Overcoming Shame: Embracing Forgiveness and Community
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church! Today, we celebrated baptisms and shared some important updates about our service times and the upcoming Parker County campus launch. We then dove into a powerful and personal message from 2 Samuel 11, focusing on King David's story. David, chosen by God and anointed as king, made a grave mistake by committing adultery with Bathsheba and then trying to cover it up. This story highlights the tension many of us feel between loving Jesus and living for Him.
We explored this tension, acknowledging that while our spirits are redeemed, our flesh is still in the process of sanctification. This ongoing struggle is something even the Apostle Paul experienced, as he wrote in Romans 7. The good news is that this tension is part of our journey, and we are not alone in it.
I shared my personal journey of dealing with shame, an often overlooked but deeply impactful issue. Shame can lead to various negative behaviors and even affect our brain's functioning. We discussed how unresolved shame can sabotage our lives and how important it is to bring it into the light.
To overcome shame, we need to embrace forgiveness and redemption, accept God's love and acceptance, and seek community and support. Embracing forgiveness means not only accepting God's forgiveness but also forgiving ourselves. Accepting God's love reminds us that we are loved unconditionally because of Jesus. Finally, embracing community means sharing our burdens with others and seeking help when needed.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Tension Between Loving Jesus and Living for Jesus: As believers, we often experience a tension between our love for Jesus and our ability to live according to His teachings. This tension is a natural part of our spiritual journey, as our spirit is redeemed but our flesh is still being sanctified. Even the Apostle Paul experienced this struggle, reminding us that we are not alone in it.
2. The Impact of Unresolved Shame: Unresolved shame can have a profound impact on our lives, leading to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and even physical symptoms. It can disintegrate the way our brain processes information, making it difficult to hear the Holy Spirit. Addressing and healing from shame is crucial for our spiritual and emotional well-being.
3. Embracing Forgiveness and Redemption: To overcome shame, we must embrace the forgiveness and redemption offered by Jesus. This means not only accepting God's forgiveness but also forgiving ourselves. When we hold ourselves in contempt, we undermine the complete forgiveness that God has extended to us.
4. Accepting God's Love and Acceptance: God's love for us is unconditional and not based on our actions. Our identity is not defined by our past mistakes but by what Jesus has done for us. Accepting this truth helps us overcome the lies of shame and embrace our new identity in Christ.
5. The Importance of Community and Support: We are not meant to carry our burdens alone. Embracing community and support means sharing our struggles with trusted individuals who can help us bring our hidden shame into the light. This process is essential for healing and experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us.
### YouTube Chapters
- Welcome
- Service Time Changes
- Parker County Campus Launch
- Introduction to 2 Samuel 11
- Significance of King David
- David's Mistake
- The Tension Between Loving and Living for Jesus
- Apostle Paul's Struggle
- Personal Journey of Dealing with Shame
- Impact of Unresolved Shame
- Embracing Forgiveness and Redemption
- Accepting God's Love and Acceptance
- Importance of Community and Support
- Invitation to Accept Jesus
- Closing and Celebration
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 2 Samuel 11:1-5 - The story of David and Bathsheba.
2. Romans 7:18-25 - Apostle Paul's struggle with sin.
3. Isaiah 54:4 - God's promise to remove shame.
### Observation Questions
1. What was King David's initial mistake in 2 Samuel 11:1-5, and how did it lead to further sin? [06:10]
2. According to Romans 7:18-25, how does Paul describe the struggle between wanting to do good and actually doing it? [12:16]
3. In Isaiah 54:4, what does God promise regarding shame and disgrace?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does David's story in 2 Samuel 11 illustrate the tension between loving God and living according to His will? [09:57]
2. What does Paul's struggle in Romans 7:18-25 teach us about the ongoing battle between our redeemed spirit and our flesh? [12:16]
3. How can unresolved shame, as discussed in the sermon, impact a person's spiritual and emotional well-being? [19:12]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced the tension between loving Jesus and living for Him. How did you navigate that struggle? [09:57]
2. Have you ever felt the impact of unresolved shame in your life? What steps can you take to address and heal from it? [19:12]
3. How can you embrace God's forgiveness and redemption more fully in your life? Are there specific areas where you need to forgive yourself? [23:28]
4. In what ways can you remind yourself daily of God's unconditional love and acceptance? How does this truth change your perspective on past mistakes? [26:23]
5. Do you have a community or support system where you can share your burdens and seek help? If not, what steps can you take to build such a community? [29:59]
6. Think about a specific area of your life where you feel shame. How can you bring this into the light and seek healing? [32:40]
7. How can you support others in your small group who might be dealing with shame or unresolved issues? What practical steps can you take to be there for them? [30:58]
Devotional
### Day 1: The Tension Between Loving Jesus and Living for Jesus
As believers, we often experience a tension between our love for Jesus and our ability to live according to His teachings. This tension is a natural part of our spiritual journey, as our spirit is redeemed but our flesh is still being sanctified. Even the Apostle Paul experienced this struggle, reminding us that we are not alone in it. This ongoing struggle is something even the Apostle Paul experienced, as he wrote in Romans 7. The good news is that this tension is part of our journey, and we are not alone in it.
Bible Passage: "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself struggling to live out your love for Jesus? How can you invite the Holy Spirit into this struggle today?
### Day 2: The Impact of Unresolved Shame
Unresolved shame can have a profound impact on our lives, leading to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and even physical symptoms. It can disintegrate the way our brain processes information, making it difficult to hear the Holy Spirit. Addressing and healing from shame is crucial for our spiritual and emotional well-being. Shame can lead to various negative behaviors and even affect our brain's functioning. We discussed how unresolved shame can sabotage our lives and how important it is to bring it into the light.
Bible Passage: "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer." (Psalm 32:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a moment in your life where you felt deep shame. How has this unresolved shame affected your relationship with God and others? What steps can you take to bring this shame into the light?
### Day 3: Embracing Forgiveness and Redemption
To overcome shame, we must embrace the forgiveness and redemption offered by Jesus. This means not only accepting God's forgiveness but also forgiving ourselves. When we hold ourselves in contempt, we undermine the complete forgiveness that God has extended to us. Embracing forgiveness means not only accepting God's forgiveness but also forgiving ourselves. Accepting God's love reminds us that we are loved unconditionally because of Jesus.
Bible Passage: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have struggled to forgive yourself? How can you begin to accept God's forgiveness and extend that same grace to yourself today?
### Day 4: Accepting God's Love and Acceptance
God's love for us is unconditional and not based on our actions. Our identity is not defined by our past mistakes but by what Jesus has done for us. Accepting this truth helps us overcome the lies of shame and embrace our new identity in Christ. God's love reminds us that we are loved unconditionally because of Jesus.
Bible Passage: "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of God's love. How can you remind yourself today that God's love is unconditional and not based on your actions?
### Day 5: The Importance of Community and Support
We are not meant to carry our burdens alone. Embracing community and support means sharing our struggles with trusted individuals who can help us bring our hidden shame into the light. This process is essential for healing and experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us. Embracing community means sharing our burdens with others and seeking help when needed.
Bible Passage: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Who are the trusted individuals in your life with whom you can share your struggles? How can you reach out to them this week to seek support and bring your hidden shame into the light?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Can I remind you today that God's got big plans for your life. Didn't we just sing about it earlier that our Father has good, good plans for us? Listen to me, friend. If you've surrendered your life to Jesus, God's got a plan for your life. The Bible says that he orders the steps of the righteous. Who are the righteous? Are they good people? No, they're saved people. So if you've given your life to Jesus, when the Bible references the righteous, it's talking about you. Not your righteousness, but the righteousness of Jesus." (31 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Have you ever experienced the tension between loving Jesus and living for Jesus? Have you ever noticed as a believer how complicated that tension is? Because, again, most of us in this room would say, man, I know that I love Jesus. Like, I've committed my life to him. I know that he's saved me. I know that he's forgiven me. I know I get to spend eternity with him. So I know that I love Jesus. But at the same time, man, I still have thoughts I shouldn't have. I still choose sin sometimes. I still make mistakes." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The bad news is that we're going to experience this tension, and we're going to live in this tension for the rest of our life on this planet. And the reason that's a fact is because we still live in a broken, fallen world. And also, you're still not perfect. Let me just remind you, you are a triune being. You are spirit, soul, and body. When you gave your life to Jesus at that moment, your spirit was made alive. Your spirit is the only perfect, redeemed part of who you are. The rest of you is in process." (30 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In order to overcome shame, we have to embrace forgiveness and redemption. Friend, can I remind you that you have been forgiven? Come on. Everybody say, I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven. And listen, you know that. You've been in church long enough to know that you are forgiven. But listen. If we know that. If we know that. Why aren't we living like that? Because see, for some of you, you know that God's forgiven you. You know that your past, present, and future sins have been forgiven. But here's the problem you have is the same problem I had. Here's what you think. God, you know what? I appreciate your forgiveness. I appreciate your mercy and your grace for those things that I've done. And God, I know that you don't hold me in contempt, but God, I'll hold myself in contempt." (51 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God loves you, not because you're an awesome person. God loves you. Not because the good outweighs the bad. God loves you unconditionally because of what Jesus has done for you. Hey, friend, listen to me. You got to hear this. And I know you hear this in church all the time. So I just need you to pull yourself out of that, you know, the numbness to listening to this. Listen to me, friend. You are loved. You're loved. Yeah, Zach, but you don't know what I've done. You don't know my past. You don't know where I've been. You don't know my thoughts. I don't have to. I don't have to. Listen to me, friend. You're loved. And he knows all of it. That's some of it. I don't care what you're hiding from your loved ones. He knows all of it. And you're loved." (49 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And what happens to us as believers as we get caught up in this tension of loving Jesus and living for Jesus, and it drives us insane, doesn't it? I mean, I don't know about you, but this tension, it's exhausting. Listen, I've got good news and bad news for you. Which one do you want first? I'm going to give you the bad news because that's how my notes read. So we're going to go with that one first. The bad news is that we're going to experience. We're going to experience this tension, and we're going to live in this tension for the rest of our life on this planet. And the reason that's a fact is because we still live in a broken, fallen world. And also, you're still not perfect." (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Apostle Paul is pointing out here that this tension between loving Jesus and living for Jesus seems to be a part of the journey. Listen to me, friend, you're not alone and I need you to hear that and understand that because here's what happens when we live in this tension. We think we're alone and then the enemy makes us think, you know what? Do you really love Jesus? Look at how you live. Are you really saved? Look at the thoughts you just had and we get caught up in this mind game with up between us and the enemy and our own thoughts, questioning our salvation and the Apostle Paul here says this. Listen, this tension, it's a part of the journey." (38 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so I started this journey, this journey of identifying what are my insecurities because I got them. I've got insecurities. And then I started to identify, man, what are some of the traumas from my past that I've never really dealt with? And so I began this journey of bringing health to my soul within this past January. The Lord kept putting something in front of me that I'd never really considered for myself. I've considered it for you. I've preached about it to you, but I've never really considered it for myself. And, and, and here's what the Lord pointed out. To me, you know, Zach, it's, it's good that you're identifying your insecurities. It's good that you're dealing with with trauma and allowing healing to happen there. But you know what, Zach, you've never dealt with your shame." (43 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And when I felt what the Lord told me that I was like, I was I was born away for a moment because I thought, wait a second, God's shame. Really? Like I'm a pastor, God, like I preach on shame. My life versus Romans five, a God demonstrates his own love for us in this while we were yet sinners, Christ, staff for us, which means all of our past, present and future sins are forgiven. I got, what do you mean? I haven't dealt with my shame. And then the Lord pointed out, you know, as Zach, the problem isn't between me and you. The problem is between you and yourself because you don't feel shame when it comes to your relationship with me, but you feel shame when you think about the things of your past that you've yet to deal with." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Some of you in this room, when we're talking about the soul, your mind, will, and emotions, you're not okay. Can I just tell you this, friend? It's okay to not be okay, but the beauty of God's plan for our life is we don't have to stay there. A year ago, I had to take over the church. a step back and i had to say i'm not okay god has more for me there's room for more health in my soul and i had to come to the only realization no one forced me to do this no one drug me alone but i had to take a step back and say you know what i'm not okay and i want to do something about that and so i began this journey that i've been sharing with for some of you there's men in this room that you're a lot like me you've got some things hidden in your soul and you you want to keep them in the dark because why in the world would i want to bring that into the lights out i've made it this far i've survived this long why in the world would i want to bring what's in the dark into the light here's the thing friend let me just tell you this time does not heal everything you've just gotten used to the pain and when you get used to pain like that friend it's not a matter of if but it's a matter of when will begin to affect your life if it's not already but it doesn't have to be that way we can deal with that shame we can take those things in our soul they're in the dark and we can bring them into the light." (99 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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