The Beautiful Mess | Week 1

Pastor Dave Pretlove, Lead Pastor

Life is filled with the beautiful and the messy.

1. This tension is found all through scripture. Life is very beautiful and very messy.

2. Embracing this tension is difficult, and powerful.

• Philippians 4:10-13

There is power in choosing the life you have - the Bible calls this contentment.

• Philippians 4:10-13

3. The messy is temporary. The beautiful is forever.

• Revelation 21:1-5

In the midst of the messy, we turn our eyes to the one who is always beautiful, who will one day take away all the messy.

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:11-13

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
Revelation 21:1-5

"Singing" podcast by Tim Keller

1. What was your biggest takeaway from Pastor Dave’s message on Sunday?

2. Read Philippians 4:11-13. Does contentment come easy to you or is it a struggle?  

3. Dr. Andy Yarborough explains, “Our lives are made up of positive realities and negative realities. The key is to acknowledge the truth of reality (whether positive or negative) but to overtime set your focus on the good.” Do you find yourself focusing on the beauty more or the mess more? How can you shift your focus to the beauty in the midst of the messy?

4. Read Revelation 21:1-5. Pastor Dave talked about how things were not messy in the beginning and they will not be messy at the end. Do you think about the promise of this? What emotions does it produce in you?

5. There are times when you have to fight to see the beauty because the mess is so overwhelming. We can be honest with God about that: “Lord, I know the beauty and truth of the Gospel. I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by you. I know these things in my mind. I recognize them as truth. I know that there are so many other beautiful things in my life, too. But the mess is overwhelming me and I cannot see the beauty that I know is true. Please help me see the beauty.” Do you ever ask God to help you see beauty in the middle of the messy?

I listened to this incredible podcast by Tim Keller this week and I included it in the resource section. I hope you take the time to listen to it. He talks about the beauty of music and also what it does for our souls and how we can see the beauty of God through singing. I cannot do this podcast justice, but I will tell you this … it changed me and gave me deeper appreciation and desire for singing and worship. When I spend time in worship, His beauty becomes the focus and the messiness of my life goes out of focus. I hope His beauty grabs hold of your hearts this week as you spend time focusing on Him. Cheering for you guys.  
Blessings, 
Christie Braun