Rebuilding Life After Captivity: Embracing New Beginnings
Summary
Welcome, Saddleback family! Today marks a historic moment as we gather for public worship for the first time in over a year, with the exception of our Berlin and Santa Rosa campuses. This past year has been a challenging journey, akin to a period of captivity, where our freedoms were limited and our lives confined. Yet, despite these challenges, our church has thrived, reaching over 20,000 new believers during the pandemic. As we emerge from this time of captivity, we are presented with a unique opportunity to reset our lives and build a better future.
The Bible offers guidance through the post-exile books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, which were written to encourage God's people as they returned from captivity. These books provide principles for rebuilding and strengthening our lives after a period of trauma. Today, I want to introduce seven principles to help us re-enter the world and build a better life.
First, expect to feel mixed emotions. Just as the Israelites experienced both joy and sadness when they returned to Jerusalem, we too may feel conflicting emotions as we resume public worship and navigate a changed world. It's normal to grieve what was lost while celebrating what is to come.
Second, extract the lessons learned during this past year. Before rushing back into life, take time to reflect on the spiritual truths and insights gained during the pandemic. Write them down to ensure they are not forgotten and can be shared with future generations.
Third, evaluate everything before resuming it. Not everything we did before the pandemic needs to be restarted. Use this opportunity to reset your life, establish new habits, and let go of activities that were unfulfilling or harmful.
Fourth, engage slowly. Trauma has drained our energy, and we must be kind to ourselves by pacing our re-entry into the world. God's timing is perfect, and progress is often gradual. Trust in His plan and be patient as we move forward.
These principles are just the beginning. In the coming weeks, we will explore more ways to build a better life with God's guidance. Remember, rely on God's Spirit for the strength and wisdom to navigate this new season.
Key Takeaways:
1. Expect Mixed Emotions: As we re-enter life post-pandemic, it's normal to feel both joy and sadness. The Israelites experienced similar emotions when returning from captivity. Embrace these mixed feelings as part of the human experience. [12:34]
2. Extract Lessons Learned: Reflect on the past year's experiences and write down the lessons learned. This ensures that the challenges faced are not wasted and can provide valuable insights for the future. [16:17]
3. Evaluate Before Resuming: Not everything from our pre-pandemic life needs to be resumed. Use this time to reset and establish new, fulfilling habits. Let go of activities that no longer serve you. [21:20]
4. Engage Slowly: Trauma has drained our energy, and we must pace ourselves as we re-enter the world. Trust in God's timing, which is often slower than we desire but always for our benefit. [29:14]
5. Rely on God's Spirit: Don't depend solely on your willpower. Seek God's guidance and strength through a daily connection with Jesus Christ to navigate this new season successfully. [36:07]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Historic Day for Saddleback
- [01:18] - Personal Reflections
- [02:22] - Pandemic Impact and Growth
- [03:13] - Concept of Captivity
- [04:30] - Emancipation and Freedom
- [05:06] - Re-entering a Changed World
- [06:07] - Trauma and Change
- [07:31] - Building a Better Life Series
- [09:20] - Seven Principles Overview
- [10:01] - Expect Mixed Emotions
- [15:41] - Extract Lessons Learned
- [20:18] - Evaluate Before Resuming
- [26:02] - Engage Slowly
- [32:41] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ezra 3:10-13
2. Haggai 1:7-8
3. Galatians 3:4
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Observation Questions:
1. In Ezra 3:10-13, what were the mixed emotions experienced by the Israelites when they laid the foundation of the new Temple? How did these emotions manifest during their worship? [12:20]
2. According to Haggai 1:7-8, what does God instruct the people to do as they come out of captivity? What does this reveal about God's priorities for His people? [21:56]
3. In Galatians 3:4, what concern does Paul express about the experiences of the believers? How does this relate to the importance of learning from past experiences? [16:34]
4. How did the sermon describe the concept of captivity, and how does it relate to the experiences of the past year during the pandemic? [03:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What might be the significance of experiencing mixed emotions, as described in Ezra 3:10-13, when returning to a familiar yet changed environment? How can these emotions be both a challenge and an opportunity? [12:34]
2. How does the instruction in Haggai 1:7-8 to "take a good, hard look at your life" apply to the process of rebuilding after a period of captivity or trauma? What might this look like in practical terms? [21:56]
3. In what ways can the lessons learned during a challenging period, as mentioned in Galatians 3:4, be preserved and shared with future generations? Why is it important not to let these experiences be wasted? [16:34]
4. The sermon mentioned the concept of "resetting" one's life post-pandemic. How does this idea align with the biblical principles found in the post-exile books? [07:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced mixed emotions during a significant life change. How did you navigate those feelings, and what can you learn from that experience as you re-enter life post-pandemic? [12:34]
2. What are some specific lessons you have learned during the past year that you want to carry forward? How can you ensure these lessons are not forgotten? [16:17]
3. Identify one area of your life that you need to evaluate before resuming it post-pandemic. What steps can you take to determine whether it should be restarted or left behind? [21:20]
4. How can you practice engaging slowly as you re-enter the world? What are some practical ways to pace yourself and avoid burnout? [29:14]
5. In what ways can you rely more on God's Spirit rather than your own willpower as you navigate this new season? What daily practices can help strengthen your connection with Jesus Christ? [36:07]
6. Consider the concept of captivity as described in the sermon. How has the past year felt like a period of captivity for you, and what steps can you take to embrace the freedom and opportunities that lie ahead? [04:30]
7. How can you be empathetic towards others who are experiencing mixed emotions during this time of transition? What actions can you take to support and encourage them? [14:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Complexity of Emotions
As we re-enter life post-pandemic, it is natural to experience a mix of emotions, including both joy and sadness. This duality is reminiscent of the Israelites' return to Jerusalem after captivity, where they felt both the joy of freedom and the sorrow of what was lost. Acknowledging these mixed emotions is an essential part of the human experience. It is important to allow yourself to feel and process these emotions without judgment, understanding that they are a normal response to change and transition. [12:34]
Ezra 3:12-13 (ESV): "But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away."
Reflection: What mixed emotions are you experiencing as you transition back to normalcy? How can you create space to process these feelings with God today?
Day 2: Preserve the Wisdom of the Past Year
Reflecting on the past year's experiences is crucial to ensure that the lessons learned are not forgotten. The challenges faced during the pandemic have provided valuable insights that can guide us in the future. Take time to write down these lessons, capturing the spiritual truths and insights gained. This practice not only helps in personal growth but also allows you to share these learnings with future generations, ensuring that the wisdom gained is preserved and utilized. [16:17]
Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV): "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children."
Reflection: What is one significant lesson you learned during the pandemic? How can you document and share this lesson with others?
Day 3: Discern What to Resume
As life begins to return to normal, it is important to evaluate which aspects of your pre-pandemic life are worth resuming. Not everything needs to be restarted. This is an opportunity to reset your life, establish new habits, and let go of activities that were unfulfilling or harmful. By discerning what truly adds value to your life, you can focus on building a more meaningful and fulfilling future. [21:20]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (ESV): "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted."
Reflection: What is one activity or habit from your pre-pandemic life that you feel called to let go of? How can you begin to release it today?
Day 4: Pace Yourself in Re-entry
Re-entering the world after a period of trauma requires patience and kindness towards oneself. The energy drained by trauma means that progress may be slower than desired. Trust in God's perfect timing, which often unfolds gradually. By pacing yourself and being patient, you allow for a more sustainable and healthy transition into this new season of life. [29:14]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel rushed or pressured to move quickly? How can you practice patience and trust in God's timing today?
Day 5: Depend on Divine Guidance
Navigating this new season successfully requires more than just willpower; it requires reliance on God's Spirit. By seeking God's guidance and strength through a daily connection with Jesus Christ, you can find the wisdom and support needed to face the challenges ahead. This dependence on divine guidance ensures that you are not navigating this journey alone but are supported by a higher power. [36:07]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's guidance? How can you intentionally seek His direction today?
Quotes
Now, in the old Testament, there are five books of encouragement that were written to God's people to encourage them and to tell them what to do when they were finally released from 70 years of captivity in Babylon. These are called the post-exile books. And these post-captivity books are the ones we're gonna look at for the next couple of weeks. [00:08:02]
Expect to feel mixed emotions. Now, let me give you the background on this. When people were allowed to return to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, they found that their homes and the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, their house of worship, were completely destroyed. Everything was in ruins. So the first thing they did was they started to rebuild the house of worship. [00:10:12]
Don't be surprised if you feel mixed emotions, and even conflicting emotions, as you reenter life after this pandemic. And as we begin public worship services, again, you know we're having to spread chairs out. We're having to wear masks. You know, things are different right now. We're easing into this, but you know, you can feel joy that we're finally back together. [00:12:34]
Extract the lessons that I learned in this past year of restrictions. As restrictions are eased and opportunities are open up around you, before you rush off and start a bunch of new things, here's what God wants you to do. He wants you to pause for a moment and he wants you to consider the lessons that you learned in the last year. [00:15:41]
Write down the lessons that you learned in the last year of the pandemic so you don't forget them. Write them down so you don't forget them, write them down so you can review them, write them down so you can share them with other generations. Don't let this last year be wasted. Okay, you went through all that pain. Make sure you take the time to glean some spiritual truths. [00:16:17]
Evaluate everything before resuming it. All right, this is gonna be really important for you to do, for your future. Evaluate everything, reevaluate everything you do before you automatically resume it. Don't just automatically say, well, I'm gonna go back and start doing everything I did before the pandemic. 'Cause there was some stuff you were doing before the pandemic. [00:20:18]
And there are things that God wants you to stop doing because they were harmful to you. So, as I said, God is giving you an amazing opportunity to reset your life, that's what this series is all about, and build a better life, a better you for the rest of your life. But that begins with evaluating and analyzing and examining what you were doing before the pandemic. [00:21:20]
Engage slowly, don't get in a hurry, go slow. Don't be in a rush to restart everything all at once just because you have the freedom to do it. Let me just tell you something you may not realize. You don't have the same energy level that you did before this pandemic. You say, how do you know that? Because you've been in a trauma for a year and trauma drains you. [00:26:02]
God wants you to trust him. You know, the people who are in a hurry to get everything to go back to the way they imagined it was in the past, the prophet Habakkuk had a word for them. And let me show you that verse. Habakkuk chapter two, verse three, God says this, "At the appointed time that I have decided everything I've planned will happen," okay? [00:29:14]
In God's sovereign plan, delays are always for our benefit. Write that down. In God's sovereign plan for your life delays are always for your benefit. So go slow. Pacing growth. Don't try, Rome isn't built in a day. Don't try to just flip a switch and say we're gonna go back to the way it was. Now, we've only covered four of these seven principles. [00:31:41]
Rely on God's spirit to give you the insight and the direction and the wisdom and the power to re-enter the world in a healthy way. How do you get that power? Well, it's real simple: from a daily connection with Jesus Christ. If you don't have that, you need to start a daily connection, a daily time with God. If you've never had any connection with Jesus Christ. [00:36:07]
So let me wrap it up real quickly with a review. First, God wants you to realize that having mixed emotions after all of the changes this past year is normal and it's natural and it's human and it is to be expected. So, be kind to yourself and be kind to everybody else. You're gonna have often conflict in emotions as you re-enter because so many things have changed. [00:33:41]
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