Rediscovering Soul Care: Embracing the Jesus Way
Summary
Summary:
In today's message, we explore the concept of "Soul Care: Rediscovering the Jesus Way." As we transition into a new year, it's crucial to pause and reflect on the state of our souls, which are often neglected in the hustle and bustle of modern life. The pace of life can distort our identity in Christ, leading to exhaustion and a sense of disconnection from our true selves. Soul care is not merely self-care; it is a deeper, more intentional practice of nurturing our inner life, as modeled by Jesus and taught by the early followers of "The Way."
Soul care involves understanding our identity as beloved children of God, created in His image, and filled with His Spirit. It requires us to declutter our lives, be mindful of our inputs, and engage in practices that promote spiritual vitality. One such practice is the "Daily Examen," a prayerful reflection on the day's events to discern God's presence and direction. This practice helps us cultivate gratitude, pay attention to our emotions, and seek God's guidance for the future.
As we embark on this journey of soul care, we are reminded that it is a lifelong process that requires patience, repetition, and a willingness to be gentle with ourselves. By tending to our souls, we can find wholeness and healing, enabling us to offer ourselves to a world in need of the good news of Jesus Christ. Let us embrace this opportunity to rediscover the Jesus way and live a life that reflects His love, joy, and peace.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Necessity of Soul Care:
Soul care is essential, not a luxury. It is the antidote to a culture of exhaustion and loneliness, offering a way to live with the soul in mind. By prioritizing our inner life, we align ourselves with the teachings of Jesus, who modeled a sustainable and joyful rhythm of life. [34:00]
2. Understanding Our Identity in Christ:
Recognizing our identity as beloved children of God is foundational to soul care. We are created in His image, filled with His Spirit, and recipients of His grace. This understanding transforms how we view ourselves and our purpose in life. [47:25]
3. The Practice of the Daily Examen:
The Daily Examen is a powerful tool for soul care, helping us to reflect on our day, recognize God's presence, and discern His direction. This practice fosters gratitude, emotional awareness, and a deeper connection with God. [49:44]
4. The Importance of Decluttering Our Lives:
To care for our souls, we must be intentional about what we consume—physically, mentally, and spiritually. By examining our inputs, we can identify what influences our emotions and behaviors, allowing us to make healthier choices. [54:05]
5. Embracing the Journey of Soul Care:
Soul care is a lifelong journey that requires patience and repetition. It involves cultivating habits that promote spiritual vitality and being gentle with ourselves as we grow. This journey leads to wholeness and healing, enabling us to live out our faith authentically. [56:28]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Soul Care
- [02:15] - The Busy Life and Soul Neglect
- [05:00] - Rediscovering the Jesus Way
- [08:45] - Understanding Our Identity in Christ
- [12:30] - The Impact of Life's Pace
- [16:00] - Soul Care vs. Self Care
- [20:00] - The Early Followers of The Way
- [24:00] - The Jesus Way and Life
- [28:00] - What is Soul Care?
- [34:00] - The Necessity of Soul Care
- [40:00] - The Soul's Connection to Life
- [47:25] - Embracing Our Identity in Christ
- [49:44] - Practicing the Daily Examen
- [54:05] - Decluttering Our Lives
- [56:28] - The Journey of Soul Care
- [59:59] - Communion and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Soul Care: Rediscovering the Jesus Way
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
2. Jeremiah 6:16 - "This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'"
3. John 14:6 - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 4:23 suggest about the importance of soul care in our daily lives? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on guarding our inner life? [34:00]
2. In Jeremiah 6:16, what are the "ancient paths" and how do they relate to finding rest for our souls? How does this connect to the sermon’s call to rediscover the Jesus way? [56:28]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between soul care and self-care? What examples were given to illustrate this distinction? [16:00]
4. What role does the "Daily Examen" play in soul care according to the sermon, and how is it practiced? [49:44]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might understanding our identity as beloved children of God influence our approach to soul care? What impact does this have on our sense of purpose? [47:25]
2. The sermon mentions the pace of modern life as a threat to our souls. How does this pace affect our spiritual well-being, and what steps can be taken to counteract it? [34:00]
3. In what ways does the practice of the Daily Examen help individuals recognize God's presence and direction in their lives? How does this practice foster gratitude and emotional awareness? [49:44]
4. How does the concept of decluttering our lives relate to soul care, and what practical steps can be taken to examine and adjust our inputs? [54:05]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current pace of life. Are there specific areas where you feel exhausted or disconnected from your true self? What changes can you make to prioritize soul care? [34:00]
2. Consider your identity in Christ as described in the sermon. How does this understanding shape your daily decisions and interactions with others? [47:25]
3. Have you ever practiced the Daily Examen or a similar reflective practice? If not, how might you incorporate it into your routine to enhance your spiritual awareness? [49:44]
4. Identify one area of your life that feels cluttered, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually. What steps can you take this week to declutter and create space for soul care? [54:05]
5. Think about a time when you felt particularly connected to God. What practices or habits contributed to that connection, and how can you cultivate them in your current life? [48:28]
6. How can you be gentle with yourself as you embark on the journey of soul care? What reminders or practices can help you maintain patience and persistence? [56:28]
7. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) to focus on this month. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [59:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing Soul Care in a Hectic World
Soul care is not a luxury but a necessity in today's fast-paced culture. It offers a counterbalance to the exhaustion and loneliness that often accompany modern life. By focusing on the well-being of our souls, we align ourselves with the teachings of Jesus, who demonstrated a sustainable and joyful rhythm of life. This involves intentionally nurturing our inner life, which can lead to a more fulfilling and connected existence. As we prioritize soul care, we create space for rest, reflection, and spiritual growth, allowing us to live with greater purpose and peace. [34:00]
"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling." (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to slow down and create space for soul care in your daily routine?
Day 2: Embracing Our Identity as Beloved Children of God
Understanding our identity in Christ is foundational to soul care. We are beloved children of God, created in His image and filled with His Spirit. This profound truth transforms how we view ourselves and our purpose in life. Recognizing our identity in Christ helps us to live with confidence and grace, knowing that we are recipients of His love and grace. As we embrace this identity, we can let go of the pressures to conform to the world's standards and instead live authentically as God intended. [47:25]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing you are a beloved child of God change the way you approach your daily challenges and interactions with others?
Day 3: Practicing the Daily Examen for Spiritual Awareness
The Daily Examen is a powerful tool for soul care, helping us to reflect on our day, recognize God's presence, and discern His direction. This practice involves prayerful reflection on the day's events, fostering gratitude, emotional awareness, and a deeper connection with God. By regularly engaging in the Daily Examen, we become more attuned to our emotions and God's guidance, allowing us to live more intentionally and with greater spiritual awareness. This practice can be a source of comfort and clarity as we navigate the complexities of life. [49:44]
"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: Set aside time today to practice the Daily Examen. What emotions or events from your day stand out, and how might God be speaking to you through them?
Day 4: Decluttering Our Lives for Spiritual Health
To care for our souls, we must be intentional about what we consume—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Decluttering our lives involves examining our inputs and identifying what influences our emotions and behaviors. By making healthier choices about what we allow into our lives, we can create an environment that supports spiritual vitality and growth. This process requires discernment and intentionality, as we seek to align our lives with God's purposes and priorities. [54:05]
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels cluttered or overwhelming? How can you begin to declutter this area to create space for spiritual growth?
Day 5: Embracing the Lifelong Journey of Soul Care
Soul care is a lifelong journey that requires patience, repetition, and a willingness to be gentle with ourselves. It involves cultivating habits that promote spiritual vitality and being open to growth and transformation. As we embark on this journey, we are reminded that it is not about perfection but about progress and wholeness. By tending to our souls, we can find healing and strength, enabling us to live out our faith authentically and offer ourselves to a world in need of the good news of Jesus Christ. [56:28]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one habit or practice you can commit to this week to nurture your soul and support your spiritual journey?
Quotes
marriage and freedom frut of the spirit, love and joy and peace for those who know the parable of the sower we will know this point all too well now some of you might be thinking pastor I'm just too busy for soul care I barely even have the time to breathe but I think that's precisely the point if we're too busy to care for our souls we're too busy just like we schedule time for work and for family and even for some of us we schedule time for our favourite TV shows we need to make time to care and tend to our souls and it's not this thing that we might think it's just a luxury it's actually a necessity and so today's sermon I've titled Soul Care Rediscovering the Jesus Way and over the coming weeks we'll be taking time to review the past year and also prepare for the year ahead and so let's just take this opportunity of a slower month and use this time to really set ourselves for the year ahead I always think that the month between the 25th of December or the 26th of December to the 26th of January Australia seems to just shut down in essence right we're watching the cricket we're watching the tennis and nothing really happens until after Australia Day and so let's take this time you won't want to miss the next couple of weeks because we're going to do some stuff I'm going to ask you actually to do some work over the next couple of weeks so it won't be just me talking you'll be asked to reflect to ponder, to contemplate you'll be asked to write down your thoughts and experiences and what I'm going to do is I'm going to guide you through that process by asking questions and giving you time to write it down and perhaps there's someone on your mind that you might go actually this might be good for them as well I ask you to invite them along as well to participate in this but I should warn you up front it will require you to be open to yourself and it may bring up some memories that will actually bring delight like really joyfulness but perhaps also distress and so my encouragement to you is to speak to me or one of the pastoral care team because here's what I believe and this is what the Bible says that you are precious and that you are wonderfully made in the image of God you know at Kingsford Church of Christ our mission is clear right we want you to know Christ and to make him known and we do this through words and through action we want you to have this deep and abiding relationship with Jesus and so the starting point is to know who you are in the family of Jesus and I've written a few points down from the Bible and they are this that your identity in the family of Jesus is that you are beloved you are an image bearer of God that you are part of God's family that you are spirit filled that you are a receiver of grace of God's grace and there's so much more and perhaps some words come to your mind now and you might want to note that down but God wants to conform us and to transform us into the image of his perfect son Jesus so that we might begin to understand that we are beloved that we are family that we are image bearers that we are spirit filled and here's what I've learnt from the past year the current pace of life is actually ruining and distorting who I am in Christ many times this past year I've felt this push and pull of leadership of life and those and those of you who are caring for young or maybe for the elderly know this so much more this pace of life if I can be honest with you all this pace of life is killing my soul and I suspect that for many of us we have felt this but perhaps we've not been able to articulate what that is but my point is this that there is another way to live life and it's called soul care not self care soul care soul care is a life described and it's modelled and lived out by Jesus it's taught by the desert mothers and fathers and neglected by the reformers of the church ignored in the church growth movement of the 70s to the 90s and is actually now being rediscovered by desperate men and women who are tired who are worn out who are burned out on this religion of hustle and bustle the early followers of Jesus were not called Christians until a very long long time they were actually they were not called Christians they described themselves and were actually known as followers of the way and if you read through Acts you'll see and I put them up there on the screen they're described as followers of the way why? [00:28:46]
because Jesus is the way the truth and the life and so here's the deal we've lost the way we've exchanged the way of Jesus for the business and the business and the business of things like church life work life and even life life we've built a lot of buildings and as thankful as I am about the facility that we have here we've not what we've failed to do is we've failed to build in resiliency souls that are satisfied and human beings that are content Eugene Peterson has said it best and probably most succinctly for us when he said this the Jesus way combined with the Jesus truth will yield the Jesus life and so what if we could rediscover this way and actually to begin to live it right this is the promise and the hope that soul care offers and so what is soul care? [00:34:00] (68 seconds)
soul care is not an effort to patch us up to survive right it's actually the antidote to a culture where exhaustion is the norm where loneliness is the standard way we describe I suppose our heart ailments soul care is living with the soul in mind it is heeding Solomon's words in Proverbs chapter 4 where he writes above all else guard your hearts for from it flows everything above all else is actually correctly translated in modern day English as it's the most important thing a human can do is to take care of the inner life if we are null and void on the inside if we are numb and if we are burned out then how in the world is this life worthy to be called actually life worth living at all Dallas Willard one of the great famous forerunners I suppose of this soul care spiritual direction he actually says this the exhausted life is not the abundant life the possibility and threat of running on empty is at the core of the entire teaching of Jesus right when you read through the words of Jesus think for a moment the times in which Jesus came right we've just come out of Christmas but think of think of when we're when he was born right he was born into an occupied country and shaped by thousands of religious prohibitions Jesus arrived on the scene teaching us a whole other way of living and a radically different paradigm to reimagining our image of God which was shaped by Jewish prophets who wrote who got some things right and actually got some things wrong I think what we get wrong and the world often gets wrong is that we see God as far that he is distant that he is demanding that he is angry you know that was a common belief of that time as well as today and yet Jesus came and he came calling God in the most adoring of all terms dad daddy right an intimate term of affection and experience his model of life included this rhythm of life that was both sustainable enjoyable and doable and put simply the way to live the way to live taught by Jesus involved this basic rhythm of engaging with our work then learning to disengage with work to enjoy to enjoy time with friends and family to enjoy time eating together and share deeply from the heart and so what concerns me most is that we the church can sometimes be seen as the living dead too tired to resist a culture bent on shaping us to the machines or the machinations of the world and so accepting of everyone and everything that we ignore our plight of being soul sick and dis eased that we really don't know what the antidote is to our soul sickness living with the soul in mind requires this paradigm shift of first learning actually what really is the soul after all we won't take care of what we do not understand you know from an early age we are educated to study to be something but this is quickly replaced by the mantra to not be something but actually to something understanding the soul reveals how fearfully and wonderfully made we we all are the soul gives dignity it gives worth and value and we all have worth we all we are all created in the image of a loving God who has us in mind since the beginning all of us all races all tribes all people are children of God and so what is the soul and I put up there the soul is the real me it's all of me it's my body it's my past it's my passions it's my wounds it's my history my soul is the real me it is both a mixture of glory and ruin and many of us we actually get we understand the ruin part but we have not adequately adequately explored the glory you know one of the joys I have is to see another person for who they really are an image of the creator a bearer of that same nature I suppose taking a line from from one of the Christmas carols it's the thrill of hope that makes this soul that is weary feel that there is hope you know for the longest time for me personally my greatest joy is in seeing people recognize and then realize who they are in Christ right all of themselves their gifts their talents their work towards becoming who Christ has created them all right it's like the it's like the movie chariots of fire the guy who was running there was a Christian and he says that he feels the greatest joy and he feels the love of God most deeply when he runs right and so our challenge for all of us is to identify how God has created us what gifts has he given us and to live in the way that God has created us and that's my life mission not just for me but to help each and every one of you to see that all right the soul is the real me it's all of me it's all of you soul is what lives forever and at the present time has the physical address of our own unique physical bodies and let's face it like you know regardless of what the internet says we are more than just our bodies we are souls Dallas Willard reminds us that we are spiritual beings actually having a physical experience and if we understand this this grounding opens us up into this whole and new and other way of living to care for the soul is to care for the whole person right not just our spiritual life doing bible studies you know or just serving right it's more than that in every soul there is this there are historical things that have shaped us or perhaps even misshaped us there are relationships that have helped us and there are relationships that have hindered us there is our rich emotional life and how we experience our feelings or lack of feelings and awareness there is this vocational aspect of our soul our work our mission our life's purpose is actually embedded deep within us and it actually requires attention and requires cultivation and care there is our physical being all of these aspects are actually connected together in our souls I suppose if we think of it like a computer it's like the central processing unit when the CPU goes out nothing works and so it is with our soul the soul is where everything is connected and where everything is housed and of course there is the spiritual life right the faith that we live and believe and so caring for the soul involves an inner journey to find wholeness and healing and from that place with motivations reset and rhythms in place we can offer ourselves to a broken world that needs this good news you know the old prophet Jeremiah he describes a way of living that what he did during his time and he too was concerned at the way of how to live life he said in Jeremiah chapter six thus says the Lord stand at the crossroads and look and ask for the ancient paths where the good way lies and walk in it and find rest for your souls but they said we will not walk in it Eugene Peterson he wrote the message version he translated in you know I suppose a street version way of talking and here's what Eugene Peterson says he says go stand at the crossroads and look around ask for directions to the old road the tried and true road then take it discover the route for your souls but they said nothing doing we aren't going that way I even provided watchmen for them to warn them to set off the alarm but the people said it's false alarm it doesn't concern us and so how do we begin soul care it starts with decluttering our lives who we listen to who and what we read or watch I want you to become curious with your input what you feed yourselves not just physical food but also all the other input into your lives what you watch what you listen to become curious about that because once you connect your input with your output you may begin to see a connection you may begin to see why am I so short tempered why am I angry why am I this or that pay attention to what is in your input conversely you might say actually I'm feeling at peace regardless of what what's happening around the world I'm seeing people with a new love with a new way of living and perhaps that's the influence of the Holy Spirit on you and so soul care requires an intentional choice you know we have you know let's face it we have so many options in life that we must learn to choose healthy ways to be and healthy ways to live so as we contemplate this new year begin with the choice to live with your soul in mind and heart understanding soul care properly requires us to accept that caring for our souls happens not just on this outer level but at our cellular level right down deep and actually here's the thing you [00:35:08] (0 seconds)
It requires a very, very long time to understand this message. [00:47:56] (6 seconds)
And for me personally, I feel like I'm just only at the beginning stages of all of this. [00:47:58] (5 seconds)
But I believe this is so important for us. And this is why I'm sharing this message with you, right? It takes a lot of practice and lots of beginning and then beginning again. [00:48:09] (11 seconds)
And a massive amount of being gentle with yourself. [00:48:14] (6 seconds)
And here's the reason why. I think we're just so steeped in our patterns and ways of, and left brain ways of thinking that we actually ignore the power of repetition and what is called soul memory, or as we call it, muscle memory. [00:48:18] (14 seconds)
I remember in my primary and high school years, I did Kumon, that math thing. And the thing was all about repetition. [00:48:24] (12 seconds)
You know, you keep doing the same things over and over again so that you actually remember what, you know, the answer. [00:48:28] (7 seconds)
Same with exercise, same with a lot of things, right? It is about repetition. [00:48:32] (5 seconds)
Engaging in the practice of nurturing the soul is an intentional process of cultivating habits and actions that promote vitality and well -being. Okay. The language of the soul is actually life -giving and it's so contagious, right? [00:48:35] (20 seconds)
You know that there are people who care for their souls because there's just such a joy to be around and you just want to be around those people, right? Caring for the soul involves this inner journey to find wholeness and healing. And from that place, we can find motivations to reset and rhythms in place. [00:48:48] (21 seconds)
And so here's what I want all of us to put into practice. In our lives. [00:48:54] (5 seconds)
And it begins with looking for God's presence in your daily life. That's the beginning. Looking for God in your daily life, right? There was this practice developed more than 400 years ago by St. Ignatius who encouraged prayer -filled mindfulness by proposing what has been called the daily examine. [00:48:56] (22 seconds)
The examine is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God's presence and to discern his direction for us. [00:49:06] (11 seconds)
And I want you to try this particular version of St. Ignatius' prayer, right? This tool, the daily examine, it's a powerful tool. [00:49:16] (10 seconds)
And this ancient practice helps us to connect with God and reflect on our day in a meaningful way. [00:49:21] (7 seconds)
Through the daily examine, we learn to recognize God's presence, practice gratitude, pay attention to our emotions. [00:49:26] (9 seconds)
Pray from our experiences and seek guidance for the future. [00:49:31] (6 seconds)
And what I'm going to lead you through next week is not just a daily examine. It's actually a yearly examine, right? We're going to look at our past, past and the past year in particular, and then look at the year ahead. [00:49:33] (13 seconds)
And so the daily examine is this. The first one is become aware of God's presence. All right. Look back on the events of the day. And perhaps you, you might need a journal or a diary or something to write in to help you with this, to look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. [00:50:11] (24 seconds)
And the day itself may seem confusing to you, a blur, a jumble, but ask God to bring clarity and understanding, right? A daily examine, generally it's done at the end of the day. [00:50:34] (14 seconds)
And so you look at the day. Okay. And then you review the day with gratitude, right? Gratitude, as Deanna said earlier, gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. [00:50:48] (16 seconds)
You know, walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. What, what, what brought joy and delight in that day? [00:51:04] (11 seconds)
Focus on the day's gifts. [00:51:17] (3 seconds)
Look at the work you did. Look at the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? [51:19] (7 seconds)
What did you give them? Right? Pay attention to the small things, things like the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures, right? We just did a practice of that before today's sermon. [00:51:31] (16 seconds)
Coming up to another person, smiling, greeting someone, getting to know them, right? These are, these are the small joys. These are the details that God wants you to see and to give thanks. [00:51:45] (15 seconds)
Number three is pay attention to your emotions. [00:51:59] (5 seconds)
Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Was it boredom? Was it elation? Was it resentment? Was it compassion? [00:52:11] (10 seconds)
Perhaps it was anger or confidence. And then ask yourself, what is God saying through these feelings? [00:52:21] (11 seconds)
And God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. [00:52:31] (6 seconds)
And make note of these. Sins and faults. But look much more deeply for other implications. [00:52:39] (12 seconds)
For example, does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you to consider a new direction in some area of your life? All right. [00:52:49] (14 seconds)
Perhaps you are concerned with a friend. [00:52:53] (4 seconds)
And if you are, consider reaching out to him or her in some way. Number four is this. Choose one feature of the day. And pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. [00:52:57] (20 seconds)
It may involve a feeling, positive or negative. [00:53:07] (4 seconds)
It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. [00:53:11] (8 seconds)
Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. And so I just want you to look at it. Pray about it. Pray about it. Pray about it. Pray about it. Pray about it. And number five. Look towards tomorrow. [00:53:18] (21 seconds)
Ask God to give you light for tomorrow's challenges. [00:53:38] (5 seconds)
Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what's coming up. [00:53:43] (6 seconds)
Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Are you anxious? [00:53:50] (8 seconds)
allow these feelings to turn into prayer. [00:54:01] (5 seconds)
Perhaps you're worried about the next day. Allow it to guide you in prayer. Seek God's guidance. [00:54:05] (8 seconds)
Ask him for help and understanding. And pray for hope. St. Ignatius encouraged people to talk to Jesus like a friend. And so end the daily examine with a conversation with Jesus. [00:54:11] (18 seconds)