Irreplaceable-Am I Accepted?: Week 2
THE LIES WE BATTLE
LIE: I’m ruined, and I’ve made too many mistakes.
• I am ruined because of the mistakes I have made.
• I am ruined because someone hurt me.
• I am ruined because I can’t keep a job.
• I am ruined because of my disability.
Genesis 3:10-12 (NIV) 10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
o Who told you you were ruined?
o When we experience fear and shame, our natural inclination is to cover it up and hide.
Reality: Everyone has problems, problems have emotions attached to them, and emotions tend to drive our actions.
Story of David in 2 Samuel 11-12
Question: Who gets to define how many times is too many—when we’ve blown it? Or what situation is so ruined that God could never redeem it?
THE TRUTH:
1. We are all marred by our sin. We live in a cursed world.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
o Without Jesus in our lives as Lord/Savior, we are ruined.
2. In Christ we are redeemed, known, loved, and accepted.
Romans 5:6-11 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
o We have been ransomed by God’s great love for us.
o We have been justified and declared innocent through the blood of Jesus.
3. We have been saved for a purpose.
Ephesians 2:8-10 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
o We are called to disciple others with the good news and help them find their ministry.
4. God uses broken vessels (us) to accomplish His purposes.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
o This treasure is our ministry of the gospel through our broken but redeemed lives.
o God often shapes our lives and ministry through our painful experiences.
o God doesn’t cause all things to happen, but He does allow some things to happen.
5. We are to come into the light and out of isolation.
1 John 1:5-7 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
o Don’t isolate; stay connected to the Lord and His people!
o Let someone know the truth about your situation.
o God’s love is limitless, so bring your stuff into the light. You matter, and you are loved!
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
o You cannot fix your sin problem and bad decisions on your own.
You will receive forgiveness for your sin if you humble yourself before Jesus and repent.
o Just because you are forgiven doesn’t remove consequences.
Your consequences do not define you nor say you are unforgiven. Grace is so important.
o Withholding forgiveness from someone who has hurt you will not remove the lies you hear about yourself.
Forgiveness and bringing the lies into the light will begin your healing process.
o You may be clinically depressed over circumstances in your life.
There is no shame in getting help. You may need a doctor and medicine to help.
o You cannot become spiritually healthy without God’s people.
With wise counsel, you will receive God’s truth, encouragement, and support. You may need professional counseling, but often a trusted friend can go a long way.
o In healthy, transparent relationships, you are kept from isolating and won’t fall prey to the ambush of the devil’s lies.
THINGS TO DO:
o Tell yourself the truth to counter lies—preach the gospel to yourself.
o How will you find the right person to share your pain with?
o If you are stuck, discouraged, depressed, without hope, and wanting to isolate: talk to a friend, get help, talk to your doctor—don’t just think it will blow over.
o If you are having unhealthy thoughts, even suicidal thoughts: talk to someone. You matter, get help!
o If you hear someone saying unhealthy things, press into them, help them get help, walk with them, check up on them, and pray for them, and check up on them again.
QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: Genesis 3:8-13 & 21; John 3:16,17; Hebrews 9:11-14, Revelation 12:10-11, 1 John 1:9-10 Icebreaker: What is the heaviest thing you have had to lift? What is the worst thing you have had to carry?
• What from the sermon encouraged you or challenged you?
1. Read Genesis 3:8-13, Genesis 21, and John 3:16,17. What do you see about God’s heart towards brokenness and people? A) What kinds of lies do you see in the man and woman’s response to the situation?
2. What kinds of lies can separate us from each other and dull our abiding relationship with God?
3. How do you recognize “isolation” and “disconnection” in your own patterns of thinking, feeling, and/or actions?
A) What helps you to fight disconnection and re-engage in being connected in relationship with people and God?
B) How do you be aware of those you care about in your Home, Church, and World spheres becoming isolated?
4. Isolation, disconnection, and shame can happen for a variety of reasons. Often being forgiven and extending forgiveness are part of the process toward reconnection and healing. Read Hebrews 9:11-14, Revelation 12:10-11, and 1 John 1:9-10. A) What stands out to you about forgiveness in these verses? B) What truth do you want to embrace more deeply?
5. Hard things happen. Read Psalm 23 and Hebrews 13:5-6. What promises does God give to His children? A) What truth do you need to meditate on from these passages? B) What helps you grow in having your identity as one whom God cares for?
6. We need one another to help each other experience the truth God has spoken. Who will you be more real with this week? Who will you reach out to to express the truth that God values them because He made them?
Resources:
Grieving Suicide – A 30 day devotional for healing after loss and grief