Walking the Labyrinth: Embracing the Christian Journey

Today, we gathered as a community—some in person, some online—united by our shared need for God’s presence, especially in seasons of sickness, struggle, and uncertainty. We began by acknowledging the reality that the Christian journey is not a straight line of constant progress or unbroken joy. Instead, it is marked by high highs and low lows, moments of closeness to God and times when He feels distant. Mary’s song, born out of a season of pain, reminded us that some of the deepest spiritual growth and most authentic worship can emerge from our lowest points.

Reflecting on the ancient practice of walking a labyrinth, I shared how this physical act mirrors our spiritual lives. The labyrinth is not a maze with dead ends, but a single winding path that brings us near the center, then far away, and back again. This journey can feel confusing and even discouraging, especially when we find ourselves at the outer edges, seemingly far from God. Yet, just as the labyrinth’s path inevitably leads to the center, so too does our journey with God—even when we feel most distant, we may be closer to breakthrough than we realize.

We explored how spiritual practices, like the 12 steps, are not about achieving perfection or shaming ourselves into change. Instead, they are about honest, repeated attempts to grow, heal, and surrender. The process is ongoing—like tying your shoes every day, not just once. True transformation often begins when we recognize the pain we’ve caused others or ourselves, and when we allow God’s grace to meet us in our mess.

Sharing our stories—our struggles and our healing—is not about boasting or pretending to have it all together. It’s about humility and solidarity. When we are honest about our brokenness, we create space for others to be honest too. This is the heart of Christian community: not a gathering of perfect people, but a fellowship of those being transformed by Christ’s humility and love. Jesus, who humbled Himself even to death on a cross, shows us that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Our mess does not define us; we are defined by God’s love and our identity as His children.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual growth is a winding journey The path of faith is rarely linear. Like walking a labyrinth, we often find ourselves moving toward God, then feeling far away, only to discover we are closer to Him than we thought. This journey requires patience and trust, especially in seasons of spiritual dryness or confusion. [33:31]
• 2. Transformation happens through honest repetition Lasting change is not about one-time decisions but about daily, humble practice. Just as tying your shoes becomes a daily habit, spiritual disciplines and recovery steps require ongoing commitment. Each attempt, even after failure, is an opportunity for grace and growth. [40:24]
• 3. Sharing our struggles creates true community When we are vulnerable about our messiness, we invite others to do the same. This honesty breaks down isolation and shame, fostering a community where healing and transformation can take root. Our stories of weakness become testimonies of God’s strength. [54:07]
• 4. Christ’s humility is our model and hope Jesus’ willingness to humble Himself, even to the point of death, redefines what it means to win and to lead. Our own transformation and witness flow from embracing this humility, trusting that God works through our weakness, not in spite of it. [56:36]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:43] - Acknowledging Sickness and Community
• [07:18] - Opening Prayer
• [07:50] - Mary’s Song and Testimony
• [24:53] - Finding God in Low Points
• [31:00] - The Labyrinth as Spiritual Metaphor
• [32:44] - The Winding Path of Faith
• [34:02] - Closeness and Distance in Christian Life
• [35:16] - Feeling Distant Yet Moving Toward God
• [36:16] - The Challenge of Lasting Change
• [39:25] - The Ongoing Practice of Growth
• [41:40] - Lessons from Galatians and Philippians
• [51:20] - The Power of Honest Self-Reflection
• [52:43] - Evangelism as Sharing Transformation
• [54:42] - Messiness and True Community
• [56:36] - Christ’s Humility and Our Calling
• [75:20] - Worship and Prayer for the Hurting
• [76:19] - God Works Through Our Mess
• [77:09] - Closing Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Reading

Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV) — Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Observation Questions

1. According to Philippians 2:5-11, what specific actions did Jesus take to humble Himself?
2. In the sermon, what metaphor was used to describe the Christian journey, and how does it differ from a maze? ([32:13])
3. What did the speaker say about the role of sharing our struggles within the church community? ([54:07])
4. How did the sermon describe the process of spiritual growth and change—was it a one-time event or something else? ([40:24])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize Jesus’ humility and obedience “even to death on a cross” as a model for believers? How does this challenge common ideas about strength and success?
2. The sermon compared spiritual growth to walking a labyrinth, sometimes feeling close to God and sometimes far away. What might God be teaching us during those “distant” seasons? ([35:16])
3. The speaker mentioned that transformation happens through “honest repetition” rather than one-time decisions. Why might repeated practice be necessary for real change? ([40:24])
4. How does being honest about our messiness help create a stronger Christian community, according to the sermon? ([54:07])

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when you felt far from God, like you were on the “outer edge” of the labyrinth. What helped you keep moving forward, or what could help you next time? ([35:16])
2. The sermon talked about spiritual practices being like tying your shoes—something you do over and over. Is there a spiritual habit or practice you’ve struggled to keep up with? What’s one small step you could take to try again this week? ([40:24])
3. When have you been honest about your struggles with someone else? How did it affect your relationship or your sense of belonging? ([54:07])
4. Jesus’ humility is described as “winning by losing.” Where in your life do you feel pressure to “win” or appear strong? How might embracing humility change your approach? ([56:36])
5. The sermon said, “Our mess does not define us; we are defined by God’s love and our identity as His children.” Is there a mistake or struggle that you’ve let define you? What would it look like to let God’s love define you instead? ([01:16:19])
6. The speaker encouraged sharing stories of both struggle and healing. Is there a part of your story you feel prompted to share with someone this week? What’s holding you back, and what could help you take that step? ([52:43])
7. How can our group become a place where it’s safe to be honest about our messiness, and what practical steps can we take to support each other in that? ([54:42])