Out of the Box: Embracing Compassion and Community

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the concept of being "in the box" and how it relates to self-deception and our relationships with others. The "box" symbolizes the state of inflating our virtues while deflating those of others, leading to a distorted self-view and strained relationships. The key to getting out of the box is to fix our gaze on Jesus, valuing others above ourselves, as outlined in Philippians 2. However, staying out of the box is a continuous challenge, as life constantly presents new situations that can pull us back in.

We delved into Galatians 6, where Paul provides guidance on how to stay out of the box. The first step is to restore others gently when they are caught in sin, recognizing that gentleness is a strength, not a weakness. This requires us to be aware of our own fallibility and to approach others with compassion and humility. Restoration is likened to resetting a broken bone, a process that requires the help of others and cannot be done alone.

The second step is to carry each other's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ, which is to love one another as Jesus loved us. This involves being others-focused and not expecting others to carry our burdens, as expectations can lead to disappointment and frustration. Instead, we are called to actively help those in need, recognizing that sometimes we need to let others help us as well.

The third step is to stay out of the box through continual confession and openness. By confessing our sins and struggles, we shine a light on the darkness, preventing it from growing and festering. This practice requires humility and the willingness to let others into our lives to help us stay out of the box.

Finally, we must grow in our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, sowing to please the Spirit rather than the flesh. This involves being aware of God's presence and allowing His love, patience, and kindness to fill us, especially when our human capacity is exhausted. By doing so, we can do good to all people, especially those in the family of believers, and ultimately bring glory to Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

- Gentle Restoration: Restoring others gently when they are caught in sin is a demonstration of strength, not weakness. It requires us to be aware of our own fallibility and to approach others with compassion and humility, recognizing that we too can fall into the same traps. [51:45]

- Carrying Burdens: Fulfilling the law of Christ involves carrying each other's burdens, focusing on others rather than expecting them to carry ours. This selfless love is a reflection of Jesus' love for us and is essential for staying out of the box. [56:21]

- Continual Confession: Confessing our sins and struggles to others helps us stay out of the box by shining a light on the darkness, preventing it from growing and festering. This practice requires humility and openness, allowing others to help us in our journey. [01:02:53]

- Sensitivity to the Spirit: Growing in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit involves sowing to please the Spirit rather than the flesh. By being aware of God's presence and allowing His love to fill us, we can do good to all people and bring glory to Jesus. [01:10:23]

- Community Support: Staying out of the box requires the support of a community. We need others to help us recognize when we are in the box and to assist us in getting out. This mutual support strengthens the body of Christ and enables us to fulfill our calling. [59:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to "Out of the Box"
- [02:15] - Understanding Self-Deception
- [04:00] - The Challenge of Staying Out
- [06:45] - Galatians 6 Context
- [08:30] - Gentle Restoration
- [12:00] - Personal Story of Conflict
- [15:00] - Strength in Gentleness
- [18:30] - Carrying Each Other's Burdens
- [22:00] - The Law of Christ
- [25:00] - The Importance of Community
- [28:00] - Continual Confession
- [31:00] - Sensitivity to the Spirit
- [34:00] - Community Support and Accountability
- [37:00] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 2:3-4
- Galatians 6:1-10
- John 13:34-35

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Observation Questions:

1. In Galatians 6:1, Paul talks about restoring someone caught in sin. What does it mean to restore someone gently, and why is gentleness emphasized? [51:45]

2. According to Galatians 6:2, what does it mean to carry each other's burdens, and how does this fulfill the law of Christ? [56:21]

3. How does the sermon describe the concept of being "in the box," and what are some examples given of how people find themselves back in the box? [49:33]

4. What role does continual confession play in staying out of the box, according to the sermon? [01:02:53]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Paul emphasize the need for gentleness in restoration, and how does this relate to the broader theme of humility in Philippians 2? [51:45]

2. How does carrying each other's burdens reflect the love Jesus commands in John 13:34-35, and why is this important for Christian community? [56:21]

3. The sermon mentions the challenge of staying out of the box. What are some practical ways believers can maintain their focus on Jesus to avoid self-deception? [49:33]

4. How does growing in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit help believers stay out of the box, and what might this look like in everyday life? [01:10:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you found yourself "in the box." What steps can you take to restore relationships gently and with humility? [51:45]

2. Identify a burden someone in your life is carrying. How can you actively help them this week, and what might be a practical way to fulfill the law of Christ in this situation? [56:21]

3. Consider your own need for community support. Are there areas in your life where you need to let others help you? How can you take a step towards openness and vulnerability this week? [59:07]

4. Think about a time when you were reluctant to confess a struggle or sin. What held you back, and how can you practice continual confession to bring healing and growth? [01:02:53]

5. Evaluate your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to become more aware of God's presence and guidance? [01:10:23]

6. The sermon suggests getting "mad" at our own self-deception. What does this mean for you personally, and how can you channel this into positive change in your life? [01:02:53]

7. How can you cultivate a spirit of gentleness in your interactions with others, especially when faced with conflict or disagreement? What might be a short prayer or mantra to help you in these moments? [51:45]

Devotional

Day 1: Strength in Gentleness
Restoring others gently when they are caught in sin is a profound demonstration of strength, not weakness. It requires an awareness of our own fallibility and a compassionate, humble approach to others, recognizing that we too can fall into the same traps. This gentle restoration is akin to resetting a broken bone, a process that cannot be done alone and requires the help of others. By approaching others with gentleness, we reflect the character of Christ and create an environment where healing and growth can occur. [51:45]

Galatians 6:1 (ESV): "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may be struggling with a sin or burden. How can you approach them with gentleness and humility this week to offer support and restoration?


Day 2: Selfless Love in Action
Carrying each other's burdens is a practical expression of fulfilling the law of Christ, which calls us to love one another as Jesus loved us. This involves focusing on others rather than expecting them to carry our burdens, as expectations can lead to disappointment and frustration. By actively helping those in need and allowing others to help us, we embody the selfless love of Christ and strengthen our relationships within the community. [56:21]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Reflection: Identify one person in your community who is carrying a heavy burden. What specific action can you take this week to help lighten their load and demonstrate Christ's love?


Day 3: The Power of Confession
Continual confession of our sins and struggles to others helps us stay out of the box by shining a light on the darkness, preventing it from growing and festering. This practice requires humility and openness, allowing others to help us in our journey. By confessing, we acknowledge our need for God's grace and the support of our community, fostering an environment of transparency and accountability. [01:02:53]

James 5:16 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Consider a struggle or sin you have been keeping hidden. Who is a trusted person in your life with whom you can share this and seek prayer and accountability?


Day 4: Sowing to Please the Spirit
Growing in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit involves sowing to please the Spirit rather than the flesh. This means being aware of God's presence and allowing His love, patience, and kindness to fill us, especially when our human capacity is exhausted. By doing so, we can do good to all people, especially those in the family of believers, and ultimately bring glory to Jesus. [01:10:23]

Galatians 6:8-9 (ESV): "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you acted out of your own strength rather than relying on the Holy Spirit. How can you invite the Spirit to guide you in similar situations in the future?


Day 5: The Strength of Community
Staying out of the box requires the support of a community. We need others to help us recognize when we are in the box and to assist us in getting out. This mutual support strengthens the body of Christ and enables us to fulfill our calling. By being part of a community, we can hold each other accountable and encourage one another in our spiritual journeys. [59:07]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think about your current involvement in your church community. What is one way you can deepen your connection with others to provide and receive support in your spiritual walk?

Quotes

"But basically, the box represents what we like to call self-deception. We are deceiving ourselves. I'm in the box when I inflate my virtues and I deflate yours and I compare and I think I'm better than you. I'm in the box. That gets me in it. What gets me out of it is that I fix my gaze onto Jesus. I value you above me. That's Philippians 2. That's what Pastor Miles talked about last week and that's how we get out of the box when we connect to the life-changing power of Jesus. I see myself correctly and I put my gaze onto him." [00:47:04] (31 seconds)


"The context is that he was writing to correct false teaching that led them away from the gospel to reinforce that faith in Christ alone is the only way to receive salvation and to remind them that Christians are to live in guidance, in step with the Holy Spirit. That's the context. Right before that, he talks about the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, all that. And then the next verse, the next chapter, is this, how to stay out. Let's read it, verse 1. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, in other words, if they're in the box, you who live by the Spirit, he's talking to the believers, if the Spirit is in you, my dad would all the time say, who lives in you, Michael? And I'm like, who lives in you? If the Spirit is in you, then what? We should restore that person gently." [00:49:52] (52 seconds)


"Restoration must be done in a spirit of gentleness. And you might be going, well, how? Like, how do I have a spirit of gentleness? Here's how you have a spirit of gentleness. If you are in touch, if you are aware, self-aware enough to know that, hey, like, even though that person's in the box, I can't believe they're in the box. I'm so frustrated at them. And you can be gentle and restore that person when you are aware of your own fallenness, of your own sin, of your own mess. Realizing that, hey, I might be in that same box that they're in tomorrow. Or I was in that box yesterday. And so, therefore, I can have compassion and gentleness towards my brother and sister and restore them gently." [00:53:53] (40 seconds)


"But when someone thinks himself or herself to be something when he's nothing, it stifles burden bearing. When you think you're more than you actually are, it stifles the burden bearing. People out of pride refuse to give help, and they refuse to receive help. And Paul is trying to help us get out of this pattern, to get out of the pattern of being in the box, out of the box, to lay our ego and pride aside and let others help us." [00:58:11] (27 seconds)


"I'm a nothing to you. You're nothing. Like, we are nothing to one another. When we do that, that's how it works. The burdens of one another. And when we get that right, when we can do that, a beautiful thing happens in the body of Christ. I value you above me. You value me above you. We value each other over each other, and then no one is looked down upon, and everyone is lifted up when we, Philippians 2, value others above ourselves." [00:59:21] (29 seconds)


"will stay dark in the dark and when we shine a light on it the darkness flees and so if you continually hide and you don't confess it's like a petri dish of bacteria that's like it needs the darkness to like grow and fester and something small can become something big and so that's why we say shine a light on it continually confess to be healed my wife and i practice something and it's it's hard for me to do my pride my ego get in the way that when when i it's typically me right okay right guys typically me that says or does something dumb or stupid and i need to apologize i don't just say hey i'm sorry and okay we're good let's continue i need to humble myself a level deeper going will you forgive me i need to say those words saying will you forgive me is a lot harder to say than i'm sorry i don't know why but it is and then because that gives her the opportunity to you know to really say yes or no and when she says i forgive you it's like it's just a soothing balm to my soul i can go i don't know why but it is will you forgive me yes i forgive you i'm helping myself get out of the box and she's helping me stay out of the box we're healing each other" [01:04:51] (73 seconds)


"so let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don't give up in other words we stay out of the box when our sensitivity to the spirit grows that we don't sow to our flesh we don't just like get even be right in the fight do whatever you need to do to win no that puts you back in the box you're just sowing for the flesh to sow in the spirit to reap from the spirit eternal life these are eternal things we're talking about not just earthly things in other words like how what does that look like it could look like this it works for me maybe to work for you this is like a prayer that i go lord may i walk in step with your spirit because my sensitivity to you needs to grow lord would i become more aware of your presence god would you fill my heart with your love for that person because my love for that person my human nature my human capacity is done so lord i need your love your patience your kindness your gentleness for that person because mine is out that's what it the request is there may i become more aware of your spirit lord" [01:08:11] (69 seconds)


"Because when we do that, when we get it right, man, this place will change, and so will the Treasure Coast, all for the glory of Jesus. Amen? Let's pray. Father, in Jesus' name, thank you for this church. Thank you for everyone watching, listening. Lord, I pray that if anything I said was distracting would be forgotten about. But Lord, if there's anything from you that you really want to root in our hearts this morning that that would stick. God, I pray for the courage. Pray that we would have the courage to let others help us stay out of the box, to let someone in so that we could continually confess." [01:10:23] (53 seconds)


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Transcript
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