Unhindered: Embracing Vulnerability for Spiritual Growth
Summary
### Summary
Hello, friends. Pastor Brian here. Today, we are embarking on a transformative journey with our new series, "Unhindered." This series is designed to help us address the deep-seated issues in our lives that often go unnoticed but significantly impact our spiritual growth and overall well-being. Drawing from Hebrews 12, we are reminded that much like an iceberg, the majority of our lives—our thoughts, emotions, and experiences—lie beneath the surface. These hidden areas can either hinder or enhance our spiritual journey.
We are called to throw off everything that hinders us, not just the obvious sins but also the emotional and psychological burdens we carry. These can include fear, pain, guilt, trauma, and shame. The pandemic has exacerbated these issues, creating an epidemic of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. But we are not alone in this journey. The Holy Spirit is with us, empowering us to face these challenges.
Men, in particular, are encouraged to stand up and take the lead in this journey. It's time to summon the courage to deal with our "junk" and become the leaders God intended us to be. This series will involve vulnerability, a willingness to be open about our struggles, and a commitment to work through them with the help of God and our community.
We will be using a workbook by Dr. John Walker and Dr. Charity Byers, which provides practical steps to unhinder our hearts and lives. The goal is to live freely and lightly, as Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28-30. By fixing our eyes on Jesus and focusing on Him, we can navigate through life's storms and experience true freedom and abundant life.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Iceberg Analogy: Our lives are like icebergs, with most of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences lying beneath the surface. Ignoring these hidden areas can hinder our spiritual growth. By addressing these unseen parts, we can become more self-aware and spiritually mature. [04:32]
2. Throwing Off Hindrances: Hebrews 12 calls us to throw off everything that hinders us, not just sins but also emotional and psychological burdens like fear, pain, and guilt. These hindrances can prevent us from living the abundant life God desires for us. [15:57]
3. The Importance of Vulnerability: True healing and growth require vulnerability. Sharing our struggles and receiving empathy from others can help us process and release deep-seated pain. This vulnerability is crucial for living out our true selves and experiencing freedom. [37:47]
4. Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: In the midst of life's storms, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. This focused attention helps us navigate challenges and prevents us from growing weary and losing heart. Jesus is our example and source of strength. [30:28]
5. Living Freely and Lightly: Jesus invites us to live freely and lightly, unburdened by the weight of our past and present struggles. By aligning our hearts with His, we can experience true peace, joy, and abundant life. [28:03]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:50] - Introduction to "Unhindered" Series
[03:02] - Celebrating Easter and Baptisms
[04:32] - The Iceberg Analogy
[06:06] - True Self vs. False Self
[07:32] - Power Up and Rewind Series Recap
[09:04] - Men, Stand Up!
[10:16] - Series Overview and Goals
[11:05] - Commitment to the Series
[12:40] - Workbook and Group Study
[13:39] - The Backpack Analogy
[14:37] - Hebrews 12:1-2 Key Verses
[15:57] - Throwing Off Hindrances
[18:19] - Guarding Your Heart
[20:03] - The Impact of a Hindered Heart
[22:38] - Personal Stories of Trauma
[24:47] - The Long-term Impact of Words
[26:25] - Jesus' Promise of Abundant Life
[28:03] - Living Freely and Lightly
[30:28] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[32:05] - Peter Walking on Water
[34:51] - The Importance of Focus
[36:16] - Vulnerability and Healing
[37:47] - Personal Story of Vulnerability
[41:48] - The Role of Empathy in Healing
[44:27] - Call to Action and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Unhindered"
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
> Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
> Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
3. Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
> Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 12:1-2 suggest we should do with the things that hinder us and the sin that entangles us?
2. According to Proverbs 4:23, why is it important to guard our hearts?
3. In Matthew 11:28-30, what does Jesus promise to those who come to Him and learn from Him?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the analogy of an iceberg help us understand the hidden areas of our lives that can hinder our spiritual growth? ([04:32])
2. Why is vulnerability important for healing and growth according to the sermon? ([37:47])
3. How can fixing our eyes on Jesus help us navigate through life's challenges and prevent us from growing weary? ([30:28])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the iceberg analogy. What are some hidden areas in your life that you might be ignoring? How can you start addressing them this week? ([04:32])
2. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls us to throw off everything that hinders. What are some emotional or psychological burdens you are carrying that you need to let go of? How can you begin this process?
3. Vulnerability is crucial for healing. Is there a specific struggle or pain you need to share with someone you trust? How can you take a step towards being more open this week? ([37:47])
4. Jesus invites us to live freely and lightly. What is one practical step you can take this week to align your heart with His and experience this freedom? ([28:03])
5. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is essential for perseverance. What distractions are currently preventing you from focusing on Jesus? How can you minimize these distractions this week? ([30:28])
6. Men are encouraged to stand up and lead in dealing with their "junk." What specific action can you take to lead by example in your family or community? ([09:04])
7. The sermon mentioned the importance of community and empathy in healing. How can you support someone else in your small group or community who might be struggling with hidden burdens? ([41:48])
Devotional
Day 1: The Iceberg of Our Lives
Our lives are like icebergs, with most of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences lying beneath the surface. Ignoring these hidden areas can hinder our spiritual growth. By addressing these unseen parts, we can become more self-aware and spiritually mature. The iceberg analogy helps us understand that what is visible on the surface is only a small part of who we are. The majority of our lives—our thoughts, emotions, and experiences—lie beneath the surface. These hidden areas can either hinder or enhance our spiritual journey. By becoming more aware of these unseen parts, we can address the deep-seated issues that often go unnoticed but significantly impact our spiritual growth and overall well-being. [04:32]
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." — Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Reflection: What hidden thoughts or emotions have you been ignoring that might be affecting your spiritual growth? How can you begin to address them today?
Day 2: Throwing Off Hindrances
Hebrews 12 calls us to throw off everything that hinders us, not just sins but also emotional and psychological burdens like fear, pain, and guilt. These hindrances can prevent us from living the abundant life God desires for us. The pandemic has exacerbated these issues, creating an epidemic of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. But we are not alone in this journey. The Holy Spirit is with us, empowering us to face these challenges. By identifying and throwing off these hindrances, we can move closer to the abundant life that God has promised. [15:57]
"Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." — Hebrews 12:12-13 (ESV)
Reflection: What emotional or psychological burdens are you carrying that hinder your spiritual journey? How can you begin to release them with the help of the Holy Spirit?
Day 3: The Importance of Vulnerability
True healing and growth require vulnerability. Sharing our struggles and receiving empathy from others can help us process and release deep-seated pain. This vulnerability is crucial for living out our true selves and experiencing freedom. Men, in particular, are encouraged to stand up and take the lead in this journey. It's time to summon the courage to deal with our "junk" and become the leaders God intended us to be. This series will involve vulnerability, a willingness to be open about our struggles, and a commitment to work through them with the help of God and our community. [37:47]
"Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." — James 5:16 (ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to be more vulnerable? Who can you trust to share your struggles with and receive empathy and support?
Day 4: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
In the midst of life's storms, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. This focused attention helps us navigate challenges and prevents us from growing weary and losing heart. Jesus is our example and source of strength. By fixing our eyes on Him, we can navigate through life's storms and experience true freedom and abundant life. This focused attention helps us stay grounded and prevents us from being overwhelmed by the challenges we face. [30:28]
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." — Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
Reflection: What distractions are keeping you from fixing your eyes on Jesus? How can you refocus your attention on Him today?
Day 5: Living Freely and Lightly
Jesus invites us to live freely and lightly, unburdened by the weight of our past and present struggles. By aligning our hearts with His, we can experience true peace, joy, and abundant life. The goal is to live freely and lightly, as Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28-30. By fixing our eyes on Jesus and focusing on Him, we can navigate through life's storms and experience true freedom and abundant life. [28:03]
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." — Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Reflection: What burdens are you carrying that Jesus is inviting you to lay down? How can you begin to live more freely and lightly today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Friend, you do not. Every single week we do baptisms. We celebrate them every single week. Praise God that we get to be a part of a church where he is blessing and where people are making decisions for Christ. And you don't have to have some special event where we have a pool on the stage. We have a baptistry right out there and it's getting warmer and warmer here in Arizona, right? So if you're ready today and God was tugging on your heart last week and you didn't say yes and you thought you missed your chance, you did not. So think about that today. We're ready for you. We'd love to help you step across the line of faith and make a decision like that." [02:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus told us in this world, we will have trouble. In fact, that's exactly what he said. Here's the verse in this world. You will have trouble. Okay, that's what he said. Notice he didn't say you might. Maybe it's gonna come. No, expect it. It's coming. But Jesus also told us to take heart because he has overcome the world and his desire for us is to have an abundant life, a full life, a life of joy." [26:25](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we invite God into our circumstances, our pain, our moments of disappointment, relationships that have left us wounded and confusion that we feel in times of uncertainty, he can bring our hearts back into alignment with his. He can fill us with his presence and his perspective and his kindness and his love and breathe new life into the dying part of us." [27:05](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Are you tired, worn out, burned out on religion? Come to me, get away with me and you'll recover your life. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live. What does it say? Freely and lightly. Doesn't that sound amazing? Some of us, it's been so long since we've experienced freely and lightly. We don't even know what that looks like anymore. We don't even remember what it feels like to live freely and lightly." [28:03](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, first he says is we fix our eyes. We fix our focus on Jesus. And I'm not saying, listen, especially if you're brand new. I'm not saying that fixes everything right away. You fix your eyes on Jesus. Everything. All your problems go away. Your heart is perfect. No, I'm not saying that. Those who focus on Jesus still have difficulties in life. but that is the starting point friends to focus on Jesus and that's that's talking about a specific kind of focus not just oh yeah Jesus he's great that's not what he's talking about." [30:28](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "You see, here's what I've found in my life to be true. And I was taught this by some spiritual formation coaches I've worked with since about 2003. Check out this picture. Here we go. What is that? Oh, very good. Yes. An iceberg. Now I want you to notice, keep the picture up, that most, or at least an overwhelming majority of the iceberg is where? Below the surface of the water. And a good spiritual formation coach is going to teach you that that's a lot like our lives, friends. That we have things going on in our lives, you know, above the surface of the water that can easily be seen by us, that can easily be seen by everybody else. And yet there's so much going on in our lives, in our minds, especially in our hearts, below the surface, all the time, by the way, all the time, that we may not ever see or recognize right away. But these things have a major effect on everything we do." [04:32](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So the question for this series is this, and if you haven't been with me up to this point, tune in. Here we go. What happens if your heart and your thoughts are hindering you? What happens if your heart, your emotions, like your thoughts from things in the past, whether sinful or not, are hindering you? And now. Now. Everything you do in your life is flowing out of a hindered heart. I mean, what happens if your heart starts getting corrupted in this corrupt world and then everything you do flows out of that hindered, corrupted heart? Well, it starts to show, honestly, it does. And even if you can't see it, the people around you can certainly see it. They may not know what's causing it, but they can see it." [20:03](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So the writer of Hebrews has given us an athletic picture, like you're in an arena. They had the Olympics back then, back in the day, right, in Rome. So like you're in an arena, you're at the game, you're ready to run. There's a whole crowd of people watching you, right? But this is a spiritual contest he's talking about, not a physical or an athletic contest. The author's talking about the race of life. And friends, there's a lot on the line in the race of life, right? I mean, your health is on the line. People's salvation is on the line. Marriages are on the line. Kids are on the line. Friends, if you're a follower of Jesus, you need to be at the top of your game because a lot is on the line in your life and in the lives of the people around you." [15:08](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So the question for this series is this, and if you haven't been with me up to this point, tune in. Here we go. What happens if your heart and your thoughts are hindering you? What happens if your heart, your emotions, like your thoughts from things in the past, whether sinful or not, are hindering you? And now. Now. Everything you do in your life is flowing out of a hindered heart. I mean, what happens if your heart starts getting corrupted in this corrupt world and then everything you do flows out of that hindered, corrupted heart? Well, it starts to show, honestly, it does. And even if you can't see it, the people around you can certainly see it. They may not know what's causing it, but they can see it." [20:03](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, first he says is we fix our eyes. We fix our focus on Jesus. And I'm not saying, listen, especially if you're brand new. I'm not saying that fixes everything right away. You fix your eyes on Jesus. Everything. All your problems go away. Your heart is perfect. No, I'm not saying that. Those who focus on Jesus still have difficulties in life. but that is the starting point friends to focus on Jesus and that's that's talking about a specific kind of focus not just oh yeah Jesus he's great that's not what he's talking about." [30:28](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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