Transforming Our Narratives: Discovering God and Ourselves
Summary
### Summary
Welcome back, everyone! It's so wonderful to see familiar faces and be with you all again. Today, I want to talk about the stories we tell ourselves—about God and about ourselves. These narratives shape our understanding and relationship with God. The Bible is predominantly narrative, filled with stories that reveal who God is and who we are in relation to Him. From Genesis to the Gospels, these stories are not just historical accounts but invitations to see and know God deeply.
I shared a quote often attributed to John Calvin: "The most important thoughts we have are about who we believe God to be and who we believe ourselves to be." This idea is central to our faith journey. What do we believe about God? What do we believe about ourselves? These questions are crucial because they influence how we live and interact with the world.
I focused on the stories Jesus told, particularly His parables, to illustrate how these narratives reveal God's character and our identity. For instance, the parable of the treasure and the merchant shows that God is our treasure, and we are His treasure. This mutual treasuring is foundational to understanding our relationship with God.
We often tell ourselves stories that aren't true, especially when we face rejection or failure. These false narratives can distort our perception of God and ourselves. It's essential to align our stories with the truth of Scripture, which tells us that we are deeply loved and valued by God.
I encouraged everyone to read through one of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John—this week. Engage with the stories of Jesus, ask questions, and let the narratives disturb and delight you. This practice helps us move from merely knowing about Jesus to truly seeing and experiencing Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Narrative: The Bible is filled with stories that reveal God's character and our identity. These narratives are not just historical accounts but invitations to see and know God deeply. Engaging with these stories helps us understand who God is and who we are in relation to Him. [08:10]
2. True and False Stories: We often tell ourselves stories that aren't true, especially in moments of rejection or failure. These false narratives can distort our perception of God and ourselves. It's crucial to align our stories with the truth of Scripture, which tells us that we are deeply loved and valued by God. [11:25]
3. Jesus as Our Treasure: The parable of the treasure and the merchant illustrates that God is our treasure, and we are His treasure. This mutual treasuring is foundational to understanding our relationship with God. Recognizing this helps us see our worth and God's immense love for us. [10:17]
4. Engaging with the Gospels: Reading through the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John—allows us to move from merely knowing about Jesus to truly seeing and experiencing Him. These stories disturb and delight us, helping us to engage with Jesus on a deeper level. [16:58]
5. Permission to Question: It's important to ask questions and wrestle with the stories of Jesus. This process helps us break free from religious platitudes and engage with the real, multidimensional God. Asking questions and being disturbed by Jesus' actions and words is a healthy part of our faith journey. [20:02]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:38] - Returning to Menlo Church
[03:44] - Pasadena Memories
[05:24] - Feeling at Home
[06:08] - Countdown Clock Confusion
[06:54] - Preaching at Different Churches
[08:10] - The Stories We Tell Ourselves
[09:08] - Biblical Narratives
[10:17] - Parable of the Treasure and the Merchant
[11:25] - True and False Stories
[12:15] - Personal Reflections
[15:28] - Knowing Jesus Through Stories
[16:58] - Engaging with the Gospels
[18:11] - Reading the Gospels with Others
[20:02] - Permission to Question
[22:23] - God's Interest in Us
[23:10] - Avoiding Flat Stanley God
[25:01] - Jesus in the Garden
[27:03] - Jesus Calls Us Friends
[28:28] - Meditating on the Stories
[29:21] - Encouragement to Read the Gospels
[31:42] - The Stories We Tell Ourselves
[33:53] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 13:44-46 - The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
2. John 15:15 - Jesus Calls Us Friends
3. Genesis 1:27 - Created in God's Image
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl in Matthew 13:44-46 reveal about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven?
2. In John 15:15, why does Jesus emphasize the shift from calling His followers servants to calling them friends?
3. According to Genesis 1:27, what does it mean to be created in the image of God?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl illustrate the mutual treasuring between God and us? [10:17]
2. What implications does Jesus calling us friends in John 15:15 have for our relationship with Him and our understanding of His character? [27:03]
3. How can understanding that we are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) influence the stories we tell ourselves about our worth and identity? [08:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you told yourself a false story about your worth or identity. How can aligning your narrative with the truth of Scripture change your perspective? [11:25]
2. Jesus calls us friends in John 15:15. How can you cultivate a deeper friendship with Jesus in your daily life? What specific steps can you take this week? [27:03]
3. The sermon encouraged reading through one of the Gospels. Which Gospel will you choose to read this week, and what questions will you bring to your reading? [16:58]
4. Think about a story from the Gospels that has disturbed or delighted you. How did this story impact your understanding of Jesus? [20:02]
5. Identify a false narrative you have believed about God. How can you replace this with a true story from Scripture? [11:25]
6. How can you use the practice of asking questions and wrestling with the stories of Jesus to deepen your faith and understanding of God? [20:02]
7. Consider the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl. How can recognizing that you are God's treasure influence your actions and decisions this week? [10:17]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Narrative
The Bible is filled with stories that reveal God's character and our identity. These narratives are not just historical accounts but invitations to see and know God deeply. Engaging with these stories helps us understand who God is and who we are in relation to Him. The stories in the Bible, from Genesis to the Gospels, are designed to draw us into a deeper relationship with God. They are not merely to be read but to be experienced and lived out. By immersing ourselves in these narratives, we can see the multifaceted nature of God and how He interacts with humanity.
The stories Jesus told, particularly His parables, serve as a mirror reflecting God's kingdom and our place within it. For example, the parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to see beyond societal boundaries and love our neighbors as ourselves. These stories are transformative, inviting us to align our lives with God's will and purpose. [08:10]
Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Reflection: Think of a Bible story that has deeply impacted you. How has it changed your understanding of God and your relationship with Him?
Day 2: True and False Stories
We often tell ourselves stories that aren't true, especially in moments of rejection or failure. These false narratives can distort our perception of God and ourselves. It's crucial to align our stories with the truth of Scripture, which tells us that we are deeply loved and valued by God. When we face challenges, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing lies about our worth and God's love for us. These false stories can lead to feelings of inadequacy and distance from God.
However, Scripture provides a counter-narrative that affirms our identity as beloved children of God. By immersing ourselves in God's Word, we can replace these false stories with the truth of who we are in Christ. This realignment helps us to live out our true identity and experience the fullness of God's love and grace. [11:25]
Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Reflection: Identify a false story you have been telling yourself. How can you replace it with the truth of Scripture today?
Day 3: Jesus as Our Treasure
The parable of the treasure and the merchant illustrates that God is our treasure, and we are His treasure. This mutual treasuring is foundational to understanding our relationship with God. Recognizing this helps us see our worth and God's immense love for us. In the parable, the merchant sells everything he has to obtain the treasure, symbolizing the immense value of the kingdom of God and our worth in His eyes.
This mutual treasuring means that just as we are to value God above all else, He also values us immensely. This understanding transforms our relationship with God, moving it from a transactional interaction to a deeply personal and loving relationship. It reminds us that we are cherished by God and that our worth is found in Him. [10:17]
Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Reflection: Reflect on what it means to be God's treasure. How does this understanding change the way you view yourself and your relationship with God?
Day 4: Engaging with the Gospels
Reading through the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John—allows us to move from merely knowing about Jesus to truly seeing and experiencing Him. These stories disturb and delight us, helping us to engage with Jesus on a deeper level. The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, and interactions with people. By immersing ourselves in these narratives, we can encounter Jesus in a personal and transformative way.
Engaging with the Gospels helps us to see Jesus not just as a historical figure but as a living and active presence in our lives. It invites us to ask questions, wrestle with His teachings, and be transformed by His love and grace. This practice deepens our faith and helps us to live out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. [16:58]
Luke 24:32 (ESV): "They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?'"
Reflection: Choose one of the Gospels to read this week. What new insights or questions arise as you engage with the stories of Jesus?
Day 5: Permission to Question
It's important to ask questions and wrestle with the stories of Jesus. This process helps us break free from religious platitudes and engage with the real, multidimensional God. Asking questions and being disturbed by Jesus' actions and words is a healthy part of our faith journey. It allows us to move beyond surface-level understanding and dive deeper into the complexities of our faith.
By giving ourselves permission to question, we open the door to a more authentic and robust relationship with God. This process helps us to grow in our understanding and faith, as we seek to know God more fully and live out His teachings in our lives. It encourages us to be honest about our doubts and struggles, knowing that God welcomes our questions and meets us in our seeking. [20:02]
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: What is one question you have about Jesus or His teachings? How can you seek answers through prayer, study, and community this week?
Quotes
1. "The most important thoughts we have, in a sense, is about who we believe God to be and who we believe ourselves to be. What do we believe about ourselves? And what do we believe about God? So, I put most of my weight into the, what do we believe about God? What's the story we're telling ourselves about God?" [08:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I think sometimes we reference Jesus, and I do this, is the temptation is to reference Jesus and assume we all know who he is. Even just because you've been in the church. You can know about Jesus, but that's what I love about the narratives of Jesus, right?" [15:28] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I think I've just come to more and more appreciate how the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, help me not just know about Jesus, they help me see Jesus. And that's what, that's what a good story does. Right? A good story isn't a, it's like teaching is over here. And now you're like, hey, tell me a bedtime story. I don't want you to teach me something. I want you to show me something." [16:05] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I think the temptation. Again, it's looking for what I think God's supposed to be. And if I came to you guys and I just walk in the room and I come in, I don't ask any questions. I don't have any space that you might be imperfect or. Whatever. Or maybe I think you are imperfect and you're not. I don't know. But I'm not. And I just I bring with you my presuppositions of who you are. I don't know you. And I think that's what we can do with Jesus a lot of times is he becomes like a Flat Stanley." [23:10] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I mean, that story of Jesus going to the garden is probably one of the most profound to me in all of Scripture. One, it's God talking to God and asking God to change something. And wanting it to be potentially easier or different. And I'm like, that's me all the time. Right. Like wild. This is legit. And and I mean, again, this is Trinitarian mystery as well. God, the Father is talking to God, the Son. God, the Son's asking God, the Father for something. And God, the Father says no to God, the Son." [25:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I think sometimes. This isn't really answering your question, but it said it just we are always looking for a formula. Right. And so you're thinking, well, Jesus has the formula to get the yes or the right answer from God that he wants. No, because it's not a formula. It's a conversation. It's a relationship." [25:01] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I mean, that God would choose to come to earth, put on flesh and in a need people. Not need people in a needy, codependent way. But he chooses. He chooses to come in and enter into relationship and live in community and be with people as opposed to he could have come in and set up his throne and been kind of that distant kind of the Wizard of Oz kind of, you know, thing." [25:55] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jesus says in John 15. I know. I no longer call you servants. I call you friends, which was so for a polytheistic culture that had lots of gods, most ancient Near East gods in the Old Testament time and most the gods of that time. They they they saw humans as servants to them or subservient to them or whatever. Right. And and Jesus says, I don't call you servants. I call you friends. I mean, come on." [27:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The Gospels don't tell you like the Gospels don't say. And it is amazing. Jesus called us friends and wanted us to be with him when he prays. That's like didact. No, they show you. And then are you sitting in it? Are you meditating in it long enough to kind of be blown away by that? And putting yourself in the story." [27:39] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "I think I feel like I don't feel like there was a lot. Once I landed on where the direction of the sermon, I think I would have liked to been able to talk more about the story we tell ourselves and how, you know, how that really does impact us. I probably could have gone a little bit deeper at the front end. I had to cut a bunch of stuff out of that part because it is really what. What sinks us, you know, is that we can get in our head about failure and shame and guilt or what." [31:42] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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