Flourishing in a time of coronavirus
Notes
Transcript
Brothers using younger sisters, going on walks
:7-11
:7-11
Hopefully you’ve been in prayer this week remembering to ask a good Father for what you need and praying for others as well.
But what if he gives you enemies? What if He gives you a pandemic?
But what if he gives you enemies? What if He gives you a pandemic?
Love your enemies, greater righteousness than the Pharisees
- They only cleaned the outside of the cup. They wouldn’t actually look inside and try to clean up the inside so that they had a genuine love for their enemies.
Matthew 23:25-26
The Gospel addresses our hearts and transforms them. Jer 31:33-34
The Gospel addresses our hearts and transforms them. Jer 31:33-34
Jesus died for our sin and rose again so that we have a new heart that can handle persecution and distress.
If God has given us this, how do we grow into it?
Rather than hearts being changed people attack others or dull the pain - you can see it on Facebook. We all like control vs surrender.
Rather than hearts being changed people attack others or dull the pain - you can see it on Facebook. We all like control vs surrender.
, - Jesus describes people of true righteousness as having hearts who mourn.
3,4
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation
Biblically, how is our heart reoriented?
- Grieving has a huge part to play in heart reorientation
The story of Job and psalms of David - songs of lament
There is a danger of getting stuck in grief rather than letting it transform you.
The process of grieving reorients your heart and opens it up to helping others as well.
Ps 126
1) Taking God your pain, 2) Waiting in the Confusing In-Between, 3) Letting the old birth the new
1) Taking God your pain - The Pharisees’ God didn’t want their pain just their performance
1) Taking God your pain - The Pharisees’ God didn’t want their pain just their performance
A Song of Ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
, so many others
Job from chapter 3-31
Journaling
Journaling/ Prayer - What specifically are you uncomfortable, angry, hurt about?
If you don’t take God your pain and grief, it comes out in other ways.
2) Waiting in the Confusing In-Between
2) Waiting in the Confusing In-Between
, - David waited
Job, wrestled with God, responded to his friends,
Doing the next right thing and not taking the easy (often sinful) way out
3) Letting the old birth the new
3) Letting the old birth the new
There is resurrection
Journaling, Praying
Helping the poor, food
Helping the lonely, shut-ins - Card
Blood banks - Card
Vision - If we want to be the church God is calling us to be - righteous with each other across generations and ethnicities, we have to learn to bring God our pain, wait in the in-between, and let the old birth the new.
Small groups - Card
Will you commit to taking your grief to God this week?
Small Group Questions (Pick 2 or 3)
Small Group Questions (Pick 2 or 3)
In what ways are you frustrated or grieving during this time?
How can diving into those give you compassion for others?
What’s the value in not trying to attribute motive
Where do you see opportunities to be righteous like your heavenly Father is righteous?
In what areas can we support one another during this time?
How could you use this time to draw closer to your Heavenly Father?
Neighborhood cards
