Transforming the Hidden: Embracing the Other 90%
Summary
In today's gathering, we embarked on a journey of introspection and transformation, focusing on the theme "The Other 90%." This marks the beginning of a new series based on the book "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality" by Pete Scazzero. As we delve into this series, we are reminded of the importance of not just addressing the visible aspects of our lives—the 10% that everyone sees—but also the hidden 90% that lies beneath the surface. This unseen part of us often holds the key to true transformation and healing.
We are ordinary people called to an extraordinary mission, united by common experiences such as birth, time, and change. Yet, we are also complex beings, composed of both seen and unseen elements. Like an iceberg, the majority of who we are remains hidden, influencing our actions and interactions in profound ways. This series invites us to explore these depths, allowing God to transform not just our behaviors but our very essence.
In our relationships, as in our discipleship, we often focus on the surface, neglecting the deeper parts of ourselves that need God's healing touch. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 12:1-2, urges us to offer our whole selves as living sacrifices, not conforming to the world's superficial patterns but being transformed by the renewal of our minds. This transformation requires us to give God access to the other 90%, the parts of us that are often left untransformed.
As we journey through this series, we are promised three gifts: the gift of slowing down, the gift of being anchored in God's love, and the gift of breaking free from illusions. These gifts will help us confront the illusions that leave us feeling empty and embrace the fullness of life that God offers. This is an invitation to experience a deeper way of knowing God, one that integrates our spiritual and emotional well-being.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Community: We are ordinary people called to an extraordinary mission, united by common experiences and a shared humanity. This unity empowers us to live out the gospel and transform the world around us. [42:58]
- Seen and Unseen Selves: Like an iceberg, much of who we are lies beneath the surface. True transformation requires us to address both the visible and hidden parts of ourselves, allowing God to heal and transform us fully. [51:38]
- Beyond Surface Faith: Our discipleship often focuses on visible behaviors, but God calls us to deeper transformation. By renewing our minds and offering our whole selves to God, we can experience true spiritual maturity. [57:12]
- Gifts of the Journey: As we explore emotionally healthy spirituality, we receive the gifts of slowing down, being anchored in God's love, and breaking free from illusions. These gifts enable us to live more fully and authentically. [01:11:30]
- Invitation to Transformation: This series invites us to self-reflection and deeper discipleship, challenging us to let God into the hidden parts of our lives. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of God's transformative power. [01:09:21]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:40] - Introduction to Black History Month
- [02:30] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
- [04:15] - Acknowledging Grief and Loss
- [06:00] - Prayer for the Grieving
- [08:00] - Introduction to "The Other 90%"
- [10:30] - The Power of Us: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Mission
- [13:00] - Common Experiences: Birth, Time, and Change
- [16:00] - The Iceberg Analogy: Seen and Unseen Selves
- [19:00] - Relationships and Family of Origin
- [22:00] - Discipleship: Beyond Surface Faith
- [25:00] - Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Key Signs
- [28:00] - Invitation to Self-Reflection
- [31:00] - Gifts of the Journey: Slowing Down, Love, and Freedom
- [34:00] - Communion and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "The Other 90%"
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2
- Psalm 139:23-24
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what are some common experiences that unite us as ordinary people? ([46:26])
2. How does the iceberg analogy help us understand the concept of the "seen and unseen selves"? ([51:38])
3. What does the pastor suggest is often left untransformed in our discipleship journey? ([57:12])
4. What are the three gifts promised to us as we explore emotionally healthy spirituality? ([01:11:30])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul urges believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices. How does this relate to the idea of giving God access to the "other 90%" of our lives? ([58:28])
2. The sermon mentions the importance of not conforming to the world's patterns. What might be some examples of these patterns, and how can they affect our spiritual growth? ([01:00:35])
3. How does the prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 encourage self-reflection and deeper discipleship? ([01:09:21])
4. The pastor talks about breaking free from illusions. What are some illusions that people might hold onto, and how can they hinder spiritual and emotional growth? ([01:13:29])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the iceberg analogy. What are some hidden parts of your life that you feel need God's transformative touch? How can you begin to address these areas? ([51:38])
2. Romans 12:1-2 speaks about renewing our minds. What are some practical steps you can take to renew your mind daily and align it with God's will? ([58:28])
3. The sermon emphasizes the power of community. How can you actively engage with your church community to support and be supported in your spiritual journey? ([42:58])
4. Consider the gift of slowing down mentioned in the sermon. What are some ways you can intentionally slow down in your daily life to better connect with God and yourself? ([01:11:30])
5. The pastor invites us to self-reflection using Psalm 139:23-24. What specific areas of your life do you feel God is calling you to examine more closely? ([01:09:21])
6. How can you replace negative voices in your life with the loving voice of God, as suggested in the sermon? What steps can you take to anchor yourself in God's love? ([01:12:18])
7. The sermon challenges us to break free from illusions. Identify one illusion you might be holding onto and discuss how you can begin to let go of it to embrace a fuller life in Christ. ([01:13:29])
Devotional
Day 1: The Extraordinary Mission of Ordinary People
In a world where we often feel insignificant, it's important to remember that we are ordinary people called to an extraordinary mission. This mission is not just about individual achievements but about a collective journey of transformation. We are united by common experiences such as birth, time, and change, which bind us together in our shared humanity. This unity empowers us to live out the gospel and transform the world around us. By embracing our ordinary nature, we can tap into the extraordinary power of community and purpose. [42:58]
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to the extraordinary mission of your community today, using your unique gifts and experiences?
Day 2: Unveiling the Hidden Self
Much like an iceberg, the majority of who we are lies beneath the surface. This unseen part of us often holds the key to true transformation and healing. To experience genuine change, we must address both the visible and hidden parts of ourselves, allowing God to heal and transform us fully. This requires courage and vulnerability, as we invite God into the depths of our being. By doing so, we open ourselves to a profound transformation that goes beyond mere behavior modification. [51:38]
"The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Proverbs 20:5, ESV)
Reflection: What hidden part of yourself are you willing to bring before God today for healing and transformation?
Day 3: Beyond Surface Faith
Our discipleship often focuses on visible behaviors, but God calls us to deeper transformation. This involves renewing our minds and offering our whole selves to God, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. True spiritual maturity is not about conforming to superficial patterns but about experiencing a profound renewal that touches every aspect of our lives. By embracing this deeper journey, we can move beyond surface faith and experience the fullness of God's transformative power. [57:12]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you allow God to renew your mind today, moving beyond surface-level faith?
Day 4: Embracing the Gifts of the Journey
As we explore emotionally healthy spirituality, we receive the gifts of slowing down, being anchored in God's love, and breaking free from illusions. These gifts enable us to live more fully and authentically, embracing the fullness of life that God offers. By slowing down, we create space for reflection and connection with God. Being anchored in His love provides a stable foundation, while breaking free from illusions allows us to see ourselves and the world more clearly. [01:11:30]
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally slow down today to create space for God's presence and love in your life?
Day 5: Invitation to Transformation
This series invites us to self-reflection and deeper discipleship, challenging us to let God into the hidden parts of our lives. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of God's transformative power. This invitation is not just about personal growth but about becoming a living sacrifice, offering our whole selves to God. As we embrace this journey, we are promised the gifts of slowing down, being anchored in God's love, and breaking free from illusions, leading to a more integrated and authentic life. [01:09:21]
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV)
Reflection: What hidden part of your life are you willing to surrender to God today, allowing Him to transform you more fully?
Quotes
"We are ordinary people called to an extraordinary mission. And you might be asking yourself today, Pastor, what are some things that make us common? What are some things that are common to us? What are some things that make us common? What are some things that make us common to us regardless of our background?" [00:46:09] (16 seconds)
"Another thing that we all have in common is the experience of time. We have the experience of moving through time from past to present without the ability to go backwards. We move through time from past to present without the ability to go backwards. This weekend, I had the opportunity to watch a movie called I'll See You Yesterday." [00:47:24] (27 seconds)
"We are complex yet whole people. We are not one-dimensional beings. There's an image that's going to appear in your screen in just a moment. It shows just some of the ways in which we are complex yet whole people. We have a physical being. We have our body. We have our height and our weight and our skin color and the things that make us unique to look at. But we are not just our physical selves. We're also spiritual beings." [00:49:27] (32 seconds)
"There's the invisible parts of us as well as the visible parts of us. We are both our seen and our unseen selves. And in many ways, our identity as people can be compared to the composition of an iceberg. If I were to take a poll of you watching there at home and ask you how many of you had ever actually seen an iceberg in person, most people would not be able to say they've ever seen an iceberg." [00:50:56] (35 seconds)
"Most of us have never and will never see an actual iceberg, but several of you may have had the opportunity to see the tip of an iceberg. Why is that? It's because scientists will remind us that what we can see of any iceberg, the part that is so glorious and majestic sitting there on the surface of any body of water, that in itself is not the iceberg. That's only the tip of the iceberg." [00:51:57] (28 seconds)
"What's true for us when it comes to our relationships is absolutely also true for us when it comes to our discipleship. When it comes to allowing Jesus to be Lord of our life, we often are quick to give him the 10 percent, but what about the other 90 percent? We often are quick to allow Jesus into the parts of us that we see, into our behaviors and our actions and the words we say, but we also struggle often to allow him into the other 90 percent." [00:56:40] (35 seconds)
"There is a deeper part of us that in most cases is left untransformed and inaccessible to God, not because God can't change those parts, but because we have never learned to yield those parts to God. Many of us grew up in church singing a song, called Is Your All on the Altar. The songwriter posed a question for us. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the spirit control." [00:58:08] (36 seconds)
"Paul then says to them, in light of these freedoms, in light of who you are in Jesus, here's how you ought to live. He says, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. He says, do not conform to the patterns of this world. And he says, be transformed by the renewing of the mind. And friends, we've often heard this passage and the interpretation and the application often feel more like behavior modification than simply fully trusting in Jesus for salvation, for healing and transformation." [01:02:08] (41 seconds)
"That's what the world does. They try harder. They try to make themselves better in their own power. That's surface stuff. That's what the world does. And I believe Paul is saying don't be like the world. Be transformed really where it counts. Get beyond the surface down to the deep and we're transformed there as we are. We renew our mind, not just our mind, our intellectual being, but our mind, body, spirit, and soul. He's saying don't just stick to the surface." [01:04:01] (32 seconds)
"Friends, there is a deeper way of knowing God. There is a deeper way of experiencing God's transformative and healing power. And the invitation today is to come and experience that together. There is a different way of us following Jesus, a way that reconnects our spiritual well-being with our emotional well-being. It's a way that reminds us that it is impossible, it's impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature." [01:10:03] (34 seconds)
"And God in his faithfulness promises us at least three gifts. The first gift that God promises us if we will take this journey together is the gift of slowing down. The gift of slowing down. Sanctuary family, as we take this journey together, it will call for us to slow down. It will allow us to pay greater attention to God and pay greater attention to what's happening in us. And around us." [01:10:42] (36 seconds)
"As we take this journey together, you'll begin to confront the many things in your life that this world has offered you as cheap substitutes, illusions that really leave you ultimately feeling empty and wanting. But my promise to you, my brother, my sister, is that you will, if you do, you will be free. You will be free. You will be free. You will be free. If you will lean in on this journey, if you will go beyond the 10 percent and give God access to that other 90 percent, you will find yourself breaking free." [01:13:28] (39 seconds)
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