diversity and strength within our community. [46:04]
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the growth and unity of your community this week, especially in light of the diverse contributions of others?
Day 2: Delving into the Unseen 90%
Much like an iceberg, the majority of who we are lies beneath the surface, unseen by the world. This unseen 90% represents the deeper parts of our lives that we often keep hidden, even from ourselves. We are called to examine these parts, allowing God to transform us beyond the superficial 10% we often present. This journey requires honesty and vulnerability, as we invite God to reveal and heal the hidden areas of our lives. By doing so, we can experience true transformation and growth. [58:56]
"The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Proverbs 20:5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one hidden area of your life that you feel God is calling you to examine more closely? How can you begin to address it with honesty and vulnerability?
Day 3: True Discipleship Beyond Behavior Management
Faith is not merely about adhering to a set of rules or managing our behavior. True discipleship involves yielding our whole selves to God, allowing Him to access and transform the deeper parts of our lives. This means moving beyond the superficial aspects of our faith and embracing a more profound, transformative relationship with God. By doing so, we can experience true spiritual growth and become more aligned with God's will for our lives. [01:03:24]
"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." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been focusing on behavior management rather than true transformation? How can you begin to yield more of yourself to God today?
Day 4: Confronting Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality
Many of us have developed patterns of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, such as using God to hide from our pain or dividing our lives into sacred and secular compartments. True spiritual growth requires us to confront these unhealthy patterns and allow God to heal us. By addressing these issues, we can experience a more authentic and holistic relationship with God, free from the constraints of our past habits and beliefs. [01:12:45]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one emotionally unhealthy pattern in your spiritual life that you need to confront? How can you invite God to begin the healing process in this area?
Day 5: Embracing God's Transformative Power
As we pray the words of Psalm 139:23-24, we invite God to search us and reveal areas in need of healing. This journey promises the gifts of slowing down, being anchored in God's love, and breaking free from illusions. By embracing God's transformative power, we can experience a deeper relationship with Him and move beyond the surface to embrace the entirety of who we are. This transformation leads to a more fulfilling and authentic spiritual life. [01:19:06]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create space in your life to slow down and be more anchored in God's love? What illusions do you need to break free from to experience His transformative power fully?
Quotes
Today, Lord, we thank you for the privilege of not being on this journey by ourselves, but that we have the gift of one another. We thank you that we have the privilege of gathering in this place, worshiping together in spirit and in truth. Father, we're mindful of brothers and sisters around the world for whom this is not a possibility. [00:44:25] (24 seconds)
This book has given us permission and it has given us tools to pay attention to who we are in totality. And it has helped us to grow emotionally and spiritually as followers of Jesus. We shared last week that our theme for 2025 is Cultivate. And Cultivate begins with the phase of assessment. This book will help us to assess where we are in our personal faith. [00:52:29] (28 seconds)
Church, I'm here today to lift up an important truth that just like an iceberg, you and I are more than what others can see. We are both our seen and our unseen selves. We are the 10 % on the surface, and we're the 90 % beneath the surface. And if we're honest today, and I pray that church can be a place where we can be honest, the parts of us that are beneath the surface are often the parts of us that need the most attention. [00:58:56] (38 seconds)
Friends, no matter how you came to Jesus, if we take an honest assessment, many of us would realize that we've only ever learned to give God about 10 % of ourselves. And that 10 % often looks like behavior management. Our behaviors, our actions, the words we say. We give God that 10 % of us, but when you look at the rest of our lives, our spiritual lives, it's like us boxing with God. [01:01:21] (32 seconds)
This is possible because so much of what we call discipleship today only focuses on visible things, on certain behaviors, on certain habits. We create these long lists of do's and don'ts, and we build our entire faith on rule keeping. You've heard somebody say before, you must not be a Christian because a good Christian wouldn't do that, wouldn't listen to that, wouldn't wear that, wouldn't go there, certainly wouldn't associate with those kind of people. [01:02:39] (39 seconds)
There are sanctuary deities. There are deeper parts of us that are still untransformed, not because God can't change those parts, but because we never learned how to yield those parts to God. And so I'm praying today that what you hear from me is not shame producing, that it's not guilt producing, because the reality is all of us have room to grow in learning to give God more than the 10%. [01:04:51] (28 seconds)
One of the signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality is that you use God to hide from God. What does that mean? It means that you fill your life with Christian activity so that you can hide from the pain of your real life. You fill your life with Christian activity and you fill your mouth with Christian language so that no one will know how broken you are. [01:13:18] (31 seconds)
Friends, where we're going in this series, it's to simply invite each of you over these next eight weeks to give your full self, your true self, your total self to God. And so I want to invite you to pray with me a prayer over the course of this series. The prayer is found in Psalm 139, verses 23 and 24. [01:17:24] (28 seconds)
The prayer simply says this, Search me, God. Not search my friends, not search my neighbor, not search my spouse. If you've been taking notes for your friend because she should have been here today to hear this message, I want to encourage you to go back and listen to it for yourself. You have permission in this series of EHS to be selfish about your spirituality. Focus on yourself first. [01:17:44] (32 seconds)
This series is going to help you, because it's going to teach you to start letting go and letting God into that other 90%. You don't have to wait until you hit rock bottom. You don't have to let another year go by. We're going to learn together as a church how to let God into that other 90%. And because God is a good God, he doesn't just come asking things of us. He comes bearing gifts as well. [01:19:26] (30 seconds)
And so there are three gifts that God promises us if we will go on this journey together. The first is the gift of slowing down. would say yes to this way of following Jesus, it will cause us to slow down. When you slow down, then you can pay greater attention to what's going on inside of you and around you. And you can pay greater attention to God. [01:20:05] (33 seconds)
My prayer for our sanctuary is that as a church, we would not just look like good Christians, but that we would be transformed people who have given God not just the 10%, not even just the 90%, but we're able to give our full selves to God and allow God to transform us. [01:22:55] (24 seconds)
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