The Others | Digging Deeper | Week of May 22nd

The Others
Pastor Greg Carr

1. We must confess our disappointment to God.

• Hebrews 11:35-40
• Matthew 11:1-6

2. Jesus did not come to give us a life of comfort and security; he came to give us a life of purpose and meaning.

3. It’s not a question of God’s faithfulness; it’s a question of our perspective.

• Job 42:1-6
• Hebrews 12:1-3

"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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero
 
Quote from this book: “If we are to grow into mothers and fathers of the faith, we need darkness as much as light. There are rich treasures that we can only find in the darkness, so we need both."

1. Read Hebrews 12:1-3. When you feel weary, what are some things you do to help you press on?

2. Pastor Greg said that we need to confess our disappointment to God. Is this something you do? Has inviting God into those spaces helped you find peace with disappointment?

3. How does reading the truth of God’s word help with your perspective?

4. Read the quote above from Pete Scazzero. How does darkness and hardship help to mature us in our faith?

5. Pastor Greg made the point that, “It’s not a question of God’s faithfulness; it’s a question of our perspective.” Discuss this point.

6. Read "Something To Think About". Does God’s faithfulness always look like joy and happiness? Can God’s faithfulness look like hardship? Do you have examples in your own life?

It is really easy to give up when things get hard. I feel like there are so many ways we can talk ourselves into quitting, but great things never come easy. Look at Olympic athletes, inventors, church planters, missionaries: God calls us to really hard things. If we could do these things in our own strength, we wouldn’t need him.
 
I have struggled with walking in obedience my whole life. And that is a tricky sin. It’s not one that can be easily detected because it is a sin of the heart. Through one of the hardest seasons of my life, I started to recognize this disobedience and the root of it was this idol of freedom I had. Honestly, I still have to fight against it. I did not want to commit or dedicate myself to things that would encroach on my perceived freedom. Then I finally recognized this for what it was; sin and disobedience. I laid it before the Lord and asked Him to help me with this and also prayed that I could start walking in a more radical obedience.
 
In this, the Lord put some things in my heart that I felt like He was asking me to do. Some hard things. Actually, some really hard things. Some things that the “old Christie” would have bailed on when it got painful and tough. He has been so gracious and through His strength and guidance, I have been able to press on and persevere. Sweet fruit is starting to grow from this really hard journey, and I am so thankful I did not bail the 193 times I have wanted to.
 
My encouragement to you all is invite God into the hardships and disappointments and places where we feel like failures. Ask Him what He is wanting to show us and ask for His perspective on how He is growing us. He is always at work. Keep persevering!

Cheering for you,
Christie Braun
Adult Ministries Pastor